Class Action Lawsuit Targets Subaru Oil Consumption

[unokitty]

A class action lawsuit claims that certain Subaru Forester, Legacy, Outback, Impreza and Crosstek vehicles made since 2011 have defective piston rings which cause the cars to burn oil, possibly causing engine failure.

"This design defect may be denied warranty coverage by the manufacturer and result in some owners having to pay for costly repairs to the engine," said the Haverford, Pa., law firm Chimicles & Tikellis, in a prepared statement. "Subaru may even relay to customers that the excessive oil consumption is considered normal."

This might sound familiar to Robert of Laramie, Wyo., who told ConsumerAffairs he can't wait to become a former Subaru owner.

"Soon I will be rid of this 2012 Subaru Forester and will never buy a Subaru again. The oil consumption has been a quart per 1,000 miles. The manual said that this is normal," Robert said in a recent review. "The dealerships have been unconcerned and unwilling to try to stop the consumption 'as it is normal.'"

... models named in the suit:

2011-2014 Subaru Forester 2.5L
2013 Legacy 2.5L
2013 Outback 2.5L
2012-2013 Impreza 2.0L
2013 XV Crosstek 2.0L

Two questions

For Subaru owners, do you need to add a quart of oil every thousand miles?

For anyone, do you consider adding a quart per thousand miles a defect?


My experiences. With my V8 Barracuda (1965), a quart per thousand miles was normal. With my more recent Honda fours, I haven't had to add any oil between oil changes.

________

I've been considering a new Subaru Crosstrek. Appreciate any Subaru owners that can share their experience.

Uno

 

[heymrdj]

No modern commuter car should ever be allowed to consider that normal. I'm 9K on my Fiesta oil changes.

 

[LTC8K6]

IIRC, most mfgs call that normal.

Chrysler also says that every 750 miles is normal after 50k miles, I believe.

 

[iamwiz82]

My 3.0T diesel used 1/2 quart in 13,000 miles and my gas 1.6T used nearly nothing since I have owned it (22,000 miles).

 

[CrimsonWolf]

Yeah, I'd consider a quart/1000 miles a defect. I know the manufacturers say that's normal but that just reads to me as left-over cover your ass BS from a bygone era.

I've never had to add oil between changes unless there was something wrong with the car. E.g. worn out oil seals on a 10+ year old car. Seems unacceptable to me on a new car.

We have a friend with a relatively new Forester. I'll have to remember to ask him.

 

[nisryus]

My 2014 Forester hasn't burn any oil after several thousands miles. IF you go to any Subaru forums, the oil consumption issue was mostly with older models, owners of newer models have less oil related problem reported. This kind of problem happens to all auto makers, not just Subaru. =/

 

[Zorba]

I've got a 2014 Forester with about 10k miles on it. Hasn't burnt any oil yet. My 2006 Legacy never burned any oil until it got over ~90K now it burns maybe 1/2 quart every 3000.

If someone is going to create a class action lawsuit against Subaru it should be for the horrible head gaskets that went on for a decade. Or inflating their fuel mileage on their CVT cars.

 

[Zorba]

My 2014 Forester hasn't burn any oil after several thousands miles. IF you go to any Subaru forums, the oil consumption issue was mostly with older models, owners of newer models have less oil related problem reported. This kind of problem happens to all auto makers, not just Subaru. =/

OT: What kind of mileage do you get at true highway speeds? (>70mph)

 

[Greenman]

I wonder if some of those issues are because the rings never seated? I've seen engines that burned oil because of that.

 

[NutBucket]

We've had 4 Subarus (but none on the list). None had any oil consumption issues. Just bought a 2015 Forester a few weeks ago.

 

[Kelvrick]

From my extensive time on the internet, it is usually with mobil 1 oil and in the turbo cars. Although I personally experienced it.

 

[nisryus]

OT: What kind of mileage do you get at true highway speeds? (>70mph)

For the first 3k miles, the average Hwy (65 mph to 70ish mph) the average was 30 to 32 mpg (several stop lights along the normal route). Haven't checked for the last 2k miles as it is her daily now. Other owners been saying that mileage gets better after 5k over at subaruforester.org forum.

 

[NutBucket]

From my extensive time on the internet, it is usually with mobil 1 oil and in the turbo cars. Although I personally experienced it.

Our '05 WRX uses about a quart between oil changes. I feed it M1 5W-30 every 5-6k. Seems reasonable to me.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

My friend's 2005 Outback XT uses about a quart every 700 miles.

 

[Kelvrick]

Our '05 WRX uses about a quart between oil changes. I feed it M1 5W-30 every 5-6k. Seems reasonable to me.

Maybe try to switch away from M1 and use the magical Shell Rotella T6?

 

[Jumpem]

I have never had a problem in any of my four Subaru's. I have not added oil to any of them.

 

[Jumpem]

I've got a 2014 Forester with about 10k miles on it. Hasn't burnt any oil yet. My 2006 Legacy never burned any oil until it got over ~90K now it burns maybe 1/2 quart every 3000.

If someone is going to create a class action lawsuit against Subaru it should be for the horrible head gaskets that went on for a decade. Or inflating their fuel mileage on their CVT cars.

The CVT fuel economy is not inflated. I averaged over 30mpg on my Outback when I had a rural commute. In my Forester I average between the city and highway figures. On the highway it will get 32-34 mpg. The only time I go below what the sticker says is in the winter with snow tires and winter gas. But that drop is expected with any vehicle.

 

[Jumpem]

OT: What kind of mileage do you get at true highway speeds? (>70mph)

I always set the cruise control at the 65mph limit. I get 32-34mpg with the Forester. Probably 1mpg less than that in my previous Outback.

Driving into winds will knock it down a bit.

 

[Doomer]

Subaru will soon go the way of Saab. Any car maker that claims a defect is normal should go extinct.

 

[senseamp]

It's just the new engine? Not a problem for our 2012 Outback?

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah, it does seem to be just the FB motors. I guess time will tell. I used to think it was stupid to buy extended warranties. Now...not so much.

 

[Harrod]

I haven't had any issues with mine, I also get right at 30 mpg going 70, and when driving at around 55, it's closer to 34 mpg.

 

[Zorba]

For the first 3k miles, the average Hwy (65 mph to 70ish mph) the average was 30 to 32 mpg (several stop lights along the normal route). Haven't checked for the last 2k miles as it is her daily now. Other owners been saying that mileage gets better after 5k over at subaruforester.org forum.

Yeah the subaruforester.org forum is very defensive about the mileage and shoutdown anyone that claims to be getting poor mileage.

On the open highway I get about 28.5 at 70, 27.5 at 75, 25.5 at 80. I've been very unhappy with the mileage, really like the car otherwise but never had a car that was so far blew the estimated mileage doing pure highway driving. Even my other Subarus were much better than EPA at 80 mph, as long as it was a consistent speed. I've taken the car to the dealer, but they won't even check it out because "its normal, there are a lot of variable, blah blah." I wonder if the torque converter isn't engaging, but I don't know how to check that with a CVT.

I have a co-worker that bought a 2014 Legacy with the CVT and he gets about the same mileage as me.

 

[Zorba]

I always set the cruise control at the 65mph limit. I get 32-34mpg with the Forester. Probably 1mpg less than that in my previous Outback.

Driving into winds will knock it down a bit.

I need to go out and try 65 on the highway for a long period and see what I get, the problem is around here all the speed limits are 70/75 and going 5 over is still slower than traffic. It may just be that the Forester/CVT has a bigger drop off at higher speeds than I am used to. I am just used to my 06 and 99 legacy that would get 5-6mpg better than sticker at 75-80, and now I am getting 4-6 below at those speeds. Now I get about the same highway mileage as my old 5.0L 91 Grand Marquis.

It also seems that no one who owns a Forester drives over 70, since I haven't ever seen someone post good numbers above 70. But most states have speed limits of at least 70 on the interstates.

 

[NutBucket]

Hard to drive over 70 in LA traffic Plus, like you say with the steep drop-off over 70 there's not much point. I prefer to just cruise.

And you're likely right. Given the shape of the Forester, aerodynamics almost certainly has a lot to do with the relationship with speed.