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The Most Common Problems With Subaru Vehicles

Subaru are a lesser-seen brand on UK roads, but they are still a car that many people swear by. The star-studded logo has been seen less and less over the last few years, however, there are still over 60,000 licenced Subaru cars and 30,000 SORN vehicles, a sure sign that they are still pretty popular. Existing Subaru owners and potential customers know Subaru for their reliability, however like every vehicle, they aren’t completely free of issues. From issues with electrical problems to weak windshields and faulty airbags, here are some of the issues Subaru owners have reported facing over the years. 

Faulty Brake Lights

According to owner reports, the brake lights on a Subaru vehicle are prone to issues with the brake lamp switch, particularly when silicone gas comes in contact with them. If this contact occurs, the gas can link to the contact terminal and the switch loses conductivity, ultimately causing the brake light to stop working or malfunction completely. This issue was mostly seen in the Impreza, Crosstrek and Forester models. 

Excessive Oil Consumption 

Subaru owners of a number of models also reported issues with how fast their vehicle was consuming oil. There was never any official acknowledgement or recall for this problem, however, a lawsuit was filed against Subaru for models burning through excessive amounts of oil between their normal service intervals, even as much as having to top up a whole quart every two weeks. The affected models and years included: 

  • XV Crosstrek (2013)
  • Impreza (2012, 2013)
  • Forester (2011 – 2014)
  • Outback (2013)
  • Legacy (2013)

Faulty Head Gaskets

While each model has its own issues, which will get into shortly, one issue that seems to plague all, or most of the models across a particular five-year period (1996 – 1999) is an issue with the head gasket. Subaru owners were faced with two separate rounds of problems – the first was related to the 1st gen EJ25D 2.5-litre engine, typically found in the Legacy, Legacy Outback, Forester and Impreza. This issue related to internal head gasket leaks, while the second round of issues, usually in the EJ251, EJ252 AND EJ253 2.5 engines, resulted in external leaks that affected the cylinder heads, oil and coolant. In both cases, this was usually caused by the wear of the single-layer graphite coating at around 100,000 miles. 

Particular Models To Be Aware Of

There are a handful of Subaru models that have been particularly prone to engine issues and earned recalls for the repairs. If you’re looking to buy a used Subaru that falls into one of these models, it’s worth checking to see if they were ever taken in for the recall. The recalls worth noting are:

  • 2018 Recall – 2013 – 2014 Impreza hatchback and sedans, 2013 Crosstrek SUV, 2013 BRZ Coupe – This recall was issued to replace and repair a valve spring fracture that was causing, or could lead to excessive engine noise, malfunctions and stalling if left unchecked.
  • 2019 Recall – 2017 – 2018 Impreza sedans, 2018 Crosstrek, 2019 Hybrid plug-in Crosstrek, 2019 Forester, 2019 Ascent – This recall was issued to cover a problem with a faulty PCV valve, that could cause the engine to lose power while already in motion. This part was prone to cracking or splitting and could cause serious engine damage if not repaired
  • 2019 Recall – 2017-19 Impreza, 2018-19 Crosstrek – Issues with the engine’s computer were causing problems with powering the ignition coil, even after the motor had shut off. This could cause overheating, short-circuiting or cause fuses to blow, resulting in potential sudden power loss or the inability to start the engine.
  • 2020 Recall – Legacy, Ascent, Impreza and Outback vehicles manufactured June 2018 – February 2019 – This recall was issued to deal with a faulty fuel pump that was causing the engine to stall, even while the vehicle was in motion. The fuel pump was thought to potentially crack, so Subaru issued a recall that would result in the piece being replaced. 

If you have any questions or issues with your current Subaru vehicle, we are on hand to help. Simply get in touch with a member of our team here at Service4Service, today.

Resources

https://olive.com/subaru-engine-problems-you-should-know-about-if-youre-shopping-for-a-used-one/
https://www.torquenews.com/1084/8-most-common-subaru-problems-you-should-know-about
http://www.subarucomplaints.com/problems/