2018 Subaru Forrest Oil Consumption Issue- Surprise Surprise...Hellpp!

10

Asked by GuruC4744 Jan 31, 2019 at 04:49 PM about the 2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium

Question type: Car Selling & Trading In

I need help!! I have a 2018 Subaru Forester 6 speed manual Transmission
purchased in September of 2017. Like most of everyone's story on here goes,
oil light came on at about 1,900 miles, told same story of the piston rings
having to seal and just got the oil changed. Around 5,000 miles oil light comes
back on, go back to the dealership and was told this may be an issue until
10,000 miles when the break in period is over. So I keep burning oil about
every 1500 miles adding oil that I asked Subaru to supply because I was tired
of wasting money. Finally had an oil consumption test done after break in
period at 12,118 miles and it passed. I hadn't checked when they filled up the
oil at the beginning of the test so pretty sure they overfilled it. Keep driving the
car, another 1200 miles oil light is back on, what a surprise. Here goes the
next oil consumption test, it finally fails. They replaced the shortblock in
September of 2018, one year from purchase. Well thought all was great until
oil light came back on! This was after driving it about 5000 miles, still before
needing an oil change. So now I have opened a claim with Subaru of
America, I dropped the piece of junk off at the dealership and have told
Subaru of America I don't want it back. The car has been sitting at the
dealership for a week now while Subaru "investigates". Am I better off having
them "fix the issue" and trading it in or having them buy the car back? I've had
the car for a little over a year and have 26,000 miles on it. I still owe 25K on
the car, trade in value is about 17-20K. I don't want to be financially screwed.
Any suggestions would help.

7 Answers

Keep on SOA and call them every day if that is what it takes. Make another claim and maybe they will offer to buy it back. You will be charged a hefty fee for each mile you have put on it. You can trade it in to get rid of it but you will likely get far less than you owe on it. After my endless problems I got a cash settlement from Subaru but it was not enough to make the whole miserable process worth it.

If you keep the car for some reason switch to 5W20 or 5W30 synthetic oil. It may slow down the oil consumption to acceptable levels. I am using 5W20 with no issues. I may go to 5W30 in the future.

10

Ugh this is so stressful. I bought a new car to not deal with car issues and I've had more issues with this car than I've had with my 93 Honda or 03 outback. How did you go about getting the cash settlement? Did you have to hire a lawyer? SOA told me they will be done with their investigation by next week. Ive read others who have managed to get a new car from Subaru and a discount in the amount of payments made. I'd go for that as much as I dont even want a Subaru anymore.

1 people found this helpful.

I put a lot of pressure on them and after two new engines and a lot of egregious problems caused by poor workmanship at a Subaru dealer they eventually bought me off. No lawyers were involved. I also got an extended warranty which was good because there have been a lot of problems with things other than the engine. Life sucks when you own a Subaru.

1 people found this helpful.

I have never heard that anyone got a new car. What can happen is they buy yours back and deduct a fee for each mile driven. Play up the stress, trouble and inconvenience angle for all it is worth. Good luck!

1 people found this helpful.
10

The dealership got back to me, the car needs a new engine...still hope soa will just take this nightmare back and get me into a 2019 forrester hopefully cvt types dont have the same issue

60

The only way to prevent excessive oil consumption is you bought the Subaru new and u followed the break in procedure to the T. With my 2012 Sti I drove first 1000miles never going above 3300 rpm and always varied the Rpms never cruise at the same rpm for extended periods. At 1000 miles I change the oil to rotella t6 5w40 synthetic turbo diesel oil and installed a magnetic oil drain plug and purolator pure one oil filter. I then drove another 1500 miles never going over 4000rpm and varied the Rpms I also reflashed the ecu with Cobb access port tuner. If your forester is turbo I highly suggest u get the tuner and u start running the rotella oil. My Sti I built and service my self and it had over 400hp and I changed the oil every 3000 miles and it never lost more then 1/4 of a quart. You also want to get an oil catch can as well. Subaru are known for oil consumption and this causes detonation from oil blow by and cracks the piston ring lands causing more oil consumption and then motor failure. Change over to rotella and use Subaru of purolator pure one oil filter I bet u will see a difference. All turbo Subaru owners know this trick as well as tuning it and oil catch can. I have multiple Subaru customers with non turbo engines and I run rotella in there vehicles and oil consumption stopped or was drastically reduced

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