New WRX STI Engine Failure Lawsuit Says Subaru Knew About Defect Since 2008

A new lawsuit against Subaru claims the automaker knew about a WRX and WRX STI engine defect since 2008, causing the turbocharged engine to fail. See what it means for owners.

2009-2018 Subaru WRX and WRX STI engine failure lawsuit

Subaru of America and Subaru Corporation is hit with another Subaru WRX and WRX engine failure lawsuit. This week, the new class-action lawsuit filed in New Jersey claims Subaru knew about an engine defect since 2008 in the EJ25 2.5-liter and FA20 2.0-liter turbocharged engines used in 2009-2018 WRX and STI. This is another lawsuit against Subaru for the performance car’s engine failure.

A new report from Top Class Actions says four plaintiffs, Ricardo Aquino, George Crumpecker, Jonathan Piperato, and Stephen Tresco Alain, claim their WRX and WRX STI engines failed before they reached 80,000 miles. They are represented by attorneys Kantrowitz, Goldhamer & Graifman, P.C. and Thomas P. Sobran, P.C.

2009-2018 Subaru WRX and WRX STI engine failure lawsuit
photo credit: Subaru of America

The class action says Subaru of America and Subaru Corporation concealed a defect in the engines’ piston ring lands, which allegedly causes the engines to fail far earlier than they are supposed to.

The lawsuit against the Japanese automaker claims the turbocharged engine’s failure is caused by faulty piston ring lands, resulting in a sudden power loss and stalling, which poses a “serious safety issue while the vehicle is being operated.”

2009-2018 Subaru WRX and WRX STI engine failure lawsuit
photo credit: Subaru of America

Another issue in the EJ25 2.5-liter and FA20 2.0-liter turbocharged engines stems from “an inadequate PCV system” that leads to pre-ignition or detonation, two “well-known causes of internal engine component damage,” according to the lawsuit.

The class-action lawsuit says Subaru “knew or should have known no later than early 2008” about the engine defects due to their supposedly “substantial field inspections, testing and quality review of vehicles.” The report from Top Class Actions says Subaru would have also known about the defect from warranty claims, communications on vehicle forums, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s database of consumer complaints.

All four plaintiffs had their Subaru WRX or WRX STI engine replaced due to the piston ring land defect. The report says the class-action against Subaru represents statewide subclasses for Illinois, Colorado, California, and New York current and former owners and lessees of 2009-2018 WRX and STI performance vehicles.

The lawsuit covers all 2009-2018 WRX and STI owners who purchased or leased their vehicles in the four states and “sustained monetary loss and diminution of class vehicles’ value resulting from the defect.”

The four plaintiffs seek “damages, interest, prejudgment interest, attorneys’ fees, restitution for all related engine repairs incurred by the class, and restitution of incidental expenses (such as rental vehicles and other substitute transportation)” incurred by Subaru WRX and WRX STI owners.

What should WRX and WRX STI owners do?

If you have experienced engine failure with your 2009-2018 Subaru WRX or WRX STI and have received an estimate or have paid for the repair or engine rebuild, you may be entitled to compensation in the event this case resolves. If you believe you are a potential class member and have an engine defect, you can contact attorneys Kantrowitz, Goldhamer & Graifman, P.C. or Thomas P. Sobran, P.C.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Photo credit: Subaru USA