Now That Subaru’s Oil Consumption Lawsuit is Settled, What Should You Do?

What does this oil consumption do to the catalytic converters? The EGR valve? How about the rest of the emissions related equipment on the car?

I have a 2012 Subaru Outback 3.6 that keeps using oil. When I look on websites for recalls my year is not there. How can I prove to the auto service department that it is truly happening. I reported to them and they deny it is happening.

I had forester 2011, I had only 60000 this year, I have been changing oil every 3 to 4 months or so even though I didn't put on lots of miles. Since I moved to Chicago, I began driving more miles, I started to hear some noise, I just thought something got loose. On my way to shop, I got smoke from the engine and it died on me on the road. I didn't get any warning light for the engine oil and I never imagined it could be a problem of the engine oil since I have been changing it every 3 or 4months at most. I wish guys who changed my oil could tell me that the oil is strangely low, then I would have googled to see the possible problem. I only found about the issues with my model after losing the car. the Subaru can let the owners to be aware of the problems at lease if they are not doing a recall, I wouldn't mind to fill the extra oil if I had known about it just to keep the car. it is big loss on the car with very low mileage.

I bought a 2014 Outback new, at about 3000 miles the oil light came on. I thought maybe since it takes full synthetic and light oil weight maybe needs brake in period. Well it kept happening so I mentioned it to my mechanic when he did the inspection and he said it's not normal take car to Subaru. So I did and the oil consumption tests began. The dealership told me a quart of oil consumed in 1200 is normal. I didn't believe them so every time the light came on I brought the car back to them. It started happening about every 3000 miles then progressively got worse happening sooner and sooner. One of the times the day after I had brought to them to check the level the light came on while I was driving. About a year of oil consumption tests and the dealer admitted there was a problem with my engine. So the block got replaced. When I picked up the car I noticed something was wrong so I went back in and spoke to the manager he went with me to my car leaned against it and asked for my paperwork.
He then said oh you had the block replaced it's fine threw my paperwork at me and walked away. I told myself that maybe I was wrong but then besides the vibration I felt I noticed it had no power. I then called Subaru of America 1-800 number and they said take car to new dealership. It took about another year of fixing the parts broken by the first dealership and I thought the car was good. Subaru also extended my warranty because of the class action lawsuit unfortunately for me I had already bought that one. Meanwhile everyone I know kept telling me to get rid of the car but besides this oil situation I really love the car. It's amazing in the snow, it's a manual transmission (which is impossible to find these days), it's good on gas, and it's got great cargo space. Well it is now 5 years later and I have paid the car off and the oil light is coming on again. So we have started oil consumption tests at the new dealership. Looks like I am going to have to contact Subaru of America 1-800 number again to push the issue of getting a warranty extension that I had already paid for and to see if they will make this right. I want to be able to say I love my Subaru without there being a but attached to it. I tell everyone I know not to buy a Subaru unless you want to go through the aggravation that I have gone through.

Over a quart of oil for driving 1,300 miles to Florida is normal? Also, CVT is JUNK
Bought a new 2013 Outback 2.5 premium. We are now on our 3rd engine and our 2nd CVT! Took a 1,300 mile trip to Florida with around 20,000 miles on it. It burned over a quart of oil going down and then over another quart coming back. Subaru corporate said that it was normal oil consumption! Well, shortly after I found the class action lawsuit against them for oil consumption. Twice the Subaru dealer over filled the oil before the oil consumption test! Why? Not to hard to measure oil. The 3rd engine does use less oil and I hope it lasts. Also, around 100,000 miles a bearing went on the CVT! Those were made as throw-away transmissions with no fluid changes originally recommended in the service books. Fortunately, all covered under warranties even though I had to fight for the new engines. Will not buy another Subaru unless Toyota, which now owns 20%, can turn the quality around.

I bought a 2013 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium and did a 1500 mile trip to Oregon. When I was leaving work the next day the transmission light came on and a loud noise bottomed. It was towed to Burlingame Subaru and they determined that I needed a new transmission at 93,000 miles. They put in a new transmission and I paid $1,250 for a new transmission cooler. Then I did the oil consumption test at 97,450 miles. They replaced the short block and the car runs great; no issues with the transmission or any oil leaks at all. I’m now at 139,000 miles and am grateful that it feels like I have a new car.

My 2011 Forester never has any oil in it at 4000 mile oil change intervals. I had an oil burn test done and they said it was normal. Never buy Subaru again.

bought a 2013 out back from Subaru dealer no one told me they have a oil consumption problem. Not quite a thousand miles an it has used 2 quarts of oil.

My 2011 Forester started to burn oil around 100K. Going to dealer for oil consumption test in 3 days and am afraid they are going to "snow me" as a senior citizen. Advice please!!

We had 4 Subarus over the years both Outback’s were burning oil and crosstracks didn’t. My latest 2019 outback just started burning oil right as it hit 60k miles. So the problem wasn’t fixed and this is going to be my last Subaru.

Wow, not a good thing to hear about Subarus, when Consumer Reports them to be the best and "most reliable" vehicles. I own a 2014 Subaru Outback (base model), had it since 10k miles (it was a fleet vehicle). I do oil changes around 6k miles, but at around 4k, I have to add a quart of oil to turn off the oil light. I use Amsoil XL 0w20 oil plus the Amsoil filters. I haven't had any major issues yet (knock on wood), had to replace the windshield once and now there's a new crack in it. First time Subaru owner - it's been a pretty good car so far, but after these reviews, I will probably go back to Toyota or get a Mazda.

Brought my 2013 Impreza in twice in 2020 for oil light coming on way before oil change needed. They said they couldn’t find any reason I should have an issue. They told me to come back for oil consumption test. I brought it back a few months later and was told it was too many miles past 1200 for the test and I needed to bring it back again in another 1200 miles. I called bullshit and brought it to another independent mechanic. He didn’t need to do an oil consumption test, he looked at the sticker for oil change due and said your engine in burning oil like crazy and I’ll need a new engine. I was planning to take a road trip but he said I wouldn’t do it. My oil level was almost empty and I still had 2000 miles before oil change was due. I did some research and found out about the lawsuit settlement.
Called the Subaru dealer that serviced it both times and they said they took no responsibility and that it just so happened my extended warranty had just expired last year after I had it in for service. They said I had to take it up with Subaru of America.
They then told me to get an oil consumption test and then they would decide if they might be willing to pay for the repair.
So here I am over a year later waiting for the test in the dealership. I checked before I came in today and it had gone through half of the oil in 1300 miles. If that’s not excessive and they don’t agree to repair on a car with now 74k miles, I will take it to the media. Anyone with me??

My wife bought a 2018 Subaru Forester. At 50K it started burning oil. My wife has to carry extra oil with her because the car won't make it from one oil change to the next. Subura told her it is acceptable for the car to burn 50 ounces of oil between oil changes. Since the oil light comes on after 32 ounces I can't see how this is acceptable. This was our first and will be our only Subaru. I should have stuck with my Honda - they seem to last forever.

My bought new 2014 Crosstrek’s oil light came on with just a few hundred miles on it. To be fair oil consumption is high for most cars at first however it continued to burn oil (1-2 qrts between oil changes) for the first 100,000 miles. Amazingly though it actually decreased its oil consumption and now at 204,000 miles it might use 1/2 - 1 qrt between changes which I think is just fine. But just about everything else with the car has been great and it has had the crap beaten out of it - including two accidents and one deer strike that took out the right side, bumper to bumper. My biggest complaint is the thin cheap windshield - on my third one - all cracked after small chips.

I am a 78 year old widow - I bought a 2012 Subaru Forester with 78,000 miles in August 2020. A few months later I was going on a road trip so went into Jiffy Lube to have my oil and other fluids checked. They needed to add 2 quarts of oil. I was shocked as the car was not even close to needing an oil change (low covid miles). I did that road trip then about 4 weeks later I was going to go on another road trip. Went into Jiffy Lube as before and they had to put in another 2 quarts of oil. That meant the car needed 4 quarts of oil within a 3,000 mile span. The dealer auto repair service was very low staffed so I've had a loaner for over a month. After 3 weeks they finally came up with a diagnosis of a oil leak from a rubber gasket in the Cam Case. The oil was leaking onto a sensor so that is an explanation for weird dash light readings I had. They said the gasket cant be reached without removing the engine so the cost of repair is astronomical ($3,600) which I don't have. Subaru of America was generous with their offer to pay more than half the repair bill. But yesterday when they started the car to drive it a few feet from the parking area to a service bay the engine was clacking very loudly. They called me and said the noise was a sign the engine had gotten too hot and driven when the oil was too low. I now need a new engine which is several thousand dollars. I am devastated. I do not want to pour good money after bad and replace the engine in this car! I live on social security and cannot afford thousands of dollars to purchase a different car. I've been a loyal fan of Subaru for decades but now I am really gun shy after reading all the comments from people who have much newer models and they have oil burning issues too. Dont know what I should do.

I own two Subaru Outback 4 cyl. I was the first owner for both these cars. The first one is the 2014 model and the second one is 2019 model.
The 2014 Subaru Outback started burning more oil once it touched 70K. I took it to the dealers and they did oil consumption test twice and said it is normal. Since last one year, the car has been burning more oil now. Now the dealership asked me to talk with Subaru America. When I called them, they say talk to the dealer. They are tossing me left and right now. No one wants to take responsibility for this. Made a huge mistake of being a loyal customer of Subaru. My next car will for sure not be a Subaru.