Why Subaru’s excessive oil consumption issue could spoil their party

I have owned a 2014 Forester since August 2013 and have had to add oil between oil changes...at least two quarts each time. First time I was told by the dealer that "synthetic oil burns faster." another time I was told it was my "personal driving habits." Another time they said they didnt know but it is not a problem, and they could top it off for me. but I'd already paid for and added the oil. By the way, the spec'd oil is difficult to find when you are on the road. It is not a very available weight. Bad business practice. Mistakes happen, but a business needs to take care of it...not lie to customers. I will never buy a Suburu again.

I was in the market for a Forester as it is one of the few manual transmission-equipped SUVs left with good outward visibility and classic SUV styling. Unfortunately, everywhere I research, I keep running into previously long-term Subaru advocates who are at wit's-end dealing with this issue, especially Subaru trying to brush it aside as normal. My 200,000-mile Ford burns zero oil between 7000 mile changes. So much for the "Eco-friendly" company.

I bought a 2012 Impreza brand new and at about 10,000 miles the oil light kept coming on. This seemed to always occur when I was on a trip in unfamiliar territory and had to locate a dealer. My local dealer told me it is normal to consume 1 quart of oil every 1,200 miles. They gave me a quart of oil to keep in the car. The oil light kept coming on about every 2,500-3,000 miles. In July of 2014 I got rid of the car. I did not feel safe driving a car at any distance with this issue and then, having to try to fill up the oil when it was dark. My dealer did nothing to address my concerns and even the US CEO of Subaru did not respond to my letter on the issue but an underling wrote me and said "they are sad that I no longer own a Subaru". After 3 Subaru's, I will never own one again.

Well my 2014 Forester has had this issue for the last 11 months, I have had four oil consumption test, first one when I only had 900 miles on the SUV, and now that car is in the shop getting a new engine block and cyclinders. I only have 6800 miles on it. If I had known about this problem I would not have purchased this POS.

Yep - same thing with our 2011 Forrester. Did the consumption test at the dealer and came in just below the "normal" threshold so nobody will do anything to fix. Good article and positions the issue well vs Subaru's marketing campaign. I'd rather have our car fixed than receive free fluff magazines with pictures of dogs and mountain bikes.

I have seen the oil loss problem. I have seen the dealer shuffle. If anyone would like to share their experience send me your story...
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I have a 2013 Crosstrek and it needs oil very 2500 to 3000 miles. The weird thing is at 1200 miles oil levels are fine. The dealer will not accept my readings or measurements. I am having another 1200 mile consumption test completed. I carry a quart of oil in the car at all times because the oil light can come on at any time. All my driving is highway and I have 43,000 miles on the car. this is my 7th Subaru and I am getting nowhere with Subaru. So disappointed with Subaru because I have been so loyal. Time to get rid of the car but I am still paying off my loan. I feel I am stuck with a problem car and Subaru and he dealership just doesn't care. loyalty means nothing.

This is still happening with our 2014 Impreza. We failed the oil consumption test and our dealer said that the piston ring replacement isn't being used any more. We actually got a new short block (essentially a new engine!).

2012 Subaru Forrester, oil consumption is very high. called the dealer we bought this car from and they said that it may be the PCV valve. (under $100.00 installed.) Said they will do a oil consumption test. Wish someone had called me from Subaru as now we are just under 100,000 kms and it sounds like they may not warranty. Will go in and see how they treat us. We have been doing the regular oil changes at a Mr Lub due to there is no subaru dealer close by. I do not have a good feeling about this while talking to the subaru service person. They said it would be Subaru canadas fault nothing to do with them on oil consumption. Sorry I bought a Subaru now.

I purchased a 2013 Outback that was a loaner car from the dealer with 6,800 miles on it. Every 2,500 the warning light comes on and oil must be added. I have to carry a quart with me as 0 W 20 is hard to find & I travel often. This is my first car in 30 years to use oil.

First Subaru said the consumption was "normal" because the fuel standards require such thin oil, but after learning of the class action I requested the consumption test so after the dealer oil change and 30,000 service I checked oil the next morning, and you guessed it, it was over filled. After calling to complain the service manager showed up at my house with an evacuation device to remove the excess oil and he threw his tech under the bus blaming the overfill on the tech.

With an accurate fill I proceeded to run 1,200 miles and it consumed 17.3 ounces of oil. This was yesterday, this morning he said I am approved for a new "short block" and this would indeed take care of the problem. I sure hope so, but have this bad feeling this will cost all of us money in resale value...

If you have the test done, MAKE SURE TO DOUBLE CHECK THEIR FILL!

Bought a 2014 forester thinking we would have it for years and enjoy it like our previous 01' forester. It burns oil at about a 1500 mile per quart rate. The dealer has overfilled the reservoir every time they changed the oil. I even have it documented on their sales receipts, idiots!! I will never by a subaru again!!!

Right now I am trying to trade it in for a honda crv (a well made SUV) before this news really gets out and our foresters are worth nothing.

Subaru really screwed up and now I will tell anyone I have a conversation with about cars how bad subaru products are. Thanks subaru for screwing your customers over..

We lose our down payments doing that! However I'm trading mine in to right after they rebuild my engine. I've got it all documented too. I've even read the CRV manual and no where does it say to add oil ever other fuel stop and check coolant every fuel stop. It's crazy. This car had made me lose a lot of money. NEVER WILL I EVER CONSIDER THEM AGAIN. and I bought it with the idea that I'll have it for ten years! What a waste.

We had a 2010 Forester XT, 2.5L manual. It threw oil at highway speeds - 65+ MPH. Dealer said there was nothing wrong with it... a quart of Mobil-1 oil every 600-800 miles, but only if we were driving over 65mph. We traded it for a 2011 Forester, because the burning oil smell was nauseating (at stop signs or when parked). And we've had the SAME PROBLEM AGAIN! The dealer(s) have noted the high oil consumption, which puddles on top of the engine, near the filter area, but no solution. The last guy said, "Oh, that's just blow-by... pretty much normal..."

Our solution is to carry a GALLON OF OIL behind the seat, and we just keep topping it off every other tank of gas. We love everything about the car, except this oil problem. HWY speeds = HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION. Driving under 60mph, and no oil consumption...?! I thought this might be a manual transmission problem, low/high revs or something goofy - sounds like it's universally an engine problem.

One other nicety - we were told in no uncertain terms, "If you don't bring your car to the dealer, your warranty is essentially VOID". Since then, every mailing we get from that dealer goes to the circular file. Since we're shopping for another new car.... and really like Foresters... maybe it's time for us to consider another company.

I just called 3 Honda dealers and spoke to their service guys without saying I was a Subie owner. When I described the problem all three told me to bring it in immeduately that something wasn't right and could lead to bigger head gasket problems. I told them I had a Subie and they were shocked. I told each that our manuals state to check oil at every other fuel stop and coolant every stop. Every mechanic thought that was nuts. Honda oil every 3500 miles and coolant every FIVE YEARS. I'm trading it in for a CRV before these cars are worth nothing. Such a shame because I do love my Forester.

By the way do not use Mobil 1. My techs tell me for some reason Subie's do not like oil. Only use Subaru oil and filters.

About 2 weeks ago, I began "looking around online" for another Forester, a 2013, manual transmission. We want the higher towing / carrying capacity than the 2014+ models. If you didn't know, the newer cars have been derated by almost 1000lbs! Curious of how prices have changed, or not, I found a couple of 2013 cars that are selling for just under new car prices, and one with 33k on it that was selling for $1000 OVER what new car prices. That dealer has contacted me 4 times, trying to talk me into 'anything'. I blocked their number yesterday on my cell phone.

The dealer that sold me our 2011 said we had to use Castrol GTX 0W-20 oil (a synthetic), and it throws it as fast as Mobil 1. Well, I have literally given up on this issue. We like the car, hate the oil throwing issue - and from here on, we'll just advertise to everyone that asks, "how do you like your Subaru?".... Plan on carrying a gallon of OIL with you EVERYWHERE, 'cause they leak & burn it like crazy! And, get use to checking it every fill up (and the people staring at you when you pull out your GALLON JUG of oil to refill your car at every gas station)..... While your at it, mention the dealership, and Subaru's, "blame the customer attitude - your warranty is void..." kind of response.

We'll probably drive this car into the ground, which could come suddenly... on the highway with a seized engine, or in an ice storm when we're just trying to get home safely.

I am afraid the new model changes brought with the 2014+... lighter, less towing capacity, less roominess, has turned me away from Subaru completely.

PRECEDENCE HAS BEEN SET!

action lawsuit over claims that it manufactured 1,593,755 defective vehicles that excessively burn oil and require frequent spark plug replacements.

The settlement concerns all U.S. purchasers and lessees of 2008-12 Accord, 2008-13 Odyssey, 2009-13 Pilot, 2010-11 Accord Crosstour and 2012 Crosstour vehicles equipped with six-cylinder engines that have variable cylinder management. Accord vehicles with four-cylinder engines are excluded from the settlement.

The original suit -- filed in March 2012 by plaintiffs Alex Soto and Vince Eagen -- claimed the vehicles contained a "systematic design defect that enables oil to enter into the engine's combustion chamber." The alleged defect led to "premature spark plug degradation and engine malfunction," court documents said.

The plaintiffs claimed Honda hid the problem from consumers. Honda denied the allegation, despite receiving hundreds of online complaints on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Web site, and about 130 on carcomplaints.com concerning the 2008 Accord alone.

Honda later issued a technical service bulletin notifying its technicians to check for the defect. The automaker did not issue a recall because a safety issue was not discovered.

The majority of complaints allege that Honda said it was normal for a powertrain to burn a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. The suit claimed Honda refused to cover warranties for the vehicles and, instead, instructed customers to check their oil every time they get gas.

Eagan claims that he had to add a quart of oil to his vehicle each month and had to replace his "prematurely fouled" spark plugs twice within 55,000 miles as a result of oil burning in the cylinders.

Soto said in court documents that he routinely noticed carbon buildup on his exhaust pipe -- a sign that oil, and not just gasoline, is burning in the powertrain.

Honda assured Soto that this, too, was normal, court documents show.

Dave Sullivan, an analyst at research firm AutoPacific, said that today's emission requirements do not permit engines to burn oil.

"It's too dirty," Sullivan said. "We're seeing cars go 10,000 miles now between oil changes. If there was a quart for every thousand miles you would need 10 quarts, and most cars don't have that many quarts in them."

Sullivan said when he changed the oil in his Mazda6 that he may have lost "a cup or two of oil between changes, but that was over 7,500 miles. I think that's a negligible amount. That being said, there's no excuse for a quart every thousand miles."

Sullivan said the last major episode that involved people complaining about oil burn was with the Mazda RX-8. "Instead of waiting for people to complain, [Mazda] was more proactive and … said 'even if you don't have a problem, you're going to have one so let's just fix it now.'"

Honda declined to comment until after the case is granted final approval.

The settlement was reached after U.S. District Judge Susan Illston declined the defendant's motion to force arbitration on the case in Oct. 2012. The judge found that Honda was a third-party non-signatory to a contract and therefore may not compel arbitration under the terms of the contract.

The preliminary settlement approval was given Oct. 9 by Illston in San Francisco. The final fairness hearing, which is the last step in a class action settlement, is set for March 21.

Under the conditions of the settlement, Honda agreed to extend the powertrain limited warranty for up to eight years after the original sale or lease of the vehicle. Honda also agreed not to oppose the counsel attorney fees as long as they do not exceed more than $800,000. Eagen is also asking the court to approve an incentive award of no more than $1,000 to compensate him for his time and effort on behalf of the settlement class, according to a copy of the class notice.