Is there a lawsuit against Subaru for oil consumption?
Subaru Oil Consumption Class Action Gibbs Law Group attorneys and co-counsel litigated a class action lawsuit against Subaru that alleged that certain Subaru vehicles have defective engines, which burn a substantial portion of their oil. According to the lawsuit, this defect damaged engine parts and created a risk of stalling.
Why is there a class action lawsuit against Subaru?
Gibbs Law Group attorneys and co-counsel litigated a class action lawsuit against Subaru that alleged that certain Subaru vehicles have defective engines, which burn a substantial portion of their oil. According to the lawsuit, this defect damaged engine parts and created a risk of stalling.
What happens if you sue Subaru for engine problems?
Top Class Actions reports that owners of the defective engines will be reimbursed by Subaru for expenses related to the defect and given a longer warranty. The lawsuit alleged that defective piston rings caused them to burn extra oil, and that Subaru knew of the problem but didn’t disclose it to owners.
What are the benefits of the Subaru oil consumption settlement?
Among other benefits, the settlement provided: Repairs by an authorized Subaru retailer needed to correct excessive oil consumption now fall within warranty for 8 years and 100,000 miles (whichever comes first).
What year Subarus have oil consumption problems?
Subaru Foresters and Outbacks from 2010 to 2015 model years that have a 2.5-liter engine might have oil consumption problems. These SUVs are Subaru's top-selling models, but some owners reported issues with head gasket failure, as reported by Torque News.
Is Subaru oil consumption problem fixed?
According to these sources, replacing the piston rings will fix the oil consumption problem. However, according to Subaru, no changes are needed. The oil consumption is within a normal range, and no action needs to be taken.
Why does Subaru lose oil?
Worn piston rings will allow oil to escape and be burned inside the combustion chamber. High oil pressure causes the oil to flood the engine excessively and be burned up. An aged engine will likely allow oil to leak through tiny spots of natural wear and tear.
How do I stop my Subaru from burning oil?
4:045:19Subaru Oil Consumption Issues? Information and FIX! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf it burns more than a quart and one thousand miles go to the dealer. And have them replace yourMoreIf it burns more than a quart and one thousand miles go to the dealer. And have them replace your short block it should fix the issue.
What years did Subaru have engine problems?
Engine Computer Issues – 2019 Recall #1 The models affected were Imprezas, model years 2017, 2018, 2019; and the Crosstrek, model years 2018 and 2019. Subaru will address the issue by updating the computer software and replacing the coils and fuses required.
Is there a class action lawsuit against Subaru?
Lawsuit alleges Subaru Forester, Legacy and Outback vehicles in California have defects that cause sudden unintended acceleration problems. Included in the California class action lawsuit are the 2015-2019 Subaru Legacy, 2012-2018 Subaru Forester and 2015-2019 Subaru Outback which allegedly have software problems.
Why is my Subaru using so much oil?
Mechanics Direct recognizes a few reasons a car might consume more oil than normal. There can be a problem with gaskets and seals that lead to leaks or worn piston rings that allow excess oil to seep into the chamber.
Do Subarus have oil leaks?
Subaru's superior technology can be impressive, but common problems such as the older Subaru head gaskets that keep leaking oil are well-known, and they can account for some of the major instances where oil leaks actually occur.
Why does my Subaru smells like burning oil?
If your Subaru doesn't have enough motor oil, it's easier for the engine to overheat. This overheating means that the oil is being burned at very high temperatures, which causes the burning smell. To determine if this is the problem you're experiencing, check your oil tank's levels.
Will thicker oil Help worn piston rings?
Use the correct viscosity of oil The lower the viscosity, the thinner the oil. As you can imagine, thinner oil will slip past worn rings or valve seals easier than thicker oil.
Will engine flush clean piston rings?
It can make the rings move better, but it won't actually clean them. An engine flush basically circulates oil through the engine to get rid of gunk and buildup. This can actually get some of the gunk off the piston rings to keep them loose, and might improve performance temporarily, but it's not a long-term fix.
Do Subaru boxer engines burn oil?
Some older Subaru Boxer engines burn oil between changes. While it's not normal, some engines have had excessive oil consumption issues, and owners report adding a quart of oil every 1000-2000 miles.
Are Subarus known for burning oil?
So, the short answer is yes. Subaru models, especially the older models, have documented reports of excessive oil consumption. However, if you stay on top of your Subaru's maintenance, you can effectively look past the bad habit and still appreciate everything these vehicles have to offer.
Do Subaru boxer engines burn oil?
Some older Subaru Boxer engines burn oil between changes. While it's not normal, some engines have had excessive oil consumption issues, and owners report adding a quart of oil every 1000-2000 miles.
Has Subaru fixed head gasket problem?
After 2009, newer models using the EL25 2.5-liter engine should have far fewer head gasket problems because Subaru started using a multi-layered steel cylinder-head gasket. Starting in 2012, reports say the Japanese automaker redesigned the 2.5-liter engine in the Forester and Outback and has fixed the problem.
How do you fix excessive oil consumption?
0:123:26How to Fix a Car Engine that Burns Oil for 10 Bucks - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNo cars can burn oil for lots of reasons but one of the most common ones today is a bad or cloggedMoreNo cars can burn oil for lots of reasons but one of the most common ones today is a bad or clogged PCV valve now PCV stands for a positive crankcase ventilation.
Want to Learn More?
Subaru is one of a handful of automakers accused of making new engines that excessively burn through oil. And they'll tell you that adding a quart (or two) between scheduled changes is totally normal. It's not.
Subaru Takes a Crude Stance on Oil Consumption
Subaru is one of a handful of automakers accused of making new engines that excessively burn through oil. And they'll tell you that adding a quart (or two) between scheduled changes is totally normal. It's not.
Settlement
On August 31, 2016, Chief Judge Simandle granted final approval of a settlement providing warranty extensions and reimbursements for a class defined as follows:
Settlement Benefits
Comprehensive details about the settlement are available in the settlement agreement. Among other benefits, the settlement provided:
FAQs
This lawsuit focused on an alleged oil consumption defect in Subaru FB engines. Not all Subaru vehicles have FB engines installed in them.
Our Auto Class Action Experience
The auto defect attorneys at Girard Gibbs have over 20 years of experience representing drivers against major vehicle manufacturers such as Honda, General Motors, Hyundai, Toyota, Kia, and Ford. We have earned over $1 billion for our clients, and have achieved some of the largest auto defect settlements on record. Read more about our results.
When were piston rings updated?
The updated piston rings were incorporated into production at SIA on May 8, 2013, starting with VIN D3321342 (Outback) and D3048058 (Legacy).
What happens when you get a car out of warranty?
On vehicles out of warranty, customers will have to pay for their vehicle's repairs--a major out-of-pocket expense, since the engine has to be disassembled, piston rings installed and the engine reassembled, plus any other parts that were damaged as a result of oil loss, gaskets and fluids.
Is it better to replace an engine in one shot or rebuild?
To rely on a dealership rebuilding an engine is foolish and too time consuming to the dealer. Replacing the whole thing in one shot is a better resource of labor hours and parts.
Does Subaru have a fix for oil?
The fix. Subaru has come up with a fix for this problem in the form of a change in the surface treatment of the oil control piston rings.
What caused the piston rings to burn oil?
The lawsuit alleged that defective piston rings caused them to burn extra oil, and that Subaru knew of the problem but didn’t disclose it to owners. The lawsuit, as quoted by Top Class Actions, alleges that Subaru “improperly denied many warranty repairs, and then, more recently, secretly changed the scope of its warranty coverage without telling ...
How long is Subaru warranty?
So, to make good with its owners, Subaru agreed to the following, per Top Class Actions: 1 Increase the warranty length from 5 years or 60,000 miles length to an 8 years or 100,000 miles 2 Pay 100 percent of vehicle owners’ costs for repairs, parts and labor, rental cars, towing and the cost of up to six quarts of oil per vehicle 3 Provide a free oil consumption test and technical service bulletin repairs for owners or leasers of the defective vehicles.
What engines are affected by FB?
According to Torque News, the affected FB engines are the 2.5-liter engines in the 2011-2014 Forester, 2013 Legacy and 2013 Outback and the 2.0-liter engines in the 2012-2013 Impreza and 2013 XV Crosstrek.
Specification Debate
When Subaru was first accused of the alarming oil consumption of their recent engines, 1 quart for every 1-1.2k miles, their director of communications declared that this was within the normal specification for vehicles. However, drivers weren’t duped.
The Affected Models
While it can be hard to tell until this is officially resolved, the vehicles most likely to be affected by high oil consumption include:
The Causes of Excessive Oil Consumption
There are 6 key factors that can cause your Subaru to guzzle oil more quickly which are as follows:
Fixing High Oil Consumption
Aside from the expensive replacement of the piston rings, which thankfully Subaru will cover on qualifying vehicles, there are only a handful of basic things you can do to help keep oil consumption down as much as possible.
Mechanics Direct
Don’t put up with low quality auto servicing for your Subarus high oil consumption. Instead, visit our experts at Mechanics Direct of North Chelmsford, Chelmsford, Dracut, Tyngsborough, Westford, and Lowell, MA. We will make sure your Subaru becomes as oil-efficient as possible.
Why did Subaru settle the lawsuit?
Subaru says it agreed to settle the lawsuit to avoid the cost of litigation but the automaker says it is not admitting guilt. Owners filed the lawsuit in 2014 alleging certain Subaru models experience severe oil consumption issues caused by piston rings that wear out early, causing engine failure.
When is the final hearing for Subaru oil consumption?
Subaru oil consumption class-action lawsuit final hearing scheduled for July 26, 2016. May 5, 2016 — A Subaru oil consumption class-action lawsuit settlement agreement has been reached concerning some of Subaru's most popular vehicles. Subaru says it agreed to settle the lawsuit to avoid the cost of litigation but the automaker says it is not ...
How long is Subaru warranty?
Affected Subaru owners will receive a warranty extension of 8 years/100,000 miles (whichever comes first) for repairs by an authorized Subaru retailer to correct excessive oil consumption problems.
When is the final hearing for Subaru?
The final hearing is scheduled for July 26, 2016, when the court will decide whether to grant final approval. Here's what is currently known about the settlement.