Subaru
reviews and complaints

I bought a bran new crosstrek at the end of June thinking I would have six years before it had any issues.

The car has now been in the shop for over a month and needs a new transmission.

I bought it from Big Island Motors in Hilo Hawaii.

It was supposed to be shipped across two weeks ago but I missed the shipping date because it was undriveable.

I had also rented it for the time I was off island but the first day someone else drove it, it stopped working.

So now I have paid for a car to sit in a lot at $500 per month. I lost $1100 on shipping and $2000 worth of rental on the island and the car is still not fixed. I did buy a warranty and they have covered a rental car starting last week.

I got only two months use out of my brand new car with six miles on it.

I asked Big Island for a buy back but they said no.

I would still like a buy back. If not a buy back then I would love to have the vehicle replaced. I am now living in Colorado.

Purchase date 6/18/2021

VIN: JF2GTABCXMH346004

I purchased a new 2016 Crosstrek. In the 5 years that I've owned it, I've had to have the rear brakes replaced twice, most recently 12/20/20, and now the front brakes replaced twice, most recently on 10/12/21. I'm just under 60, 000 miles in 5 years. On 8/4/21, I had a right rear wheel bearing replaced. I'm extremely dismayed at the apparent poor workmanship. Some of the problems also appear to be connected with how the vehicle is constructed. Profile Subaru of Conway NH did the work and mentioned that they had to move something that was rubbing when I turned, but didn't list it in their work order.

I have a 2018 Subaru Outback which I purchased a new battery (625 cca) in October 2020. The battery worked very well until August 12, 2021 when it went dead in my garage. I replaced it with the same battery and within less than a week it went dead overnight while I was on a trip. I replaced it again with a now better battery (640 cca) and now because I'm afraid it going to happen again, I disconnect the battery every time I park the car. I know there is a class action lawsuit against Subaru for this issue. I've also read many complaints for this same issue of batteries going dead while sitting overnight and just parking the car for a short time. Nothing is left on to drain the battery when I park. I read an article of someone who had the same problem and the Subaru dealer replaced the data control module (DCM) and internal backup battery, which solved his problem. This morning when I drove the car, I set the MPG readout and it was giving me readings all over the place and then it would get stuck on 99.9. This to me is a strong indication that the DCM is defective.

To make a long story short...My wife and I purchased a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, we now have 1200 miles on it.
When we purchased this vehicle we asked and were told that it could be flat towed behind our motor home.
After two emails to "Dear Subaru" we did receive a reply from a gentleman named Doug who said that the Crosstrek could be flat towed for a distance of 31 miles at no more than 20mph as stated in the owners manual.
As we live full time in our motor home this vehicle will not work for us unless we rent or buy a suitable car trailer. We would like to trade or give this car back to the dealership for one that will work for us.
Btw..Doug you don't see the owners manual until you purchase the vehicle.
Once again we were told that we COULD flat tow this vehicle behind our Motor home by the salesperson and dealership.
Thank you,
Raymond and Stephanie Roberts,
[protected]@gmail.com,
[protected]

Hello. My name is Mary Ellen Irons and I'm a new first time Subaru owner.

I purchased a brand new 2021 Ascent in November of 2020 to be used as an additional car to stay at a vacation residence in Vail, CO. I loved the car so much, but immediately noticed the chrome on the entire car whether polished or matte began to tarnish and rust.

I made an appointment on my next visit to Colorado and went to the dealership which is about an hour away and the service personnel said that one additional car did the same thing and all the chrome is having to be replaced and they would contact me about a time shortly. This was in May. I never heard back so I called in June when I was back in Colorado and they told me I needed to come in again. This is after I have to call multiple times and get transferred or just hung up on. I called back again today three times just trying to reach someone. I finally left yet one more voicemail and am not hopeful I will hear back.

On all the prior calls, they told me I would receive a call back. However, I never received a call back so I called again with the same outcome in June and July. Continuing to have no resolution I'm now trying this option as the problem has never received any action to being resolved.

I only have 1000 miles on the car and it is maintained in a heated garage and is washed and dried after each visit before I depart the home.

With the dealership, Groove Subaru in Silverthorne, continuing to ignore the issue and failing to call me back I'm pleading for your assistance. I just want the issue resolved.

The dealership has all the pictures of the defective chrome. I don't have any pictures with me as I'm at my home in Little Rock, AR and not accessible to take photos of the vehicle located at my vacation property in Vail, CO.

I need someone to help me with this as I've received nothing from the dealership.

Please contact me at 501.837.0441. [protected]@cmsiservices.com

Thank you greatly for your time and assistance with this matter.

I am a customer for almost a decade and I have purchase 3 Subaru's from San Bernardino, CA office. This time my husband and myself have been trying to get a hold of finance or management for almost 2 months and left multiple messages. NO ONE CALLS BACK. My Outback that you bought back has not been paid off according to the finance company. I am making 2 car payments and only have 1 car. I am so upset that they don't even call us back.

I own two two Subaru Outbacks (2016 and 2020) and have been very pleased with both cars. However, I was very surprised to find that when one of my 2016 Outback hey fobs failed it would cost me over $300 to have it replaced. I was disappointed. I understand having to pay for a key fob replacement if I lost or damaged my fob. However, to have to pay for a fob that runs down batteries for some unknown reason is disappointing. I think there should a a much longer warranty on fobs. No one should have to pay $300+ to ensure that they can unlock the car and drive it daily.

Thank you,
Francis Neary

On July 15 2021 I had an appointment to take my wife's 2021 cross trek into the service department at Spangler Subaru due to the paint peeled off the front of the car, I had washed my vehicle and then my wife's with a high pressure washer on the lowest setting.On my truck I had no issue, but a 1 in by 1 inch piece (estimated)of paint peeled off the front of my wife's car, I then called Spangler Subaru and set up an appointment due to its a brand new vehicle and paint shouldn't peel like that.Now Spangler Subaru doesn't have a body shop (they contract their work out) now their body specialist tells them that it looks like something hit it(the area in question) now in fact I know because I was the one washing the vehicle and the area is all smooth no dents or scrapes or other visible damage.Now they did get an estimate for me from a a body specialist they deal with and it doesn't matter about the price it's only $350.00, but a bumper to bumper warranty should cover everything and why does Subaru contract their bodywork out and if you get another body specialist that doesn't deal with Subaru is the work still covered or does it void the warranty because you didn't use who they recommended.Spangler Subaru did say the too pictures.

The advertisement for the 2020 Subaru Outback shows a man surveying a totally wrecked car, a stricken look on his face as he thinks about the events that caused the accident.
For those of us who have lived that nightmare this is cruel and irresponsible. My husband was killed and I was severly injured. Life provides too many PTSD moments without a company tryin to peddle thir safety with fear and grief.
Did anyone in your advertising department even think about this? Hire somone who has a soul.

My wife and I purchased her a new 2018 Subaru Outback which we really like. Our complaint is we have been to Crews Subaru at least 3 times including today for help getting our GPS map updated. The first two times we while getting the oil changed. You can check your computer for dates. The first time they didn't update saying they would have to charge $50. We said ok we get it done the next time we get oil changed. We asked again the second time to have the GPS Map up dated and was told the person who does that was on vacation and they would call us when he returned. We talked to service manager he basically made us feel like stupid senior citizens. They did not call back so I went to Crews Subaru of Charleston and asked again today.
They said they could not update the GPS. I want to know where I can go to get updated. This very poor service to seniors.

To the Manager of Subaru,

I have purchased my Subaru XV last November 2018 through Brunei agent Lau Motors. Unfortunately, after using it for few months, the chrome handle started peeling off. Absorbers start making noise and the worse is the cover of the aircon switch cracked. It is still under warranty so I raised the issue to the agent. He checked and promised to order the parts and check the absorbers. The mechanic said everything is fine. They tightened the nut of the absorbers and asked me to test. After few days, the absorbers start making noise again, the same issue then the agent was saying that they will check again. Maybe it will end up with changing the absorbers with all my costs. Because, if I will send the car to them then they just tighten the nut then it is wasting my time.

About the console of the aircon switch, I reported it in November last year. until now there is no update from the agent. He is ignoring my complaint. I have made comments on their Instagram and Facebook but they deleted my comment. With such service, I regret buying Subaru.

Intended Subaru Brunei buyers, beware.

Paul

I have a 2015 Subaru Outback. In 2018 and 2019, the batter kept dying. I had to continually have it jump started or charged. The battery was replaced by the dealership in May 2020. I went outside this morning to start my car and it was dead. Completely dead. I now fear driving this car because of it dying. I don't want to be stranded. The battery shouldn't be dying on this car and it has also become a safety issue.

I have a 2011 3.6R Limited Subaru Outback with over 100k miles. Over a year ago as I was driving to work, I couldn't accelerate. The check engine light and traction control light was steady, and the parking brake light and cruise control light was blinking. I brought it in to my Subaru dealer and they couldn't find anything wrong. The lights turned off. After I picked up my car (about 2 months later) it happened again. The car does not pick up speed and the same lights were blinking. Again, my dealership did another diagnostic and it registered with another code. So, they fixed the issue based on the code. A few months later it happened again! This time when I brought it in Subaru said it was a disconnected wire. So, they temporarily replaced the wire harness. During the snow storm recently, I was backing out of my driveway and the engine just stopped. When I turned it back on to start and drive, the SAME thing happened. No acceleration, lights on and blinking. I had the car towed. The dealer held onto the car a few days only to tell me that this time the diagnostic said it was the catalytic converters. Now, I had already spent over $4, 000 trying to get this fixed that the repair shop was confident in doing. Am I supposed to dish over another $5, 000 to replace the cats only for it to happen again?

After doing research I know it's the transmission. The dealer never said anything to me about replacing the transmission.

I've already spent a lot of money on this car. Now, what am I supposed to do when the repair shop can't even figure it out?

Please help!