Excessive Oil Consumption
Owners have consistently reported excessive oil consumption from their Subarus. While there was no official recall from Subaru, there was a class action suit filed. The lawsuit was filed because owners claimed some 2011 to 2015 Subaru Forester, Outback, Crosstrek, Impreza and Legacy models were using excessive amounts of oil between normal services. One owner noted that his Legacy was using so much oil that he had to start topping off his own oil with one quart every two weeks between services. According to the lawsuit, more than 650,000 people owned or leased one of these models. While Subaru did not do an official recall, the lawsuit was settled with Subaru agreeing to replace these engines with a redesigned boxer engine if the vehicle was deemed as one that was guzzling oil excessively. The vehicles that were affected include:
- Forester (2011 – 2014)
- Legacy (2013)
- Outback (2013)
- Impreza (2012, 2013)
- XV Crosstrek (2013)
Pro-Tip: If you own or are considering a used Subaru that is less than 11 years old, you may want to consider an Extended warranty solution from olive®.
Subaru 2.5 Boxer Engine Reliability
Many consumers ask: Is the 2.5 liter engine a reliable engine? The answer is not cut and dry. Subaru makes a lot of different 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engines, so to say that the 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engine is reliable or not reliable would not be fair or a true assessment because we’d be casting a wide stroke across multiple 2.5 liter boxer engine versions.
Here are the facts: Subaru experienced lots of engine issues due to head gaskets primarily in the EJ25D 2.5 liter engine and the EJ251, EJ252 and EJ253 liter engines. These engines were used primarily in the Legacy (1996 – 2004), Impreza (1998 – 2003), Forester (1998 – 2004), Outback (1996 – 2004) and Baja (2003 – 2005). These engines in particular have received a bad reputation for their lack of reliability. It was such an issue for Subaru that the automaker extended its powertrain warranty from 5 years/60,000 miles to 10 years/100,000 miles. These same engines seemed to guzzle excessive oil, so much so that a class action lawsuit was filed and settled by Subaru. Eventually these engines were phased out and replaced with the latest FB boxer engine series.
Most Reliable Subaru Engine
Although Subaru has been challenged with engine issues, most of the issues were isolated to a few engines, namely the EJs that were in the Impreza, Forester, Legacy, Outback and Baja models between 1996 and 2005. The latest Subaru boxer engines are part of the FB series boxer engines. This engine series has done well in reliability tests, and specifically the FB20D has been praised for its reliability. According to Consumer Reports, it has performed really well over the past few years in its predicted reliability tests, scoring mainly 5 out 5 in the Engine Major category, which accounts for major engine repairs like engine rebuilds or replacement, as well as cylinder head, head gasket, turbo or supercharger, and timing chain or timing belts issues. This engine has been able to reduce emissions and boost fuel economy without compromising the performance of the engine, achieved through a marked increase in the piston stroke. More torque is also seen through this engine because the pistons and rods are lighter. Another benefit of the FB20D boxer engine, which is the latest Subaru boxer engine, is that it now comes with direct injection that provides a noticeable increase in power and efficiency. The FB20D is in the latest Impreza, Outback and Forester models, three of Subaru’s best-selling models.
Subaru Boxer Engine Benefits
As noted earlier, Subaru is committed to the boxer engine. It affords many benefits which make the investment in it worth it to the automaker. Let’s explore the benefits.
The design of the boxer engine is innovative. It’s flat design is more efficient because it allows for direct output into the transmission. This reduces engine components and inefficiencies, resulting in better fuel economy. The engine is also quieter because the engine experiences less vibrations because of the “flatter” design. In essence the pistons’ punches cancel either out. It’s also smaller than a typical engine, which means it weighs less, making it the perfect size for Subaru’s vehicles.
One of its most important benefits is its low center of gravity, which makes it more stable and more responsive than a traditional inline or V engine, which also means it provides better safety. For instance, if the vehicle were to experience a frontal crash, because the engine sits lower to the ground, it is more likely to drop “below” the passenger compartment rather than into it.
To get the lower center of gravity point across, Subaru cleverly uses three different animals to illustrate how much more stable the boxer engine is. Imagine the inline engine as a giraffe, the V engine as a flamingo, and the boxer engine as an alligator. If you think about a lower center of gravity and how that equates to stability…Which do you think is more likely to be more stable? The giraffe, flamingo or alligator?
Currently there are only two automakers in the world that use the boxer engine in their vehicles, with Subaru using it almost exclusively across its lineup.
While the boxer engine does offer some great benefits, the fact remains that the automaker has dealt with numerous engine issues that have resulted in a few recalls. We hope this blog was helpful in summarizing some of those commonly reported engine issues consumers have experienced. We believe that research is key when buying a new or used vehicle. Subaru’s reputation for reliability and safety is strong, so use this information as a supplement to your own research to help you when negotiating and ultimately buying your next Subaru.
olive® for When Your Vehicle is Not Reliable
Although Subaru has proven to be quite reliable, get peace of mind in the event it proves unreliable at some point or you encounter an unfortunate breakdown. Engine repairs can be quite expensive if you are having to deal with the repair out of pocket because your factory warranty has expired or your engine issue is not part of a recall.
Extended warranty solutions on pre-owned vehicles have become more critical because they provide coverage in case a repair is needed. In general, below is an example of items covered under mechanical breakdown insurance or vehicle service contracts (often referred to as extended auto warranties).
- Steering System
- Electrical Components
- Engine Assembly
- Drivetrain
- Transmission
- Exhaust Systems
- Alternators, Manifolds, Pumps
- Heating and Cooling Assembly
olive® offers Mechanical Breakdown Insurance plans in case an unexpected repair is needed. You can get a quote today and be covered tomorrow at shop.olive.com. Here are some of the benefits you can look forward to:
- No waiting period
- Start coverage up to 140,000 miles
- No yearly mileage limits
- Coverage across the U.S.
- Low monthly payment options
- Cancel anytime
Our products, customer service and reputation for excellence have earned us an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and we have partnered with some of the insurance industry’s largest companies to back us.
