Not having any luck with Subarus at the moment

"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck) 01/06/2017 at 09:26 • Filed to: None

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As many of you know, my WRX bit the dust a few weeks ago when the service department overfilled it with oil. It threw a rod bearing and the detritus sanded grooves into all of the rotating parts and their bearings/journals.

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I received a text from my mom yesterday. “My transmission went out on my car this morning. Being replaced under warranty. Unbelievable after only 40k miles!” The car in question is a 2014 Outback.

So, what happened? Well, she started it, backed it out of the garage, turned around, drove to the gate, put it in park, opened the gate, drove it through, put it in park, closed the gate, then when she put it back into drive, it wouldn’t roll forward and only made a loud clicking sound when she tried. She immediately put it back into park and called for a tow.

The Subaru dealership said something let go inside the transmission, but it would be fully covered under warranty. When she expressed a concern about it happening, they said it was a one in a million occurrence and she had nothing to worry about. She’s now driving an Outback loaner, but it’s not as nice as mine! :)

This has both of us thinking about extended warranties. Her current warranty is good for another 20k, but mine is up in April or 4k, whichever comes first.

Anyone have experience with Subaru extended warranties? I guess I could just trade up for a new car with a new warranty, but they don’t make the WRX in a hatch yet....

CalzoneGolem > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/06/2017 at 09:34

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I’m over here like, “Dafuq is a warranty?”

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/06/2017 at 09:36

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No experience with extended warranties, but of your WRX is using the older, very well documented engine, do you have to worry about it? Wasn’t the problem with it entirely the technician who fucked up’s fault anyway? I don’t trust autos or CVTs, so can’t really comment on your mom’s Outback, but I don’t really see the point in an EJ WRX.

DipodomysDeserti > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/06/2017 at 09:37

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How much oil did they put in that thing to throw a rod bearing? Was the engine ticking at all before it ate itself? Also, does the outback have a CVT? You guys are hitting the Subaru jackpot. Blown engine and transmission. Now you just need a cracked piston for the trifecta. I cracked the firewall and a piston on my old WRX.

BobintheMtns > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/06/2017 at 09:37

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I spent about six months working for a subi dealer. Most of the other salesmen were kinda douchy, so I spent a lot of time hanging with the gearheads in service.. I was always shocked by the amount of subarus needing MAJOR work before they hit 100k...

random001 > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/06/2017 at 09:39

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Crap happens, but really, you’re about to have a brandy new engine, right?

We got the extendo-warranty on the Wife’s Crosstrek, but only because I need to not be worrying about things for a long time whilst in school. Also the reason I bought a Hyundai.

Typically, I’m a no go on extended warranties, though.

TheRealBicycleBuck > CalzoneGolem 01/06/2017 at 09:41

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It’s what helps me sleep at night. This is my first car with a warranty. The peace of mind is palpable. I’m no stranger to turning a wrench, but when I start thinking about repairs to AWD systems and turbos, I get a bit antsy.

Stapleface > DipodomysDeserti 01/06/2017 at 09:46

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How in the hell did you manage to crack the firewall?!

TheRealBicycleBuck > DipodomysDeserti 01/06/2017 at 09:46

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It was in for an oil change at the Subaru dealership. This is what I found when the engine started knocking.

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/1789622857

TheRealBicycleBuck > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/06/2017 at 09:48

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The problem was their fault, but they replaced it under warranty instead of acknowledging that they screwed up. I don’t trust that they would have made it right had I been beyond the warranty. I’m sure it would have been a big fight.

TheRealBicycleBuck > random001 01/06/2017 at 09:52

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This is my first car with a warranty and the peace of mind has been enjoyable. It’s especially important for my mom. She lives by herself, 12 hours from me, 5 miles from town, 30 miles from the city, and 40 miles from the dealership. Basically, the boondocks. And it just snowed.

CalzoneGolem > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/06/2017 at 09:53

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Yeah, I wanted to get a FWD NA wagon for this very reason but I got a NA Forester. Hopefully I’ll have better Subaru luck.

random001 > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/06/2017 at 09:55

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Well, if you are in a situation like that, and the extended warranty is a) not going to kill you financially, b) factory backed, and you make sure to read the fine print, and c) on a car you plan to keep for at least that long, then it can really be great for piece of mind and saving your ass.

Matsayz > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/06/2017 at 10:00

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So her new transmission should be covered for a different amount of time than what’s left on her original warranty.

Look at how much an extended warranty would cost you from Subaru. I think I paid like $2500 for 5yr/100k??? I’d have to go back and look at paperwork.

My 2012 WRX killed a diff at 11k... i was taking a left through the neighborhood and crunch crunch fuuuuuuuck what is that noise. Then the Subaru dealer asked me if I had been hooning it, yes, I’m driving the shot out of this thing every chance I get in Las Vegas............... replaced under warranty bitches.

Now I own a VW Golf R and yeah, must have warranty at all times or set it on fire

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/06/2017 at 10:00

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This is unusual, at least historically. I’ve had four Subies up to 2010my run for 100k miles with just fluids. Wonder if there’s lower QC now since the factory is pushing through so many.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/06/2017 at 10:06

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I’ve been saying for years that Subarus aren’t as reliable as the internet seems to think they are. Name a problem and I’ve seen a Subaru have it, and I could probably name ten more.

As for warranties, manufacturer ones are best if that’s a possibility. If you go aftermarket, research the company like crazy and buy the highest tier they offer. Lots of these companies are shadier than the dark side of the moon and lower tiers often don’t cover anything.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/06/2017 at 10:09

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Jesus that sounds like Range Rover reliability there

TheRealBicycleBuck > Matsayz 01/06/2017 at 10:14

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I asked about the warranty on the new engine in my WRX. I think they said it was 12 months. I won’t know for sure until they return my car. It was supposed to be yesterday, but they said it was smoking a bit and they wanted to drive it a few more times to see if it was just stray coolant burning off (WTF?). I’m guessing the tech didn’t torque something down properly, or clean a mating surface properly, or they got a bad gasket.

The new transmission in my mom’s Outback should have additional warranty, but I want to make sure it covers towing if the dang thing fails again.

TheRealBicycleBuck > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 01/06/2017 at 10:15

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I’ve been looking at the Subaru extended warranty. It comes with all the bells and whistles. You can even get a tier that covers CV boots and brakes!

smobgirl > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/06/2017 at 10:18

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I debated it for my car but a manufacturer extended warranty wouldnt save me money until I had multiple major issues. Decided I’d be better off putting the money in my savings account and crossing my fingers.

TheRealBicycleBuck > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 01/06/2017 at 10:19

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To be fair, the engine problem in mine was caused by the dealership overfilling it with oil. It’s been the only warranty issue in nearly three years of ownership.

The transmission problem is also the only problem my mom has run into with her Outback. Also in nearly three years of ownership. This is her fourth Subie - the first being an ‘83 GL wagon, and the other three have been Outbacks. They must be doing something right to win her loyalty. She’s picky.

DipodomysDeserti > Stapleface 01/06/2017 at 10:21

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It was a somewhat common problem with a certain year of WRXs. There’s even aftermarket parts that brace the firewall in order to preent it from happening. One of the weld seems cracks. You know it is cracked because it makes a loud creaking sound when you push the cluth in. I had to pull the dash amd weld it. Lots of fun.

Stapleface > DipodomysDeserti 01/06/2017 at 10:33

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Damn. I’ve never heard of that before. Then again, I’m not to up on the WRX community. Was there at least something else you could do while you had the whole dash apart so you weren’t just doing it to fix Subaru’s mistake?

DipodomysDeserti > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/06/2017 at 10:58

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They just keep filling it until it poured out the fill hole? I’m surprised it wasn’t getting into the intake and blowing smoke everywhere. You’s think the lifters would be loud as hell too.

DipodomysDeserti > Stapleface 01/06/2017 at 10:59

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Probably could have added some sound deadening, but I like my subarus loud. I did find a GPS tacker hidden in the dash, so that was cool.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/06/2017 at 11:01

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Sooooo.... I had bought a new 2002 Impreza Outback Sport Wagon. When I bought the car I bought an extended warranty because I thought it was the “right” thing to do. During ownership the only thing the extended warranty covered was replacement of the rear hatch when the car was about 5 years old. One of the struts froze up and pulled itself out of the rear hatch. This required them to actually replace the entire rear hatch since it tore a 1" hole in the hatch completely destroying the anchor point. Now I need to say I had to fight them on this repair too.... I had to call Subaru of America and tell them that Matia Subaru of Sacramento was not honoring my warranty and that they suck. So this was a $1,800 repair and completly paid for the warranty and then some.

About one year later I get a letter in the mail from Subaru stating that they have a recall on impreza hatches and that I can get mine repaired for free or reimbursed for previous repair costs.

So my $1,000 warranty that covered the car for 6/60,000 in the end did not do jack shit for me.

No fast forward to now and I have a 2013 Outback that just got a new short block under warranty at 36k miles.... I hope the Outback doesn’t shit the engine again because this is not a regular service I can afford.

TheRealBicycleBuck > DipodomysDeserti 01/06/2017 at 11:41

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The tech said it was one to two quarts overfilled.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/06/2017 at 11:42

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That’s the thing - a warranty, like insurance, is something you don’t want until you need it.

CaptDale - is secretly British > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/06/2017 at 12:22

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Will be posting a relevant photo soon

DipodomysDeserti > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/06/2017 at 14:44

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I wonder if their oil dispensing gauge was off, and they put an extra quart in everyone’s pan.

TheRealBicycleBuck > DipodomysDeserti 01/06/2017 at 15:16

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Good question. I wonder if they thought to check it after mine came back with too much oil. I also wonder if they started checking the dipstick after filling it just to make sure they aren’t putting in too much oil. If they had done that, the overfill would have been caught whether it was caused by inattention or a faulty gauge.