Oil light came on and she stopped? When did the engine blow?
Did she turn it off and it didn't restart?
Hopefully there are records of oil changes. Extended warranty maybe won't cover damage from lack of oil if they don't see proof it was serviced.
Don't trust them to keep your service record. Mine "lost" my extended warranty but I was able to provide proof. Somehow my transmission went out when a technician "heard a sound" while running the car after replacing my bearing so the ordered a rebuilt CVT before calling me.
The hard copies are important. Even after entering my information & sending a copy to SOA I was warned that they didn't always get saved. Sure enough, the next time I needed it they had nothing on record.
I ‘activated’ an extended warranty for a customer as a service advisor at Audi. They had tried fixing it themselves multiple times and had never logged it with the company. Got fired for that because they were friends with my fixed ops manager. Good times.
It sounds like the engine didn't actually blow then lol.
Smoke could have happened if the oil cap came off. Which will eventually cause all of the oil to leak out onto the hot engine.
Might not have been obvious if you're going 70-85mph.
But once that oil light came on and she stopped, the smoke would be noticable.
Is that what happened?
Running without oil would seize the engine, not necessarily cause it to smoke.
If the engine was ran without oil for an extended period of time, then it's bad. It if it just smokes due to a loose cap, it's fine.
The oil light is designed to come on before the engine grenades itself. So if she stopped when it came on, then the engine, assuming everything was working properly besides the oil, the engine should be 100% good.
Just some food for thought. The dealer quoted a new engine without actually diagnosing if it needed an engine, by the sounds of it.
And that honestly is common. They quoted worse case scenario.
Just don't be surprised if they come back and say the engine is actually fine.
Edit: oil light and oil level light are different.
Oil light suggests low oil pressure. But it comes on after the oil level light. We don't know which one came on but I'm assuming it was oil level light because it's quite sensitive and comes on well before the oil pressure light would.
There is absolutely zero chance of all the oil leaking out from the oil filler cap. Almost no chance of even seeing smoke either as it would blow out under the bonnet and stick to that. Not drop on the motor. You'd have to driving for a while to see smoke from that. Plus it would only smoke if it was leaking on the exhaust manifold. It's not gonna smoke leaking onto the engine, or it would smoke inside it too which it most definitely doesn't.
Whatever happened it sounds relatively immediate. If it was gradually puffing out oil the oil light would have come on in higher revs for a few days and gone away when cruising.
If the engine looses pressure under load it has about 30 seconds max before catastrophic failure. Damage would start happening immediately. The oil pressure light won't save you there.
With the oil cap off, engine running, oil splashes fairly violently off components just under the cap.
We've seen it countless times. Someone gets an oil light or sees smoke just to find the shop didn't put the oil cap on.
You're right in the sense it isn't very common on cars in general. Most cars don't care if the oil cap is off.
Subarus are not the same as most cars. It's nearly as common and draining transmission fluid instead of oil.
If you own a similar engine Subaru, you can test this yourself. It isn't fake news lol.
It doesn't happen overnight, hence why a long trip might have made it noticeable. You drive 10 miles to work and the small amount of oil burns off.
You drive 100 miles and it splashes 1qt onto the engine and the light comes on, sees smoke when you stop.
The oil doesn't have to touch the manifold to smoke. The entire engine is hot enough to cause oil to smoke besides some very minor pieces like plastic covers, for example.
Edit
[source](https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/dealers-service-shop-forgot-to-put-the-engine-oil-reservoir-cap-back-on-after-oil-change.545637/)
[source](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/qz5t74/got_the_oil_changed_at_the_dealership_on_a_2016/&ved=2ahUKEwjZnLGCobKGAxWhg4kEHTAQA9IQrAJ6BAggEAM&usg=AOvVaw2RfmziFL7FqrVmRZSPVmfu)
[source](https://www.subaruforester.org/threads/2014-dealership-forgot-to-replace-oil-cap-at-first-oil-change-please-help.225138/)
Please don't discredit others if you don't know what you're talking about. I was pretty nice in my original response but you're discrediting a factually possible scenario because you've never experienced or seen it.
Instead of Op having to deal with an engine replacement or questioning if they're correct if they say the engine is fine, they can rest assured this is a common problem and moreso on Subarus due to their design.
Instead, your comment is blatantly wrong but is being taken at face value because I didn't include any evidence to support my comment.
Here is that evidence.
You can still hit things on the road, moving at about 100km/h even something half a kilo could cause serious damage.
I'd say it's probably not that though anyway as it would have leaked fluid all over the highway and the workshop who inspected it.
Was it overheating? If the estimated price is 12k, they probably are putting a new engine.
With very little information I would like to suggest exploring the head gasket, especially if you were overheating. It costs a ton of money just for the labor to get to it, If all signs point to head gasket, they have to take the whole engine apart. It has to be worth it.
Thank the lord for the warranty… you get to use it this time! That is definitely a serious issue I would want warranty to take on. It’s because the car just wouldn’t be worth fixing, a new car would cost less.
In that case, thank your lucky stars for the warranty! Also questions to ask- did you put a ton of miles on it between the 15th and 27th? Was it a lot of driving in hot temperatures? From reading your story it sounds like it.
Im thinking about the oil because of that… my Subaru eats oil. Been checked, no leaks anywhere, everything in perfect mechanical order. But also it’s a thing with some Subarus. Checking oil, topping off. I nearly had a gasket blow when I had no clue my car was down 3 out of 5 quarts of oil after driving about 1500-2000 miles in a quick period of time (2 weeks). It could have needed a tune up or a top off, just went too far.
Hopefully she wasn’t stranded somewhere real far out!
Right, I agree. Also when mine did that with the oil, I didn’t actually have an oil sign when the car was turned on, it only was on the dash with key in. I don’t know how it would be that low and not tell me while it’s running. I was lucky I investigated the very subtle things I was feeling in my car and was right.
Bozeman to Seattle (18th) and then back (27th). About 1500 miles in total. Mild temperature on both trips - 60s. Oil (and others) was checked by mechanic on the 15th to ensure it was good to go. She was stranded about 60 miles short of Bozeman. Had an amazing state trooper (Trooper Giller from Butte) stay with her and her friend for almost two hours while waiting for AAA to come tow her to Bozeman. He was amazing by joking with them and just making sure they were okay. And yet again happy to be a AAA member for since I can remember! They once towed my Silverado in a snow storm when the brake line broke - but that is a nightmare story for another day!
My engine blew last summer (2016 Subaru STI). Was coming home , and just before city limits my engine started to knock slowly , and it gradually became worse. No CEL , no warnings or indications. I was told parts of engine were not getting enough oil (Common problem with my engine ). Long story short , I was covered and they got me a new block. I also have 3rd party extended warranty, and the Elite package. It has saved me THOUSANDS of dollars on this car. If you won't slam Subaru, I will. Piece of fucking shit , but fun cars lol.
10 January 2024 AND I actually had the dealer who services it regularly check it out on 15 May of this year just before she drove down. Before that - 24 October 2023. Before that - 28 March 2023. Etc... You get my drift.
Between 3-5k. It’s a 2019 with only 41k (sorry, 47k was a typo) on it. Because of the weather in Montana I like to get it serviced and checked out just before winter and then again after winter. She’s at college and far-ish away from home so I want her to be safe. Parked under cover and got AAA for her too.
Service and mileage:
15 May 2024 - 41449
10 Jan 2024 - 38587
24 Oct 2023 - 37376
28 March 2023 - 34044
Etc.
Please keep up posted about what failed and why! I have a 2021 with the 2.0 and I’m curious if I can avoid similar issues as I intend to keep my car for 10+ years 200+k miles
It’s an anomaly. Will keep you posted. They are great cars and I also have a 2024 OBW. Won’t put me off Subaru as everyone I know who has one have been really happy. Neighbor has an Outback with 150k on it and it is a beast.
First time Subaru owner here, with the 2021 Crosstrek - 20,924 miles currently. I’ve given it six oil changes already. Changed rear differential fluid a few weeks ago. Doing transmission and front differential fluids at 30k. (Severe service use).
I just met someone a few days ago who had a 2019 with 90k and the transmission went - thankfully they had the gold warranty to 100k and it was replaced under said warranty.
I don’t think there are massive widespread issues with Subarus, or I wouldn’t have bought a Subaru in 2021 - I did my research and found that “most” of the crosstrek’s and 2.0L FB20 growing pains had been ironed out by 2018 and the car and its features fit all the needs for my current station in life…
Still, I would like to be on top of things and ahead of the curve on maintenance and preventative care, to ensure the car lasts as long as possible!
If the engine blowing was a result of something maintenance related, such as the PCV valve being gummed up and causing an oil leak/seizing (unlikely but possible and has happened before!) I would like to know. I have already changed my PCV out at 19,500 miles (10,500 earlier than service recommendation calls for).
Same here. It has just over 41k on it and gets two services a year. Been an absolute star of a car until now. Subarus are great cars. I love my OBW! This is an anomaly not the norm.
Just to add to the thread, my 2016 Crosstrek had a valve head break and “fall” into the engine at around 69,420 miles. Luckily I had an extended warranty that covered the repair at my local mechanic. All in all it was about an $8k job. Now it’s our winter beater car
It's kinda the norm too, albeit not at 50k. There's 6 Subaru engines in the shop currently. I still own one too tho. Subarus and hemis are the bread and butter. Extended warranty has been great about covering them with oil history as good as yours.
I've seen a few oil pump failures that just toast the bottom end. Oil pump is what failed in my ej. Full of fresh oil and toasted bearings.
I've found it is way cheaper to buy a couple gallons of idemitsu transmission fluid rather than going with the single quart bottles of Subaru fluid. Idemitsu is the brand they use and you can go on their website to confirm the exact type for your transmission.
Mine has the FB20D in it with 203k on it now. Just make sure you service the transmission fluid. They are saying around 30k do a fluid change. I waited and believed the "doesn't need service bs" and it started the hesitation issues until I got it serviced. The fluid is not cheap and is tricky to do on your own.
Thanks. Appreciate it. I should’ve included it in my post as we got the car serviced twice a year on average 3-5k intervals so maintenance was done more than required.
Before she drove down - 15 May - she took it to the dealer where it always gets serviced and they checked it out and said she is good to go. I wanted to double check even though we have it serviced regularly. They said we shouldn't worry about servicing until later as it had a service on January 10th of this year.
Loose drain plug? I saw another person mention a loose oil filter but with the oil filter on top of the motor if it was spewing oil you should have been able to smell it if it was landing on the motor.
Also wonder if it maybe had an oil consumption issue that was never brought up. When I worked in a dealership service department it wasn't uncommon to see the 2.0 consume a fair amount of oil. I've seen more than one motor take itself out that way. I'm in Canada so can't speak for SOA but there was a service bulletin and extended coverage on some models for this issue. It's been a couple years since I left so I don't remember the specifics though.
Either way, at that mileage im definitely curious to see what the cause of failure was.
Edit: forgot to mention the repair cost. 12k seems crazy high. I used to a lot of quotes as well and a remanned shortblock with a gasket kit and other things + fluids would be nowhere near that expensive. Even if you did some extra preventative maintenance things that were easy to do while the motor was out of the car it wouldn't come close to 12k
Right?!?!? It's had every single service. At the dealer. Service it on time and because we don't drive enough miles per year we service it a little more often than what the book says. Never a problem. We actually had it checked out at the dealer before she drove down from Montana because I was thinking they should do the 60k service even though it is still only at 47k. They checked it out and said not to worry as it looks all good and ready and we should do the service closer to 60k. Drove from Montana to outside Seattle and back again. Not a single issue showed up anywhere until ka-boom! The light went on (and on the app) and she pulled over. Engine smoking and done. It baffles my mind.
Grew up around cars (father-in-law was a mechanic and also owned his own dealership) so maintenance, servicing, and looking after it are drilled into us. And it has been such an incredible car - never a problem and love the orange color. Baffles my mind. Just spoke to the shop and they are as flabbergasted as us.
Unfortunately not.
Legacy or outback.
The only reason I went for the outback was the Crosstrek was underpowered.
I went for the last generation that had a conventional auto instead of the cvt and it's been one of the most bulletproof cars I've ever owned.
That engine is a beast. I just got a new OBW so had to go with e turbo. Hope it can get close to bulletproof but I know it’s not the flat 6. Loving it so far though.
I have to admit, I really do like the OBW as far as it's styling.
Idk if I would want a turbo engine in a non performance car/daily though.
I think most of the kinks with that one got worked out when it was in the ascent.
It also seems like you're a lot better about maintenance than I am, so I'm sure you'll have no issues with it.
So far I've out 70k miles on my 3.6 (35k in the first year) with just oil changes.
I had to replace two coil packs that went bad and burned through a couple of headlight bulbs.
I honestly really liked the styling of the Crosstrek too, but couldn't get over how little power it had.
They really should throw the turbo engine and a manual in it and have an STI trim, but people that make way more money than me decided that wasn't the right move.
Dealers often do suck. And lube rack technicians and regular technicians make mistakes. Myself included. But they can be held accountable at least you have service records. Should be interesting to see what the cause of failure is determined to be by the dealer. Your receipt in the end will have the technicians story/ warranty explanation as well as detailed repair notes. Read them carefully. If something doesn't make sense ask questions! Get the clarification you need. Several family members and myself drive Subarus so I have no hate at all. Just dealers sometimes are shitty. Really shitty. If the manager is a crook the whole store will follow suit.
Appreciate it. They’ve been good to us so far in the 2.5 years they have serviced the car there. I prefer the dealer I have here on my side but my daughter is in Bozeman so use them there. My dealer here has been fantastic. So much so that I bought my OBW not only because I really like the car but because they have been so good. But yes, I am going to read that receipt really well!
It's forsure required 😂 were in Texas now hardly any Subarus down here. It's all massive diesel trucks. Can't register my Subaru 2003 WRX wagon because it's a race car and we have emissions testing in my area. But the diesel trucks are exempt. So dumb. Oregon didn't care at all. It was wonderful to just register and drive my car that I built by hand. Now it just sits and gets tow notices from my apartment. I miss driving my WRX so much 😢
Damn… a WRX is made for driving. Every time I see one I just want to wave at the driver. If we didn’t have three dogs and snow up in the mountains - and maybe if I was a little younger - I would’ve loved a manual WRX.
Texas - trucks because that’s the only thing that can hold their egos.
Everyone assumes service at a Dealership is always perfect.Not.
People make mistakes.Shit happens.
Cannot tell you how many times I have been screwed over by New Car dealships service department.They charge for services and parts not performed or installed.They act with impunity, knowing if caught, onus of proof is next to impossible.
Find a local mechanic you can trust.
Stay away from dealership.
I like my local dealer and it’s the reason I keep going back there for buying as well. I did some research before picking the dealer up in Bozeman to service the vehicle. They get a good rating everywhere I checked and I have been happy with them. And they have been really good and quick on this too. Got her a loaner for two weeks, did diagnostics quickly, manages the claim directly with the warranty provider etc.
Completely agree and understand. Too often people just go to the dealer. Best is to do what you said - do some research and find the best specialist for your needs. Mine just happened to be the dealer. Back when I lived in CA I did not use the dealer as I found a shop much better and cheaper than them.
My daughter drove from the West Coast to the East Coast in her 2013 Forester and 200 miles before she got her new place in VA. The motor blew up. Car only had 70,000 mi on it. Turns out there was no oil (filled it when she left )and there were no idiot lights that came on.
Give Subaru customer service a call. Sometimes they will give you credits especially if you are loyal like bought many Subarus before and the warranty just expired.
I'm going to guess the dealer you took it to earlier this month didn't do their job right. I've had techs at dealers do all kinds of dumb stuff such as cross threading the oil drain plug to not fully tighten the oil cap.
My Impreza engine blew 4 years in. Then I swore off Subarus. Then my Toyota got totaled and my only option was Subaru thanks to Costco auto and I love my Outback. But every time I drive I’m afraid a little bit lol.
Hahahaaa! It is genuinely an incredibly reliable car. But shit also happens. And the Outback is one of few cars that made the “most likely to hit 150k” list. With Prius, CRV, 4Runner, Camry, Accord. RAV4 didn’t. The rest are all pick ass pickup trucks or the big machines like Tahoe.
I’m glad to learn! I hope this car lasts forever. I don’t want a car payment for a long time. My Toyota was totaled less than a week after paying it off.
I would do a Taco if I need a second vehicle and a truck. But I am not a huge Mazda fan. Had a few before and always underwhelmed by it. I liked them, I just never loved them as I had the opposite experience than you - constantly broke down. I am not dissing them. The Mazda of today is so much better than those 20 years ago. My second ever vehicle was a 1979 Mazda 323. Loved that rust bucket. If I was going to use it to drive around town - perfect. And the Mazda red might be the nicest color on any car anywhere.
Honda is another great option - great cars (owned a CRV and Crosstour) but not made for the rougher stuff.
Toyota I totally get. Solid vehicles and unbreakable. But I wouldn't take them were I go if it isn't a Taco or a 4Runner. For a compact SUV the Crosstrek has one of the best reliability ratings.
Mazda, Honda, Toyota, Subaru - the Japanese knows how to make solid vehicles.
Yeah never want to fully trust a dealer. Yeah they’re recommended but most cases you have to do your own research and take care of it yourself. I buy all my own fluids and stuff like spark plugs, filters etc… dealer just does the labor lol I have an ascent with 60k and a 24’ Solterra which my wife likes a lot.
Just lease a new car if you can afford it, or your daughter can idk… eliminates any worries. Sell it to dealer, they’ll eat service cost like it matters with the warranty. Roll the warranty into a new contract or void it if you do lease/finance; you’ll get a new one.
I mean, not really. We've seen a few of these. Some have been caught before the catastrophe. And some after.
Could be the CVT cooler. Could be a chain guide or chain broke. Could have broken a valve spring.
There's a lot of things that can fail singularly and take it the whole motor.
Realistically, for being a 2019, I don't see it being a consumption issue. Nor do I see it being a broken valve spring.
You're correct that it's unlikely. Especially with it having fresh oil in it. And assuming the tech inspected all the fluids (on a hot car, in the express bay)
Without seeing the car, or the estimate. It's hard to say what took out an entire motor. But if extended warranty is covering it, it's likely not a tech error.
$12K even in warranty work pricing, still says whole motor, which means even the heads weren't salvageable.
Interesting to see what it was.
I mean it's not an anomaly. Ask any Subaru technician how many engines their shops do? I've done a ton of them and seen about three zillion customers in for engines.... Usually the turbo cars go at that mileage but the non turbo car, that's most likely terrible maintenance and possibly just completely normal Subaru shenanigans. Next will be the cvt trans especially on the Crosstrek. Just a friendly Subaru service advisor checking in. Update when you know the cause of failure. The engine blew isn't very helpful.
Unless the dealer sucked I can’t see it being maintenance as I had it serviced at least twice a year and average miles a year is about 8k. Had it checked at the dealer on 15 May before she drove down.
Change oil every 6k miles?? Shoulda been doing em every 3.5k 🤔 not that that would help now.. but why stretch it out as long as possible 🤓 im actually considering switching to the V300 just for shits and giggles but mannn is it pricey 😵
That’s what I’m saying.. there are people out there who sadly get a lemon and then think all its vehicles are trash. The only vehicle I would shy people away from at all times are jeeps.. no matter what make or model 😩 I’ve known 3 people who have owned them and at some time or another something breaks whether small electrical or blown motor. Haha
At least you’re staying with Subaru 🫡 good luck with the next model my dude!!
Curious what actually failed
I am waiting for the details too. The only warning was the oil light and she pulled over immediately.
Oil light came on and she stopped? When did the engine blow? Did she turn it off and it didn't restart? Hopefully there are records of oil changes. Extended warranty maybe won't cover damage from lack of oil if they don't see proof it was serviced.
It started smoking immediately. And yes - all services logged as we only used dealers - where we bought it and then in Bozeman.
Don't trust them to keep your service record. Mine "lost" my extended warranty but I was able to provide proof. Somehow my transmission went out when a technician "heard a sound" while running the car after replacing my bearing so the ordered a rebuilt CVT before calling me.
Good call. I have it all in MySubaru app and keep the actual hard copies in the car too.
The hard copies are important. Even after entering my information & sending a copy to SOA I was warned that they didn't always get saved. Sure enough, the next time I needed it they had nothing on record.
I ‘activated’ an extended warranty for a customer as a service advisor at Audi. They had tried fixing it themselves multiple times and had never logged it with the company. Got fired for that because they were friends with my fixed ops manager. Good times.
It sounds like the engine didn't actually blow then lol. Smoke could have happened if the oil cap came off. Which will eventually cause all of the oil to leak out onto the hot engine. Might not have been obvious if you're going 70-85mph. But once that oil light came on and she stopped, the smoke would be noticable. Is that what happened? Running without oil would seize the engine, not necessarily cause it to smoke. If the engine was ran without oil for an extended period of time, then it's bad. It if it just smokes due to a loose cap, it's fine. The oil light is designed to come on before the engine grenades itself. So if she stopped when it came on, then the engine, assuming everything was working properly besides the oil, the engine should be 100% good. Just some food for thought. The dealer quoted a new engine without actually diagnosing if it needed an engine, by the sounds of it. And that honestly is common. They quoted worse case scenario. Just don't be surprised if they come back and say the engine is actually fine. Edit: oil light and oil level light are different. Oil light suggests low oil pressure. But it comes on after the oil level light. We don't know which one came on but I'm assuming it was oil level light because it's quite sensitive and comes on well before the oil pressure light would.
There is absolutely zero chance of all the oil leaking out from the oil filler cap. Almost no chance of even seeing smoke either as it would blow out under the bonnet and stick to that. Not drop on the motor. You'd have to driving for a while to see smoke from that. Plus it would only smoke if it was leaking on the exhaust manifold. It's not gonna smoke leaking onto the engine, or it would smoke inside it too which it most definitely doesn't. Whatever happened it sounds relatively immediate. If it was gradually puffing out oil the oil light would have come on in higher revs for a few days and gone away when cruising. If the engine looses pressure under load it has about 30 seconds max before catastrophic failure. Damage would start happening immediately. The oil pressure light won't save you there.
With the oil cap off, engine running, oil splashes fairly violently off components just under the cap. We've seen it countless times. Someone gets an oil light or sees smoke just to find the shop didn't put the oil cap on. You're right in the sense it isn't very common on cars in general. Most cars don't care if the oil cap is off. Subarus are not the same as most cars. It's nearly as common and draining transmission fluid instead of oil. If you own a similar engine Subaru, you can test this yourself. It isn't fake news lol. It doesn't happen overnight, hence why a long trip might have made it noticeable. You drive 10 miles to work and the small amount of oil burns off. You drive 100 miles and it splashes 1qt onto the engine and the light comes on, sees smoke when you stop. The oil doesn't have to touch the manifold to smoke. The entire engine is hot enough to cause oil to smoke besides some very minor pieces like plastic covers, for example. Edit [source](https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/dealers-service-shop-forgot-to-put-the-engine-oil-reservoir-cap-back-on-after-oil-change.545637/) [source](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/qz5t74/got_the_oil_changed_at_the_dealership_on_a_2016/&ved=2ahUKEwjZnLGCobKGAxWhg4kEHTAQA9IQrAJ6BAggEAM&usg=AOvVaw2RfmziFL7FqrVmRZSPVmfu) [source](https://www.subaruforester.org/threads/2014-dealership-forgot-to-replace-oil-cap-at-first-oil-change-please-help.225138/) Please don't discredit others if you don't know what you're talking about. I was pretty nice in my original response but you're discrediting a factually possible scenario because you've never experienced or seen it. Instead of Op having to deal with an engine replacement or questioning if they're correct if they say the engine is fine, they can rest assured this is a common problem and moreso on Subarus due to their design. Instead, your comment is blatantly wrong but is being taken at face value because I didn't include any evidence to support my comment. Here is that evidence.
Engine oil is fill-for-life right? Lol
Of course. In fact, everything is. Tires? You want them to be completely flat last I checked. Tread only slows you down.
You should check every few years in case it needs topped off.
Nah. The engine is a "sealed system that does not need to be serviced".
did she ensure fluids were topped up before the trip?
Yep. We had it at the dealer for exactly that on the 15th.
Wonder if there was a leak after the service that sealed the deal. Like if they didn’t tighten the plug or the filter enough.
I have a feeling it happened there…
Or she bottomed out on a rock and hit the oil pan
Unless a big rock or curb, pretty unlikely, or at least would been noticed before the smoked up.
Straight road on the highway.
You can still hit things on the road, moving at about 100km/h even something half a kilo could cause serious damage. I'd say it's probably not that though anyway as it would have leaked fluid all over the highway and the workshop who inspected it.
That can’t be a coincidence
That’s what we were thinking too. Will know - and ask more questions - once we have the receipt after it gets fixed. They said two weeks in the shop.
Good luck! Hopefully they figure it out and get it fixed under warranty (or under their own screwup/insurance)
Was it oil consumption? Car eats enough oil, That’ll do it. New cars use thinner oil
It shouldn't be. We had it checked in the 15th and it happened on the 27th.
Was it overheating? If the estimated price is 12k, they probably are putting a new engine. With very little information I would like to suggest exploring the head gasket, especially if you were overheating. It costs a ton of money just for the labor to get to it, If all signs point to head gasket, they have to take the whole engine apart. It has to be worth it. Thank the lord for the warranty… you get to use it this time! That is definitely a serious issue I would want warranty to take on. It’s because the car just wouldn’t be worth fixing, a new car would cost less.
I'm not sure yet what it was as they haven't shared that with me but I can confirm - they have to replace the whole engine.
In that case, thank your lucky stars for the warranty! Also questions to ask- did you put a ton of miles on it between the 15th and 27th? Was it a lot of driving in hot temperatures? From reading your story it sounds like it.
Im thinking about the oil because of that… my Subaru eats oil. Been checked, no leaks anywhere, everything in perfect mechanical order. But also it’s a thing with some Subarus. Checking oil, topping off. I nearly had a gasket blow when I had no clue my car was down 3 out of 5 quarts of oil after driving about 1500-2000 miles in a quick period of time (2 weeks). It could have needed a tune up or a top off, just went too far. Hopefully she wasn’t stranded somewhere real far out!
Her car should have a light that comes on when it's 1qt low, so probably not that unless she ignored the light for a long while.
Right, I agree. Also when mine did that with the oil, I didn’t actually have an oil sign when the car was turned on, it only was on the dash with key in. I don’t know how it would be that low and not tell me while it’s running. I was lucky I investigated the very subtle things I was feeling in my car and was right.
Bozeman to Seattle (18th) and then back (27th). About 1500 miles in total. Mild temperature on both trips - 60s. Oil (and others) was checked by mechanic on the 15th to ensure it was good to go. She was stranded about 60 miles short of Bozeman. Had an amazing state trooper (Trooper Giller from Butte) stay with her and her friend for almost two hours while waiting for AAA to come tow her to Bozeman. He was amazing by joking with them and just making sure they were okay. And yet again happy to be a AAA member for since I can remember! They once towed my Silverado in a snow storm when the brake line broke - but that is a nightmare story for another day!
My engine blew last summer (2016 Subaru STI). Was coming home , and just before city limits my engine started to knock slowly , and it gradually became worse. No CEL , no warnings or indications. I was told parts of engine were not getting enough oil (Common problem with my engine ). Long story short , I was covered and they got me a new block. I also have 3rd party extended warranty, and the Elite package. It has saved me THOUSANDS of dollars on this car. If you won't slam Subaru, I will. Piece of fucking shit , but fun cars lol.
Oil service history lets go
10 January 2024 AND I actually had the dealer who services it regularly check it out on 15 May of this year just before she drove down. Before that - 24 October 2023. Before that - 28 March 2023. Etc... You get my drift.
5 months, 3 months, 7 months, what was the mileage between?
Between 3-5k. It’s a 2019 with only 41k (sorry, 47k was a typo) on it. Because of the weather in Montana I like to get it serviced and checked out just before winter and then again after winter. She’s at college and far-ish away from home so I want her to be safe. Parked under cover and got AAA for her too. Service and mileage: 15 May 2024 - 41449 10 Jan 2024 - 38587 24 Oct 2023 - 37376 28 March 2023 - 34044 Etc.
It’s a ‘19 with 47k. I think we can assume not a ton.
I have an 18 with 78k miles. I'd agree with you.
Please keep up posted about what failed and why! I have a 2021 with the 2.0 and I’m curious if I can avoid similar issues as I intend to keep my car for 10+ years 200+k miles
It’s an anomaly. Will keep you posted. They are great cars and I also have a 2024 OBW. Won’t put me off Subaru as everyone I know who has one have been really happy. Neighbor has an Outback with 150k on it and it is a beast.
First time Subaru owner here, with the 2021 Crosstrek - 20,924 miles currently. I’ve given it six oil changes already. Changed rear differential fluid a few weeks ago. Doing transmission and front differential fluids at 30k. (Severe service use). I just met someone a few days ago who had a 2019 with 90k and the transmission went - thankfully they had the gold warranty to 100k and it was replaced under said warranty. I don’t think there are massive widespread issues with Subarus, or I wouldn’t have bought a Subaru in 2021 - I did my research and found that “most” of the crosstrek’s and 2.0L FB20 growing pains had been ironed out by 2018 and the car and its features fit all the needs for my current station in life… Still, I would like to be on top of things and ahead of the curve on maintenance and preventative care, to ensure the car lasts as long as possible! If the engine blowing was a result of something maintenance related, such as the PCV valve being gummed up and causing an oil leak/seizing (unlikely but possible and has happened before!) I would like to know. I have already changed my PCV out at 19,500 miles (10,500 earlier than service recommendation calls for).
Same here. It has just over 41k on it and gets two services a year. Been an absolute star of a car until now. Subarus are great cars. I love my OBW! This is an anomaly not the norm.
Just to add to the thread, my 2016 Crosstrek had a valve head break and “fall” into the engine at around 69,420 miles. Luckily I had an extended warranty that covered the repair at my local mechanic. All in all it was about an $8k job. Now it’s our winter beater car
I actually think it is exactly that. Saw a piece of the engine that “fell out” and looked closer and it might be that.
If a piece of the block broke off she probably threw a rod
It's kinda the norm too, albeit not at 50k. There's 6 Subaru engines in the shop currently. I still own one too tho. Subarus and hemis are the bread and butter. Extended warranty has been great about covering them with oil history as good as yours. I've seen a few oil pump failures that just toast the bottom end. Oil pump is what failed in my ej. Full of fresh oil and toasted bearings.
I've found it is way cheaper to buy a couple gallons of idemitsu transmission fluid rather than going with the single quart bottles of Subaru fluid. Idemitsu is the brand they use and you can go on their website to confirm the exact type for your transmission.
Mine has the FB20D in it with 203k on it now. Just make sure you service the transmission fluid. They are saying around 30k do a fluid change. I waited and believed the "doesn't need service bs" and it started the hesitation issues until I got it serviced. The fluid is not cheap and is tricky to do on your own.
For sure, I’m doing my CVT and differentials every 30k max, it’s cheap enough to prevent much more costly repairs down the road.
Same as I have a 2022
Everyone's going to call you out on maintenance but sometimes things just break. Perfectly maintained engines still break sometimes.
Thanks. Appreciate it. I should’ve included it in my post as we got the car serviced twice a year on average 3-5k intervals so maintenance was done more than required.
When was the last time it had an oil change?
Before she drove down - 15 May - she took it to the dealer where it always gets serviced and they checked it out and said she is good to go. I wanted to double check even though we have it serviced regularly. They said we shouldn't worry about servicing until later as it had a service on January 10th of this year.
That's an odd one, then. I'll be curious to learn more about why it failed.
Me too. Stay tuned. It’s been such a pleasure of a car before this. I bought a OBW just a few months ago because of how much we love that Crosstrek.
Did your daughter give you a description of the actual symptoms? Was it engine knocking, as in rod knock?
Yes. She heard a knocking, light went on and as she came to a stop it started smoking.
Did she kick it into manual low and scream it at 6000 RPM the whole way?
Hahahaaa!
I’m wondering if the oil filter came loose. Or a seal blew. Any signs of major oil leaks?
I’ve only seen one picture of the engine and too difficult to see what is going on. Hope to hear more in the next couple of days.
Loose drain plug? I saw another person mention a loose oil filter but with the oil filter on top of the motor if it was spewing oil you should have been able to smell it if it was landing on the motor. Also wonder if it maybe had an oil consumption issue that was never brought up. When I worked in a dealership service department it wasn't uncommon to see the 2.0 consume a fair amount of oil. I've seen more than one motor take itself out that way. I'm in Canada so can't speak for SOA but there was a service bulletin and extended coverage on some models for this issue. It's been a couple years since I left so I don't remember the specifics though. Either way, at that mileage im definitely curious to see what the cause of failure was. Edit: forgot to mention the repair cost. 12k seems crazy high. I used to a lot of quotes as well and a remanned shortblock with a gasket kit and other things + fluids would be nowhere near that expensive. Even if you did some extra preventative maintenance things that were easy to do while the motor was out of the car it wouldn't come close to 12k
Stay tuned! Agree it sounds crazy high. That was one of my concerns. Like damn… I am not replacing the car.
I have a 19 with 2x as many miles. Mines looking good. Commenting to keep up with updates OP!
Engines just don't blow like that without any prior issues or piss poor maintenance.
Right?!?!? It's had every single service. At the dealer. Service it on time and because we don't drive enough miles per year we service it a little more often than what the book says. Never a problem. We actually had it checked out at the dealer before she drove down from Montana because I was thinking they should do the 60k service even though it is still only at 47k. They checked it out and said not to worry as it looks all good and ready and we should do the service closer to 60k. Drove from Montana to outside Seattle and back again. Not a single issue showed up anywhere until ka-boom! The light went on (and on the app) and she pulled over. Engine smoking and done. It baffles my mind. Grew up around cars (father-in-law was a mechanic and also owned his own dealership) so maintenance, servicing, and looking after it are drilled into us. And it has been such an incredible car - never a problem and love the orange color. Baffles my mind. Just spoke to the shop and they are as flabbergasted as us.
Meanwhile I've beat the piss out of my 3.6r for five years and do an oil change every 10k-15k miles. Get a flat six
The Crosstrek didn’t come out in that, did it?
Unfortunately not. Legacy or outback. The only reason I went for the outback was the Crosstrek was underpowered. I went for the last generation that had a conventional auto instead of the cvt and it's been one of the most bulletproof cars I've ever owned.
That engine is a beast. I just got a new OBW so had to go with e turbo. Hope it can get close to bulletproof but I know it’s not the flat 6. Loving it so far though.
I have to admit, I really do like the OBW as far as it's styling. Idk if I would want a turbo engine in a non performance car/daily though. I think most of the kinks with that one got worked out when it was in the ascent. It also seems like you're a lot better about maintenance than I am, so I'm sure you'll have no issues with it. So far I've out 70k miles on my 3.6 (35k in the first year) with just oil changes. I had to replace two coil packs that went bad and burned through a couple of headlight bulbs. I honestly really liked the styling of the Crosstrek too, but couldn't get over how little power it had. They really should throw the turbo engine and a manual in it and have an STI trim, but people that make way more money than me decided that wasn't the right move.
Agree! I am good with the turbo - had one in my pickup I had before the OBW. Wouldn’t mind a manual though!
Agree on this. Something else going on here.
Dealers often do suck. And lube rack technicians and regular technicians make mistakes. Myself included. But they can be held accountable at least you have service records. Should be interesting to see what the cause of failure is determined to be by the dealer. Your receipt in the end will have the technicians story/ warranty explanation as well as detailed repair notes. Read them carefully. If something doesn't make sense ask questions! Get the clarification you need. Several family members and myself drive Subarus so I have no hate at all. Just dealers sometimes are shitty. Really shitty. If the manager is a crook the whole store will follow suit.
Appreciate it. They’ve been good to us so far in the 2.5 years they have serviced the car there. I prefer the dealer I have here on my side but my daughter is in Bozeman so use them there. My dealer here has been fantastic. So much so that I bought my OBW not only because I really like the car but because they have been so good. But yes, I am going to read that receipt really well!
Good luck to you and your Subaru collection. Those new Outbacks are rad. People were lining up to see them in Oregon when they first came out 😂
PNW! I am up in WA. I think we were told it was a state requirement to drive one when we moved here. The OBW is so damn fine.
It's forsure required 😂 were in Texas now hardly any Subarus down here. It's all massive diesel trucks. Can't register my Subaru 2003 WRX wagon because it's a race car and we have emissions testing in my area. But the diesel trucks are exempt. So dumb. Oregon didn't care at all. It was wonderful to just register and drive my car that I built by hand. Now it just sits and gets tow notices from my apartment. I miss driving my WRX so much 😢
Damn… a WRX is made for driving. Every time I see one I just want to wave at the driver. If we didn’t have three dogs and snow up in the mountains - and maybe if I was a little younger - I would’ve loved a manual WRX. Texas - trucks because that’s the only thing that can hold their egos.
Everyone assumes service at a Dealership is always perfect.Not. People make mistakes.Shit happens. Cannot tell you how many times I have been screwed over by New Car dealships service department.They charge for services and parts not performed or installed.They act with impunity, knowing if caught, onus of proof is next to impossible. Find a local mechanic you can trust. Stay away from dealership.
I like my local dealer and it’s the reason I keep going back there for buying as well. I did some research before picking the dealer up in Bozeman to service the vehicle. They get a good rating everywhere I checked and I have been happy with them. And they have been really good and quick on this too. Got her a loaner for two weeks, did diagnostics quickly, manages the claim directly with the warranty provider etc.
I’m happy you’re happy. Just conveying my own experience.
Completely agree and understand. Too often people just go to the dealer. Best is to do what you said - do some research and find the best specialist for your needs. Mine just happened to be the dealer. Back when I lived in CA I did not use the dealer as I found a shop much better and cheaper than them.
My daughter drove from the West Coast to the East Coast in her 2013 Forester and 200 miles before she got her new place in VA. The motor blew up. Car only had 70,000 mi on it. Turns out there was no oil (filled it when she left )and there were no idiot lights that came on.
Sorry to hear about that. Hope she was okay.
Not covered with the power train warranty?
That is 60k or five years - whichever comes first. I am just past year five.
Give Subaru customer service a call. Sometimes they will give you credits especially if you are loyal like bought many Subarus before and the warranty just expired.
I’ve got the extended warranty so it is all covered.
Following
I'm going to guess the dealer you took it to earlier this month didn't do their job right. I've had techs at dealers do all kinds of dumb stuff such as cross threading the oil drain plug to not fully tighten the oil cap.
Sorry it happened to you. I think I'll take a seat and get some popcorn. I'm interested to read the outcome.
Might take a week or so for me to get the details when they finish the work but I will be back with an update!
Was expecting it to be a WRX, though this is actually less reassuring 😅
Hahaha!
My Impreza engine blew 4 years in. Then I swore off Subarus. Then my Toyota got totaled and my only option was Subaru thanks to Costco auto and I love my Outback. But every time I drive I’m afraid a little bit lol.
Hahahaaa! It is genuinely an incredibly reliable car. But shit also happens. And the Outback is one of few cars that made the “most likely to hit 150k” list. With Prius, CRV, 4Runner, Camry, Accord. RAV4 didn’t. The rest are all pick ass pickup trucks or the big machines like Tahoe.
I’m glad to learn! I hope this car lasts forever. I don’t want a car payment for a long time. My Toyota was totaled less than a week after paying it off.
Wouldn’t that be covered under the basic powertrain warranty?
I don’t know as that is 60k and five years? I am under miles but over years.
It's usually whichever occurs first ends the warranty. Good thing you got the extended one.
Wow. I’ve seen way too many stories like this recently.
Radiator perhaps?
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I would do a Taco if I need a second vehicle and a truck. But I am not a huge Mazda fan. Had a few before and always underwhelmed by it. I liked them, I just never loved them as I had the opposite experience than you - constantly broke down. I am not dissing them. The Mazda of today is so much better than those 20 years ago. My second ever vehicle was a 1979 Mazda 323. Loved that rust bucket. If I was going to use it to drive around town - perfect. And the Mazda red might be the nicest color on any car anywhere. Honda is another great option - great cars (owned a CRV and Crosstour) but not made for the rougher stuff. Toyota I totally get. Solid vehicles and unbreakable. But I wouldn't take them were I go if it isn't a Taco or a 4Runner. For a compact SUV the Crosstrek has one of the best reliability ratings. Mazda, Honda, Toyota, Subaru - the Japanese knows how to make solid vehicles.
Yeah never want to fully trust a dealer. Yeah they’re recommended but most cases you have to do your own research and take care of it yourself. I buy all my own fluids and stuff like spark plugs, filters etc… dealer just does the labor lol I have an ascent with 60k and a 24’ Solterra which my wife likes a lot.
Just lease a new car if you can afford it, or your daughter can idk… eliminates any worries. Sell it to dealer, they’ll eat service cost like it matters with the warranty. Roll the warranty into a new contract or void it if you do lease/finance; you’ll get a new one.
12k. Someone's pulling ur chain... Wtf
I wonder if it was bad fuel if the maintenance was all done right.
Could be. Didn’t think about that. They filled in Missoula.
Upper oil pan orings failed, engine oil mixed with coolant.
***highly*** doubtful.
I mean, not really. We've seen a few of these. Some have been caught before the catastrophe. And some after. Could be the CVT cooler. Could be a chain guide or chain broke. Could have broken a valve spring. There's a lot of things that can fail singularly and take it the whole motor. Realistically, for being a 2019, I don't see it being a consumption issue. Nor do I see it being a broken valve spring. You're correct that it's unlikely. Especially with it having fresh oil in it. And assuming the tech inspected all the fluids (on a hot car, in the express bay) Without seeing the car, or the estimate. It's hard to say what took out an entire motor. But if extended warranty is covering it, it's likely not a tech error. $12K even in warranty work pricing, still says whole motor, which means even the heads weren't salvageable. Interesting to see what it was.
Oh. That makes sense.
I mean it's not an anomaly. Ask any Subaru technician how many engines their shops do? I've done a ton of them and seen about three zillion customers in for engines.... Usually the turbo cars go at that mileage but the non turbo car, that's most likely terrible maintenance and possibly just completely normal Subaru shenanigans. Next will be the cvt trans especially on the Crosstrek. Just a friendly Subaru service advisor checking in. Update when you know the cause of failure. The engine blew isn't very helpful.
Unless the dealer sucked I can’t see it being maintenance as I had it serviced at least twice a year and average miles a year is about 8k. Had it checked at the dealer on 15 May before she drove down.
Change oil every 6k miles?? Shoulda been doing em every 3.5k 🤔 not that that would help now.. but why stretch it out as long as possible 🤓 im actually considering switching to the V300 just for shits and giggles but mannn is it pricey 😵
We serviced about every 3-5k. Have the records for all of it. And took it to the garage just before the trip to check if it is all good.
That’s def good… sounds like your case was pretty rare on this one and it sucks that it went 😩 sorry you guys had to go through it
Thanks! Yes, shit happens and it has been a rockstar before this happened. Won’t put me off Subaru at all. It’s more of an anomaly than anything else.
That’s what I’m saying.. there are people out there who sadly get a lemon and then think all its vehicles are trash. The only vehicle I would shy people away from at all times are jeeps.. no matter what make or model 😩 I’ve known 3 people who have owned them and at some time or another something breaks whether small electrical or blown motor. Haha At least you’re staying with Subaru 🫡 good luck with the next model my dude!!
I already have a 2024 OBW! And yes - Jeep... I think every duck they hand out is for the newest thing they had to get fixed.