2015 Subaru Outback Engine

The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, and while at a stop light, there was an abnormal exhaust fumes odor inside the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a cracked exhaust pipe. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the vehicle was previously repaired under Service Program Bulletin: WUJ-95 but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal exhaust odor entering the cabin of the vehicle through the vents. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of fuel. Before the contact purchased the vehicle, the contact became aware that the vehicle had been repaired under recall for the catalytic converter. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

The cam carrier has a leak that is causing oil to slowly leak out of the car. The current issue is causing me to have to regularly add oil to the car. My safety is at risk as the car engine could fail while driving which would be me and others at risk. My understanding is that the leaking oil could also cause other parts to fail such as the O2 sensor. The recommended repair from the local Subaru dealer is to reseal the cam carrier at an estimated cost of $4,744. I attempted to contact Subaru after reading that many others have had this same issue and some have received monetary compensation to get the repair completed after complaining. Subaru has been very difficult to get in touch with and doesn't seem to want to respond to the issue. The only warning I have had was the oil engine light coming on multiple times to which I proceeded to add oil to the car.

The car had a recall on it for the catalytic converter and front pipe and bellows being cracked. It was replaced under a service bulletin put out by Subaru at 104,000 miles in 2020. I just went to get the vehicle inspected in 5/2023 and the exact same part is failing once again. It will not pass inspection. This causes exhaust to leak back into the car (including carbon monoxide) given the converter/bellows are parts that come off the engine right under the driver/passenger's front seat. I have called corporate Subaru to see what could be done and they refuse to do anything since they told me the car is a 2015 and had 167,000+ miles. At this point, it will cost me a few thousand dollars to fix at which point has to be done by Subaru and they will replace it with the exact same parts that have proven time and time again to be a poor design and fail. Or I can take it to an exhaust specialist to be fixed.

The contact owned a 2015 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, he was alerted by another driver that the vehicle was smoking and flames were coming from under the vehicle. The contact stated that warning lights flashed off and on. The contact stated that he pulled over, exited the vehicle, and saw flames coming from underneath the vehicle before it was engulfed in flames and exploded. The contact stated that he sustained minor burns on his hands from the steering wheel however, medical attention was not required. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard as it was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a field technician was sent to retrieve information from the EDR. The contact was not aware of the diagnosis. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

Engine consistently burns oil. Adding pints between factory recommended oil change interval when low oil light comes on. On average, one pint is burned every 1500 miles.

THE MUFFLER MAKES A RATTLING OR GROWLING NOISE WHEN IDLING OR COASTING. THE NOISE DISAPPEARS WHEN ACCELERATING.

On 8/25/21, during servicing, I was informed by the Subaru dealer who has always serviced my car that the driver's side head gasket was starting to go bad. The car had 54,108 miles on it and was 6 years and 5 months old. It had always been driven under normal conditions, on public roads, and 100% of the servicing had been performed by the Subaru dealer who sold me the car, which I bought new. In addition, I had never used the car for towing. Under the circumstances, it seemed indefensible that the head gasket should be going bad. It's a very expensive repair. The engine in question is the 3.6-liter 6-cylinder.

Car stalled, could not take out of gear; could not restart, could not set emergency brake, couldn’t turn key to restart. Finally a light came on that said hatch was open. Could not operate hatch from inside car. Jumped out hatch was closed. Opened and reclosed. Car started rolling. Ran to jump in and apply manual brake. I’m 85 years old. Very dangerous situation. Consumer stated AAA batteries failed several times. Vehicle was taken to a dealer for electrical failure.

WITHIN 80K MILES THE CAR HAS STARTED SHOWING HIGH ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. ENGINE OIL IS TO BE CHANGED EVERY 6000 MILES BUT AT 4000 MILES LOW ENGINE OIL LIGHT WILL SHOW UP AND CHECKING ON OIL LEVEL, IT SHOWS AT THE LOW LEVEL OF DIPDTICK.UPON DIAGNOSIS, IT WAS FIGURED THAT IT HAS STAGE 2 HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT BY SUBARU DEALERSHIP

I HAVE THIS ISSUE WITH MY MUFFLER. TSB 09-66-16 REAR MUFFLER SHELL RIGIDITY ENHANCEMENT THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES A CHANGE IN THE PRODUCTION PROCEDURE FOR THE REAR MUFFLER ASSEMBLY. SPOT-WELD LOCATIONS SECURING THE OUTER SHELL PORTION HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO IMPROVE OVERALL RIGIDITY. A GAP MAY DEVELOP AT THE SPOT WELDED SEAM AS A RESULT OF REPEATED THERMAL SHOCK (HEATING / COOLING) WHICH OCCURS DURING NORMAL USE. THE GAP DOES NOT CREATE AN EXHAUST LEAK. IN SOME CASES, A RATTLING SOUND FROM THE MUFFLER MAY DEVELOP.

SERVICE TECHNICIAN REPORTED A NOISE AND LEAK FROM CATALYTIC SYSTEM. HINT OF EXHAUST PRESENT IN DRIVER COMPARTMENT AT LOW SPEED AND STOPS.

NOTED OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL WEEKS, AN INCREASE IN EXHAUST NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE CABIN WOULD FILL WITH EXHAUST FUMES WHEN STOPPED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TWICE TO HAVE THE ISSUE DIAGNOSED AND BOTH TIMES THEY INDICATED THAT NO ISSUE WAS FOUND. ON THE THIRD TRIP, THEY CONFIRMED A HOLE IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND INITIALLY REFUSED TO REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER THE PZEV EMISSIONS WARRANTY AND EXTENDED VEHICLE COVERAGE. AFTER POINTING OUT THE PZEV COVERAGE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE MANIFOLD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUSTIN SUBARU (8100 BURNET ROAD, AUSTIN, TX 78757 PHONE (512)220-0930) TO BE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V502000 (POWER TRAIN), THE MECHANIC FOUND AN INTERNAL OIL LEAK AND NEEDED TO REMOVE THE ENGINE TO BE ABLE TO CORRECT THE ENGINE OIL LEAK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER REPLACED ENGINE RINGS, CYLINDER HEADS, AND INSTALLED A LONGER LASTING SILICONE SEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER REPAIRED THE ENGINE OIL LEAK FAILURE AS A GOOD WILL OFFER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,600.

EXCESSIVE EXHAUST ENTERING PASSENGER CABIN ANYTIME THE ENGINE IS RUNNING BECAUSE OF CRACK IN FLEX PIPE ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THAT OCCURRED WITH LESS THAN 60K MILES.

WE NOTICED AN EXHAUST LEAK (NOISY) ON OUR 2015 OUTBACK, UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALER THEY DETERMINED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THEY INITIALLY REJECTED OUR WARANTEE CLAIM BECAUSE SUBARU AUTHORIZES REPLACEMENT ONLY IF A MIL IS PRESENT. AFTER SOME DISCUSSION THE DEALER (SUBARU) AGREED TO REPLACE AS "GOOD WILL". WE LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST AND IT SEEMS ROAD SALT AND SAND CAUSE THE CONVERTER TO RUST PREMATURELY, THE LOCATION OF THE CONVERTED IS AFT OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND AT THE BASE OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THERE IS A RISK OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING WITH THESE TYPES OF LEAKS, AND IT IS UNHEARD OF THAT THESE PARTS FAIL AFTER THREE YEARS.

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION BETWEEN OIL CHANGE. WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED TO 45,000 MILES, THE LOW OIL LIGHT IS ON LESS THAN 5,000 MILES BETWEEN OIL CHANGE. IF THE DRIVER IGNORE THE WARNING AND NOT ADD OIL TO THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE CAN BE DAMAGES. A THREE YEARS OLD VEHICLE WITH 45,000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CHANGE OIL FREQENTLY. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THE OIL LEVEL IS NORMAL, AND OIL CONSUMPTION TEST IS NOT NEEDED. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO A CAR REPAIR SHOP, THEY TOLD ME THE OIL LEVEL IS LOWER THAN STANDARD BETWEEN OIL CHANGE. I ALSO CONTACTED SUBARU NORTH AMERICA, WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT, AND ONLY A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS HAVE IDENTIFIED A CONCERN ON THIS ISSUE.

ENGINE IDLE IS ERRATIC WHEN COLD. BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE IN THE MORNING THE ENGINE SURGES 3-400 RPM MAKING THE CAR JERK FASTER AND SLOWER. THIS IS WITH ONLY THE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSED. I HAVE A SECOND IDENTICAL CAR THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM. TEMPERATURE IS IN THE 40'S. WHEN THE ENGINE SLOWS, YOU HAVE TO EASE OFF THE BRAKE, THEM IT SUDDENLY SPEEDS UP 50% AND THE CAR TAKES OFF. THE CYCLE REPEATS FOR A FEW MINUTES IN THE MORNINGS. THE PROBLEM IS VERY REPEATABLE -THE SAME THING EVERY MORNING. *TR

DEAR SIR, ON FEBRUARY 11,2015 WE PURCHASED A NEW 2015 OUTBACK 2.5 PREMIUM AT SELLER DEALER 400106 VIN [XXX] AND THE ODOMETER READING WAS 10 MILES. THIS WAS OUR DREAM CAR THAT WE SAVED FOR A FEW YEARS TO FINALLY PURCHASE. IT DEVELOPED AN ENGINE KNOCKING NOISE AT ONLY 1000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. SO I TOOK IT TO THE SUBARU DEALER FOR EVALUATION ON 3/18/15 AND AFTER 2 DAYS THERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A PROBLEM AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED ACCORDING TO SUBARU EXPERTS. I REALLY RESPECT SUBARU??S AND THEIR HISTORY, BUT WE NO LONGER CONSIDER THIS ONE OUR DREAM CAR. IF THE POWER PLANT IS FAULTY WE WONDER WHAT ELSE IS GOING TO GO WRONG WITH IT. MY FAMILY WILL NO LONGER FEEL SAFE. THOUGH THE CAR MAY OR MAY NOT FALL UNDER THE SONG-BEVERLY CONSUMER WARRANTY ACT WE WANT A REPLACEMENT FOR THE SAME TYPE VEHICLE, NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS. I FEEL THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT OF FAILED AT ONLY 1,000 MILES ON IT AND I'M SURE [XXX] WOULD STRONGLY AGREE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

RED ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR DIED. LOST ALL POWER/ DRIVE. NEEDED TO COAST TO BERM. WOULD RESTART, BUT DIE IMMEDIATELY. EVERYTHING WAS IMMOBILIZED. THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED AT 70 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE! OUR WAS VERY CLOSE TO BEING REAR- ENDED. *TR