Butty

iTrader: (2)

I'd like to see it extend to all UK 2.5 turbo engines and relate it to the US experience.

scoobyboy

well in that case you phone subaru and tell them and they will give you the technical bulletin no. that gives you the vin range that is affected here in the uk.

and yes i do work for subaru!

urban

iTrader: (1)

Done

However very little interest thus far - only two posters

https://www.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-...-failures.html

urban

iTrader: (1)

Guys
That like above is now also a sticky thread so it won't disappear.
Are folk still a bit shy of post there?

subarugb270

Just bought new RS because I wanted more power from Hawkeye GB270 and was too worried about the engine blowing up! Wish I bought an older Scoob when I got mine with the 2.0 engine and probably wouldn't have sold it!

P4UL

iTrader: (1)

I picked up my 08 sti hatch last week with 10000miles from subaru, I am now slightly worried the engine is going to go bang at some point

Can any of these failures be linked to modifications, poor run in, wrong fuel, driving to the limiter?

I was planning on changing the panel filter, exhaust system and DV but may avoid this now.

Powder hound

I am writing on behalf of my son as I contributed greatly to the purchase of his car.
He bought a Subaru STI (standard car, no modification or pro drive kit) in February/March 2010. It had covered about 10 or 11000 miles.
This was from the main Subaru dealer in Leeds. The car is an 08 and was owned by the M.D of Subaru UK.
On purchase we were advised to check the oil weekly which seemed odd and it was found to be using around 6/7 liters of oil between purchase and the end of June when the engine failed.
The entire engine needed replacing including turbo and complete oil system at a price of around £8000 plus labour, which Subaru paid for. It was found all four pistons had cracked down the side which the mechanic stated is a design flaw with the engine harmonics.
The new engine was correctly run in and no oil was used. The car had its full service on August 4th. In mid September the second engine failed and two pistons had cracked down the side between the rings. Subaru again paid for repairs.
It was found that the car had a manufacturers re write of the engine mapping before purchase as problems were appearing on this model. This is also noted on Forums and a harmonic issue has been admitted i believe.
The dealer has been inundated with engine rebuilds for this model. When asked if the second engine would fail we were advised that it almost certainly will if the car is driven as it is intended and never to exceed 6000 RPM or engine damage would occur. The red line is 7000 RPM. The cost of repairs was again totalling around £10000.
We have contacted Subaru to see if they would extend the manufacturers warranty or take the car back for the price paid. They refused on both counts and do not admit to a fault with this model.
The warranty expires in May next year and should the engine fail again it would be totally unaffordable to repair. The dealer also refuses to take the car back. If the engine does have design flaws an after market warranty would not be possible.
The old model STI had forged pistons, not alloy and were bullet proof.
We fully believe the car is unfit for purpose and has been off the road nearly two months since purchase. It is virtually unsellable as who would buy a car having three engines in 17000 miles.
What rights do we have to ask that the car be taken back for the initial price or any other recourse as it is clearly very unwise to keep the car any longer.

Regards
MF


HONEST JOHN DAILY TELEGRAPH REPLIES

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letters@honestjohn.co.uk to me
show details 13:28 (5 hours ago)
Many thanks.

I knew about the problem, but you have fleshed it out with some detail
which I have included in the car by car breakdown entry.

The best thing you can do is use forums to get together with other UK
owners to collectively mount a class action against the IM Group which is
the UK importer of Subarus.

Obviously your cars would all have to have been imported by the IM Group
and not be grey imports.

For a grey import your only recourse would be an individual (and
expensive) county court action against the dealer who sold it to you.

HJ

Powder hound

What to Watch Out For
Seems to be an engine problem worldwide. Try Googling .

Seems that the forged pistons in the previous engine have been replaced with alloy pistons that suffer harmonic vibration, are not up to the job and crack. The first sign of an impending problem is heavy oil consumption. One so-called solution is to re-map the engine so it will not rev above 6,000rpm, which negates the whole point of the car.

Main bearings fail. And timing belts fray against their covers.

nick172sport

iTrader: (6)

very good write up there

Mrfastbaz

got my 57 plate sti type uk with ppp pack back 2 weeks ago after a new short engine car had covered only 12200 miles and had had 2 proper services before i bought it in april i have now covered 600 ish miles in a running in period first 300 or so miles never reved past 3000 rpm now take it upto 4000 rpm in all gears will take it back in a week or so to have a filtewr and oil change then will gradually increase rpm speed slowly after that fingers crossed that engine number 2 is okay warranty has been extended by dealer to april next year as a goodwill gesture so have a little piece of mind for a few months fingers crossed

dr jim

iTrader: (1)

I have recently had engine failure on my STI hatchback at 13000miles luckily covered under warranty... My warranty expires next year and also very concerned about the repair bill I may incur.

Piston 4 ring land was cracked, also had ECU update prior to failure.. looks like the countermeasure doesn’t work!

There are many people on here who have also had the same failure. If you intend taking this further with IM and are looking for more owners count me in

Regards

Jim

gtisid

iTrader: (2)

Surely this problem would relate to all 2.5 lumps in cars from 06 onwards wouldnt it? Although i have not noticed any gb270 suffering from this i would imagine the engines being the same internally as the sti.
What would be normal oil consumption for a 2.5 subaru?
my warranty has just run out and i am now pondering weather to extend it , trade in or just keep my fingers crossed. Pretty damn typical of subaru to deny there is a problem when there are literally hundreds it would seem destroying themselves all over the place

aamtheman

gtisid I would agree with that, my 56-plate STI (2.5) with prodrive pack need a new short block, turbo, etc after just 9,000 miles! Needless to say, I no longer have it now. I like peace of mind.

Dog77

Is the standard WRX hatch having the same issues?

mickp

iTrader: (1)

Sorry to hear of your problems Powder Hound.

Whilst i have not experienced any issues with my car, i would be more than willing to be part of any group approach to Subaru. I must admit that the lack of action and acknowledgment from Subaru really has rattled me, I think it is a disgrace how they continue to handle the ringland issue.

Why not pull some of the many examples from the different forums and approach Watchdog to see if they will take up the fight.

Keep us all informed.

aamtheman

Although I traded mine in, in July, I would fully support you too bud.

dr jim

iTrader: (1)

This is not goin going to do resale prices any favours...


http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar...-wrx-sti-2008/

Apostle

Count me in too.... we need some one with some legal savvy to head this up

A

jsfb

iTrader: (1)

just got to keep commenting on IMs facebook and twitter pages. At least other people wont have to suffer one of these cars

STIste

Is this the Silver one with 330s extras (seats etc) but standard engine?
I nearly bought it but wanted a white one!!

Powder hound

Yes it is. It had a special spec done specially by subaru for the M.D. Looks like it was known the engine was due to fail by the excessive oil usage right from purchase.
I am amazed by the immediate response to my comments and will contact Top gear, Watch Dog etc to spread the word, and try to get the IM Group to step up to the bar and admit there is a large and growing problem with this engine, and get it sorted with a recall.
They should learn a very important lesson from Toyota who consistently denied any problems until it became a worldwide issue that nearly sank the company.
Thanks for all the positive responses so far !

StrikE

iTrader: (3)

I traded mine in last week so i am now Scoobyless for the first time in years........ not very happy only less than 6000 miles but always in the back of my mind 'when will it fail' not something you want to worry about on a £28k+ car.

I will never buy a new subaru ever again, never.

aamtheman

@Strike, good move, it will fail, just a matter of when! I will never buy a new or used Subaru ever again.

Powder hound

I am overwhelmed by the response! and thank my dad for getting involved! this has been very difficult on me as that constant niggle in the back of your head will never go away! at 10k a time it is serious money and serious worry! i appeal to anyone who has had any problems that are similar to get in contact and we will make sure we take this issue further!!!! thanks

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Its not the engine on these, it was the map that was too agressive towards the top end of the rev range, they "should" have all been "fixed" by the subaru dealers when they came in for the service, but most dont update the maps (only a few do, the rest are all muppets tbh) so the saga continued and has gone waaaaaaaay out of hand.

Tony

Powder hound

hi! mine was "fixed" when the 2nd engine was fitted but still after proper run in and dealer oil change 2 pistons cracked in less than 2 thousand miles!!!!

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Looks like your dealer didnt fix it enough
I doubt they upgraded the ecu map which they should have, remember this engine ran with less issues (of pistons going) in the 06/07 cars (same pistons etc) but looks like there were a fair few MY08 cars left unsold upto 2010, hence leaving those in the network and the fault continuing
Now you see why I stick with the 2ltr engine you cant beat the JDM twin scroll unit

Tony

mickp

iTrader: (1)

Tony

The original map is what has soaked up a lot of the blame for Subaru.When you consider PPP cars and the 330S also suffer the same problem (running a completely different map) you must then acknowledge an inherent ringland / piston design issue.

However it is dressed up Subaru (Not I.M) have done the dirty on there customers. They should be brought to account. Every single one of there cars should run safely and reliably in standard or approved upgrade form. If we decide to upgrade outside of a Subaru approved route then we take our own chances, although i would also stress that some owners have spent fortunes mapping and upgrading for no other reason than to avoid failure

I too will never buy another new Subaru.

Simon Green

Yours had the PAK file update before you took delivery of the car. I know because I did it!

STIste

Simon, as someone in a senior position at a long established & large Subaru dealership perhaps you could explain Subaru/I.M.'s logic in all this?
The market for £27k (Now £33k for the Saloon) sports cars is small enough already with spiralling vehicle tax, petrol prices, insurance etc etc, add to that the unpopular change to Hatchback (Not my opinion, I love mine, but borne out by poor sales and negative general reception). So why; When there is OBVIOUSLY a problem which is causing current owners to sell even before engine failure (often with the caveat 'I will never buy another Subaru'), after engine failure (often with the caveat 'I will never buy another Subaru' and as an added bonus prepared to tell anyone who will listen that this is the case) and prospective owners to be put off in droves; Are they preferring to spend £8-10K (figures quoted in recent posts) a time replacing engine & ancilliaries when it could be fixed for a fraction of this per unit? It's not as if there are 1000's of hatch STi's which would need doing is it?
When I bought an Impreza in 1999 they were #1 rated by JD power, god knows what it would be now!
Maybe they are burying their collective heads in the sand hoping it'll go away (although the cat is well and truly out of the bag now it's all over the forums & sites like honestjohn), maybe they really don't care about the UK market & don't give a stuff what their customers think, sure looks that way.