Purchased a 2008 Liberty GT Tuned by STi in August last year (2008). After 4 weeks of ownership the engine started making a knocking noise. Took it to the dealership and they were acting very surprised and telling me that they had never heard of this before and that Subaru Australia are shocked and sending a replacement engine immediately (the old “don’t worry sir we are REALLY looking after you”). So the engine gets replaced and when I ask what happened the service manager tells me that they drained the oil and metal flakes came out and they have found that the big end bearings were busted. Ok I think, well I have a new engine now so must have just been a one off right!

Well fast forward to yesterday and I am sitting stranded coming back from holidays still 1000km from home. Engine started making the EXACT same noise on the highway. So was left sitting on the side of the road with my wife, 2 kids and a small dog trying to find a number of anyone that could help. It was a Sunday and every 1800 number had a recorded message that they are closed on Sunday! So I had no option but to drive another 50kms to the nearest town and book accommodation for the night so I could call my dealership when they open.

Now I keep reading reports that this engine problems is very minor and only a small number of engines were affected. Well I have now had two engines with this problem so I am either the unluckiest person in the world or this problem is more widespread than Subaru want to admit.

Does anybody knows ,e-mail from SUBARU in JAPAN,or SUBARU in Εurope to send my complain?

Anyway well done Subaru!!!

Unfortunately many other makers just don’t get it to their peril.

I have read the Subaru service bulletin, and it actually involves Subaru tech’s sucking the residual oil from the bottom of an emptied sump, with a squeeze bottle and a hose.

They then run this through filter paper to check for any copper or other metal sediment that is in the oil (which indicates faulty bearings, which can cause knocking).

If there is none, then a full oil replacement is done and the car is released back to the owner, or back onto the yard for a car that is for sale.

If there is sediment, Subaru install a brand new crate engine.

It’s a great way to deal with the issue, and I think a car manufacturers attitude towards dealing with issues is a great indicator of the type of company they are. This seems to be a very thorough way of dealing with the issue, and I have no qualms in purchasing another Subaru if need be.

My own experience with Subaru service has been the same…the rear diff bearing failed twice in my Subaru, and on both occasions, I’ve had nothing but good experience and service from my local Subaru dealership. The first time they replaced the diff and gave me a loan car whilst they were waiting for parts, and the second time they realised it was a faulty (out of alignment from the factory) rear subframe causing the issue and they replaced the whole rear subframe and carrier assembly, as well as the differential unit (which is a $6,000 exercise if you were to do it with new parts yourself), 3 weeks out of warranty.

They’re still selling you a car that might be defective but will be repaired before the customer gets it.

How is it a NEW car then if it’s had repairs done to it? I wouldn’t want to buy a car NEW knowing it was repaired before i got it.

So they’re going to be doing this for the life of this model? Or was it only the current batch that was produced before the fault was found and the new ones will not have the issue?