- Subaru owner received $8.5K estimate for alleged major oil leak.
- Dealer included $5,307 cam carrier reseal in the repair package.
- Customer said she’s done with Subaru and going back to Toyota.
Dealerships occasionally find themselves under fire, and more often than not it comes down to questionable sales tactics. Sometimes, though, that reputation comes from questionable service dealings. Now, we allegedly have an example of the latter, and it paints an unflattering picture for one Subaru service department.
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What should have been a straightforward ownership journey left one driver disillusioned. She now says her Subaru days are over, with Toyota once again in her sights.
Sticker Shock in the Service Bay
That owner posted to Reddit seeking advice. Buying a Forester was, in her own words, a thrill but after an oil change, her heart rate increased for all the wrong reasons. The dealer indicated that her 2016 SUV needed some $8,459 worth of service. Granted, used cars often need serious service over time, but the exact charges make the story noteworthy.
More: Woman Quoted $40,000 To Replace Engine Dealership Might Have Messed Up
The dealer wanted $909 for a 120,000-mile service. They quoted $1,521 for a left oil control value with engine harness, and then slapped a cool $5,307 estimate on for a cam carrier seal replacement. It’s certainly plausible that the car needs all of this work, but just to be safe, the customer went to an independent mechanic for a second opinion.
Where Things Get Better And Worse
That mechanic did what most good shops do: he took her into the bay and showed her exactly what she needed to see. The undercarriage was spotless. “He said I don’t have a leak, but instead a tiny bit of oily sludge oozing out. He recommended ignoring it until I notice a leak or have to start adding oil. I should note that my side of the garage floor is spotless,” she wrote.
Her experience with cars mostly involves Toyotas and Hondas. Speaking of that, she said, “My largest repair bill to date is $1,100.” Her shock is understandable, as is a comment she added later on: “I’m going back to Toyota. Corolla was the best car ever.”
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Buyers Beware
One caveat to her plan is that the real problem may not be the car but the dealership system itself. Many service departments are part of large groups that operate across several brands, sometimes even within the same city.
If that’s the case, moving from Subaru back to Toyota might not shield her from inflated quotes or questionable service practices. In other words, the badge on the grille could change, but the people writing the invoices might not. Thus, it’s not just the automaker or the model that may sour an ownership experience, but the choice of a service center as well.
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Forester Oil Leak $8,459.62!!
byu/Zealousideal_Pear112 inSubaruForester
#Subaru #Owner #Bill #Repairs #Mechanic #Dont #Exist
