Complaint Review: Roderick Saunders VP of Subaru Hawaii and Servco Pacific Inc. - Honolulu Hawaii

I write this with the sincere hope of preventing others from experiencing the same issue and stress that I have. Please research “Subaru oil consumption problems.” You will find Subaru lost a class action lawsuit, which was settled in 2016, but they still continue to produce and sell cars with oil consumption problems. I encourage you to visit several online consumer forums, like CarGurus, and read threads from real people with similar experiences. Subaru and Big Island Motors told me that those reviews don't count, as they can't be verified. You can verify this. I bought my 2017 MT Forrester in December of 2016 at Big Island Motors in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. My oil light first came on at 3000 miles, which began my 2+ yearlong battles with Subaru and Big Island Motors. I initially dealt with the service manager, who blamed my driving style, the weather/Hawaii, my commute, my lack of mechanical expertise, among other things, and refused to acknowledge the problem.

After 6 months of fighting with the service center, in desperation, I contacted the VP of Subaru Hawaii (in the summer of 2017). He required the service center to conduct oil consumption tests. This process took about 6 months and many hours off of work for me. I failed 3 of them, which the service center said qualified me for a “new engine.” After they submitted the paperwork, this spring, I contacted them after 2 months of not hearing anything. I was informed/warned that I might have to wait for a year for the repairs as others were in front of me. Finding this unacceptable, I again contacted the VP of Subaru Hawaii (last week and a year later!). Initially he responded with concern, but then I heard from the service center that I needed to come for a compression test. Subaru generously provided me with a rental car for this test and, wait for it, the test was normal!

The VP of Subaru informed me yesterday that he had forgotten that I drive from Kohala to Waimea everyday and that down shifting is likely the reason why my car is consuming oil. I asked him why so many of the Subaru commercials showed people and their dogs camping in the mountains if they could only be driven on flat roads? My Honda, also a MT, used ZERO oil on the same commute. He further shared that I needed to keep driving my car since they don’t know what’s wrong with it (hello? class action law suit). He also retracted the promise of a "new engine."

In the meantime, I continue to add oil, purchased by the case from Costco. Check out “the Subaru Love Promise” on their website, “Subaru and its retailers believe in making the world a better place and the Subaru Love Promise is our vision of respecting all people. This is our promise to show love and respect to our customers and to work to make a positive impact in the world.” That is unless you have a problem with your car, then that Subaru Love Promise is not for you. If I can save just one person from experiencing the stress, additional expense and disappointment I have, this post will have been worth it.

BTW, if Subaru had the customer service of Costco, there would be no other cars on the road. Costco lives the "Love Promise."