OIL LEAK AT 1400 MILES! | 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness

[@OShackHennessy]

2024 Outback Onyx and I did my own oil change at 2,727. Did not find any leaks. Huge props to Subaru for making a vehicle with the easier oil change ever!

[@oxirosmusic]

Just checked mine and the oil leak was there. Thanks for posting this!!

[@mikecorpus1267]

I was thinking of buying a Subaru Outback wilderness and met someone who had one for a year. They told me their frustration with an oil leak at 5,000 miles. I was surprised! So that plus your video tells me I should not get a Subaru.

[@ronfromportland]

Understandable! Although it has some frustrating setbacks, it’s a great car and I’m enjoying it. I give a lot of credit to Subaru for addressing the issue. I made this video not to deter people from getting one, but more so to make everyone aware of the issue and to get it addressed by Subaru. I do understand where you’re coming from though.

[@dlg5485]

Although your oil is definitely overfull, that's not the cause of you leak. There is a known issue with oil pan gaskets being incomplete or not applied correctly at the factory. Unfortunately, another byproduct of this issue is that there can also be gasket material inside the engine, which could clog the oil pickup and starve the engine of oil, if the problem is not addressed. It's a serious issue. I have a 2023 Onyx XT on order and I hope this issue was fully resolved before my car is built.

[@fdpval]

Changed my oil yesterday at about the same miles as you and saw the oil leak as well. 2023 OBW. Will check it after a few miles and see if it continues. If it does, I’ll be bringing it into the dealership. Thanks for making this video.

[@ronfromportland]

Glad you are getting it addressed!

[@fdpval]

@@ronfromportland Looks like no leaks so far! I'll still probably address the issue once my 6k service comes up. Really appreciate this video!

[@ronfromportland]

@@fdpval good to hear! Thanks for letting me know!

[@jparker1823]

I feel your frustration. Only 1,400 miles and you've probably baby'ed the car during your break-in period just to find unnecessary problem. Subaru is no longer using traditional gaskets and using a lot more RTV. We'll see if this causes SOA to extended their warranty work in the future.

[@howdoyoufeel6452]

I’m a suabru tech and have even seeing this issue. Not only have they been leaking from the oil pan it’s been leaking from the oil level sensor. The gasket that holds the oil level sensor in place. I’ve been seeing them leak from that along with the oil pan. A lot of techs don’t catch it because they automatically assume it’s the oil pan. At my dealership we replace the oil level sensor along with doing a pan re seal. Your car may be not affected but something to look out for! Best of luck man beautiful car

[@ronfromportland]

Yes, the oil level sensor was replaced too, which I’m thankful for! How often do you see the upper oil pan leaks??

[@ronfromportland]

And thanks man! It’s a great car!

[@BlackSpade72]

Why replace oil level sensor and oil pan not even past 2 years old ? Cheap seal or gasket to wear out quickly ? Mine 2003 Subaru Forester XS hasn’t leak from oil pan or engine but took my for a regular following up and oil change everytime now mine has 270k miles ( 66k on motor ) and 270 plus miles on 4eat , still going strong . I’m aware of HG issues but that’s not till 100k miles same time to replace with timing belt along to replace HG that’s it . But newer car ? I was like wtf ? I expect update on a newer car . I know Toyota much more reliable than the Subarus . Both are Japanese made ? Smh

[@michaelking42]

Is it just on Outbacks, or Foresters too? I note the Outbacks are now assembled in Indiana, but the Foresters in Japan. Is it a typical 'built by union worker' situation where poor quality workmanship is responsible? Any thoughts on this?

[@bradh6185]

Did they remedy these issues at the factory for following years?

[@benjaminkniola1715]

Thanks! Getting ready for a long 2,000 mile road trip in my 12 month old 7,500 mile OBW. Saw this and checked underneath and found an oil covered pan too. Was going to change the oil myself before the trip, but now taking to the dealer and hoping my trip can still happen.

[@ronfromportland]

I’d plan for a week out just in case! Thanks for checking out the video!

[@benjaminkniola1715]

@ronfromportland It's the upper oil pan seal. They have to pull the engine. 18+ hour job.

[@ronfromportland]

@@benjaminkniola1715 oh wow! I’m glad you found it though. Hopefully they correct the lower oil pan while they’re at it.

[@tommymakem2611]

​@@benjaminkniola1715 It was the lower oil pan, the dealer absolutely scammed subaru of America. Common failure from factory on the 2.4s. It's always the lower oil pan. I've resealed over 100 brand new lower oil pans. Pays 3 hours, sucks to do, and there should be a recall.

[@laurielavallee411]

Thank you for posting. You are entitled to be frustrated. Glad you found it and got it fixed.

[@ronfromportland]

Thank you!

[@xcloudx_]

Glad I found this video I’ll have to keep an eye on mine. Just got a 23 OBW only has 275 miles, thank you for the video!

[@ronfromportland]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@ER-kh7rz]

Thanks for calling this out. Just picked up a '23 Outback Limited XT. checked oil level at 90 miles on odometer. oil level was above the high marker by about an inch. inspected underneath and not noticing any oil leaks from pans or the surrounding area. checked oil while cold, sat overnight. on flat level surface. Seems like this was overlooked by the dealership during their Pre Delivery Inspection. Just a bit upset i've been driving this around with higher than specified oil levels.

[@ronfromportland]

Glad you caught it early! Thanks for checking out the video!

[@StephenSauls1960]

Had taken my Wilderness in for an oil change it was discovered leaking too. They had to do the same thing and remove the pan and replaced gasket. Reinstalled everything. Things happen, we have to deal with the unexpected. This is a reminder to carry out our required maintenance.

[@tgamble1000]

What maintenance is required at 1,500 miles? None…

[@late.am0]

bro sorry that happened to you. wanted the wilderness but I don't want to put my money into something that already needs to be fixed glad you were able to get it resolved for now

[@MrSmith-rk4jq]

im over 12k miles in 13 months with my obw and not a single problem. all cars from all companies can have problems, your comment is kind of silly lol

[@michaelking42]

Makes me wonder if it has something to do with the Outbacks being built in Indiana. I understand the engines are built in Japan and shoved in in the USA. I just bought my wife a 23 Outback Onyx, but I think my next Subaru will be a Japan made Forester.

[@NashRambler172.6]

Just had our 2022 Outback wilderness and ours is leaking like yours thanks for sharing first oil change

[@ericpelton4157]

This is a major issue for Subaru imo. My wife’s 21 onyx is leaking pretty good but not dripping and it has 42k miles. I believe they are going to cover it under drivetrain warranty. My 22 OBW with 2800 miles is also leaking but barely right around one corner of the lower pan. Not sure if I should wait or get it replaced now. This is very unfortunate

[@tjaym8844]

Just checked your video out because guess what? I got the same problem. Took my 2020 Onyx in for 36K oil change, about 200 miles short of 36k. Car is in the shop right now getting taken apart. Luckily, this just came in under the warranty since i didn’t hit 36k yet. They are also going to replace my rotors front and rear because they are warped. Crazy, because i don’t drive real hard. Have a Toyota with 135k and original rotors. We’ll see what else they find while they have it. Thanks for the video.

[@ronfromportland]

That’s crazy! Nice that you’re getting new brakes and rotors though. Thanks for letting me know, good luck with the repairs!

[@tjaym8844]

@@ronfromportland Here’s an update. The dealer had my Onyx for 2 weeks. The upper oil pan, lower oil pan and oil pressure switch were all leaking. It’s crazy, because i park in the same 2 spots every day and never saw a drop. They fixed the leaks under warranty and replaced my warped rotors. No charge. Here’s the problem though… i got it home from a 10 mile drive and immediately smelled burning oil when i parked at home. I took it to work in the morning, same smell. I figure it’s either oil residue or it’s leaking again. So i brought it back to the dealer and they’ve had it all week, no updates. At least i have a loaner car. It’s a 2023 Outback with all the bells and whistles minus the turbo. Man i miss my XT. Hopefully I’ll get it back soon and it won’t smell like burnt oil.

[@ronfromportland]

@@tjaym8844 oh man, mine smelled like burnt oil for a few days after it got repaired. Maybe it’s coolant since it had to be drained and replaced from removing the turbo. The smell eventually went away. Glad you got yours addressed though. Thanks for the update. Curious to know what they say after the second time around!

[@ccyrnyny]

Just took mine in today, 2022 OBW ~18k miles. Same thing, lower oil pan leak. The dealer decided to replace the oil pan rather than just re-seal. They gave me a loaner, non-turbo. I hope this is the end of this issue, and at least it's free to repair under warranty. But it is frustrating for sure.

[@musicman6243]

Damn thanks for this info!! Cheap gaskets cheap oil filters, definitely keep an eye out gonna start checking oil every fill up!!

[@thegrizzncamp]

Just found the same issue with a '21 Outback XT this morning. Has 60k and less than 2000 miles since purchase as a used vehicle. Can't believe this wasn't an issue for the previous owner.

[@ronfromportland]

Yeah it’s crazy how commonly it’s overlooked. Hope you got it taken care of!

[@thegrizzncamp]

@@ronfromportland Thanks a bunch. My dealer took care of it under warranty too!

[@keystonedaytrip238]

Thanks man, I’ll check my pan after my 1st oil change

[@enyshmuckles]

Yep, recently happened to my '21 Touring XT at 54k mi. Car was built 12/2020. Lower oil pan was leaking due to inadequate gasket material, upper pan was ok, looked just like in the vid. They did the oil temp sender and its o-ring while they were at it, service sounded about the same as this vid otherwise and also took a week due to parts ordering. Dealer did it all under the powertrain warranty and confirmed it's a known issue. Said even if it had been a little out of the pt warranty they "would have taken care of me." They are one of two dealers in my city and said they're seeing around 50 of these per year, but said they're usually on Wilderness, not as much on Touring XT--though could just be a popularity thing in my area. The problem presented after a different dealer overfilled the oil same as in the video. I wonder if overfilling creates just enough extra pressure to find the weak point of the manufacturer defect--but could just be a coincidence; correlation does not equal causation.

[@N8RTH]

Subaru of America and the dealerships I’ve dealt with are wonderful! I’m also a Subaru Ambassador. However, I recently reserved a 23 OB Touring XT. I talked to my friend who’s a Subaru Tech and he said to watch out for oil pan leaks. I’ve owned several new Subarus from 2014 to our current 2018. And some of them either had oil leaks or needed new transmissions. One needed a Harman Kardon amp and another a head unit. I just got a 23 Frontier Pro-4X and I love it. That’s how I became friends with my Tech.

[@ronfromportland]

The dealership did provide some great service! SOA told me they reached out to the dealer to check in on the repair. I made sure to let the service person know that I reached out to SOA not because I complained about the dealership, but to ensure this issue is properly documented and to possibly help them justify a recall.

[@michaelking42]

I've been thinking about getting a P4X Frontier, too. I've had 4 Frontiers in the past and 7 Subarus.

[@theJaston9]

I hope they have this issue fixed . I’m monitoring mine. I’ve had the 2023 Wilderness for about a month now. Thanks for the info.

[@bradh6185]

How is it doing? I'm considering the Touring XT. I'm hoping they corrected the problem at the factory.

[@deanc.5984]

I'll fix it myself...Off to the Dealer 😂🎉I just ordered a 2024 wilderness Outback, I'll be checking fir leaks!👍

[@ronfromportland]

🤞

[@briantodd4887]

Wow- good video for awareness. I just ordered a new OBW 2024., I’ll keep my eye on the lower oil pan but don’t know exactly where it is located. I guess I’ll have them point it out once the car arrives from the factory

[@ronfromportland]

Thanks for checking out the video. I’m hoping the issue has been fixed for the 24 models. If it’s leaking bad, you’ll be able to see drops on your garage floor.

[@michaelthomson5101]

Well now I'm a little nervous, I had a full set of Rallitek skid plates put under my '23 FW, there is is less then 1100 miles on it. I'm going to need to drop a plate and inspect.

[@ronfromportland]

You should be fine. As far as I’m aware, the leak is only known on the Outback models. It won’t hurt to check though.

[@johnhanson3693]

I was just notified by my subaru dealership at the 24000 mile service that my 2022 subaru ascent was leaking oil and that the oil pan would have to be resealed. I would have to leave it as it would be an all day service. This is my first Subaru and first new car in 12 yrs.(purchased new April 2022) but this really cuts my confidence going forward with this car especially when the mileage gets out of warranty range besides the frustation if dealing with something major like this with a new car. It really makes me wonder if there is a quality control issue at the subaru plant in indiana since the outback and the ascent are both asssmbled there. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@ronfromportland]

Thanks for checking out the video. I was absolutely gutted when I saw that leak. Glad you’re getting it taken care of though.

[@sanderkan3796]

What do you mean... repeating yourself😉! But keep us posted. thx again for the update.

[@ronfromportland]

😂

[@rogertharrington361]

Has anyone has issue with oil level sensor leaking oil due to a failed gasket on the oil level sensor itself. Dealer telling me cost to replace is $1100. Mostly labor.

[@RealistRob]

Thanks for posting this! Luckily I haven't seen any oil leaking from my '22 OBW. I did however have a blown shock on the passenger side rear. I'd like to throw that out there that if you're already under the car, just look at the shocks too. If it looks like oil is leaking out from it or the shock just looks shiny or slick, take it to the dealer. Luckily my dealership was able to replace and align the car the next day after confirming it was bad.

[@ronfromportland]

Great info, thanks for pointing this out! I’ll be sure to check out that area too.

[@michaelking42]

Damn. Good catch. Is this the problem of it being assembled in the USA?

[@TripedalTroductions]

Discovered oil on the garage floor with a vacation going up north through the mountains for Christmas in two weeks. FML.

[@ronfromportland]

😢

[@goldenretriever4330]

Darn brother, just picked mine up yesterday, sorry to hear that. Hope it doesn't happen to mine, but I'll be on the lookout

[@ThatPNWlyfe]

Oil pans have been around for 100+ years… pretty simple, Subaru should get this right. Gonna check our ‘23 Touring xt tomorrow morning.

[@ronfromportland]

100%!

[@Pecone]

Hey, I got a Touring XT on order and I was wondering if you found an oil leak on yours? I hope I don't have to deal with that on a new 2023 model.

[@ThatPNWlyfe]

@@Pecone no leaks on ours. 7000 miles and two oil changes later, all good.

[@Pecone]

@@ThatPNWlyfe That is good to hear. I will definitely be looking when I get mine this week. 🤞 Everything is good here

[@Spartan117A51]

Hey there, any updates on oil leaks? Im trying to buy an outback or Crosstrek and I was choosing Subaru for its reliability.... But if this is the case, I'm just going to get a Mazda Cx-50...

[@ronfromportland]

I checked it recently at around 6K miles, no leaks. Will check it again at 10K.

[@Spartan117A51]

@@ronfromportland thanks for the update! I do however wish you luck on your car. Especially in this economy, shit like that effects people's lives

[@ronfromportland]

@@Spartan117A51 definitely! Thank you, man 🙏

[@Grumdy]

You got me to crawl under my new '23 Touring XT. Thankfully everything looks good with no signs of leaking oil. I'm glad because I've been loving the car since I picked it up a couple weeks ago.

[@ronfromportland]

Glad to hear that!

[@ashleybai85]

I have this same model in 2022. I started to notice oil on my garage floor about 6 mo after purchase. It is in the shop now and I have a 2023 loaner.

[@dish8690]

Same on our 2023 Wilderness 5k miles. Dealer put dye in oil and said come back 4 weeks. Leaking in the same area as yours.

[@ronfromportland]

Really bummed to hear the 2023 models are still leaking. Luckily it’s an easy fix but definitely a hassle.

[@davidingram3281]

Our 2023 Onyx (non Turbo) Outback was overfilled with oil (at least 1/2 inch above full on dipstick). I just changed oil at 1200 miles and did not see any leaks, although I had already blasted everything with Surface Shield so might have been hard to notice any oil seepage. I'll keep my eye on it. Thanks for the heads-up. I will note that 4quarts (1 gallon) of oil hit my dipstick exactly half way between low and full.. Perfect.

[@ronfromportland]

Fingers crossed for you! Thanks for watching the video.

[@HonoraryBoomer]

A family member of mine had their outback wilderness' oil pan replaced at 5500 miles

[@ashleybai85]

My 2022 Subaru touring outback has a oil link. Thanks for your video. Total bummer. 3k miles.

[@ronfromportland]

Glad to help! Thanks for checking out the video.

[@ashleybai85]

@ronfromportland - Just got my car fixed at Subaru of Portland. They found that there was a PCV connector that was leaking, it was replaced and tested. The engine was also steam cleaned to remove excess oil residue. I asked about the gasket and sensor and they said it was thoroughly checked.

[@ronfromportland]

@@ashleybai85 very nice! Sounds like it was a quick turnaround.

[@markconnor1589]

I had the same problem. It was the oil level sensor. Subaru replaced the sensor and the oil pan. 1 day repair.

[@ronfromportland]

Good to hear your oil pan had no issues!

[@lucian7182]

The whole concept of them using a full silicon seal baffles me. I swapped out my oil pan for an iag oil pan at 4k. 6 quart capacity, and it uses an actual gasket with only a couple dabs of silicon.

[@ronfromportland]

That’s a great idea. I’ll definitely be looking into this! Thank you.

[@1wadesdad]

Replaced my own oil pan on my 2010 Outback 2.5 due to RUST. Used Permatex Grey “The Right Stuff.” It worked very well. I wonder if the factory is failing to let the sealant “set-up” (cure) before assembly. It wouldn’t be practical for an assembly line.

[@indianxbullet]

That sucks, I have ZERO tolerance for oil leaks on my vehicles. I'll be on the lookout on my 23.

[@ronfromportland]

Definitely! I’m still baffled by how folks are so accepting of this.

[@derspeed5796]

Did they say whether or not it was caused by the over fill? You are 100% correct. That should not have happened. My 2023 Wilderness is in the shop right now getting the spoiler replaced. There was a run in the clear coat. Apparently, at some point before assembly, the spoiler was re-painted. Also, the bottom left bolster on the passenger seat had a strange divot in it. That’s also getting replaced. I noticed the same issue in the loaner, but not as bad. I’ve had my car since October 24, 2023. The service manager at dealership is really working hard to get it all resolved. I’m going to look under this loaner (Wilderness) to see if it’s leaking. It has 1,900 miles on it.

[@derspeed5796]

I’m replying to my own post. I just checked the loaner oil level after letting it rest for 15 min. The oil is 1/2” over the full mark, but I didn’t see any oil on the pan. When I go to pick up my car, I’m going to check the oil and if it’s overfilled, I’m going to have them drain some out. Then I’m going to put them on notice about this issue. I’m going to show them this video. I also took screenshots of some of the comments by the techs here. Man, this is exactly why I stopped buying BMWs.

[@ronfromportland]

It was most likely a defect from the factory. They didn’t mention anything about overfilling the oil being a potential reason for leaks.

[@derspeed5796]

@@ronfromportland Thanks, Ron. I’ve talked to a couple other Wilderness owners who haven’t had any n oil leaks. Hopefully we don’t all get slammed with it. Or, if it does happen to us, it will be within the warranty period. I suggest that everyone who has the issue report it to the NHTSA. If enough people report it, it may prompt Subaru to issue a recall. That may help those who have the issue after their warranties expire.

[@ronfromportland]

@@derspeed5796 yes, make sure it’s all documented! Definitely check the oil level right after. I should have done this but I didn’t. I ended up draining close to a quart of oil after the repair was completed.

[@derspeed5796]

@@ronfromportland Yes, I always make sure they document everything. Good luck, man.

[@MarcsMotors]

Wow that stinks. I had issues with my 2015 forester burning oil and had to keep a close eye on it. Good video

[@mdbem-zk1fk]

My 22 Outback had issue two times. Dealer fixed twice. It was oil pan and sensor. Good thing is i got three loaners and enjoyed driving them for many days.

[@ronfromportland]

That’s unfortunate! I do agree that it’s nice to drive the loaners. Any issues since?

[@NexGenSubies]

YOOO! Always love the vids! My mans can't catch a break with these subies😪

[@ronfromportland]

I know bro! One thing after another 😅🙏

[@richdhaliwal1494]

Just went through this fiasco with Subaru... same paper work basically. 2022 Wilderness Outback. 10k km mileage. I agree! It is a huge deal!

[@ronfromportland]

It really is!

[@videosvideos6243]

They may say you over filled it. Keep an eye on it; it may have other issues down the road because of the over fill. Dealerships do not train their employees very well anymore.

[@videosvideos6243]

@@markconnor1589 yes, it is a serious problem to overfill the oil level.

[@ronfromportland]

Definitely will keep an eye on it for miles to come!

[@dencioz55555]

It happened to me when I went for an oil change on my 2019 Forrester. I never went back to them and I’m changing my oil change now. Don’t trust the dealership.

[@Motoseaner]

Had the same exact two leaks on my 2022

[@samuelm5140]

Living in Portland makes me want to buy a Subaru, but an oil pan gasket leak this early scares me from buying one

[@ronfromportland]

I definitely understand!

[@bluescrubsn1913]

Thanks for the information. I would be pissed too. Brand-new car should not have this kind of problem at 1,300 miles especially if these are common. I will check my 2021 OBW more frequently for leaks now. Will report if I find anything.

[@ronfromportland]

Right?! It’s more upsetting than anything. Definitely expected more for spending nearly $50k.

[@ronfromportland]

Yes, please keep me posted!

[@jorgeserrano8806]

I went through the same thing. My OBW had a oil leak at the lower oil pan. Overall I am happy it wasn’t the upper oil pan.

[@ronfromportland]

Glad you’re getting it addressed!

[@jorgeserrano8806]

@@ronfromportland I actually inspected my oil pan today just for piece of mind and it’s still leaking it’s actually worse compared to the first time I took it in

[@ronfromportland]

@@jorgeserrano8806 wait, so you got it fixed and now it’s leaking again?

[@jorgeserrano8806]

@@ronfromportland correct I honestly can’t believe it. I’ll be ripping someone’s ass when I get to the dealership

[@ronfromportland]

@@jorgeserrano8806 oh man. That really sucks! I’ll be checking mine here shortly. Keep me posted on yours if you don’t mind!

[@anandjacoblukose]

Same here.. Bought a 2022 Outback wilderness in Ontario .. 2 services done there and did not report any leaks. Moved to a different province and the vehicle inspection failed due to this. Took it to a local Subaru dealer and they claims to have replaced the lower oil pan under warranty and 2 days later my inspection fails AGAIN due to the same oil leak. I have to go back to the dealer again . No loaners given to me here as in their policy, since the car is drivable (despite the oil leak), i cannot get a loaner Will post my update here once i visit the dealer the 2nd time to get this checked. Mine is currently at ~9000 miles

[@ronfromportland]

How frustrating! Hoping you get it taken care of asap! Keep me posted.

[@anandjacoblukose]

Hi@@ronfromportland - I got the car fixed again and my inspection FINALLY passed today. The dealer did confirm the second time that the oil was leaking again. This time, they resealed the lower oil pan and left it overnight. They filled oil the next day and checked. I left the car at the dealership overnight (i intentionally did not collect the car as I wanted to wait and see). On the third day, i asked them to check again, they confirmed and provided the all clear. Thanks again for posting this video. this really helped me ! Subscribed !

[@heloski1]

My Outback Wilderness with 7200 miles on it just went in to the shop today for an oil leak. Seems to be the same problem for me. It’s the weekend so they have to wait until Monday to do a real inspection. Hope it’s not gone too long I declined the loaner because I have a second vehicle but it’s a gas guzzler don’t want to have to drive it for week(s)

[@ronfromportland]

As long as there is oil in the system, it should be fine. The leak is very slow. Glad you’re getting it addressed though!

[@MoJoNinjaGarage]

Glad you got that issue resolved brother, now there is only the WRX that has to get right and it will! Great update with some good news.

[@ronfromportland]

Thanks bro! Put it off for a few days cause I’m waiting on some stuff to come in. I’ll get back in it!

[@samuelkrinninger3060]

See it all the time on the 2.4 turbo motors. Seems like the manufacturing had not put enough sealant on the rear of the pan causing a area where oil can river out. Not too hard of a job to do but not fun either😂

[@thorthehuntsman2382]

Had the same issue when I went in for an oil change at 4000 miles. Bad seal as well.

[@ronfromportland]

Any issues since?

[@Doc1855]

We kept taking our Outback to the dealership bc our Subie wouldn’t stay in the lines on the road, The eyesight fouls out, the warning when another car is along side , the horn honks for no reason and the auto rear brakes seldom work. Our Subaru dealership in Wenatchee Washington Never fixed any problems nor did they give us a car to drive. We repeatedly tried to get our issues fixed until our warranty expired. Now our dealership wants to charge us $145 an hour to try to fix what they couldn’t under warranty. Screw Cascade Subaru.

[@ronfromportland]

That’s messed up! I would write to Subaru of America if you haven’t already. There’s a form on the site that you can fill out. If the repairs they performed failed, they should be held liable!

[@Doc1855]

@@ronfromportland Subaru of America told us that our problems need to be resolved through our local dealership. I don’t think we’ll ever buy a Subaru again

[@bradh6185]

What is your opinion of the Eyesight system? Do you ever feel like its too intrusive or overbearing?

[@ronfromportland]

Sometimes, especially when there’s a break in the lines. It goes off like crazy. I do like it for the adaptive cruise control. The other stuff I could do without.

[@franklynordz4030]

Good video I do have a question how do you feel about your CVT transmission on the vehicle?

[@ronfromportland]

It’s definitely jerky and unpredictable but I can live with it.

[@ronfromportland]

@@eskieman3948 really impressive how you’re able to tell what kind of driver I am through a comment. Move on.

[@maryross-robertson5572]

Hi Fellow Subi owners. Same issue just found on my 2022 OBW. Leaking oil from either lower pan or upper pan. Have to take to dealership. Leak was found by my local mechanic and I while inspecting the undercarriage during routine inspection for registration. Before ever reading these posts, we found this leak. I had gone back to check warranty coverage and notice in my maintenance records how much oil they had charged me for and put in during service. I initially got my oil changed at Subaru where I purchased vehicle(1 hr away). They were correctly adding 5 qts with oil change. After 3 oil changes, I switched to more local dealership. Yesterday I noticed on local dealerships paperwork that for last 3 oil changes, they have charging for and been putting in 6 qts. I went out and checked my dip stick and I am WAY overfilled! This is basic shit. WTF. In my mind, this is cause of RTV giving out as well as poor manufacturing issues. Now I am off to see if Subaru will take care of me. I am at 39,000 miles on vehicle. Basic 36K warranty up, but powertrain coverage is 5yrs./60,000 miles. Hoping they cover it. Will request leak seal, sensor replacement and to stop overfilling my vehicle with oil as noted in thread. Thanks to all who have posted!

[@komadventure3633]

Is your still cover by the Subaru?

[@fubartotale3389]

You should have brought the car back immediately rather than changing the oil yourself. While I have had great service from the dealer I bought my '18 from, new, You now have no proof of the overfill situation. This can cause engine damage. The first thing I do after buying a car or having the oil changed is to check it. I do all my own oil changes on my Outback, especially because one change that came with a maintenence package from the dealer, the drain plug was left loose and I luckily noticed it just before hitting the highway for a five hour trip. Overall I have found Subaru dealers will go above and beyond what us required, but it is always good to preserve the original situation, to protect yourself and to alert Subaru to any potential problems on their end.

[@ronfromportland]

Yes, definitely. I made sure to mention it to Subaru of America so everything is documented. Plus, I’ll make sure to take advantage of the extended warranty we purchased with the car. Sounds like you avoided a catastrophic situation! Nice work.

[@gregcoops2626]

I agree, if you find an issue with a car that is still under warranty you should take it back to the dealer asap. Playing around trying to fix things will only unnecessarily complicate the issue and may in extreme cases void the warranty.

[@PRO4XKEV]

I read many issues with the new Subies, makes me not want to get a new one... is Subaru quality getting worse? I do have eyes on a 2023 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X come spring . Also I do drive a 2018 FXT Touring with some mods, and I have no issues so far and mileage is at 35k.

[@lucian7182]

Subarus quality has always been at the bottom of the Japanese car segment.

[@N8RTH]

I literally was in the same boat. I recently reserved a 23 OB Touring XT (but have always wanted a truck). I talked to my friend who’s a Subaru Tech and he said to watch out for oil pan leaks. I’ve owned several new Subarus from 2014 to our current 2018. And some of them either had oil leaks or needed new transmissions. One needed a Harman Kardon amp and another a head unit. I just got a 23 Frontier Pro-4X and I love it. That’s how I became friends with my Tech.

[@ronfromportland]

I was pretty upset when I found out it was leaking. I didn’t bother checking because I assumed, since it was a brand new car, I wouldn’t need to. I was wrong though, sad.

[@lucian7182]

@@ronfromportland that kinda how I felt when I bought my 21 sti, then realized even though it’s a new car I have to check it and maintain it like it’s a car with 150k miles.

[@ronfromportland]

@@lucian7182 I don’t blame you man! Currently dealing with a blown turbo on my WRX 😀

[@RangerRickTV]

Wow this is totally very poor quality control by Subaru. I wanted to buy a Forester but now I'm thinking twice about that.

[@ronfromportland]

I agree! Foresters aren’t as likely to leak though. The majority of the issues are with the Outbacks with turbo motors so you might be fine on that aspect!

[@Motoseaner]

I've got this same car and have the oil leak as well at 8000 miles

[@ronfromportland]

😢

[@troytokarczyk]

Weird. My OBW is 10months old and just shy if 25k and not a problem. My 21 onyx xt never had a problem either and she was at 56k

[@ronfromportland]

Lucky!

[@astronomical13]

I hope this has been addressed for the 2025 model. I just hit 500 miles on mine today.

[@ronfromportland]

@@astronomical13 I hope so too!

[@rgvcaster]

Same here, leak at 5500. All good now.

[@wg1408]

Just bought a used 21 outback from Volvo dealer with 45000 miles. Oil all over my garage! Noticed dipstick was very high. About to diagnose tonight

[@ronfromportland]

Dang. Keep me posted !

[@wg1408]

@@ronfromportland oil plug dripping. Rest of the pan dry. Went to losen oil plug and didn't even need a wrench. That in combination with too much oil, has to be the reason of the leak. I'm a first time Subaru owner. This is the reason why I hate dealers doing maintenance. Volvo must've did the oil change to sell the car and completely disregarded oil capacity AND tightening the plug to specs.

[@wg1408]

@@ronfromportland oh, and this oil plug washer is definitely aftermarket. It's a big plastic washer. Pretty sure Subarus don't use this

[@mikeycarlton4365]

You don’t sound like a broken record. I’m frustrated a Subaru right now I bought a 2024 outback wilderness two weeks ago and I have a high idle problem,

[@ronfromportland]

Thanks man. High idle? That’s a first. If you decide to take it in, I’d be curious what you find.

[@mikeycarlton4365]

I started calling Subarus customer advocacy sent them videos of what was going on and asked for Tec advice. I took the car in yesterday and they said they couldn’t duplicate the problem. I Show them the videos and the tech seems stumped. Why after the car has been driven on 90° day and parked for 30 minutes when you restart start the RPMs are over 1500.

[@michaelking42]

They shouldn't need to run a dye through the oil...that would only be to differentiate one oil leak over another. They should be able to find the oil leak and conclude, well, that that's the oil leak. IMHO. Thanks for uploading.

[@ronfromportland]

No problem at all. Glad I was able to document this.

[@michaelking42]

@@ronfromportland I crawled under mine and had to remove the plastic cover underneath, but luckily I had no leaks. I've done one oil change and to date, with 7500 miles on mine, no leaks. Thanks for your upload. Love that blue, by the way.

[@ronfromportland]

@@michaelking42 glad yours wasn’t leaking. Thanks for letting me know!

[@jackd1582]

3/4 of an inch above full is what in quarts? Or litres?

[@ronfromportland]

I would say close to 1 quart.

[@cuongngo2298]

cvt chain slip, engine oil leak subaru problems

[@richardepstein3494]

Perhaps these problems occurred due to using subs on the assembly line (having very minimal training) because the regulars were out having Covid?

[@atmartens]

How much does this repair cost? I know a lot of people seem to have it covered under warranty but is there an average cost?

[@Baked13]

... wow , that's quite a bit of extra oil - especially from the factory ...

[@ronfromportland]

Crazy, right?!

[@golferpro1241]

Beautiful car, good luck!

[@goldenretriever4330]

My coolant level is 1.5 inches over max, I just looked at my car. 400 miles, never changed. 23 obw. I’ll have to have my dealership use a dipstick on my oil level. I pulled my battery terminal and found all this white goo all over it. Worried it’s corrosion.

[@ronfromportland]

White goo on the terminals is normal, I have it too. It’s applied on there for anti-corrosion.

[@zunix01]

I got the same thing at 20000kms the engine make funny noise, the car is rented they changed the oil pan gasket and the low lever sensor too

[@ronfromportland]

Any new issues since?

[@zunix01]

@@ronfromportland I don’t know yet its just happen since 1000kms and I didn’t have time to look under the car yet 😔

[@benlittlechilds1192]

Mine seems to have the same issue. The problem is, I have 30,000 miles on it, and saw a stain under my car 5-10,000 miles, but didnt think it was fresh, but now I think it is….ugh, first and last Subaru for me.

[@ronfromportland]

Hope you got it resolved!

[@paulpuglia8480]

I have a 2022 Forester Sport with 3000 miles, I will I'll let you know if that happens to my car thank you for putting that out there.

[@jimwillingham8052]

Why are these cars coming from the factory with the oil being overfilled?

[@geoffreydlin8043]

Were you losing oil? Were there any trips on the floor of your garage? I don’t have a creeper, so looking for advice. Glad you got yours resolved.

[@ronfromportland]

I caught it super early so it didn’t get the chance to drip on the floor. If you get a small mirror and a flashlight, you’ll be able to inspect it. Look around the oil pan area near the drain plug as well as the front sway bars. You’ll be able to tell if it’s leaking right away.

[@geoffreydlin8043]

And here’s one for you. I took my wilderness in for its first oil change, and for the next few days, when I was in traffic, I would smell oil burning. At first, I thought it was drips from when they changed the oil. Then I figured it was the trucks ahead of me in traffic. I got to my office, popped the hood, and there was oil in the little drip tray that the filter attaches to. The knucklehead tech did not tighten the filter! I could easily tighten it with one hand. I’ve called the dealer four times and they haven’t called me back. I’m thinking of trashing them on the questionnaire.

[@ronfromportland]

@@geoffreydlin8043 WOW.

[@pawelkolo9678]

Very informative just earned a sub!

[@ronfromportland]

Thank you!!

[@markl1473]

My 2023 is way overfilled too. I couldn't believe it.

[@ronfromportland]

Dang! You can always take a little bit of oil out by loosening the drain plug.

[@markl1473]

@@ronfromportland True. But like you said at the end of your video, we shouldn't have to be dealing with crap like this with a brand new car. The Nissan Pathfinder I owned for 13 years before buying this Subaru didn't see a mechanic for at least 7 years. I'll be under my Outback tomorrow morning doing what you did: changing the oil early and checking for leaks. Thanks for the heads-up! I appreciate it.

[@ronfromportland]

@@markl1473 yup, it blows my mind how some folks can be so nonchalant about it. Good luck with everything! Keep me posted if you don’t mind. Thanks for checking out the video.

[@rayelliott8407]

My 2022 subaru forester has a oil leak with only 3741 miles 😢😢the dealership is pulling the engine to fix he problem I will be sending a letter to the Manufacturer and local dealership.

[@ronfromportland]

I hope you get it sorted out!

[@ahbenjamin2889]

Thank you for the video. Is this problem only with the 2.4 T and , also the 2.5 engine ?

[@ronfromportland]

From what I’ve seen, only the 2.4 w/turbo are having these issues.

[@cuongngo2298]

in dealership only few good technician do good job. if you car fix not with them will more problems come out. because dealer very cheap pay for technician diagnostic and replace

[@zbassr2106]

Can you tell me what is the Build date of your outback wilderness? Looking to get into a 2023 OBW and see if this issue has been corrected in the 2023's

[@ronfromportland]

06/2022

[@zbassr2106]

@@ronfromportland Thanks!

[@ethandeuel4313]

Buying a new car and having oil leaks soon after, sucks so bad. Now your feeling the way a person does with a older car with issues. It defeats the purpose of driving a new car and having the security of 0 maintenance issues . So irritating and a huge inconvenience. Shame on Subaru for what they are doing. Takes peoples hobbies and passions with the car brand and screws them over. I hope you get some free oil changes from them. Maybe a huge discount on some accessories. I found this channel hopping to buy a new wilderness outback. But not now I’ll go 4 runner and there old school reliability

[@ronfromportland]

Yeah, I was absolutely gutted when I saw the leak. Just glad they fixed it but I’ll be continuing to monitor it. Thanks for watching the video 🙏

[@ethandeuel4313]

@@ronfromportland your A real car guy who cares about his vehicles. You make great content too. I hope you trust your car again.

[@ronfromportland]

@@ethandeuel4313 thanks man, I appreciate that!

[@peppitachips1764]

Yeah it’s common on this engine not so much on the 2.5

[@TripedalTroductions]

Update on our oil leak: lower oil pan, just like you. I'm going to call in and ask about the oil level switch as well while they're in there. Our loaner is a 2023 Outback Wilderness and I noticed the CVT operation is WAY smoother. Is there a software update for the CVT control system that can improve the CVT operation?

[@ronfromportland]

Wow, really?! When you say smoother, are you referring to the slight jerk when decelerating? I haven’t heard of a software update for this but I’ll definitely look into it.

[@TripedalTroductions]

@@ronfromportland Yes and to be honest there are a few things I don't like and some quality of life things that are nice. The biggest thing is the CVT operation. They both are a little jerky when decelerating at low speeds because it's in a low gear ratio which is expected but I'm talking about accelerating. The 2022 increases the gear ratio much slower it feels and combined with the fact that it's turbocharged makes accelerating feel like you get a surge of initial power to 3k rpm and then levels out and becomes linear. The 2023 feel linear from idle all the way up to 4k rpm which is where you'd expect the turbo to fully spool. Idle to 3k feeling a surge doesn't seem right. It makes the car feel like you're either rolling along or flooring it and modulating the accelerator in a way that smooths this out is almost impossible. I don't even have to think when driving the 2023. The acceleration is smooth and predictable. Maybe it's just my outback that behaves like this.

[@andrearuffino]

I have a 2023 loaner now. The feature that stops the engine when the car is at a light is much smoother.

[@komadventure3633]

Finding out my Outback leaking too at 29.000 miles

[@ronfromportland]

😞

[@andrearuffino]

Can you post a picture of your repair report from the dealer? I want to take that with me to compare to the repairs done to my car for the same problem.

[@ronfromportland]

Check around the @9:09 mark, I put a still of the details there. Cheers!

[@andrearuffino]

@@ronfromportland Thanks. I just spoke with my dealer. My 2022 Outback has been in for one week and they expect the parts next week. This is a known problem... they had six more with the same issue after mine.

[@ronfromportland]

@@andrearuffino anytime! Definitely a known problem. Mine has been fine since the repair. Seems like an easy fix for them minus the parts shortages

[@2nd-place]

I used to be a big Subaru fan, but their quality has fallen off a cliff in recent years. Switched to a Telluride and have been extremely happy with it so far.

[@reggierico]

Great! Now, I wonder if my 2023 Outback Wilderness has or is going to have this problem. The boxer engine has been around for a long, long time so I'm wondering why this issue even came up? Shouldn't this engine be bullet proof by now? Time to go out and crawl under my 2023 OBW! Just turned 2000 miles yesterday.

[@ronfromportland]

Yeah, it was frustrating for sure. Let me know if you find any issues! I haven’t seen or heard of the 2023s having this issue so I’m curious.

[@Life2race]

Hate too say it outback and ascent assembled in usa.

[@joshuacintroni5970]

Can you give us an update on the oil leak/ repair?

[@ronfromportland]

Yeah, I’m wanting to put more miles on it though. 400 miles later and so far so good!

[@cloveravalon444]

Do you guys think hyundai santa fe is better choice on outback? I am considering about these two for buying new car. Can you guys recommend me? Thank you.

[@ronfromportland]

Depends what you’re looking for. I’m biased since I have the most experience with Subarus.