Subaru Australia Reviews 25

Bought my first Subaru Forester ever in Jan 26 (end 2023 model with 47000km on it and factory warranty until 2028). It is now March 2026 so little less than 3 months having owned this the CVT has this harmonic drone sound that the dealer acknowledged and sent away transmission oil etc for testing at which the Subaru dealership put a warranty claim in with Subaru Australia. The dealer has had my car for 14 days and Subaru Australia have not replied to the warranty claim, even though all of their on-air commercial advertising and paper agreements state an extended warranty on transmission and engine. Why is this taking so long? My first Subaru experience has been frustrating, especially since I don't even have the car to drive while waiting for this to be approved for replacement or repair. Thinking I may do what an Australian guy did with his Jeep Cherokee, fundraising to destroy and crush the Forester live on TikTok as an anti-Subaru advertisement.

After a neighbor pointed out that my 2025 forester touring was only showing 1 backing light on reversing, I contacted Zupps Subaru Mt Gravatt service department. I was informed that they would need the car all day to perform diagnostics on the car (@ $195/ hr), to find and rectify the problem. I since heard that later model cars only have 1 of reverse light. Trying to get an answer as to whether my Subaru Forester only has 1 reverse light is a nightmare! I have tried to call multiple times ,waiting 10 + mins with noone answering? Reception has also emailed this department asking for them to contact me and leave a message if miss the call to no avail?? It looks like the only way to get an answer is to physically present myself to this department??

I need to warn everyone about the most untrustworthy car salesman that I have ever met. His name is Jack and he works at Subaru Osborne Park. I bought a brand new Subaru hybrid forester from and paid cash for the car. When I got the car home I noticed that the $50,000 car had no car mats. I contact Jack and he says” you should’ve put it in the contract”. When I questioned Jack he just brushed me off and didn’t care because he already had my money. I don’t like to say negative things about people, but Jack is a horrible man who’ll put his hand in your pocket to siphon every cent from you. Greedy, shifty, and importantly, very untrustworthy.

I wish there was a zero score. Took my car to service centre at Arncliffe NSW. Booked in at 7:30 amd with advised pickup of 1:30 pm. I gave some leeway , the I recieved a call at 2pm "..." spoke to me like a long lost friend and said "we havent got to your car yet, Im about to get my tech guy look at it, I will call you back asap. Over one and half hours later no call back, so I call. Everything went down hill from there, all I got was how busy they were and that they were sorry. Sorry doesnt cut it less than a week out from Christmas. Explained my organised transport to collect my car was unable to get there, their suggestion leave the car overnight...my reponse was I need my car, you have let me down. Result I had to pay for an Uber. Collected car from a very unprofessional service centre...they just wanted me outta there.
I suggested < why to you over book car numbers when you obviously can manage the numbers
I lso suggested/asked to you leave all warranty repairs to the end of the day because your not going to make more money.
Lesson learnt wont be back for my service in Feb 2026. I have been recommended an independant mechanic and guess what it wont cancel my warranty. Having your dealership servicing your car is a big ripoff

I have a 2021 Subaru Outback touring and was quoted $150 for two front rubber wiper blades and 1 rear wiper arm, which is absolutely ridiculous so I took the measurements and searched Amazon and bought them for $65, pull ur finger out Subaru Australia as we pay a premium for your cars in the first place

I bought a brand new Subaru Forester in late September 2024. The reason I purchased the vehicle is that it is best for interstate trips. I drove from Casula, NSW to Port Hedland, WA. It had been working well until March 24, 2025, when the battery went flat. I called Subaru Roadside Assistance, and they sent someone to fix it. The RAC came and replaced the battery on the same day. I was happy with the fast response from the regional town of South Hedland.

However, two weeks later, the battery went flat again. I called Subaru Roadside Assistance, and the RAC sent someone to rescue it. This time, it worked after a jump start. Four days later, on April 3, 2025, the car wouldn't start again, and the RAC came to jump start it. The mechanic told me there is something wrong with the car and advised me to contact Subaru Service for a diagnosis.

I called the office and was disappointed to learn that I need to bring the car to a Subaru service center for diagnosis. The closest Subaru service center is in Midwest, which is 1300 km away. I don't know what to do because I work Monday to Friday, and a 1300 km trip isn't an easy option.

Australia Subaru told me to arrange towing for 1300 km to have my car diagnosed. I have to pay in advance, and if it's a manufacturer's fault, I can lodge for reimbursement. However, this is not a feasible option for me as a research student; I cannot afford the towing costs.

In conclusion, you need to be more considerate when purchasing a new Subaru if you live in regional towns. It would cost you an arm and a leg to have your car towed to the nearest Subaru-registered retailer.

I would give this company ZERO if I could. The portal doesnt work most of the time.It is very hard to see what you owe with this company and the support is shocking! No one answers the phone and the customer service team take about a week to get back to you if you email them. I have never written a bad review before but DONT DO IT.

DO NOT BUY A SUBARU!
Our 2025 car has been in the shop over 4 months of the 6 months of ownership! Well beyond the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act and All States Lemon Laws. Currently writing this review stranded across the country for over 4 months now!

130+ days out of service *(the last dealership had our car for over 3 months claiming to be ‘fixing’ the car). Over 36 MAJOR mechanical and safety defects. 15 repair attempts. Hundreds of pictures and videos as evidence to the malfunctioning. Invoices from 3rd party repair centers showing the mechanical defects.

And Subaru does nothing. No calls. No replies to emails. Nothing. Literally broken down and stranded across the country for months in the shop and these scam artists do nothing to help once they get your money of over 50k for these junk cars! And if you post a bad review or comment on social media (Instagram, Facebook, etc.), Subaru will delete your comment and block you so they can scam more people and hide facts and truth!

We bought a BRAND NEW 2025 Subaru Outback Wilderness in 2024. In less than 300 miles, the car STARTED LEAKING GAS! Within 1 month of ownership the car began with literally DOZENS of electronics issues, transmission issues, engine issues, and more. The car has left us STRANDED across the country 5 times now as dealerships across the country cannot fix the car because Subaru of America will not authorize the repairs to fix the car in any of its problems. Ask yourself why they would not repair a car that is brand new and pouring out gasoline or the heat and a/c doesn’t work!? Or why not fix the slipping transmission!? The dealerships are as crooked and corrupt as the manufacturer. Forging documents, Falsifying business records, failing to complete repairs and more. These dealerships are so incompetent- they do not even know how to change oil or rotate tires (Formal cases have been open with Attorney Generals in multiple states due to fraud and negligence).

We are now again pursuing lemon law as Subaru of America forged documents and paperwork to falsify records so they would not have to buy-back the car… even though it has been in their possession for the last 3+ MONTHS!

Take pictures and videos of everything! Print and save your emails! Record all calls (esp) Subaru Customer Advocacy as we have because they are synonymous with forgery and fraud to escape liability.

Look up your local state lemon laws to protect yourself. Contact your state attorney general. Call the BBB. Contact the FTC. Contact the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Protect yourself from these criminals and avoid these cars and manufacturer at all cost. Empower yourself to be protected and educated.

Do your research and notice how many lemon law claims, TSB (trouble service bulletins), manufacturer defects, recalls, mechanical defects, and more are present with these Subaru’s.

If you are looking for reviews before buying! READ how many hundreds of reviews are negative about this manufacturer- and AVOID SUBARU AT ALL COSTS!

Junk cars. Junk dealerships. Junk Corporation.
I am reaching out to convey my serious concerns and frustrations regarding the ongoing safety problems with my 2025 Subaru Outback Wilderness. It is critical to highlight these issues, as they not only jeopardize my family’s safety but also indicate alarming lapses in quality control and customer service.

When I purchased this vehicle, I anticipated quality, reliability, and the esteemed reputation of the Subaru brand. However, within just five months, I have encountered over 36 distinct issues, many of which pose considerable safety threats. To make matters worse, I have been stranded across the country for the last four months while my car remained in the shop for a total of 120 consecutive days. Despite five repair attempts during this time, the core problems with the vehicle remain unaddressed. I have literally had my car in my possession for 1 of 5 months of ownership.

Safety Concerns:
Several issues I have experienced directly impact vehicle safety and performance. These include:

Gas Leaks During Refueling: Fuel leaks from the tank during filling, creating a serious fire hazard.
Malfunctions in Key Driver-Assistance Systems: Problems with the Eyesight sensors, Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, and Forward Collision Warning have compromised the safety features essential for safe driving.
Airbag and Seatbelt Failures: Malfunctions in the airbag system and seatbelt warnings greatly reduce safety during potential accidents.
Reverse Automatic Braking System Failures: This safety feature has malfunctioned multiple times, posing dangers while reversing.
Sensor Malfunctions: Issues with various sensors, including obstacle detection and the Reverse Camera, have intermittently engaged or failed, further endangering safe operation.

Mechanical and Manufacturing Issues:
Beyond safety concerns, numerous mechanical defects raise serious alarms about the vehicle's quality:

Gas/Fuel Damage to Exterior Panels: The car's exterior has suffered damage due to leaking fuel.
Transmission and Differential Problems: Malfunctions in the differentials and transmission have rendered the vehicle unstable and unpredictable on the road.
Rattling Noises: I have experienced unsettling rattles, clunks, and knocks during braking, reversing, and turning, indicating potential issues with the suspension, brakes, or chassis.
HVAC and Radio Failures: Both the HVAC and sound systems have completely malfunctioned, adversely affecting the driving experience and underscoring poor quality control.
Defective Parts: Continued issues with wheel bearings, brake pulsation, and premature tire wear signal deeper problems, such as misalignments or suspension issues.

Lack of Support and Customer Service:
What has been particularly disappointing is the absence of support from Subaru throughout this ordeal. Having been stranded for over four months, I have received little meaningful assistance from customer service. My attempts to communicate have gone unacknowledged, placing my family in a precarious financial and emotional situation. Furthermore, I have gathered over 600 pages of evidence, including communication logs and repair orders, that validate my claims.

Throughout this process, I have faced what I believe to be dishonest and unethical practices from both Subaru and the dealerships. On multiple occasions, I have encountered falsified documentation, fraudulent repair records, and a refusal to address critical safety issues. Both the manufacturer and the dealerships all participate in a charade of creating lies and false narrative to protect their moneys as opposed to the safety of the consumer. This troubling lack of transparency and disregard for customer welfare is unacceptable.

My experience with this vehicle has been nothing short of a nightmare. The persistent issues, coupled with Subaru’s inadequate response over the past three months, highlight an urgent need for improvements in both quality control and customer support.

Some of the worst customer experience I have ever come across. Purchased a vehicle from Subaru <5 years ago. 18 months ago I reported to Subaru that the leather on my steering wheel was peeling. They have knocked my claim back for it to be covered under warrantee by claiming this was damage was done by myself. Over 18 months passed I could not get anyone from Subaru to call me back, or give me an update. They say they will send email and never do. Staff in the contact centre are rude and almost seemed irritated by my call

The arm rest drivers side split after only five years just out of warranty Subaru refuse to replace it. This is after a bill for more than $7,000 for the replacement of a diesel partial filter. In replacing it they damaged the turbo system and it took six weeks to repair it. Never again will I buy a Subaru, disgraceful customer service!

Totally inflexible and old fashioned. No web based dashboard to manage details. Wait on hold for 15 minutes for every query or bank account or email change you may have. Would not use again.

Please do not take out Finance with Subaru Financial Services. The cars are great but the Finance Department is terrible. Firstly they do not have an app to check your balance. Secondly if you request a statement they ask you to wait 14 days. You ask why they state because you paying extra. The service with the Financial services is very bad. Please do not use Subaru financial services as I said earlier the cars are great but not the Financial Services.

I purchased a Subaru Forrester approx 2 years ago, car is 6 years old now. Before that I used 4 Volkswagen in a row (which all were older and second hand as well). Subaru forester is the newest car I have ever had. We had battery draining issue, since it is all electronic, it was evident that something was eating up the battery. It took them weeks to find the issue, they found that a part needs to be replaced, which is costing 3.5k and with service fee approx. 5k is required to fix the issue. I purchased that car to approx 37k. I woudln`t be more disappointed!! my other car is golf which worths 3k now, never caused an issue for the last 7 years! It blows my mind that Subaru is considered in top 3 as trusted car. And the car is always serviced in subaru and no aftermarket item is installed

Terrible
Never buy another Subaru. The after sale service is appalling. Loved our car but god forbid something should go wrong with it. As it’s all up to you to fork out the dollars and that doesn’t help if you live out in the country as they will only help if you get it towed back to a Subaru dealership at your cost and then wait weeks on end for a response. When you ring to make a complaint it falls on deaf ears. Disgusting attitude from them which you certainly don’t need. The buck was pasted from dealerships to Subaru Australia and back. The end result was unless we paid the money no one either the dealership or Subaru Australia would resolve the problem. Very Poor. All up it has cost us. $832.00 from the dealership to fix which they didn’t, a hire car to get back from break down.$500.00 and $5500.00 for the part to fix the car. Plus fuel. $500. My question is why would you take a car back to a dealership that could not resolve the problem after two attempts and 3 weeks later then put it on a tow truck at our expense to travel 2 hours to the dealership? Unbelievable. This is what Subaru Australia said we should of done. Never mention reimbursement to the the dealership or Subaru Australian as that is when all the excuses in the world come. Disgusting service all round and never again. Do yourself a favour don’t buy one.😡

Attn Noor

This is to update you on your recommendations, and my 'follow up' with Subaru Mentone on the anomalies I had reported, and where I sought some advice on how to address the issues.

I visited Subaru Mentone on 28th June around 12.30 -12-45 pm.
The experience was extremely disappointing from a Customer Service Point of View.
The person who attended to me at the desk (I do not recall his name, but I can re-visit, and provide this to you if required) seemed totally disinterested, and annoyed.
I showed him your communication email to me.
He offered 'no help' with any of the issues I sought advice on and how to fix.
I felt he just wasn't interested, and wanted to get rid of me as quickly as possible.
With the tear on the seat - He said I must have jabbed something into the side of the seat.
With the Discoloured paint on the strip along the Boot Lid - He said it was because the strip was made of plastic, the paint on the plastic had discoloured, and that it should be repainted. I asked him if he could get one of the staff who specialize in 'detailing' to look at it for me and suggest if it could be re polished. He said it was no use getting someone else ... as they would not be able to recommend anything else.
The discoloured Headlight Lenses - He said it was a 'Normal Deterioration' and expected with The Subaru Imprezza.
I felt that I wasted my time. It was a really disappointing experience.
The wrong type of person to have at the 'Front Desk' in any organization.

I Will be posting this on the Subaru Website Reviews

Chris G

Faulty tyre has been given in my brand new 24 Subaru Forster. After 500 km driven tyre completely teared without any warning or any reason in middle of M5 motorway. Somehow managed avoided accident. As car did not have spare tyre option had to do towing and replaced new tyre with own cost . Subaru feedback team did cooperate with anything. From my point of view this car can not be reliable for long distance journey with family . Anything goes wrong with tyre if is not fixable then no other option without towing.if ur family kids with u how u handle the situation.

So the warnings lights are on my Subaru Impreza for the second time in 6 months. I take it to Subaru Docklands for assessment, few hours later I am told the Timing Cover gasket is leaking and needs urgent replacement and am quoted $3,500.00 to do the work. Like most people I will not hand over that much money without a second opinion so collected the car paying $200 for the pleasure. Doing my own assessment and research I located the cover, removed air intake and had full access to the cover. Removed the cover, removed the seal (not a gasket) and yes it had dried out and had a few cracks, I also noticed some silicon holding it in place! Located and ordered the seal online $50, delivered next day. Start preparing to install the seal I had a closer look and found there was silicon all the way around the cover, it had been repaired before! Now I brought the car brand new and only ever had it serviced at Subaru Camberwell. It is at this point I am absolutely disgusted, during the warranty period those dishonest sods did a patch up job for a $50 part. The longest part in the process then became cleaning the surface of their wrong doing. All up it took me 4 hours and $50 to replace the seal, at this point I am now appalled to have been quoted $3,500.00 by Subaru Docklands Appalling and Disgusting Behaviour. Subaru Camberwell, incompetent, Appalling and Disgusting Behaviour. Subaru NEVER AGAIN. And by the way it was water in the electricals not the rubbish they tried feed me!

I took my Subaru Forester to Subaru service Werribee on 21st November 2023 for pre-purchase inspection. I took because I took the car on my name from a friendand wanted to make sure it'sok before I pay him and I was planning for a road trip on the Christmasholiday. There were two issues when I took the car: 1- Overheating 2- Alarm (check engin, traction control and blinking cruise control). They fixed the overhearing problem but unfortunately after less than a month the alarm came back again. When I talked to them at first they told me maybe that from the Oxygen sensor and we'll fix it for you. They sa8d they did but when it appears again and I called them they said actually we cleaned the sensor but it seems it need replacement and you need to take to another service centre.
My question is if you are the manufacturer and didn't know from the first place that the sensor need replacement, why should I repay again for something that I thought you fixed on the first place.
Now I got an appointment next Thursday 21st December 2023 and I'll see if they will charge me this time also.
By the way I paid $750 for the inspection and repair. And this Oxygen sensor wasn't in the inspection report even.

This is so not good and I'm really disappointed and if my Christmas holiday ruined because of this I'll never let this go.

I purchased a new xv Subaru in 2015 in nsw at tweed heads at Cricks. In 2020 i noticed some rust appearing in the roof and back end of the car . I showed the car dealer & they couldn't give a . I contacted Fair Trading & they convinced the dealer to fix it. Now 2 years later its appearing again in the same area. Ive never seen a reasonably older subaru like mine with any rust in it.I look after my car with a lot of love but never had a issue like this before, how disappointing & for 40 odd k is unexceptable as far as im concerned.