2015 Subaru 2.0 Head Gasket Failure at 136K Miles

[dogememe]

Absolutely ridiculous. My aunt has a 2015 Impreza 2.0. Hatchback manual. She bought it brand new and had every recommended service performed at the dealer since day one.

Yesterday she calls me to let me know the car had been sounding a little noisier and rougher for the past week so she took it to the dealer as it was due for an oil change anyway.

They told her there was a lot of coolant in the oil and that they don’t replace the head gaskets, they just change the engine and it would be $15K to fix.

Well, obviously that isn’t happening. I drove her to a Toyota dealer and she now has a new Prius! Double the MPG and I bet it will last double as long.

Is it just me or is it ridiculous that such a recent, properly maintained, gently driven vehicle had such a failure that soon?

And don’t get me started on my other aunts 2019 Kia Niro Hybrid. It’s been in and out of the Kia dealer the past few months now for an evap emissions code and now her registration is expired because she can’t pass the smog and the dealer says they have no idea how to fix the car.

I’m glad I drive an EV!

 

[Nuclear_42]

Close to 10 year old vehicle with almost 140k miles! It’s a machine and can break. If no damage was done I would have just changed head gaskets and moved along. I don’t know how it’s the manufacturers fault a 10 year old vehicle with than many miles. It can happen to any brand.

 

[The Critic]

They probably didn’t want to replace the HG’s because the engine was abnormally noise. The cam bearings can sometimes be an issue on the FB20’s.

And it’s a FB engine with over 100K. By this point they generally consume and/or leak some type of operating fluid. Can’t say I’m surprised…

 

[dogememe]

They probably didn’t want to replace the HG’s because the engine was abnormally noise. The cam bearings can sometimes be an issue on the FB20’s.

And it’s a FB engine with over 100K. By this point they generally consume and/or leak some type of operating fluid. Can’t say I’m surprised…

Yeah it’s burned oil since day one but not enough they’d do anything about it.

It’s a shame that these vehicles are junk at what I consider fairly low mileage. I’ve had so many older, high-mileage American vehicles and NEVER had any major engine issues. I did manage to blow a head gasket on an old Ford van with the 4.9 inline 6 by driving several hours with no coolant (temp gauge didn’t work and radiator leaked) but even after I discovered the milkshake I drove it like that for at least a month.

 

[Zee09]

I was thinking about a Subaru this year but bailed. Went elsewhere.
It's great you took care of your aunt..
She didn't need it nickel and diming her

 

[thescreensavers]

A used low mile FB20 <$1500 on car-part

 

[berniedd]

Yes, it can happen to any brand. My 1996 Honda leaked the head gasket at 9 years old, 70,000 miles. Fortunately, externally and not into the oil. Saw it early enough. Replaced it, and back to normal operation.

 

[PWMDMD]

According to the Car Care Nut he is seeing more and more Toyota 5.7s with head gasket failures at low (for that engine) milage. It happens to all engines from all manufactures.

 

[justalubetech]

That seems a little funky, low mile engines are fairly cheap for that car, i'm not at work with my service manual to look up labor but they can be swapped in a handful of hours by someone that knows what they're doing.

That's not *usually* how Subie head gaskets fail, it's usually just a slight external seep that it can soldier on with forever.

Methinks that shop was trying to pull a fast one.

 

[CarbonToast]

Wow $30k+ for a new prius, seems like a reasonable solution to needing a new engine.

 

[silvius]

Yeah it’s burned oil since day one but not enough they’d do anything about it.

What were the oil change intervals?

 

[supton]

I thought all cars were good now?

 

[zzyzzx]

 

[Trav]

There is something wrong with this story, head gaskets on these engines are not that common but if it does need them it is not a huge job and not too difficult. If the engine is knocking a short block is dirt cheap for these and even if the heads are shot on top of that they are only 500ea, doing a short block on these is an afternoons work.
Where they are getting 15K from I have no idea. I am working on one of these cars a 2014 this weekend for a failed seat belt, it has over 220K with no failed HG.

https://parts.northendsubaru.com/p/...n/Short-Block-Engine/66757357/10103AC740.html

https://parts.northendsubaru.com/a/...014530__6023269/CYLINDER-HEAD/G13-006-02.html

 

[zzyzzx]

My aunt has a 2015 Impreza 2.0.

Where they are getting 15K from I have no idea.

Obligatory:

T

Thread 'Do shops charge women more for car repairs?'

Apr 4, 2025

I think so. I have a rent house with a single lady as a tenant and I swear the repair estimates I get are just astronomical.

• The motor guy
• Replies: 67
• Forum: Mechanical/Maintenance Forum

• 

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Something is fishy with that story the dealer gave you. FB engines don't pass coolant through the head gasket; they are "externally" plumbed. .My guess is they wanted her to buy a new Subaru from them.

 

[JavierH19]

Headgaskets never failed on either of my old trucks and one has over 300k and those engines were designed in the 90's. There's no reason why headgaskets can't last 20 years 300k minimum in this day and age. I'd be mad if i owned that.

 

[PF52]

My guess is they wanted her to buy a new Subaru from them.

Ding ding ding!! We have a winner!

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Headgaskets never failed on either of my old trucks and one has over 300k and those engines were designed in the 90's. There's no reason why headgaskets can't last 20 years 300k minimum in this day and age. I'd be mad if i owned that.

The head gaskets didn't fail. The dealer was trying to swindle her.

 

[The Critic]

Ding ding ding!! We have a winner!

Doubt it. Service writer and tech do not make money if the customer buys a new car; they want the repair.