Subaru 2.5 turbo breathes fire again

SUBARU dealers in Australia have recommenced selling models with its 2.5-litre turbocharged engine after a problem identified as abnormal wear on conrod big-end bearings halted production earlier this month.

In a statement released today (April 28), Subaru Australia said that it had begun a nationwide rollout of a diagnostic test that would identify cars with symptoms of the problem, which manifests as an engine knocking noise.

Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries developed the diagnostic test and has resumed production of the affected vehicles – the Impreza WRX and WRX STi, Forester XT and Liberty GT sedan and wagon.

Left: WRX engine.

Subaru Australia said testing priority was being given to vehicles already with customers – believed to number 178 – and customer vehicles awaiting delivery.

The company said it was telephoning and writing to owners of the potentially affected vehicles – 2.5 turbo models built between January 8 and April 5 this year – with the aim of booking them into the dealer for a precautionary check, at Subaru Australia’s expense.

It also said that any customer whose vehicle produces an engine knocking noise would be offered a loan car until their vehicle can be checked and, where necessary, fixed.

The affected cars were not the subject of a recall but a “quality assurance action” which was “aimed at avoiding possible damage to the engines of potentially affected vehicles”.

Specific details of the affected Australian cars are as follows: Forester XT – chassis 002070 onwards Impreza WRX and WRX STi – chassis 015006 onwards Liberty GT sedan – chassis 038385 onwards Liberty GT wagon – chassis 068148 onwards.

Subaru vehicles fitted with all other displacement engines and the 2.5-litre normally-aspirated engine are not affected.

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Subaru suspends 2.5 turbo production and sale