Expensive Repair Required outside of Used Car Warranty - Chance of Recourse?

Ljrowls on 05/11/2021 - 12:57
Last edited 07/11/2021 - 12:23 by 1 other user

Hey all,

Recently purchased a Subaru Outback 3.6r from a dealership, 2016 model with 95,xxx km. Great condition all round.

I've just had its 100,000km service done by a Subaru specialist independent mechanic near my place and he reckons that the front oil pump on the transmission needs resealing at a cost of ~1.5k-2k, depending on any other parts or oil required. Bit of a punch in the guts as this car is the most expensive thing I've ever purchased and I was hoping for a trouble-free 100,000kms before I probably get an electric car in a decade or so.

Now, it is outside the three month / 5,000km statutory warranty period. Do I have any chance of assistance from the dealer or Subaru itself? Appreciate thoughts from anyone who has experienced similar.

Cheers

Automotive Car Subaru

Comments

  • MrHyde on 05/11/2021 - 13:04
    +8

    Used car - no recourse. It's pretty much buyer beware. Did you do a mechanic inspect the car prior to purchase?

    • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 13:07

      Yep, fair enough I guess.

      Nope, I honestly just thought with a car this new and reasonably low kms it would be fine for the next while and I'd cop repairs on the chin if/when they arrived down the track. Wasn't expecting anything this early!

      I have a fair understanding of mechanics and gave the car a good looking over but obviously didn't notice anything leaking from the transmission.

      • Slippery Fish on 06/11/2021 - 07:56

        Fix it yourself and know it's done right. Might be all it needs.

      • SlavOz on 06/11/2021 - 09:47
        +5

        95,000kms is not low, especially for cars predominantly used by families with kids or off-road campers. Both of those things will wear down a car very quickly. Most cars require a major service or run into at least 1 expensive problem at the 100k kms mark.

        Always do a pre-purchase inspection with 2nd hand cars. $1.5-2k repair is not that bad. It's an expensive lesson for the future, just pay it and move on. Most people who don't do their due diligence when buying second hand cars end up much worse off than you.

        • jrowls on 06/11/2021 - 09:52

          It was mostly used as a commuter by one guy going up and down the hume / m5, back seats had hardly been sat in.

          But yes, I take your point - I was possibly being overoptimistic thinking I would get away without any major issues at this point. It's still frustrating as it's just out of both kinds of warranty!

          • SlavOz on 06/11/2021 - 10:07
            +4

            @jrowls: If you bought the car from a dealership, it's impossible to know what the previous owners were like. The dealers will tell you what you need to hear. It's always an old couple or single guy…

            Personally, I don't like dealerships because most of their 2nd hand cars come from people who just wanted to get rid of them quickly without scrutiny. If a car is in good condition, everyone knows they can get more by selling privately. The only reason to take less and sell to dealers is because they know the car has problems and a dealership is the only place that will buy it without asking many questions.

            • jrowls on 06/11/2021 - 10:24

              @SlavOz: Nah nah that was from my own research trying to figure out the vibe of the previous owner. The dealership didn't actually offer up any nonsense story funnily enough, but I didn't ask them tbf.

              Yes your second point is generally true though.

  • Hybroid on 05/11/2021 - 13:05
    +2

    Second-hand vehicles (other than motorcycles)

    The dealer guarantee for a second-hand motor vehicle which had driven less than 160,000 km and was less than 10 years old when purchased is limited to 5,000 km after purchase, or three months after purchase, whichever occurs first.

    https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/cars-and-other-vehicles/b…

    • Driven less than 160,000 KM at purchase … ✓
    • Less than 10 years old when purchased … ✓
    • Driven less than 5,000 KM after purchase … ???
    • Has it been less than 3 months since purchase … ???
    • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 13:07
      -1

      Now, it is outside the three mo / 5,000km statutory warranty period

      • Hybroid on 05/11/2021 - 13:08
        +4

        So then no chance. Thems the breaks when buying used. 100,000 KM is a fair bit for a 5 year old car, double expected mileage.

        • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 13:09
          +1

          Yeah, fair enough then - I thought there may be some other way to approach it but all good.

        • jimbobaus on 05/11/2021 - 14:35
          +3

          Double expected?

          10,000 kms per year?
          20,000 per year is considered the average

          • Hybroid on 05/11/2021 - 14:41
            +2

            @jimbobaus:

            Average kilometres travelled was 12.1 thousand kilometres for all vehicles
            Passenger-only vehicles travelled 11.1 thousand kilometres on average

            https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/industry/tourism-and-trans…

            20,000 KM per year is too high for me personally when considering a used vehicle. YMMV.

            Pun intended.

            • jimbobaus on 05/11/2021 - 14:41

              @Hybroid: Things have changed.
              Haven’t bought a used car in a long time but used to always be 20k or less was acceptable

              • Hybroid on 05/11/2021 - 14:44
                +1

                @jimbobaus: 2010 stats:-

                Motor vehicles registered in Australia travelled an average of 14,100 kilometres per vehicle in 2010. Vehicles registered in Victoria and Northern Territory travelled the highest number of average kilometres (14,600 kilometres), while vehicles registered in South Australia travelled the lowest number of average kilometres (11,900).

                https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/Lookup/9208.0Main+F…

            • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 16:00

              @Hybroid: Definitely much higher than what I wanted too in terms of km but there were few alternatives at the time and there was a huge price difference in going down to more like 60-70k kms.

              Judging from the previous owners address and the condition of the vehicle, I assessed that the kms were mostly highway and fairly low stress. Can’t always go on km alone.

            • AndyC1 on 05/11/2021 - 19:14

              @Hybroid: 20K per year is low for allot of company vehicle. For a family vehicle I agree 20K on average, but could by 15 or could be 25.

            • md333 on 06/11/2021 - 12:25

              @Hybroid: I choose to see it as very new, for a 100,000km car, rather than very high km for a 5 year old car. Needs to be priced accordingly though.
              In fact I have had a few issues in the past buying high milage cars, thinking I was getting more new feature for the money, that was 300,000+ though.

              Currently have an mx-5, which has only 100,000km, but is 22 year old, and has been surprisingly trouble free so far, despite everyone telling me the radiator is going to explode because it has gone yellow. Tends to support the theory km are more important than years.

  • sempro on 05/11/2021 - 13:05

    repair it

    /thread

    • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 13:07

      Well obviously I will repair it…

  • pharkurnell on 05/11/2021 - 13:07

    Where is the expensive repair? 1500 doesnt get you much in repairs to cars these days, specially when you mention gearbox.

    • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 13:08

      1.5k-2k is fairly expensive no? It's a fair chunk of the purchase price of the vehicle! I would not expect a car that's 5 years old to have repair that expensive for a little while longer unless you had an accident.

      • pharkurnell on 05/11/2021 - 13:17

        Maybe you missed it but No.

        Gearbox rebuild on V8 Commodore $3500+ labor.

        Car repairs can be expensive

        some dude on here paid 3000 for brake discs recently

        • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 13:55

          3k for brakes must be on a high performance euro surely?

          3.5k plus labour on a commodore? What kind? The euro one with the 8spd?

          • pharkurnell on 05/11/2021 - 14:00
            +1

            @jrowls: yea I think it was a Merc on the discs.. poor dude nearly had a stroke.

            nope which ever box is behind the VE Sports-wagon with the L76 mate owns.

            • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 14:04

              @pharkurnell: Yeah no kidding, ouch. Those AMGs / RSs / M cars ain’t cheap.

              Surprising about the commo though. I guess powerful engine = strong / robust transmission that’s tricky to repair?

              • pharkurnell on 05/11/2021 - 14:12

                @jrowls: yea thus why you get a quote or 3 before handing out cash

                Yea the comm has some sniff :) :) :)

    • boomramada on 05/11/2021 - 22:36
      +1

      Definitely not expensive repair, service centre quoted me $1500 for my 100k service.

      • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 22:36

        What are you driving, a helicopter?

      • SlavOz on 06/11/2021 - 10:10

        Getting my old Mustang serviced at performance mechanics usually cost me $600-800 per service (although they do a lot more than what a standard service would entail).

  • SF3 on 05/11/2021 - 13:10
    +2

    this car is the most expensive thing I've ever purchased

    Did you get comprehensive insurance? otherwise it maybe your next most expensive incident…

    • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 13:12
      +5

      I did yes.

  • iNeed2Pee on 05/11/2021 - 13:17
    +11

    I would take it to another mechanic for a 2nd opinion.

    • pharkurnell on 05/11/2021 - 13:26
      +1

      agree

    • trex on 05/11/2021 - 13:35
      +1

      he reckons that the front oil pump on the transmission needs resealing at a cost of ~1.5k-2k

      i reckon getting a 2nd opinion is right!

    • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 13:53

      That’s a fair comment and I would if this was any other mechanic but they’re literally THE experts on Subarus in Sydney. Right near where I live, small team, family owned, they all own Subarus.

      I trust their diagnosis and even if I could get it done slightly cheaper I’d prefer to do it here.

      • aoeueoa on 05/11/2021 - 17:10
        +1

        You don't need a "specialist" for a straight forward mechanical repair job like this. Maybe Euro car electrical problem diagnosis on newer models you need specialist knowledge.

        PM me if you want a mechanic recommendation in the Mascot area, literally my best friend is a long time mechanic and he'll give it to you straight.

        • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 17:53
          +1

          Of course you don’t NEED a specialist, but why wouldn’t you take it to the expert? Most mechanics would be less familiar with the car and the transmission, even if they would be able to fix it. The experts would know the potential issues and workarounds and efficiencies because they’ve done it before.

      • kiitos on 06/11/2021 - 08:47
        +2

        Could you share the name? Looking for a mechanic for my Forester.

        • jrowls on 06/11/2021 - 09:33

          Absolutely mate - my previous Subaru I had looked after at All Drive Subaroo in Peakhurst, they were great.

          The current one is in Caringbah, Subie Doctor. The bloke won the world championship for Subaru techs (didn't believe that was a thing until I got home and looked it up, and… it's a thing! haha).

          Someone who works there has a lifted Forester with what appear to be straight pipes and a rooftop tent, someone else has an absolutely mint looking bugeye WRX, so I think they're fairly passionate about Subarus haha.

      • snooksy on 10/11/2021 - 09:15

        This is why they are expensive

  • bobbified on 05/11/2021 - 13:46
    +2

    Luck of the draw sometimes when buying used cars. Even a mechanical inspection probably wouldn't have picked that up at the time.

  • neo on 05/11/2021 - 13:47
    +2

    Worth trying your luck calling Subaru to see if there's any recalls relating to that issue…

    • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 13:54

      Yeah good shout I think there is in the US but not in Aus.

  • Hithere on 05/11/2021 - 14:03
    +1

    You could try going back to the stealership you purchased it from and try for a 'Good will' payment towards fixing your vehicle.

    If you spin a good sob story there's a chance they may take pity on you - or not.

    • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 14:05

      Yeah that was my thoughts - worth a shot I guess. It’s annoying because without Covid we would have done the km to get to the 100,000km service quicker, within stat warranty period, and they might be fully liable! Haha.

  • FoxJump on 05/11/2021 - 14:26

    why does the pump need replacement? Could you just live with the problem?

    • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 14:28

      It needs resealing - it's a gearbox-out job. The car can run with a leak for a while, but leaking CVT oil everywhere is not sustainable for very long when it's visibly dripping at current.

      • bictory on 05/11/2021 - 16:52
        +1

        Sounds like a bad leak, anecdotal video there are products (available off the shelf) which may be short of a fix (replacement of seal) but can be worth a shot with a smaller outlay ymmv https://youtu.be/HTT0sejhoOQ?t=38

        • aoeueoa on 05/11/2021 - 17:12
          +1

          those products are terrible. In a pinch you could try it but it's a stopgap

        • brad1-8tsi on 06/11/2021 - 07:53

          Those products work by causing a chemical reaction with the seal material causing it to swell and seal the leak.

          The chemical doesn't discriminate. Automatic transmissions (CVT, torque converter, DSG) are full of "rubber" seals and very small passageways. Making those seals swell and partially block ports isn't a good thing

          While it may provide a temporary fix, in the long term the repair bill will be much higher.

  • thatonethere on 05/11/2021 - 14:29
    +1

    While stat warranty has expired - you could try a much steeper hill which is the ACL - https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/1449_ACL%20Motor%20vehi…

    Good luck though as used car sales people are tough

    • MrHyde on 05/11/2021 - 15:41

      I dont think ACL will work in this instance. You will need to show that the defect is a manufacturing defect. A leak as described sounds more like more wear and tear.

  • Krankite on 05/11/2021 - 14:47
    +2

    Warranty
    Do you know the purchase date? Subaru warranties are transferable so you may just manage to slip into the 5yr warranty

    • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 15:58
      +1

      Outside it by a few months!

      • brad1-8tsi on 06/11/2021 - 07:54
        +1

        Outside it by a few months!

        Subaru are very good at looking after customers outside of warranty. I would make some respectful representations to them.

    • JIMB0 on 06/11/2021 - 10:27
      +1

      This has a better chance of success than going after the second hand dealer.

      • jrowls on 06/11/2021 - 10:43

        The second hand dealer is a Subaru dealer so I have some hope dealing with them - but unfortunately I'm outside the original warranty anyhow.

  • apple2016 on 05/11/2021 - 14:47

    Subaru specialist independent mechanic

    though he might be correct, sometimes its worth having a second opinion.
    Also did you check with him why the oil pump needs resealing? general wear and tear or… ?

    • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 15:58
      -1

      It needs resealing because it’s leaking! 😂 not exactly sure what the reason for that would be but cars are complicated and shit happens I suppose.

  • try2bhelpful on 05/11/2021 - 14:50

    Sorry, can’t really help but it does give others the heads up to get the service in the first three months. RACV does a pre sales inspection for cars, as well.

    Sorry you are going through this.

    • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 15:57

      Thanks dude, you’re absolutely right and it’s something I was planning on doing but life gets in the way! 😂

      Would definitely recommend others do the same.

  • brad1-8tsi on 05/11/2021 - 14:55
    +2

    If you bought it from a Subabru dealer then have a chat. They might cover the parts if you cover the labour

  • JimB on 05/11/2021 - 17:06
    +1

    I'd get a second opinion from an Automatic Transmission specialist and not a mechanic.

    Some mechanics will subcontract the work out to a specialist anyway.

    What state are you in?

    • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 17:54

      My mechanic is a Subaru specialist who has been working on their CVTs for years, I’m happy with the opinion and other mechanics said the quoted price was “very competitive”.

  • Melb69 on 05/11/2021 - 22:16

    Gets some more quotes

    • jrowls on 05/11/2021 - 22:36

      It's not the price of the repair necessarily that's the major problem.

  • blwnhr on 06/11/2021 - 07:46
    +3

    Try contacting Subaru head office. Consumer law will support you against manufacturers for 7 years (kilometres and service history dependent).

    The trade-off is, that could be a long road to head down. The value of your time may not make it worth it, but also, the repair may be critical and delaying while you persue Subaru will cause more damage.

  • jrvb42 on 06/11/2021 - 09:03
    +1

    Not sure why you would expect trouble free motoring for 100,000km. There would be tyres, servicing and during that period some major maintenance tasks like transmission service likely due. Good luck with it, but bottom line, owning a vehicle is never cheap and rarely trouble free, especially for the second 100,000km of a petrol motor.

    • Deridas on 06/11/2021 - 09:31

      I agree, small things like re-seating oil pumps will occur at 100k kms. It would be standard car maintenance. 1.5-2k aren't bad. There are a lot more maintenance issues that will pop up in the next 10yrs.

    • jrowls on 06/11/2021 - 09:31

      Tires and servicing, major maintenance aren't 'trouble'. I have obviously factored those into my ownership of the vehicle.

      Unexpected items like a significant, gearbox-out transmission leak are 'trouble'. I expect things like that closer to 200,000km, not under 100,000.

  • OzHunterNSW on 06/11/2021 - 10:04

    Bite the bullet and have it done yourself. You should expect to be paying for a few things here and there. Wait till you have to replace the engine timing belts, etc.

    Get on a Subaru spare parts site… there you will find cheap NEW parts… don't expect your mechanic to source the cheap GOOD parts - you do it.

    And, what do you expect, a 100k vehicle, that has possibly spent the majority of its life bush bashing.

    • jrowls on 06/11/2021 - 10:26

      possibly spent the majority of its life bush bashing

      😂mate it's a barge with a big engine, the exterior of which barely has a scratch, is running what are basically Pirelli slicks. I guarantee you it hasn't even seen a fire trail, let alone bush bashing.

  • snooksy on 06/11/2021 - 11:03

    This is normal wear and tear with a second hand car. Expect to fork out a thousand $ or two each year over the course of your ownership. If you want a car without these costs buy a new car. This is partly why cars depreciate. Things wear down and need replacing. You need to change your attitude to owning a vehicle. They continually cost money.

    • jrowls on 06/11/2021 - 11:28

      Thanks for your comment mate. Wasn’t looking for advice on how cars work, this isn’t my first rodeo. Just asking if anyone had been in a similar situation re a big repair and recently lapsed warranty.

      I do understand that used cars are prone to breaking, I’m not a dolt.

  • Series4Episode10 on 06/11/2021 - 12:48
    +1

    Next time do a lot more research, Subaru's transmissions are the reason I wouldn't buy one, watched lots of stuff in youtube regarding the brands and other's CVT trans, other brands are moving to the same tech and both Nissan and Lexus are experiencing the reliability problems.

    CVT's are not reparable once worn and are replaced … at great price and 100k seems to be the lifespan of a Subaru CVT that has been driven reasonably, shorter period if driven hard and off-road, if you intend to keep the vehicle you need to consider repair over a replacement transmission as the trans is at the kilometers these transmissions often fail.

    Take it to a Subaru dealer and ask them to check the car over, don't mention what the other mechanic has said.

    Toyota CVT's are reliable.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdpSFHJ_8Uo

    • jrowls on 06/11/2021 - 12:59

      Everything I read about Subaru CVTs seemed to indicate they are among the most reliable, despite there being a known issue with the previous generation ones (there was a recall on it in the US).

      I’d be interested to see what you read about them? The mechanic said that the high torque CVT (used in the turbo and 6 cylinder models) is extremely reliable other than the issue mine is having, a specific leak that is not highly common but does happen regularly. It’s worth noting also that the high torque CVT is a very different beast to their standard one.

      • Series4Episode10 on 06/11/2021 - 13:13

        Can't tell you unit by unit … but there have been a lot of videos on youtube that I have watched and those videos have made up my mind to avoid the brand and many others, I keep hearing about newer vehicles and what goes wrong and have kept my 2001 AU manual Ute, it has cost me minimal, apart from tires about every 5 yrs … filters oil .. petrol pump and filter, clutch, plugs, muffler and a coil set in 20 yrs, many newer vehicles will cost you a butload more in 5 yrs than what my car has cost me in 20yrs, plus the thing only uses about 9.5 litres per 100km

        FFS theirs video on youtube about this yrs model's cvt problems.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qnlBLAbWP0

        • jrowls on 06/11/2021 - 13:20

          That’s about the 2011 model which as I mentioned is a known issue with the previous generation. Mine has a) a different CVT completely and b) is the newer generation which has few issues if any.

          I know that youtuber and have seen many of his videos FYI.

  • Peck on 06/11/2021 - 13:01
    +2

    Did you ask the dealer? What did he say? They might fix it in their workshop 'at cost'. 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained'.
    also if 'just out of warranty' I would also approach Subaru. Car Companies can be flexible.

    • jrowls on 06/11/2021 - 13:18
      +1

      This is the sorta answer I was looking for initially - I wasn’t sure whether people would say this or that the dealer would tell me to stuff off.

      I have contacted them and they are going to bring it into their shop to have their own inspection and then discuss options. I’m hopeful we can split it or something as it’s only just out of both warranties, and under the ACL I would suggest they would be required to fix it all and cover costs if I took them to court or whatever (which obviously I’m not interested in doing lol)

  • Overclocked91 on 07/11/2021 - 09:01
    +1

    Take it into the dealership with the report and they may fix it under good will warranty. Happened to me with a Golf I had, the low-pressure fuel pump failed.

    • jrowls on 07/11/2021 - 12:09

      Thanks dude that’s the plan! How far out of warranty were you? Did you have to fight hard for it or not so much?

      • Peck on 08/11/2021 - 12:30
        +1

        My Corolla steering wheel was delaminating one year out of warranty.
        At 2 years out of warranty, I asked Toyota Service for a quote to replace it. They consulted Toyota HQ, & offered to replaced it for the cost of the workshop labour (approx $80).

      • Overclocked91 on 09/11/2021 - 07:12

        Well if it's out of warranty they technically can push back. However, triple check with the ACCC and they will probably say needs to be suitable for a reasonable time period. Then go to the dealer with a bit of ammo.

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