The Subaru Head Gasket Oil Consumption Class Action, formally known as **Yaegar v. Subaru of America, Inc.**, represents a significant legal settlement for owners of affected Subaru vehicles manufactured between 2011 and 2015. The lawsuit targeted excessive oil consumption caused by manufacturing defects in Subaru’s boxer engines, specifically defective piston rings and connecting rod bearing issues that left owners frequently topping off their engine oil or risking engine damage.
For example, a 2013 Subaru Legacy owner might have experienced their engine burning through an entire quart of oil every 500 to 1,000 miles—a serious defect that the manufacturer failed to address until legal action forced intervention. On August 31, 2016, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey granted final approval to this settlement, making relief available to thousands of Subaru owners who had suffered through the defect. The settlement resulted in substantial compensation, including an extended warranty for oil consumption repairs, replacement engine options, and cash reimbursement for owners who had already paid out of pocket for repairs and testing.
Table of Contents
- Which Subaru Models Were Affected by Excessive Oil Consumption?
- The Legal Case Details and Settlement Approval Process
- What Compensation and Remedies Were Available Under the Settlement?
- How to Determine Eligibility and File a Claim
- What Signs Indicate Your Subaru Has Excessive Oil Consumption?
- Understanding the Separate Head Gasket Issues in Subaru Models
- What to Do If Your Subaru Shows Signs of the Oil Consumption Defect Today
- Conclusion
Which Subaru Models Were Affected by Excessive Oil Consumption?
The defect impacted a specific range of Subaru vehicles across multiple model lines. The 2011-2014 Forester equipped with 2.5-liter engines, the 2012-2013 Impreza with 2.0-liter engines, the 2013 XV Crosstrek (also with a 2.0-liter engine), and the 2013-2014 Legacy and Outback models with 2.5-liter engines were all included in the settlement. These vehicles represent millions of cars on American roads, making the defect a widespread issue that affected a substantial portion of Subaru’s customer base during this model year range. The root cause of the excessive oil consumption stemmed from multiple manufacturing defects: defective piston rings that failed to properly seal the combustion chamber, connecting rod bearing issues, defective connecting rod side clearances, and insufficient engine lubrication channels that prevented proper oil circulation.
Unlike a single point of failure that could be easily corrected, Subaru’s problem was systemic—multiple components in the engine’s internal architecture were not manufactured to specification or did not work together properly. The severity of the defect varied by individual vehicle, but owners generally reported needing to add a quart of oil every 1,000 to 3,000 miles. This was far above the normal consumption rate for modern engines, which typically burn minimal oil over similar driving distances. For owners who didn’t monitor their oil level closely, the defect posed a genuine risk of catastrophic engine damage.
The Legal Case Details and Settlement Approval Process
The Yaegar v. Subaru of America, Inc. lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, making it a federal class action rather than a state-level settlement. This classification meant that the settlement would apply uniformly across all affected states, providing consistent remedies regardless of where owners lived.
The legal proceedings took several years from filing through final approval, during which both sides presented evidence about the defect, the extent of the problem, and appropriate remedies. Final approval of the settlement came on August 31, 2016, after the court determined that the terms were fair, reasonable, and adequate to all class members. The settlement included $1.5 million in attorney fees—a substantial but not unusual allocation for a class action of this magnitude. Additionally, $31,500 was awarded as incentive compensation to the nine named plaintiffs ($3,500 each) who initiated the lawsuit on behalf of the entire class. This structure is typical in class actions, as it compensates the individuals who took on the burden of being named parties to the litigation.
What Compensation and Remedies Were Available Under the Settlement?
The settlement provided three primary forms of relief to eligible vehicle owners. First, Subaru extended the warranty coverage for oil consumption repairs from the standard five years or 60,000 miles to eight years and 100,000 miles. This extension meant that owners could return to Subaru dealerships for oil consumption diagnosis, testing, and repairs with no out-of-pocket cost, as long as the vehicle fell within the extended warranty period. Second, owners of certain affected vehicles were eligible to receive a $4,000 redesigned boxer engine replacement.
These replacement engines incorporated manufacturing improvements and design changes that addressed the underlying defects. For example, a 2013 Impreza owner experiencing severe oil consumption could have their engine completely replaced with one of these improved units, restoring the vehicle to proper operation. Third, the settlement provided cash reimbursement for owners who had already paid out of pocket for Subaru Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) repairs, oil consumption tests, or diagnostic work before the settlement was finalized. This compensation acknowledged the real financial harm owners suffered while waiting for the legal system to force Subaru to take responsibility. Owners who had accumulated repair receipts and documentation could file claims for reimbursement based on the amounts they had already spent.
How to Determine Eligibility and File a Claim
Determining eligibility was straightforward: you needed to own or lease one of the affected Subaru vehicles (2011-2014 Forester, 2012-2013 Impreza, 2013 XV Crosstrek, or 2013-2014 Legacy/Outback) and experienced oil consumption issues. The settlement operated through a claims process where owners could either submit documentation to receive reimbursement for prior repairs or register their vehicle to receive benefits under the extended warranty. Unlike some settlements that expire within a year or two, this settlement provided long-term benefits as long as owners’ vehicles remained within the extended warranty period. For owners seeking reimbursement, the process required submitting proof of prior repair costs—typically receipts from Subaru dealerships, independent mechanics, or Subaru dealership invoices documenting TSB work.
The claims administrator would review documentation and calculate the amount owed to each claimant. For owners who hadn’t yet had repairs, simply registering their vehicle guaranteed they would receive the extended warranty coverage and could pursue repairs at a Subaru dealership when needed. One limitation to note: the settlement required that owners maintain their vehicles in reasonable condition and continue to have Subaru perform any oil consumption repairs. Owners who attempted to pursue claims while owning vehicles with severely deferred maintenance or who had taken their vehicles to unauthorized repair facilities in ways that voided Subaru’s obligations might face challenges in obtaining full compensation.
What Signs Indicate Your Subaru Has Excessive Oil Consumption?
Excessive oil consumption typically manifests in several observable ways. The most obvious sign is needing to add engine oil frequently—more than once between scheduled oil changes. Many owners of affected vehicles reported needing to add oil every 500 to 1,500 miles, or roughly every week or two depending on driving patterns. If your vehicle’s “check oil” light is illuminating regularly despite having recently topped off the oil, this is a strong indicator of a problem. Another warning sign is visible engine smoke, particularly blue-tinged smoke from the tailpipe, which indicates burning oil. Some owners reported a persistent burning smell or haze visible in the engine bay.
Additionally, owners might notice performance degradation, rough idling, or reduced fuel economy if the oil level drops below the minimum safe level for extended periods. By the time these secondary symptoms appear, the vehicle’s internal engine components may already be experiencing damage from inadequate lubrication. A critical limitation: waiting too long to address excessive oil consumption can result in permanent engine damage. If an oil level drops too far, the remaining oil cannot properly lubricate the engine’s moving parts, leading to friction, overheating, and potentially catastrophic mechanical failure. This is why the settlement’s extended warranty was so valuable—owners could have Subaru diagnose and repair the defect before damage became irreversible. If an owner ignored the problem, Subaru might argue that subsequent engine failure was due to negligent maintenance rather than the original defect.
Understanding the Separate Head Gasket Issues in Subaru Models
While the oil consumption defect was specific to 2011-2015 model years, Subaru had a separate and unrelated head gasket issue affecting different generations of vehicles. The most severe head gasket problems occurred in 1996-1999 Subaru Outback, Legacy GT, and LSi models, where manufacturing issues caused premature gasket failure leading to oil leaks, coolant mixing with oil, and engine overheating. These early failures became legendary in the Subaru enthusiast community for their frequency and expense.
Head gasket issues extended beyond those early model years, affecting Subaru vehicles built from 1999 through 2011, including Legacy, Forester, Impreza, Outback, and Baja models. In these vehicles, head gaskets typically began failing around 120,000 to 150,000 miles, which made the problem particularly frustrating because it occurred well outside the original factory warranty period. While not as immediately dangerous as the oil consumption defect, head gasket failure could result in thousands of dollars in repairs and significant vehicle downtime.
What to Do If Your Subaru Shows Signs of the Oil Consumption Defect Today
If you own one of the affected model years and vehicles included in the Yaegar settlement, the first step is to document any oil consumption you’ve experienced. Keep records of when you add oil, how much you add, and any receipts from dealership visits or independent mechanics. This documentation becomes valuable if you’re filing a claim for reimbursement or if you need to demonstrate the defect to a Subaru dealership.
Contact a Subaru dealership to have the oil consumption formally documented through their testing procedures. The dealership can perform a controlled oil consumption test according to Subaru’s specifications, creating an official record of the problem. With that documentation in hand, the dealership should process your claim under the settlement terms. If the dealership is uncooperative or claims that the settlement has expired, contact the claims administrator or consult the class action settlement documentation directly, as the extended warranty extends to 8 years and 100,000 miles for covered vehicles.
Conclusion
The Subaru Head Gasket Oil Consumption Class Action represents an important victory for vehicle owners who were let down by manufacturing defects. The August 31, 2016 settlement approval provided meaningful relief through extended warranties, engine replacement options, and cash reimbursement—compensation that acknowledged both the defect itself and the real financial harm owners had suffered.
If you owned one of the affected 2011-2015 Subaru vehicles, this settlement likely applied to you and may still provide benefits if your vehicle remains within the extended warranty coverage period. Taking action requires documentation and timely communication with Subaru dealerships, but the settlement removes much of the burden by obligating Subaru to cover repairs that would otherwise cost thousands of dollars. Whether you’re still experiencing oil consumption issues today or had problems years ago, understanding the details of this settlement ensures you can obtain the compensation and remedies you’re entitled to receive.