PSA - If You Own a Subaru Forester 2019 to 2021 That Develops a Potential Cooling Issue

jollster101 on 19/08/2025 - 10:13
Last edited 19/08/2025 - 10:19 by 1 other user

I have a 2020 Subaru Forester that was dealer serviced throughout the warranty, which expired in March this year, and has just ticked over 70K. I was driving about 4 weeks ago and the little blue engine cold light came on and stayed on until I got home. Next day, jumped in the car and everything was fine.

A week later I was driving and the dash lit up and a number of the safety features shut down and error messages came up (RAB, traction control, eyesight, check engine). I wasn't far from home so was able to get back without issue. Outside of warranty, I expected that this wasn't likely to be great and $$$'s to fix. For some reason, I decided to google the symptoms and came across various threads whereby there is a known issue globally with the Thermo Control Valve on certain models of Subaru. A Forester 2019 - 2021 being one of them (there are others so google to see which models if you might be impacted).

Kept reading and what I was experiencing is exactly what others in Australia and the US had experienced. A number of people in Australia had advised that they had been able to get their TCV replaced for free even with their car being out of warranty.

Before calling my local dealership, spoke with Subaru Australia and explained that I think I was impacted by the TCV issue. They said that the car needed to go to a local dealer who would diagnose and if it was a TCV, it would be repaired as a good will warranty gesture. Spoke to the local dealer, who were initially defensive as to what Subaru Australia might do as the dealership wouldn't want to be on the hook for any costs.

Car went in, was diagnosed as having P26A3 - Engine Coolant Bypass Valve A Range Performance.

Dealer then spoke to Subaru Australia and I got my car back, fully repaired 4 days later without cost.

Anyone who has one of the impacted models and may experience something similar, or has already and paid to get the problem fixed, could be worth a call to Subaru Australia.

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Comments

  • Joda on 19/08/2025 - 10:31
    +1

    Thanks, 2021 model here - will keep that in mind when warranty ends.

  • MS Paint on 19/08/2025 - 10:33
    +5

    That's a great result.

    I would argue that the process you followed not only applies to that specific model Forester but literally and goods purchased.

    You:

    • Researched
    • Applied common sense
    • Remained calm and patient (no Karen behavior)
    • Spoke to the appropriate contact channels
    • Stood your ground
    • Put a little extra 'above and beyond' effort in
    • Followed the suggested process from contact channels

    So many are too lazy, lose their shit because "it should be someone else's problem, I know my rights and demand compensation" attitude and get nowhere.

    • jollster101 on 19/08/2025 - 11:18

      Subaru Australia were great, I just said that I thought I was experiencing the same issue that seems to have plagued many. The only thing the lady queried was the year as she thought I said 2022. I think that in 2022 they started using other TCV's which remedied the issue from happening.

      Apart from the dealership being poor in their status updates to me, overall it was a good experience.

      I don't know that I would purchase a Subaru again, but that's because of the boxer engine that I don't really like. It's always had a high rev point in lower gears when pulling away that only settles when you reach 20 to 30k's/h.

      • JimB on 19/08/2025 - 14:17

        "It's always had a high rev point in lower gears when pulling away that only settles when you reach 20 to 30k's/h"

        What do you mean by that?

        High idle when cold?

      • David2017 on 19/08/2025 - 15:37
        +1

        The engine does that because of the dopey CVT gearbox behind it, not because it's a boxer. All CVT cars drive like that and they're all terrible especially Pathfinders. They're trying to reduce fuel consumption by running the motor in it's fuel efficient rev range. People shouldn't buy cars with CVT boxes.

        • jollster101 on 19/08/2025 - 17:05

          That makes sense. It is very infuriating and a real downside to the car.

          Which is a shame as the Forester is one of the few SUV's that don't taper in significantly at the back, reducing the amount of boot space. That was one of the main reasons we got it, it had similar amount of space in the boot as the 15 year old X-Trail we were replacing at the time.

  • Sobai on 19/08/2025 - 10:48
    +2

    My 2020 subaru is literally in the shop right now for this with the same model. Its still under warranty luckily but will never get another subaru again - rust issues already (apparently subarus arent meant to be kept outside), dodgy autostop that shuts the whole car down and now this.

    • Murkymerv on 19/08/2025 - 16:21

      You forgot CVT , horrendous…

  • plmko on 19/08/2025 - 10:57

    If you've always serviced with the dealer, it doesn't matter if the manufacturer warranty ends in 5 years, there is likely an extra 2-3 year warranty for the engine and surround. Your result was a good one but they are obliged to repair it either way.

    • MS Paint on 19/08/2025 - 11:59
      +3

      but they are obliged to repair it either way

      Sauce Source?

      • Stealtho on 19/08/2025 - 13:04

        tomato

        • snappy1234 on 19/08/2025 - 13:19

          Yep not a fan of BBQ

      • jollster101 on 19/08/2025 - 17:03

        Probably the ACCC.

        Don't stone me but we bought a Bosch oven and microwave as well as a Sirius rangehood from HN just before the EOFY. Surprisingly they gave a quite remarkable deal which we were very happy with.

        Where I was going with that was that the guy in HN said that even though the oven only had a 2 year warranty, in reality they would still repair for free anything at least a year after that and possibly 2.

        Reason being the ACCC state that should goods of a certain type and cost, it isn't reasonable to assume that just because the warranty has passed, that means all bets are off.

        It's something that has been referenced a lot on OzB and Whirlpool. I think its available on the ACCC site as well…….somewhere.

        • payless69 on 19/08/2025 - 18:40

          My HN product with a manufacturing fault had been denied wty by both HN staff after making me wait for 75 mins doing nothing. Also OFT QLD refused to help citing they want me to phone them and not record the call.

          Of course OFT lady has a brother in competition he has no license but sis protects him!!

          • jollster101 on 19/08/2025 - 18:57

            @payless69: https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/buying-products-and-servic…

            2. Warranties against defects

            Extra promises about what a business will do if something goes wrong with a product or service are known as a manufacturer’s warranties or warranties against defects.

            A warranty against defects is provided in addition to the consumer guarantees and does not limit or replace these rights.

            The business may promise to:

            repair or replace a faulty product
perform a service again, or fix a problem with it
compensate the consumer.

            A warranty against defects may be provided by the manufacturer or the business selling the product or service. It is given at or around the time the consumer buys the product or service.

            Any written promise about what a business will do if something goes wrong can be a warranty against defects, even if it's not a formal document. For example, words on packaging or labels and terms in contracts can also count as warranties against defects.

            How long the warranty against defects applies

            Warranties against defects usually apply for a set amount of time. After the warranty expires, the consumer guarantee of acceptable quality usually still applies. This means that if there’s a problem with a product, the consumer likely still has a right to a repair, refund or replacement, even after the warranty period.

            Businesses must not mislead consumers into thinking that their rights are limited to the remedies or timeframe set out in a warranty against defects.

          • jollster101 on 19/08/2025 - 18:59

            @payless69: Not saying it's a guarantee that belligerent staff still won't deny, but if you read through this and go in level headed and calm, armed with info, c you never know.

            I suppose a lot is down to interpretation of how long an item or device is supposed to last post warranty.

  • joka on 20/08/2025 - 07:34

    I was expecting google to tell you that the car has cancer.

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