Please don't misinterpret what I'm about to post, I fully understand what you are getting at in your thread.

Just have to chuckle at your qualification of "HIGH MILEAGE" at over 30 - 40 k miles. Around me, high mileage is over 100 k miles!

Have fun in your researching for your next ride, and may you be more satisfied with it than the last one you had!

 

No problem - Since a lot of the reports have engine failures as low as 30K miles, I was using that as a "starting point". It wouldn't be much help to hear from new owners with 5K miles for this subject. I'm hoping to hear from 2.4 GDI owners with much higher mileage to validate my dream of "problem fixed". I really do like the 2019 Sportages, and so does my wife.

And, yes, my last 4 or 5 cars all had 150K+ miles when I traded them in, so I agree 30K is not high. LOL

.

 

I am on my third vehicle with one of the engine family in question, have had zero issues with any of them, going back to a 2011 sonata 2.0t, and currently in a 2017 sportage with 2.0t, if you treat them right, statistically your chances are very low. All 3 of mine have been with turbo and GDI, just use good quality oil and fuel, and change fluids promptly.

Hyundai / Kia are currently moving a LOT of cars on the lots and if the problem was that serious there would be a LOT more buzz about it.

 

The majority of failures are from 2011 through 2013 / 2014 for the most part. Those are also the years where the government is taking a much closer look into it. If you do have a failure in those years models, the manufacturer has made arrangements to correct the issue, including extending the warranty. How many other carmakers out there do you see doing that?

I will absolutely agree there are issues with these years above, but I am not sure what else Hyundai / Kia could do to improve on the situation? No matter what they do, someone is looking at them with a stinkeye, and this will be so , no matter what.

Personally, I would like more disclosure of what the issue really is, but they will never reveal that. All this being said, there are several other car makers, with much less reliable drivetrains than what we have, and yet they get less grief over it somehow? You want to see problems? Go buy anything FCA or nissan, or even a ford focus with the infamous powershift transmission... Those are major problems.

 

The majority of failures are from 2011 through 2013 / 2014 for the most part. ....

As I already posted previously, Kia/Hyundai within the past couple of months has implemented a new program for a number of their 2015 models having Theta engines. In their letter to those owners, they describe a 'harmful detonation' issue, and go on to say that the vehicle will be placed into limp mode whenever that condition is detected by the the upgraded ECM code.

So in addition to the well-known problems with the earlier engines, there is now this detonation problem in the 2015 engines, which has been admitted to by the automakers. But is this latest problem just restricted to 2015 engines, or does it extend quite a bit further up the line as well? Given that Kia/Hyundai tells us nothing, it certainly has to be a possibility. In any case, there's been nothing from these automakers that makes me believe they're anywhere close to producing a problem-free engine.

 

there have been some broken spark plug issues on the 2017 and up models. A few of the folks here on the forum have had to deal with that issue. Still seems to be a very minor percentage of vehicles produced.

 

I have a 2017 SX with about 34k trouble free miles on it. I used Tier 1 Premium fuel, get the oil (full synthetic) changed every 4k miles, and drive it hard and fast about 90% of the time.

 

.......a man after my own heart. the more I read about this LSPI the more im convinced top quality, clean synthetic oil and premium octane top tier fuel are mandatory to at least mitigate it.

 

I'm betting that use of at least mid-grade (89 to 90 Octane) fuel, a fuel stabilizer/cleaner (Startron) and Pennzoil Platinum oil will allow my car to have a long life. Only 20K mi. but so far, so good. The fuel stabilizer is mainly because we have to use E10 fuel in my area and this and other products can prevent corrosion caused by moisture in solution with the alky in the gas, plus for its cleaning properties. The Pennzoil synthetic was selected mainly because it is among the highest-rated in deposit cleaning and prevention. I'm thinking of the turbine bearing here. I'm constantly listening for the turbo whine at low speed and a certain throttle position to make sure its not 'gumming up'. I also make sure to lay my foot on it fairly frequently. This is a wonderful engine - smooth, quiet, powerful. I hope I have this car a long time.

 

Thank you to the folks that replied. However, I guess now it is a moot point.

My wife really likes the new Subaru Forester - big windows all the way around for great visibility, smooth-quiet-comfortable, great 4WD system for driving to see her family in Wisconsin in the winter, and a very good local dealer. Oh, and they also had one in green - her favorite color! We brought home a new 2019 Forester base model yesterday. Dealer knocked a big chunk off the MSRP sticker without even asking, and we got the 7yr/100K mile Subaru Gold bumper-to-bumper warranty for half price. (total was still less than MSRP).

We are keeping our trusty 2013 Soul Base Automatic for running around town (we live in a congested university town with crazy parking) and when we go county fair-hopping and have to park in crowded fields. LOL

Many safe and happy miles ahead to all of you!

Caio.

 

I hope you have better luck with that CVT than many Subaru owners have had. I almost bought a Subaru before I did some research on their CVT issues.

 

I like Subaru, but would not buy any brand with CVT.

 

http://www.lemonlawcase.com/problem-vehicles/subaru-continuously-variable-transmission/

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

Subaru Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) - Lemon Law Case

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Thanks, but unfortunately, all over the internet there are exploding engines and exploding transmissions and gasoline mixing with oil in the crankcase and cars catching fire and carbon build-up and .......... well, you get the idea. If we let every lawsuit and trending problem of the week affect our buying process, we'd all be riding Schwinn 10-Speeds. Wait, I think there's a problem with them, too.

In general, you can find these reports and lawsuits against just about every car manufacturer out there. There hasn't been a trouble-free car built since the 1995 Toyota Corolla. LOL

I do believe in researching my purchases, but it's hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. That's why I bought the 7-year / 100K mile bumper to bumper Zero-Deductible warranty. When I reach that point, it will be someone else's concern. Glad Subaru's hold their value so well.

.

 

Do their engines still use more oil than most ? Not that it would bother me at all. My son's old Subaru, very old now, still works fine.

 

My neighbor just traded her Outback in for a new one when it began to use a little oil at 200K miles. My friend at church has 250K on his with no oil use except a leaking valve cover gasket that would be expensive to fix. Like most other cars, it's hit or miss.

 

The flat 4 of Subaru is their signature and curse at the same time.
They have great customer loyalty and a mixed bag on reliability from what I have seen. The main concern I would have is the reputation for less than optimal fuel efficiency, which is something they have in common with some Kia models as well.

 

You have both a Kia and an SX and you are commenting on "less than optimal fuel efficiency"? Really? My other car is a Subaru BRZ with the flat 4. This is my first Subaru as I have no loyalty to any brand. My Sportage is also my first Kia! Comparing the Kia 4 with the Subaru 4 is like comparing an orange to a grape. The Sportage 4 doesn't feel anywhere near as refined as the Subi. The Sportage has more low end torque and is meant for every day driving to the grocery store. The Subaru 4 isn't comfortable below 4k rpm and is most comfortable between 4-6k rpm. I know you have the SX, it does have good hp, but it is nowhere near the fun of the Subaru. Handling differences are night and day -- both on and off the road.

If I'm taking a longer trip, we like the comfort of the Sportage. If we are taking a weekend jaunt through the twisties, the BRZ is a blast. The Sportage is better looking and more comfortable than the Crosstrek and Forester but is not as well built. I'm going to keep the BRZ for a number of years, but in 2020 or 2021 I'll probably switch to a Macan or Audi SUV. After two years, I only have 13k miles on the Sportage (after two years) and 1300 on the BRZ after 6 months, yet we drive both every day.

As for reliability ratings, these are based on surveys done at trade-in. Since most Subaru owners keep their cars longer than other brands, this is somewhat misleading. Here are the quality ratings by brand which are probably more accurate (and related to price paid for the vehicle).

http://www.dashboard-light.com/vehicles/Resources/Images/QIRAlpha.png

You'll notice that while Subaru is down the list, Audi, Kia, Mazda and VW and lower. If any of the SX issues shown on this forum were actually reported to these services, I'd expect Kia to remain near the bottom. That said, I think most of these rating systems are flawed. I will not buy a new car with a newly designed engine or transmission. That's why I bought the EX rather than the SX. The Hyundai Tucson DCT was new (and had problems) which is why I bought the Sportage over the Tucson. I'll bet the 2019 SX will be better as some of these design flaws are addressed.

My recommendations to anyone buying a new car are as follows:
1. Determine what you want out of your car, i.e., performance, comfort, quietness, good looks, cost of repair, mpg, etc.
2. Look at all cars, regardless of brand, that meet your goals.
3. Don't buy any car where the engine and/or transmission is new.
4. Test drive all of the cars that meet the above.
5. Don't judge a car by how difficult/easy the infotainment system is to use. Once you drive a car for a while, you'll learn how to use that system.

In relation to the topic of this thread, I've found very little evidence that the 2.4 GDI engine from 2017 on has any major issues (except that the design is getting old which is both a good and bad thing)

 

the fact of the matter is that either the SX or the BRZ can generate cornering speeds far in excess of what is prudent on the street. And the limp wrist-ed BRZ will be so far behind the SX at the end of the straight that led up to the corner that it's advantage there is negated for the most part...on the street.

The track is a different story but the SX is not by any means a track car so who cares? on the street, BRZs end up in my mirrors

 

So you get a big kick from drag racing from stoplight to stoplight and don't think cornering is important? I did enjoy stoplight racing when I was a kid. That said, 0-60 for the BRZ is 6.1 seconds and the SX is about 7 seconds. Do you have a lower first/second/third gear? Yes. But once you get into the higher rpm, it will leave you in the dust -- even on the straightaway. And the BRZ is one of the most modded cars. So if I really wanted a stoplight racing car, I'd ad one of the many available turbos, get wider wheels/tires, and get it up to at least 280 hp in a 2800 lb car. Want to take a mountain road? I'll easily take that challenge. Besides, if I really wanted to do stoplight racing I'd get a Mustang, Camaro, or a Hellcat -- they will leave both of us in the dust.

All bragging aside, I really like both cars a lot for the purpose they were intended. The Sportage is a great little SUV -- either the EX or SX -- and the BRZ is one of the best handling affordable cars on the road and is much more fun driving than the Sportage. Neither was really designed for drag racing. When you track a BRZ, you mod it heavily -- and it is a different car. The BRZ is cheap to mod with loads of options. The Sportage has very few modding options, if any....

I prefer the Sportage for going to Home Depot or taking a trip. I prefer the BRZ, a real sports car, for weekend drives on back roads. I used to own Porsches, and they would leave both of us in the dust. But driving the BRZ is an absolute blast -- whether you set it up to track or drift. Have you tried drifting in your SX?

 

Google search turns up several lists of worst engines
Subaru is on all of them that I looked at
https://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/cars-with-the-most-horrible-engines-of-all-time.html/

Burning a little oil is no big deal except to some reviewers

 

I didn't mean to start a battle with my comments
I was pointing out my observation of the flat 4, it is in fact a signature for subaru, and anyone who spends even a few minutes browsing their enthusiast forums will see all the problems experienced by owners who mod them.

As for stoplight racing, yeah, let's not get into that topic

 

oh, since we are discussing the sportage, If Mazda stuffs the 2.5 turbo into the cx-3, the sportage will be sorely embarrassed.

 

well i guess if mr brz wants to dump the clutch at 6000 rpm he might keep up....seems kinda brutal tho. I just mash the gas and hang on. all rather easy.

nothing beats 260 lb/ft of lo end torque on the street, well at least compared 156 lb/ft at 6000?....man that's a joke. you can have your little screaming torque-less wonder. Engines like that are a PITA on the street. They wear you down. And with a paltry 200 hp not much better anywhere else.

I agree that car needs a blower and about 300hp.....then you'd have something. like it is now it is just frustrating

 

You might be missing the point of the BRZ to begin with. It's about the lightness, the feel of the handling, the finesse.

 

Since the Sportage is an SUV, I thought we were talking about a Forester or Outback. Both of them are stones. I test-drove them in 2002 when shopping for the replacement for my '96 Cherokee (which with the 4.0L HO I6 was very 'peppy'!). I couldn't believe the Subarus - they wouldn't get out of their own way. When I drove the 3.0L Saturn VUE V6 it was a rocket by comparison. Any vehicle I buy has got to have that certain something; acceleration, handling, braking, its the total package along with styling, features and how it fits me. I was sick and tired of driving dog-ass Chevy Equinoxes and other compact SUVs when it was time to trade the VUE in 2011. I was on the way home one evening after another fruitless afternoon of car-shopping when I remembered liking the KIA Sportage I saw in a commercial, so I changed course and headed to KIA. As soon as I got in the car, started the engine and drove off in the Sportage EX, I knew my search was over. I liked that one and could have kept it but the day I picked it up there was a Black Cherry SX at the dealership. I couldn't stop thinking about it and couldn't wait to pay off the EX so I could get an SX, which I promptly did in June of '16.

All along I heard of some engine problems, like the large number of engines in which metal shavings were not removed and caused breakdowns. KIA fixed the assembly problem and moved on. There were also some 2.0T failures. I never had a minute's trouble out of my KIA engines. In fact, the 2.0T is by far the smoothest, quietest and most high-performance engine I have had.

There are many thousands of KIAs out there especially from 2011 forward that never had an engine breakdown, including the turbos. I would be speculating to state a percentage of cars that had engine problems but I would be willing to bet that the percentage would be lower than FOMOCO had with the 'Triton' V8.

 

^^^^ 1saxman - You should try out one of the 2019 Foresters. Quite a bit more refined than the 2002 Subaru you probably drove. Not a rocket like the 2.0 Turbo Sportage, though it still has plenty of pep even in the mountains of WV. And even though I'm a big KIA fan, my wife and I both felt the '19 Forester was more refined (smoother and quieter) than the Tucson or Sportage (all base models). The big windows, great visibility, and cargo/rear seat space in the Forester was the icing on the cake.

In a few years when our '13 Soul is ready to be replaced (it only has 87K on it now), we will probably look at another Soul. Much easier to drive/park around our crowded university town than the Forester.


.

 

Not sure if they still make a Forester with the Turbo, but that was my other choice.
Still not a fan of CVT transmissions. Also the maxed out Forester was more expensive
and has no where near the awesome interior of my SX. Love my SX :wub:

 

Hey, not an SUV, but I did see a write up about the new Subaru sedan with over 300 HP and weighing in at about 3300 lbs. That has to be awesome. The old rule for 'high performance' was 1 HP/cu in. for the engine and 1 HP/10 lbs of curb weight for the car. This sedan blows the first one out of the water and comes very close to the second. I saw a nice Stinger GT2 at the dealer the other day too - definitely in the 'HP' envelope on both counts AND its AWD!

 

Just purchased a 2017 Sportage EX in Sept with the 2.4 liter engine, it has 64,000 KM and so far it runs like a dream.
Regards: Jack

 

I have a 2013 sportage 2.4 and in blue. Low trim. It has 134,000 miles right now and it runs good. There is a tick with a cold engine but once warm goes away. I started using an oil modifier . Seems to help. Even with the additive when cold it still makes a tick. Other than that it's been a great pos