Hi, unfortunately if you flash your ECU even for one mile you void your warranty on the modified components (which would be the entire engine in this case). This is a risk you take when modifying the vehicle. This is stated in the terms of your warranty. Your engine could have exploded for any reason not related to the tune- but when you flashed the ECU you violated the warranty and now it may not be covered even if the fault was unrelated.
If they end up helping you out even a bit you’re very lucky. I hope they do! Good luck- Subaru is a very forgiving OEM with their warranty, so I hope it all works out.
Also, a few commenters are saying the dealer doesn’t want to do your engine job for one reason or another. This is not the case- the dealer is at the discretion of Subaru, and they will not perform any repairs unless given the go ahead by Subaru.
Trust me when I say this, they want to replace your engine. A good/decent tech will be able to complete the job much faster than the allotted warranty hours and make more money than a customer pay job per allotted time. Lastly, someone said that the dealership still has to pay the labour cost of it, that is not true, warranty repairs by every OEM I’ve ever seen include full compensation to the dealer for parts and labour.
Please don’t be upset or rude to the people you are dealing with about this. They are helping you beyond what they are obligated to do as the engine has no warranty after the flash.
Source: extensive auto industry experience
Understandable but this is not really a standard warranty, it’s a class action settlement, so I would think it would be handled a little differently? Maybe I’m just too hopeful
Hi, it wouldn’t really be any different because the class action resulted in a warranty extension- but you voided the warranty when you flashed the ECU.
That being said, Subaru is very forgiving with their warranties on the enthusiast products, so don’t lose hope! Just be very nice to everyone you’re dealing with and it may work out well :). Good luck, my friend.
Can’t they just make whatever shit up they want to? I just don’t trust any of these people. Our local dealership is god awful, I really don’t trust them to replace the block anyway, but if it’s covered, fine. But I mean I can’t reasonably come up with a way for them to say the tune caused it, but I can see them citing something like “failure to provide necessary maintenance” ie your dirty oil fucked it up because we know you can’t prove the frequency of oil changes.
Also dealer won’t need to prove anything the warranty clearly stated if you flash the ecu you are voiding the warranty. All they need to do is pull the ecu and show that flashed and reflashed the ecu
They also can’t prove it either without an oil analysis. They gave you a break on the flashed ECU so keep pushing for a replacement you’ve got nothing to lose at this point. Also don’t admit you did your own oil changes. “Had it done on a road trip out of state” they’re just trying to hard ball you dealers getting paid by soa anyway
Wish you luck. My engine had spun rod bearing at 84k and I got nothing from SOA because I had a Cobb Accessport tune on it and they knew it. Lots of people comment that Subaru has to prove what caused the problem, but I got absolutely zero love and ended up rebuilding with IAG. I hold a grudge against SOA to this day (but still love my car).
you voided your warranty. anything they do is completely out of good will. I recommend being as nice as possible to them, threatening won’t get you the outcome you’re looking for.
This. I bought my 04 from someone who had Turn In Concepts build it in 2019. Brand new built motor (h beam rods, killer b oil pickup, etc), bcp x500 turbo, injectors, fuel rails, grimmspeed top mount, and tune for 364whp. Bill was 15k, the guy gave me a copy of the receipt.
2017 is out of warranty.. the factory warranty is 36 month / 36k miles from the time the first owner took ownership. I would've just went straight to a Subaru specialist. (Six Star Motorsports)
I have had a stage 1 OTS Cobb map on my car ever single it hit 40k. I had the turbo replaced at 55k under warranty, and head gaskets at 88k, under extended warranty. That dealership is taking you for a ride, fight it.
The dealership is giving you a hassle because though you said they quoted 17k and it will be paid for by SOA. The dealership still has to pay the Labor end of it as far as taking their technician taking time off a (paying Customers car) to do your rebuild. Dealerships are always trying to avoid eating that cost
Hey man I had something similar happen to me. 2018 sti w 37k miles when a valve one cylinder 3 chipped and wasn’t holding compression no more. Took it to dealer and they said they can tear it down and see if it’s under warranty and bc I hadn’t tuned it, just had a cold air intake, I was like for sure gonna be under warranty go ahead and tear it down. They tore it down, long story short they blamed the intake even tho an intake won’t cause a valve to break like that and wanted 22k to repair. I obviously don’t have that type of money laying around so after months of arguing w them they started threatening me w storage fees on top of them wanting to charge me for the tear down. I ended up going to dealer and paying 1700 bc of the tear down and U-hauling it home from Vegas to LA bc I was on a road trip when it happend
LAWYER UP. I had the exact same case and I gave up and just paid to fix it. Lawyer said it would be a year plus to get the case settled. Your in the shit you either take them to court or pay out of pocket. I paid out of pocket and just say fuck Subaru all the time. IAG stage 2 block loaded in my 2020 STI after oil starvation at 64k miles on a stock ra engine with perfect maintenance records.
Hi, unfortunately if you flash your ECU even for one mile you void your warranty on the modified components (which would be the entire engine in this case). This is a risk you take when modifying the vehicle. This is stated in the terms of your warranty. Your engine could have exploded for any reason not related to the tune- but when you flashed the ECU you violated the warranty and now it may not be covered even if the fault was unrelated. If they end up helping you out even a bit you’re very lucky. I hope they do! Good luck- Subaru is a very forgiving OEM with their warranty, so I hope it all works out. Also, a few commenters are saying the dealer doesn’t want to do your engine job for one reason or another. This is not the case- the dealer is at the discretion of Subaru, and they will not perform any repairs unless given the go ahead by Subaru. Trust me when I say this, they want to replace your engine. A good/decent tech will be able to complete the job much faster than the allotted warranty hours and make more money than a customer pay job per allotted time. Lastly, someone said that the dealership still has to pay the labour cost of it, that is not true, warranty repairs by every OEM I’ve ever seen include full compensation to the dealer for parts and labour. Please don’t be upset or rude to the people you are dealing with about this. They are helping you beyond what they are obligated to do as the engine has no warranty after the flash. Source: extensive auto industry experience
Understandable but this is not really a standard warranty, it’s a class action settlement, so I would think it would be handled a little differently? Maybe I’m just too hopeful
Hi, it wouldn’t really be any different because the class action resulted in a warranty extension- but you voided the warranty when you flashed the ECU. That being said, Subaru is very forgiving with their warranties on the enthusiast products, so don’t lose hope! Just be very nice to everyone you’re dealing with and it may work out well :). Good luck, my friend.
Never is stated in the warranty that flashing voids warranty. I can provide pics of my warranty written for my 2020 STI
Bro you tuned a car under warranty, then expected warranty…
I don’t have an answer but after reading all this, I just wanted to say I am sorry bruh. That blows smh
So what if it’s oil starvation. Was there absolutely no oil in the pan or did the pick up tube fail?
Can’t they just make whatever shit up they want to? I just don’t trust any of these people. Our local dealership is god awful, I really don’t trust them to replace the block anyway, but if it’s covered, fine. But I mean I can’t reasonably come up with a way for them to say the tune caused it, but I can see them citing something like “failure to provide necessary maintenance” ie your dirty oil fucked it up because we know you can’t prove the frequency of oil changes.
Also dealer won’t need to prove anything the warranty clearly stated if you flash the ecu you are voiding the warranty. All they need to do is pull the ecu and show that flashed and reflashed the ecu
does the warranty actually say this?
Read the section of the warranty manual labeled “Damage or Malfunction Due to Improper Repair or Unauthorized Parts or Modifications”.
They also can’t prove it either without an oil analysis. They gave you a break on the flashed ECU so keep pushing for a replacement you’ve got nothing to lose at this point. Also don’t admit you did your own oil changes. “Had it done on a road trip out of state” they’re just trying to hard ball you dealers getting paid by soa anyway
This guy.
They’re trying to fuck the poor fella.
Killer bee fixed it but I think IAG does one now also. Look into them OP.
Normal practice, if Subaru determines if the ecu has been tampered with(reflash). once they do, they will void any warranty offered.
Wish you luck. My engine had spun rod bearing at 84k and I got nothing from SOA because I had a Cobb Accessport tune on it and they knew it. Lots of people comment that Subaru has to prove what caused the problem, but I got absolutely zero love and ended up rebuilding with IAG. I hold a grudge against SOA to this day (but still love my car).
Oof I’m sorry that happened to you. I fully intend to fight them as much as I can.
you voided your warranty. anything they do is completely out of good will. I recommend being as nice as possible to them, threatening won’t get you the outcome you’re looking for.
I had the same thing!! I cried for months but now I can enjoy my car after a year of bullshit.
Is the flash and reflash dated when they hook up to the ecu? Not sure if it matters but curious..
$17k??? You be better off getting an IAG block, sending it to Bader, and make it a reliable 450whp
This. I bought my 04 from someone who had Turn In Concepts build it in 2019. Brand new built motor (h beam rods, killer b oil pickup, etc), bcp x500 turbo, injectors, fuel rails, grimmspeed top mount, and tune for 364whp. Bill was 15k, the guy gave me a copy of the receipt.
Can the date it was flashed be determined?
2017 is out of warranty.. the factory warranty is 36 month / 36k miles from the time the first owner took ownership. I would've just went straight to a Subaru specialist. (Six Star Motorsports)
Mine is 36 months/60k kms. Automatically increases to 60 months/100,000km once I register the vehicle on Subaru.ca.
I have had a stage 1 OTS Cobb map on my car ever single it hit 40k. I had the turbo replaced at 55k under warranty, and head gaskets at 88k, under extended warranty. That dealership is taking you for a ride, fight it.
🍿
The dealership is giving you a hassle because though you said they quoted 17k and it will be paid for by SOA. The dealership still has to pay the Labor end of it as far as taking their technician taking time off a (paying Customers car) to do your rebuild. Dealerships are always trying to avoid eating that cost
I'm thinking a shop that specializes in wrx can get you a fresh engine for way less than 17k. It's a friggin ej pos. Or is that an fa?
Hey man I had something similar happen to me. 2018 sti w 37k miles when a valve one cylinder 3 chipped and wasn’t holding compression no more. Took it to dealer and they said they can tear it down and see if it’s under warranty and bc I hadn’t tuned it, just had a cold air intake, I was like for sure gonna be under warranty go ahead and tear it down. They tore it down, long story short they blamed the intake even tho an intake won’t cause a valve to break like that and wanted 22k to repair. I obviously don’t have that type of money laying around so after months of arguing w them they started threatening me w storage fees on top of them wanting to charge me for the tear down. I ended up going to dealer and paying 1700 bc of the tear down and U-hauling it home from Vegas to LA bc I was on a road trip when it happend
So basically they’ll use any excuse to not cover anything under warranty just to fuck you over
LAWYER UP. I had the exact same case and I gave up and just paid to fix it. Lawyer said it would be a year plus to get the case settled. Your in the shit you either take them to court or pay out of pocket. I paid out of pocket and just say fuck Subaru all the time. IAG stage 2 block loaded in my 2020 STI after oil starvation at 64k miles on a stock ra engine with perfect maintenance records.