Subaru's New BIG Issue! TCV - Thermo Control Valve Failures!

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[MrSubaru]

If you’ve already paid for this repair out of pocket, Subaru will reimburse you.

[petertyliszczak]

Just went on my wife's 2019 forester. I went in fully expecting to pay $1300, but it happened to be THE day that Subaru finally decided to cover them. Walked out paying nothing.

[Rudevette]

It’s hard to beat a good old school thermostat. Tried and true. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!!

[RUIANROULTT]

2021 Subaru Outback here. just had car 60k serviced two weeks ago. one week ago CEL. we didn't buy the extended warranty. so we are now out of warranty 5yr/60k powertrain factory warranty...we are as of this writing, in a loaner car from the dealer, and I got a text earlier the CEL was the coolant bypass issue, and that Subaru is extending the warranty of this particular component and WILL be fixed under warranty. I was very glad, because as a 10yr Subaru owner, i was actually considering another brand in the future. But Subaru did me right on this.

[jamesgeorge]

I remember when Subaru commercials tag line was
" _Inexpensive, and built to stay that way_ " .

[skyfall]

spoke to one of my guys from subaru canada and i hear they removed it off the 2025 engines

[xxyyxx]

I just visited my local Subaru dealership, they diagnosed this exact issue within 30 minutes and within 3.5 hours they had replaced the TCV with the updated designed component at zero cost to me.

If your Subaru is throwing the codes listed below, RUN do not walk to your nearest dealer. My cars oil temp was running on average 144 degrees prior the repair and had ASS fuel economy. THAT IS NOT GOOD. Low oil temps = condensation in the engine (i.e WATER)

P2682
P26A5
P26A3

Model for reference: MY2021 Subaru Outback Limited 2.5

[LarryMcNaughton]

I'm in Canada, I have a 2020 Subaru Outback Limited I bought used a year ago. Today I received a letter from Subaru Canada informing me that they are extending the warranty period to 15 years for owners of Subaru's with the TCV. Anyone who has paid out of pocket for the repair can now apply for reimbursement. Thanks for the great explanation you gave on the TCV, so far mine is holding out.

[jamesstang]

My wife and I have owned may Subarus because of where we live, Sierra Nevada mountains. Our 9th Subaru, 2023 Forester, experienced TCV problems within one month of taking delivery. It was replaced by a dealer and subsequently experienced coolant leaks with in a month. Took it to another dealer and had the leak fixed. I look at the parts list from the replacement work and noticed items like manifold gasket kit. That was not a quick job to fix. I am disappointed with Subaru making the simple difficult, replace a thermostat with a complex TCV. And then designing and building, I hate to say a substandard TCV. They did not learn from the head gasket fiasco. This in the long run will be an expensive fix let alone a customer nightmare.

[hotcarlsf]

Love how they designed it how to fail optimally instead of how to work reliably

[Devilhog]

Never seen a single redesigned TCV fail. Also never seen these things fail "closed". 100% of the failures I have seen led the TCV to remain open. Once an issue happens the fail safe will open the TCV fully. Also this isn't a "New Big Issue! omg!". It's been known for a long time. They have had a redesigned part since February of 2022. They finally got off their rears and extended their warranty but these things don't get stuck closed and if it does, there is plenty of warning before the vehicle over heats. Don't ignore check engine lights.

[wtc]

This video saved my sister-in-law $1, 500. I live in TN and she in OH. When she told me about the repair I told her of your video and how SOA Will reimburse. Thank you do very much!😊

[cbijames]

Here is the information I found on this there is a law suit. The 85-page Subaru lawsuit says the thermo control valve defect affects 2019-2021 Crosstrek, Forester, Legacy and Outback models (the class vehicles) and can manifest without warning, rendering the vehicles “unsuitable for their intended purpose.” The case alleges the automaker has known of the problem since at least 2021, when it updated the design of the thermo control valves in the wake of numerous failures and a bevy of consumer complaints.

[bulldog]

My 2020 Legacy was at a Subaru dealership for TWO MONTHS for a CVT issue (valve body ended up being replaced) which was resolved last week. Needless to say, it was an ordeal. I went to work this morning and every light on my dashboard went off like someone had missile lock on me so I drove it straight back to the dealership assuming it was related. "Here we go again..."

Turns out, it was this issue and everything is totally covered! They had it diagnosed by 8:45 this same morning and I should have it back before the day is over. Some good news for a change!

Great video, btw :)

[lvsqcsl]

A very good friend of mine had a 1973 Subaru D/L in high school. He finally started to use aluminum beer cans to keep the cylinder-head gaskets from leaking until it finally overheated and died. As far as that plastic valve, plastic can only go through so many heating and cooling cycles until it cracks. I know. I have a 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis with the plastic intake manifold. (IIRC 1996 was the first year.) In 500, 000 miles, I have replaced 3 of them. I think that led to a class action lawsuit. GREAT VIDEO!

[kalifornia]

You saved me so much money, thank I had no idea about this and I am able to take my 2019 Forester in tomorrow so they can fix this for free!!! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you! I had an appointment to get this fixed tomorrow at a local autobody shop, so thank you, thank you, thank you!

[Motorcycledad]

Hey, at least they provided the extended warranty on the part. Lots of companies wouldn't do that. Thank you so much for this info because I have two Subarus with these engines. One has 62k miles and the other has 44k miles, no problems...yet. Again, thank you!

[OperationHaybale]

Pretty common we replace these at the dealer often ive seen these fail due to it sharing wiring grounds ect with tgv’s it can cause a stall condition has caused a few people to be stranded

[darkartsteacher]

My 2019 Foresters TCV failed this month
Fortunately under warranty, just.
73000km

[bryandepoy]

This happened to my (former) 2020 Subaru Outback at around 45, 000 miles. I was on a long road trip and couldn’t get it in right away. Fortunately, the valve defaulted to open, so I was able to get home for service. It was a long drive without some of the features, and lots of dash lights came on. Neither the oil nor the coolant got to normal operating temperature. I know folks might not find this rational, but I was so frustrated and disappointed that I traded it in for a Honda. I still have a 2016 Outback and a 2011 Forester, but since I do so much long-distance driving, I lost trust in the vehicle. Fortunately, Subaru did step up and replace the part at no cost, but I couldn’t regain the confidence in the Outback.