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If you are frustrated with long waits to get service on your new Subaru Forester, Outback, or Crosstrek, you aren’t the only one. Because Subaru has experienced record sales for the last ten years, now there is a shortage of qualified techs to work on your new all-wheel-drive vehicle. According to a report from Automotive News, Subaru is busy trying to fix the problem.
Customers waiting for long periods just to get their car in for regular service is an issue, and Subaru has had multiple recalls adding to the long waits. Subaru of America is trying to do something by actively recruiting entry-level techs and has training for the new recruits. "We have 6,677 techs" at Subaru's 631 U.S. dealerships, says Mike Campbell, vice president of service and quality for Subaru of America. "We need to double that in the next three to four years,” he told AN.
And the problem is only going to get worse. Subaru’s growth in the U.S. has traditionally been in the Northeast, Rocky Mountain states and Pacific Northwest, but they have experienced more growth in the past decade in regions outside the snow-belt where they are opening new dealerships. The report says there are 3.5 million Subaru vehicles on the road now, and the Camden, N.J. automaker expects to have more than 5 million vehicles in operation by 2024.
What should Subaru customers expect?
With heavy volume in their service departments, customers will likely experience longer waiting times for the foreseeable future. Tom Doll, COO of Subaru of America said recently, “For the next few years, (Subaru dealerships) are going to see increasing repair order accounts and so forth. Because the vehicles that are in warranty or customers that are coming back for repair or maintenance work are now going to be coming back for those types of services that the retailer would be providing.”
Frustrated customers
Torque News heard of a Colorado man who drives a 2012 Subaru Outback, who was recently notified of the Takata airbag recall on his all-wheel-drive vehicle. He is frustrated because the potentially deadly airbag problem will take months to get fixed. The service department told him they couldn't work on the car for five months because of a nationwide backlog on parts.
Help is a few years away
Subaru of America has a goal to increase its dealership workforce to more than 13,000 technicians by 2024. So help is a few years away before those long waits for customers trying to get in for service or recalls is eliminated. "We've got our work cut out for us, but we are confident," Ken Benson, training field operations manager for Subaru of America, told Automotive News.
So if you need to get your new 2019 Subaru Forester, Outback or Crosstrek vehicle in for service or recall done quickly, don’t be surprised if longer waits for service is ahead.
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Comments
Fairbanks Alaska Subaru has a
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Fairbanks Alaska Subaru has a 4 month wait to get a warranty appointment. Then another 4 month to get a repaired replacement screen for my 2018 Limited Outback. I was told by the service writer that in Fairbanks they have had 500 multi-function screens fail and that the the failure rate is 60 percent. When the part finally arrives it is not new display, but a repaired one that had failed in someone elses car. Subaru knew of the massive failure rate but kept selling these cars. I paid $37,000 for mine. Aren't there disclosure laws to protect buyers. I feel scammed and cheated by Subaru who was fully aware of this problem.
Fairbanks Alaska Subaru has a
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Fairbanks Alaska Subaru has a 4 month wait to get a warranty appointment. Then another 4 month to get a repaired replacement screen for my 2018 Limited Outback. I was told by the service writer that in Fairbanks they have had 500 multi-function screens fail and that the the failure rate is 60 percent. When the part finally arrives it is not new display, but a repaired one that had failed in someone elses car. Subaru knew of the massive failure rate but kept selling these cars. I paid $37,000 for mine. Aren't there disclosure laws to protect buyers. I feel scammed and cheated by Subaru who was fully aware of this problem.
My2015 forester alternator
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My2015 forester alternator went out. 22,000 miles. This seems odd.
Subaru Impreza had 2 recalls.
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Subaru Impreza had 2 recalls. Took it to the dealership. Gave me a loaner car (from Enterprise). It's been 7 weeks now - no sign of fixing. They said it was a lack of qualified technicians, which they are trying to fix. It may take another 4-5 weeks, or even longer. I have to shell out extra for car insurance because my car insurance will only cover up to the amount of the Impreza value (2013 model). You can bet my next car is not a Subaru.
When I am waiting in the
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When I am waiting in the customer lounge at Schumacher in Delray, fla there's a difference in the way female-especially young and cute- customers and the older generation.