Past Engine Repairs Recall Related?
 

Before the recall came out, I had to bring my car to the dealership due to a sudden onset of a knocking noise coming from the engine at only 86k miles. Turns out they found metal shavings in the engine resulting in the car being in the shop for about 3 weeks and costing me about $3400 (would have been 5400 but Subaru gave me a $2000 goodwill discount) - see report of the repair work done in the attachment below.

I recently found out that my car is on the recall list and was wondering if you all think my issues may be related to the valve spring that is being recalled? I'm hoping I might be able to get some of the repair money back?

Let me know what you think!

Nope. Not related.

Does not look related since your issue was the bottom and springs are at the top, and nothing noted about a broken spring. But I would ask the dealer who did the repair to pull your record and review it...nothing to lose.

Just another example of how poor these engines are in my opinion. Just too many issues!

I'm impressed you got a 2000 discount for bringing in an engine that was 1qt low. $3400 for a short block + labor isn't a bad deal actually. Still BS that the FA20 eats bearings so often though.

With normal driving, I can't see one quart low causing main bearing failure. Odd.

That's two quarts below full. If just highway driving, I agree. Canyon carving or clover leafs are a different story. I can easily picture it sucking air. Oil will wash back up into the rocker covers around those long sweepers.

Yeah that is one of the downsides to boxers. This is why Porsche uses scavenge pumps to pull the oil out of the heads. Their engines cost a few dollars more though.

Dry sump is best sump.

Appreciate all the replies, everyone! It was really just normal highway driving and commuting with service maintenance performed regularly at the dealership, which is why the dealership helped push Subaru to give me a goodwill discount so it was a bit of a surprise to everyone. I'll give it a shot and see what Subaru of America thinks. I'll keep you all posted.

No luck with any reimbursements, but it was worth a shot. Here is what Subaru of America came back with:

"I spoke to xxx, the Service Advisor that assist you with the short block replacement. He advised me that the technician did not replace the valve springs, and they were not the cause of the short block replacement. There were no failure to the valve springs at the time of diagnosis. This being the case, we would not be in the position to provide any reimbursement for the repairs"

Worth a shot. But now you have to have the engine torn apart again to do the valve springs? Are you gonna do it??

My thoughts would be to wait until the warranty is up on the short block replacement, that way any new leaks etc could be fixed for free.

on the other side...

if the engine were to have issues like some have, at least the short block would be under warranty making this an open/closed case as far as covered.

2013 Motor spun bearing after valve spring, possible recall?
 

Hello everyone. I think we're having a problem with the 2013 frs motors. I brought in my car for the valve spring recall, and got the spark plugs done simultaneously about a month ago. Three days after driving, engine developed a knock. Was hassled for around two weeks, insisting it was the hks superfire racing spark plugs causing the problem. They took it apart, and discovered bearing #2 was spun. They let me know that my engine wasn't the only one, and every 2013 engine in the Toronto area was blowing up. Looking at a potential recall, around a month or two wait best case. Anyone having a similar issue?

Join the club. Failure After J02 Recall: Registry Thread