Subaru Stella: common faults & what to check

Which Subaru Stella are you looking at?

2 generation variants documented. Pick the shape you recognise: the faults, the servicing and the timeline below all narrow to it. Free, no account needed.

Petrol

2 variants documented

2006–2011RN12006–2011RN10.66 petrolPetrolDocumented issues10 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Mytho88 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

2006–2011RN12006–2011RN10.66 supercharged petrolPetrolDocumented issues10 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Mytho88 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this Subaru Stella

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a Subaru Stella before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Costly issue

  Test drive and feel for rhythmic vibration during take-off and light acceleration.

  See why

  CVT Belt Judder and Pulley Wear

  The CVT develops shudder from belt and pulley surface wear. Correct CVT fluid must be used — Subaru ECVTF or Daihatsu-specified equivalent.

  What you would notice

  • Rhythmic shudder or buzz from drivetrain during light acceleration from rest
  • CVT fluid appears dark red/brown with a burnt smell

  Typically $500–$3,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Ask for documented proof of the last cam-timing-belt change.

  See why

  Timing belt service overdue and supercharger wear on EN07 / supercharged EN07T grades

  The EN07 in the Stella is a belt-driven engine, and the cam timing belt is a scheduled replacement item generally quoted at around 100,000 km or ten years (some kei-specialist guides suggest a more conservative 60,000-80,000 km). Sources disagree on whether the EN07 is a true interference design, so a snapped belt may mean either a catastrophic valve-to-piston strike or simply a stranding; either way an overdue belt on an imported car of this age is a real risk because the original service history is usually unknown. Supercharged grades (EN07 with the roots-type blower) add further wear points: the supercharger bearings can become noisy past roughly 130,000 km (about 80,000 miles) and the supercharger drive belt and bypass plumbing need periodic inspection. On any Stella of this age assume the timing belt is due unless there is paperwork proving otherwise, and on a supercharged car listen for boost-related noise.

  What you would notice

  • No record of the cam timing belt ever being replaced
  • Ticking, squeal or rattle from the front of the engine
  • Whining noise or loss of pull under load on supercharged grades
  • Boost-related noise or belt squeal on acceleration

  Typically $350–$2,500 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Check engine oil level frequently between services — consumption of more than 500ml per 5,000 km is abnormal.

  See why

  EN07 Oil Consumption from Valve Stem Seals

  Valve stem seals harden and shrink with age on the EN07 engine, allowing oil to be drawn into the combustion chamber causing blue smoke on startup and increased oil consumption.

  What you would notice

  • Blue smoke from exhaust on startup after overnight park, clearing after 30-60 seconds
  • Oil level requiring top-up between regular service intervals

  Typically $600–$1,800 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Start the car dead cold and watch the exhaust for a blue-grey puff as it fires, then again after it has idled and you blip the throttle.

  See why

  EN07 valve-stem-seal wear causing oil consumption and blue start-up smoke at higher km

  The first-generation Stella (RN1/RN2) uses Subaru's 658cc EN07 four-cylinder, an engine shared across the R2, Pleo and Sambar line. The most frequently reported EN07 wear mode is hardening of the valve stem seals, which lets oil seep past the valves overnight and burn off on the next start. It typically shows up past roughly 120,000-130,000 km (around 80,000 miles) as a puff of blue-grey smoke on cold start-up or on the over-run after a long down-hill, together with the engine quietly using oil between services. The EN07 also has a small oil capacity and a top-mounted filter that can drain down and cause a brief dry start, both of which accelerate the wear, so imported cars with unknown oil-change history are the higher risk. Left unattended the oil use worsens and can foul plugs and the catalytic converter, so it is worth catching early.

  What you would notice

  • Puff of blue-grey smoke from the exhaust on cold start-up
  • Blue smoke on the over-run or when accelerating after idling
  • Engine oil level dropping between services with no visible leak
  • Oil smell or fouled spark plugs on higher-km cars

  Typically $400–$1,800 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Listen for a squealing or chirping from the supercharger drive area under load.

  See why

  EN07 Supercharger Belt and Tension Idler Bearing Failure

  The EN07 supercharged 0.66 engine drives the supercharger via a poly-V belt with a spring-loaded tension idler. The idler bearing wears causing squealing and belt slipping, which manifests as power loss especially under load. Belt failure results in complete loss of supercharger boost and reduced performance.

  What you would notice

  • Squealing from engine front under acceleration, especially when cold or damp
  • Power loss under load as belt slips on worn idler, most noticeable on hills

  Typically $250–$700 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Any movement indicates replacement needed.

  See why

  Front Lower Arm Ball Joint Play

  Front lower arm ball joints wear causing clunking. Very common on kei cars with small-diameter ball joints.

  What you would notice

  • Clunking from front suspension over bumps and during low-speed cornering
  • Imprecise handling feeling when changing direction

  Typically $250–$600 to put right.

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Subaru Stella’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

• Cambelt Replacement Cost
• CVT Gearbox Repair Cost

Other Subaru models