Engine Defects Under Indiana Lemon Law

Engine defects routinely qualify under Indiana’s Lemon Law (§ 24-5-13). The combination of safety implications and substantial repair costs makes engine cases among the strongest.

Common engine failure modes

• Stalling — at speed, at idle, or on startup.
• Misfires — recurring CEL, rough idle, vibration.
• Excessive oil consumption — 1 qt per 1,000 miles or worse.
• Engine knock / detonation — pre-ignition or rod knock.
• Coolant loss — head gasket failure.
• Timing chain failure — premature stretch or skip.
• Turbocharger failure — recurring boost loss.

Brand-specific engine patterns

• Subaru FB25 / FB20 (Lafayette-built) — head gasket, oil consumption (Outback, Forester, Legacy). SIA Lafayette home-state defendant.
• Honda 1.5L Turbo (Greensburg-built Civic / CR-V) — oil dilution in cold climates. Honda Greensburg home-state defendant.
• Toyota engines (Princeton-built Highlander, Sequoia, Sienna) — generally reliable but issues arise. Princeton home-state defendant.
• Hyundai / Kia Theta II — connecting-rod failure recall.
• Audi / VW 2.0T TSI / TFSI — oil consumption, timing chain.
• GM 5.3L AFM — lifter collapse, oil consumption.
• GM 6.6L Duramax LML / L5P — CP4 fuel pump failure (Fort Wayne HD trucks).
• Ford EcoBoost 3.5L / 2.7L / 2.3L — coolant intrusion, carbon buildup.
• Ford 6.7L Power Stroke — CP4 fuel pump.
• BMW N20 / N26 — timing chain.
• Nissan VR30DDTT — Infiniti Q50/Q60.

Indiana home-state engine patterns

Honda 1.5L oil dilution (Greensburg-built)

Honda’s 1.5L turbo oil dilution affects Greensburg-built Civics. Indiana’s cold winters create the conditions:

• Cold-start fuel washing past piston rings into oil sump.
• Rising oil level, fuel smell.
• Honda’s response: software updates + extended warranty.

Strong Indiana Lemon Law cases — Greensburg home-state defendant.

Subaru FB25 oil consumption / head gasket (Lafayette-built)

Subaru’s FB25 / FB20 engines have documented oil consumption issues across Lafayette-built Outbacks, Foresters, and Legacys:

• 1 qt per 1,000 miles or worse common.
• Class action settled.
• SIA Lafayette home-state defendant.

Why engine defects qualify

1. Safety — stalling in traffic is dangerous.
2. Substantial impairment — engine repairs are major.
3. Market value impact — engine work flags vehicle history.

Documentation specifics

• Oil consumption tests — manufacturer-run consumption tests.
• Compression tests — diagnostic data.
• Code numbers — engine DTCs.
• Tear-down photos — if engine teardown is performed.
• TSB references.

Bottom line

Engine defects qualify easily under Indiana’s Lemon Law. Honda 1.5L and Subaru FB25 cases against Indiana’s home-state plants are particularly common and leverage-able.

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