Subaru Impreza Complaints

2,698 consumer complaints on file.

#10559081January 8, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEATS, SEAT BELTS
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WITH A PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE 'PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF' LIGHT BECOME ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS OFF. AFTER PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, THE SENSOR BEHAVES NORMALLY. INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED 3-4 TIMES SINCE, WITH NO APPARENT PATTERN RELATED TO VEHICLE SPEED/DRIVING CONDITIONS. SUBARU DEALERSHIP SERVICE HAS CLAIMED IT MAY BE RELATED TO PASSENGER WEIGHT OR SHIFTING IN THE SEAT, OR CELLULAR PHONE CHARGERS NEARBY. INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED WITH OR WITHOUT SAID CHARGERS PRESENT IN THE CAR, WITH PASSENGERS WEIGHING 130 LBS AND 190 LBS. ALSO, THE RELEVANT SENSOR (OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM, OR ODS) IN THE 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA IS NOT BASED ON WEIGHT AT ALL, BUT ON ELECTROSTATIC CAPACITANCE. SEEMINGLY RANDOM MALFUNCTION OF THE ODS RESULTING IN DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WITH AN ADULT SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CONSTITUTES DANGEROUS FAILURE OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559098January 8, 2014
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2008 WRX MAKES A LOUD CREAKING NOISE EVERY TIME IT'S DEPRESSED. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THE NOISE, I NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY (ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL) SHIFTS APPROX 1/4 INCH EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. I FOUND THAT THE THREE SPOT WELDS SECURING THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL WERE BROKEN. FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE FIREWALL, JUST UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, I SAW THE SPOT WELDS PULLING AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS ALLOWS THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY TO MOVE, CAUSING THE CREAKING NOISE. IF THE BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATES FROM THE FIREWALL, THE CLUTCH MAY BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE - ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558335January 3, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FOLLOWING INITIAL STARTUP IN COLD WEATHER, FUEL LEAK OCCURS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. LEAK CAUSES GASOLINE ODOR IN VEHICLE CABIN AND POSES FIRE HAZARD. ONCE ENGINE IS WARM, AFTER A FEW MINUTES, LEAK AND ODOR DISSIPATE. INITIAL OCCURRENCE WAS IN 2008 AT HIGH ALTITUDE. PROBLEM DID NOT RESURFACE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHERE NIGHT TIME TEMPERATURES ARE NOW LOW ENOUGH FOR ISSUE TO MANIFEST. SINCE RELOCATING TO SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, WHERE OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER, PROBLEM OCCURS ON EVERY MORNING START IN COLD WEATHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558063January 1, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
2002 IMPREZA WAS TAKEN TO TWO SUBARU DEALERSHIPS, BOTH OF WHICH FOUND THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SERIOUSLY ROTTED, AS WAS THE LOWER SUPPORT FOR THE RADIATOR. BOTH CONDITIONS WERE DEEMED BY THE DEALERSHIPS TO MAKE THE CAR'S SAFETY TO DRIVE QUESTIONABLE. SUBARU OF AMERICA WAS CONTACTED BY THIS WRITER ABOUT THIS, AND ABOUT A FAILING HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS ALSO DISCOVERED BY THE TWO DEALERSHIPS AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, AND A SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE REPLIED THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THE SITUATION DUE TO THE CAR'S AGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557856December 30, 2013
AIR BAGS, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2012 IMPREZA... BOUGHT NEW, NOTHING BUT HEADACHES. ALL PROBLEMS LISTED BELOW OCCURRED BEFORE I HAD EVEN OWNED THE CAR 2 YEARS. 1. AT 8-10K MILES - WHILE DRIVING CAR WOULD RANDOMLY TURN OFF PASSENGER AIRBAGS AND ILLUMINATE NO PASSENGER SEATBELT ON THE DASH. TOOK CAR TO DEALER 3 TIMES. DEALER REFUSED TO FIX AS THE "ERROR WAS NOT STORED IN THE COMPUTER." SUGGESTED CELL PHONE WAS THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH CELL PHONES WERE NOT NEAR THE SEAT DURING EACH OF THE MULTIPLE INCIDENTS. I HAD TO COMPLAIN TO CORPORATE WHO TOLD THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT. NO PROBLEMS SINCE. 2. AT 15K MILES - MULTIPLE TIMES CAR WOULD TURN ON CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT SIMULTANEOUSLY. FIRST INCIDENT DEALER SAID "DIRTY CAMSHAFT SENSOR." SECOND INCIDENT I HAD TO REFUSE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY FIXED A PART. DEALER KEPT CAR A WHOLE WEEK AND MADE CALLS TO CORPORATE ENGINEERS. TESTS REVEALED IT WAS A "FAILED OIL PRESSURE VALVE." REPLACED THE PART AND NO MORE PROBLEMS. 3. AT 25K MILES - BAD BATTERY. HAD TO REPLACE WHEN CAR WAS ONLY 1 YEAR AND 10 MONTHS OLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557906December 30, 2013
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE FAILURE AT LOW SPEED COMING TO STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON,BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. RETURNED TO DEALER TO REPAIR. DEALER TOOK 2 DAYS TO REPAIR . AT WITCH IT LASTED TILL TODAY(12/30/2013). THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. VERY SCARY YOU WONDER IF THE CAR IS RELIABLE AND ALWAYS AFRAID TO TRAVEL NOW. HAVE GRANDCHILDREN AND CANNOT TRUST THIS CAR. I HOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP. HAVE TO RETURN TO DEALER (AGAIN) TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT (AGAIN). WONDER IF THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557390December 27, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
THE 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA IS SUBJECT TO A RECALL ON ITS CONTROL ARMS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000). OUR CAR'S PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM CORRODED TO THE POINT OF FAILURE ABOUT 1.5 YEARS AGO. NOW WE HAVE DISCOVERED THE SAME LEVEL OF CORROSION ON A NEARBY PART, ALSO ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. WE DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE (AKA K-FRAME, AKA FRONT CROSSMEMBER) IS SHOWING SEVERE CORROSION, SIMILAR TO THAT SHOWN BY THE CONTROL ARM THAT PREVIOUSLY CORRODED THROUGH AND BROKE ON OUR CAR. OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT IS HARD TO PREDICT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN SHOULD THIS PART FAIL, BUT WOULD POSE A SIGNIFICANT DANGER PARTICULARLY IF IT HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED. THE SIMILARITY BETWEEN THE CORROSION OF OUR CONTROL ARMS AND NOW OUR ENGINE CRADLE EXCEEDS THAT OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS WAS THE REASON THAT THE CONTROL ARMS WERE PREVIOUSLY RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557457December 27, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR IS FAULTY. WE REPLACED IT 12 MONTHS AGO AND IT IS BROKEN AGAIN. THE INTERNAL SPRING/CLIP FAILS, SO THE SUN VISOR HANGS DOWN, AND IMPAIRS VISION WHEN DRIVING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND WE HAVE NEARLY CRASHED TWICE DUE TO THIS. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU TO INFORM THEM OF THIS. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH PROVES IT'S A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE, AND HAS BEEN SINCE 2000. PLEASE HELP MAKE THIS A PRODUCT RECALL AND REPLACE ALL OF THE CHEAP VISORS THAT ARE CURRENTLY INSTALLED BEFORE THERE IS A FATALITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557044December 23, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CODE P1410 SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM SWITCHING VALVE STUCK OPEN. THIS IS A COMMON ERROR MANY 2006 AND UP SUBARU IMPREZA WRX OWNERS ARE HAVING. THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM IS PRONE TO FAIL DUE TO CARBON BUILDUP OR MOISTURE AND RUST CONTAMINATING VALVES, LEADING TO REPAIRS COSTING $700 TO $1500. THIS FAILURE IS COMMON EVEN WITH LOW MILEAGE. NOTE THESE CODES ARE ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FAILURE: 06/07 WRX: P0410 P0411 P0413 P0414 P0416 P0417 P0418 P2431 P2432 P2433 P2440 P2441 P2442 P2443 P2444 07 STI: P0410 P0411 P0413 P0414 P0418 P2431 P2432 P2433 P2441 P2444. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556661December 19, 2013
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS FROM ON TO OFF WITH A PASSENGER SITTING THERE. MANUAL SAYS THIS HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS MOISTURE IN THE SEAT. FIRST OF ALL, THE AIRBAG SHOULD NOT TURN OFF FOR THAT REASON, THAT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. SECOND, IT TURNS OFF EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO MOISTURE. IT SCARES ME. I NEED TO KNOW THAT THE AIRBAG IS STILL WORKING EVEN IF THAT OFF LIGHT IS ON IF MY SON IS SITTING THERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556736December 19, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, A CRACKLING NOISE WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556036December 14, 2013
POWER TRAIN
SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW WITH ONLY 85 MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CLUTCH BEING EXTRA TIGHT, AND AFTER A MONTH OR 2 THE CLUTCH KEPT MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE. I HAVE SENT IT TO SUBARU MANY TIMES AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS STATED THAT THE CLUTCH IS FINE AND THEY DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING. I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING TO BE DONE...IT HAS COST ME OVER 5,000.00 TO TRY AND FIX THE PROBLEM OVER THE COURSE OF 5 YEARS AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555266December 9, 2013
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE CONTACT ADDED ONE QUART OF OIL TO THE VEHICLE, WHICH ONLY LASTED APPROXIMATELY 900 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500 UPDATED 01/14/14 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555166December 7, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW ON MY WIFE 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED I HAVE HEARD A CRACKING/SQUEAKING NOISE. I BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE SEES THE FIREWALL FLEXING WHEN THE CLUTCH IS BEGINNING TO ENGAGE. IT LOOKS AS IF THE WELDS ON THE FIREWALL ARE CRACKED AND NO MATTER WHAT PARTS HE CHANGES IT WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM THAT IS WHY IT IS HARD TO GET THE CAR IN GEAR AND WILL EVENTUALLY BREAK COMPLETELY. WE LOOKED ONLINE AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, DEALERSHIPS ARE CHANGING SEVERAL PARTS AND NOTHING WILL FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554701December 3, 2013
ENGINE
MY SUBARU IMPRERA'S LOW ENGINE OIL LIGHT HAS BEEN ON MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE APRIL OF THIS YEAR AND HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF SUBARU DEALER TO NO AVAIL. THOUGH THE OIL CONSUMPTION RATE IS ABNORMAL AND THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE COMMON AMONG CERTAIN SUBARU MODELS, SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS BEEN ASSERTING THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR AN AUTOMOBILE TO CONSUME A QUART OF OIL ABOUT EVERY THOUSAND MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553179November 21, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THERE IS A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR WHEN STARTING THE CAR UP IN COLD WEATHER. THE ODOR OF GASOLINE FILLS THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE. WE JUST PURCHASED THE CAR USED IN JULY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553101November 20, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, STRUCTURE:BODY, POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THIS 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA HAS BEEN PLAGUED AS HAVE MANY OTHERS BY A MANUFACTURER CHASSIS DEFECT. THE FIREWALL/BULKHEAD BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND ENGINE HAS 5 SPOT WELDS BROKEN WHICH INITIALLY ARE MEANT TO SECURE THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY. THESE WELD BREAKS ARE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THEY ARE CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN ENGAGING CLUTCH AND BRAKES, AS WELL AS A SQUEAK NOISE EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. AS THIS IS NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT WEAR ITEM BUT PART OF THE CHASSIS/FRAME WHICH IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AS COMPLETE FAILURE DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTS, FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ACTION ON THIS MATTER SHOULD BE TAKEN BY THE NHTSA. THIS IS CERTAINLY A RECALL ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552849November 19, 2013
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING INTO WORK IN THE MORNING AND AS I ENTERED THE PARKING AREA I NOTICED MY OIL LIGHT COME ON. I PARKED THE CAR AND CHECKED THE OIL, AND TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE STICK. I HAD JUST CHANGED THE OIL LESS THAN 2000 MILES PRIOR TO THIS AND I WAS CONCERNED. I PROCEEDED TO CHECK FOR LEAKS AND FOUND NONE. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY ENGINE IS A QUART LOW ON MOTOR OIL (0W20), AND THAT THIS IS NORMAL BECAUSE 2.0I FB ENGINES BURN A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1200 MILES AT THE MOST. THIS IS ABSURD, I AM A FORMER ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING I THOUGHT TO BE NORMAL. THIS CARS IS RATED TO GO 7500 MILES BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, AND IF I AM BURNING A QRT OF OIL EVERY 1200 MILE THEN I AM ESSENTIALLY CHANGING THE OIL IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. TO CALL THIS A COMMON/NORMAL OCCURRENCE IS LIKE SAYING THAT THEY CARE NOTHING ABOUT THERE CUSTOMERS. THE DEALER ESSENTIALLY TOPED OFF MY OIL, PUT A STICKER IN THE WINDOW AND SAID IN 1200 MILE COME BACK AND WE WILL START AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST, BUT NOT AT THE COST OF THE DEALER OR SUBARU. THIS INITIAL COST WOULD BE CHARGED TO ME THE CUSTOMER AT A COST OF ALMOST $100.00 DOLLARS WHICH I FIND RIDICULOUS SINCE THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY AND THIS IS A DIAGNOSTIC OF A FAILURE NOT A NORMAL OIL CHANGE. WHEN I CONTACTED SUBARU OF NORTH AMERICA I STILL GOT THE RUN AROUND, AND I FEEL AS IF THEY ARE HIDING THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE A WHOLE FLEET OF VEHICLES OUT ON THE ROAD READY TO BLOW ENGINES AND THEY ARE GOING TO DO THE SAME THING THEY DID IN THE PAST WITH THE 2.5 AND BLAME THE CUSTOMER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552586November 16, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN, STRUCTURE:BODY, SERVICE BRAKES
THIS 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA HAS BEEN PLAGUED AS HAVE MANY OTHERS BY A MANUFACTURER CHASSIS DEFECT. THE FIREWALL/BULKHEAD BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND ENGINE HAS 5 SPOT WELDS BROKEN WHICH INITIALLY ARE MEANT TO SECURE THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY. THESE WELD BREAKS ARE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THEY ARE CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN ENGAGING CLUTCH AND BRAKES, AS WELL AS A SQUEAK NOISE EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. AS THIS IS NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT WEAR ITEM BUT PART OF THE CHASSIS/FRAME WHICH IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AS COMPLETE FAILURE DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTS, FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ACTION ON THIS MATTER SHOULD BE TAKEN BY THE NHTSA. THIS IS CERTAINLY A RECALL ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552247November 14, 2013
POWER TRAIN
STARTED HAVING ISSUES GETTING THE CAR INTO GEAR. THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE CLUTCH BROUGHT IT INTO A SHOP TO GET THE CLUTCH DISC REPLACED. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ISSUE WAS FROM A BROKEN WELD ON THE FIREWALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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