Subaru Impreza Complaints

2,698 consumer complaints on file.

#10473662September 3, 2012
AIR BAGS, SEATS
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR STATED THAT IT WAS DISABLED RANDOMLY (WHETHER CAR WAS IN MOTION OR NOT), EVEN THOUGH SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON DASHBOARD. TO CORRECT ISSUE, VEHICLE HAD TO BE RESTARTED MULTIPLE TIMES, SO THAT AIRBAG WOULD REACTIVATE. THIS WOULD NEED TO BE REPEATED, AS ISSUE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES PER DAY. IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, AIRBAG MOST LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED DUE TO FAULTY PASSENGER SENSOR. SUBARU STATED AIRBAG MODULE REQUIRED REPLACING, AFTER INSPECTION WAS MADE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473221August 31, 2012
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
THE VEHICLE HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER ON AN EXIT RAMP FROM THE INTERSTATE. THE HIT WAS FRONT RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK CAUSING THE DRIVER HEAD INJURY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10472608August 27, 2012
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TURNED OFF WITH ADULT SITTING IN THE SEAT. SENSOR REPLACED BY DEALER IN JULY 2012, BROUGHT BACK AUGUST 2012 WITH SAME PROBLEM. WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE MALFUNCTION WAS CAUSED BY EITHER AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE (CELL PHONE) ON THE SEAT OR THE SENSOR MAY HAVE BEEN WET. I CONTACTED SUBARU NORTH AMERICA WITH THIS EXPLANATION AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE NEW SENSORING TECHNOLOGY USED IN THE IMPREZA, WAS SENSITIVE TO ELECTRONIC PULSES AND ALSO MOISTURE AND POSSIBLY SWEAT. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE AIRBAG MAY TURN-OFF AND WOULD NOT BE ACTIVATED DURING A COLLISION. SUBARU NOW CONSIDERS THIS MATTER CLOSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471412August 19, 2012
ENGINE
I PURCHASED MY 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA SPORT PREMIUM ON 12/24/2011. IT HAD LESS THAN 100 MILES WHEN PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER. AT 1200 MILES, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND IT WAS VERY LOW. I CALLED BROADWAY SUBARU IN OAKLAND,CA ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED, HOW CAN A BRAND NEW CAR HAVE LOW OIL? THEY SAID THIS IS COMMON AND TO ADD OIL. ADDED OIL AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. TODAY, THE LIGHT APPEARED AGAIN AT 5560 MILES. OIL AGAIN IS LOW BUT WITHIN NORMAL LEVELS. I CALLED BROADWAY SUBARU AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. AGAIN, THE GUY EXPLAINED THIS IS NORMAL FOR ALL CARS TO BURN OIL, WHETHER IT'S AN AMERICAN CAR, JAPANESE, OR ANYTHING ELSE. IS HE SERIOUS? I HONDAS FOR CLOSE TO 20 YEARS AND NEVER EVER DID AN OIL LIGHT COME ON, LET ALONE ON A NEW ENGINE WHICH IS NOT DUE FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE UNTIL 7500 MILES. I MADE AN APPT FOR 8/24/2012. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471292August 17, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHO STATED THAT THE SUB FRAME WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,541.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471317August 17, 2012
POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES
MY CLUTCH STARTED SQUEAKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH, THE BRAKE PEDAL MOVES TOWARD THE DRIVERS SIDE AND DOWN. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I NOTICED THE SPOT WELDS THAT HOLD THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO CAR WERE BROKEN AND STARTING TO SEPARATE FROM THE FIREWALL. EVENTUALLY, THE WELDS WILL FAIL AND COMPLETELY REMOVE THE ASSEMBLY FROM THE FIREWALL. THUS, CLUTCH AND BRAKING ABILITIES WILL BE GONE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470865August 16, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS AN OCCUPANT IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR DETECTED WETNESS FROM THE PASSENGER'S CLOTHING WHICH RESULTED TO THE SENSOR NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,800. UPDATED 08/29/12*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471168August 16, 2012
ENGINE
ENGINE COMPLETELY SEIZED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT ANY WARNING FROM THE CAR'S COMPUTER ENGINE SEIZURE WAS DUE TO ALL OF THE OIL LEAKING OUT OF THE ENGINE FROM THE OIL FILTER AREA. THIS WAS A SLOW LEAK OVER A 5 MONTH PERIOD. THE BIGGEST CONCERN HERE IS THAT THE CAR'S COMPUTER SYSTEM DID NOTHING TO WARN ME OF THIS IMPENDING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. NO OIL LIGHTS EVER CAME ON, NO CEL EVER CAME ON, THE OIL TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER MOVED FROM THE MIDDLE. FROM THE TIME THE SLIGHT KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE STARTED TO THE TIME OF THE ENGINE SEIZING WAS PROBABLY LESS THEN 5 MINUTES. EVEN DURING THE ENGINE KNOCKING NO WARNING LIGHTS OR CEL CAME ON AT ALL. IF I WAS NOT SUCH AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER I THINK THIS COULD HAVE ENDED AS A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. I COULD SEE SOMEBODY ELSE BEING IN A VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION TO HAVE YOUR ENGINE COMPLETELY SEIZE UP AND STOP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED (68 MPH) RESULTING IN AN IMMEDIATE POWER LOSS, LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND LOSS OF FULL BREAKING POWER WHILE TRYING TO NAVIGATE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. UPON ALERTING SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS THEY DID NOT SHOW ANY SENSE OF CONCERN ABOUT THIS ISSUE. IF A CAR HAS NO OIL IN IT AND THE ENGINE SEIZES WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING FROM THE CARS COMPUTER THIS SEEMS LIKE A SEVERE LIABILITY AND FAULTY DESIGN IN THE CARS COMPUTER SAFETY FEATURES. SUBARU OF AMERICA JUST DID NOT SEEMED CONCERN ABOUT THIS ISSUE AT ALL SO I FEEL OBLIGATED TO MAKE THIS ISSUE BE KNOWN TO PREVENT ANY POSSIBLE FUTURE INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING AND HOPEFULLY ALERTING SUBARU OF AMERICA TO THIS PROBLEM SO THEY CAN REVIEW THIS AND FIX THIS ISSUE FOR OTHER SUBARU IMPREZA WRX DRIVERS AND THE SAFETY OF THEIR OCCUPANTS AND OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. I AM VERY, VERY THANKFUL THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468157July 29, 2012
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH A PASSENGER, AIRBAG LIGHT SWITCHES TO OFF AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATES. PASSENGER CAN THEN UNBUCKLE SEAT BELT AND NO ALARMS SOUND ALERTING THAT THE SEATBELT IS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY BLAMED IT ON A PAIR OF JUMPER CABLES UNDER THE SEAT. SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME IT COULD HAPPEN IF SOMEONE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH WATER IN THEIR SYSTEM, WHICH IS BS. IF ITS NOT BS THEN I DON'T FEEL SAFE WITH A PASSENGER. EVEN AFTER JUMPER CABLES WERE REMOVED THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. HAVE SEEN MANY ISSUES ON FORUMS WITH SAME PROBLEM. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467542July 24, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I BOUGHT MY CAR USED, 38 MONTHS OLD AND 33,000 MILES, AND NOTICED THE CLUTCH WAS VERY HARD TO PRESS DOWN. I THOUGHT SINCE ITS A PERFORMANCE DRIVEN CAR, THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT WAS. AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 3000 MILES I WAS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND WHEN I PRESSED IN THE CLUTCH THERE WAS A LOUD POP. THE THROWOUT BEARING SEIZED AND COMPLETELY DISABLED THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE THROWOUT BEARING WASN'T SLIDING ALL THE WAY OUT SO THE CLUTCH WAS ALWAYS SOMEWHAT ENGAGED AND THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THEY SAID EVERYTHING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; THROWOUT BEARING, CLUTCH PLATE, PRESSURE PLATE, AND FLYWHEEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467548July 24, 2012
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
A LOUD SQUEAK IS OCCURRING WHEN I PRESS AND RELEASE MY CLUTCH. I HAD MY CLUTCH REPLACED ABOUT 10K MILES AGO DUE TO A SEIZED THROWOUT BEARING. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, THEY LUBED IT ALL UP BUT SQUEAK IS STILL THERE. THE TECH SAID THE NOISE IS ACTUALLY COMING FROM THE BRACKET THAT IS MOUNTED TO THE FIREWALL UNDER THE DASH. AFTER A FEW HOURS OF RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS POSTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND IT LIES WITH THE WELDS HOLDING THE BRACKET BEING FAULTY AND BREAKING. THIS CAUSES THE FIREWALL TO FLEX AND YOUR WHOLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY, CLUTCH AND BRAKE, TO MOVE AROUND WHILE IN OPERATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467545July 24, 2012
POWER TRAIN
A LOUD SQUEAK IS OCCURRING WHEN I PRESS AND RELEASE MY CLUTCH. I HAD MY CLUTCH REPLACED ABOUT 10K MILES AGO DUE TO A SEIZED THROWOUT BEARING. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, THEY LUBED IT ALL UP BUT SQUEAK IS STILL THERE. THE TECH SAID THE NOISE IS ACTUALLY COMING FROM THE BRACKET THAT IS MOUNTED TO THE FIREWALL UNDER THE DASH. AFTER A FEW HOURS OF RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS POSTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND IT LIES WITH THE WELDS HOLDING THE BRACKET BEING FAULTY AND BREAKING. THIS CAUSES THE FIREWALL TO FLEX AND THE WHOLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY, CLUTCH AND BRAKE, TO MOVE AROUND WHILE IN OPERATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464297July 5, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED UNEXPECTEDLY, DEALER VERIFIED IT WAS DUE TO A CRACKED WIRING HARNESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464138July 3, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS IN 2010. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (STEADY, NOT BLINKING) AND AFTER THAT I ATTEMPTED TO PUT GAS IN THE CAR. THE TANK WAS DOWN TO APPROX. 1/4 BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT TAKE GAS, AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ADD GAS IT BACK SPLASHED ALL OVER ME. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH SPIDER WEBS IN THE LINE CAUSING A PRESSURE PROBLEM IN THE TANK, AND REPLACED THE PRESSURE VALVE. SINCE THEN THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 ADDITIONAL TIMES - I AM NOW ON MY 3RD PRESSURE VALVE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ON SEVERAL FRONTS: UNEXPECTED BACKSPLASH OF GAS, POSSIBILITY OF RUNNING OUT OF GAS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO ADD IT (I.E. BEING TOTALLY STUCK FAR FROM HOME) AND PRESSURE IN THE TANK (SEEMS THIS COULD RESULT IN FIRE OR OTHER DANGER). THE DEALER DOES NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THIS - A RECALL IS NECESSARY TO FORCE SUBARU TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND COMING UP WITH A FIX TO PREVENT SPIDER ENTRY (MAZDA AND HONDA HAVE ADDRESSED THIS SAME ISSUE - MAZDA RECALLED 50K + CARS). *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463432June 28, 2012
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS INDICATING THAT IT WAS OFF WHILE A PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THIS IS UNUSUAL BECAUSE IF SOMETHING SUCH AS A PURSE IS PLACED IN THE SEAT, THE INDICATOR WILL CHANGE FROM OFF TO ON DUE TO THE SEAT BEING OCCUPIED. I THINK THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND I FEAR DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THIS IS VERY ALARMING TO ME BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY TIMES I HAVE 4 CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME. 3 IN THE BACK OF COURSE AND ONE IN THE FRONT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463101June 26, 2012
POWER TRAIN, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I BOUGHT USED 11/2009 WITH APPROXIMATELY 27,000 MILES. THE CLUTCH WAS ALWAYS VERY STIFF WHICH I ASSUMED WAS NORMAL. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE I BEGAN TO NOTICE A SQUEAK WHEN I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH. THE SQUEAK WAS FAIRLY INTERMITTENT BUT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE FOR A TIME AND THEN TURNED INTO A CLICKING NOISE. IT WAS FREQUENT ENOUGH TO BE ANNOYING BUT I JUST ASSUMED THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS SQUEAKY AND THERE WAS NO OTHER PROBLEM. OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE BEEN HAVING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULTY ENGAGING THE CLUTCH AND ASSUMED THAT I NEEDED A NEW ONE. I TOOK THE CAR INTO A MECHANIC TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH BUT WAS TURNED AWAY BECAUSE OF WHAT HE FOUND: WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, IT, ALONG WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL, MOVE TO THE LEFT AND FORWARD. FURTHERMORE, THE SLAVE CYLINDER INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MOVES OUT AND UP WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM FOR THE SUBARU CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, THOUGH NO RECALL HAS BE INITIATED. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE WELDS ON THE FIREWALL BREAK, CAUSING THE ABNORMAL MOVEMENT OF THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDALS AND EVEN A WARPING OF THE FIREWALL, NOT ALLOWING THE CLUTCH TO DISENGAGE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459494May 23, 2012
SEATS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS OUT ALL MORNING RUNNING ERRANDS. I CAME HOME FROM ABOUT 4 HOURS OF DOING THE RUN AROUND. AT 12:25 PM I GOT HOME , TOOK MY BABIES OUT OF THE CAR AND PUT THEM DOWN FOR A NAP. I WENT OUT ABOUT 40 MINS LATER TO THE CAR AND THE KEY FOBS WERE NOT WORKING SO I THEN WENT TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER DOOR WITH THE KEY AND WHEN I OPENED IT BLACK SMOKE STARTED ROLLING OUT. I THEN CALLED 911 AND REPORTED THE FIRE. THE FIRE ITSELF WAS OUT BUT THE INSIDE OF THE CAR ALL UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT WAS BURNED UP. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STARTED GOING THREW THE CAR AND SAID THEY ARE CLAIMING IT AS ELECTRICAL. I REPORTED IT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND NOW THEY ARE INVESTIGATED IT AS WELL. THE CAR WAS TOTALED OUT BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY SINCE THERE WAS SO MUCH DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459127May 21, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK ON THEIR OWN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN WITHOUT ENGAGING THE LOCK BUTTON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS INTENDED. UPDATED 7/26/12 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED IF HE LOCKED THE DOORS AND TRIED TO EXIT THE DRIVERS DOOR (OR ANY OF THE DOORS), THE DOOR MUST BE UNLOCKED BEFORE THE DOOR WILL OPEN. UPDATED 08/07/12 THE CONSUMER STATED WITH ALL THE VEHICLES HE HAS DRIVEN/RENTED, HE HAS NEVER SEEN A SITUATION WHERE THIS WAS THE CASE. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH WHERE FUEL IS LEAKING, THE EXTRA SECONDS NEEDED TO RESET THE LOCK COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GETTING OUT THE CAR WITHOUT INJURY OR SUFFERING SIGNIFICANT/FATAL INJURY. UPDATED 03/26/13
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457744May 8, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR ON REAR BRAKES. BOTH METAL ON METAL. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS AND PADS AT NO COST. BUT I DO NOT THINK THIS ADDRESSED THE REAL PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WEAR OUT THE REAR BRAKE PADS IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME NOT EVEN THE FRONT BRAKES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457822May 8, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE REAR-END LIGHTING (BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS) FOR A NUMBER OF RECENT MODEL YEARS FROM A FEW MANUFACTURERS IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. IF IT HASN'T ALREADY CAUSED ACCIDENTS I WOULD BE COMPLETELY AMAZED. I HAVE SEEN, ON AT LEAST SUBARUS AND VOLKSWAGENS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WHICH ARE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DISTINGUISH IN REAL-LIFE DRIVING SCENARIOS. I AM AN EXCEPTIONALLY SKILLED AND ATTENTIVE DRIVER SO THIS HASN'T CAUSED ME ANY HARM YET, BUT I KNOW MOST DRIVERS ARE NOT SKILLED OR ATTENTIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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