Subaru WRX Complaints (2002)

427 consumer complaints on file.

#10096519October 27, 2004
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2004 I WAS TRAVELLING WITH MY MOTHER SOUTHBOUND ON THE 5 FREEWAY. THE TRAFFIC WAS STOP AND GO. I WAS STOPPED ,AND HAD PUT THE CAR INTO FIRST GEAR AND RELEASED THE CLUTCH AND THERE WAS A LOUD POP. FIRST GEAR WAS GONE. I DROVE IT HOME. THE FOLLOWING DAY TOOK IT TO BOB BAKER SUBARU IN CARLSBAD, CA. AN HOUR LATER THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF DRIVER ABUSE AND/OR RACING. THEY DENIED MY CLAIM! I WROTE LETTERS TO SUBARU AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE PHONE CALLS (MOST WERE NEVER RETURNED). ON OCT. 27TH I FINALLY WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND PAID $700 FOR THEM LOOKING AT THE TRANSMISSION AND $205 FOR STORING THE CAR. IT NOW ONLY HAS SECOND GEAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096072October 19, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THIS IS COMPLAINT 1986 ABOUT THE RAW GASOLINE LEAKING ONTO A HOT ENGINE BLOCK, WHEN IS SOMETHING GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT IT???*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093787October 7, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I WAS DRIVING MY 02 SUBARU WRX ON THE HIGHWAY. I NEED TO STOP SUDDENLY AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, BUT THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN. THIS CAUSE ME TO REAR END A FORD EXPLORER. THIS CAUSE APPROXIMATELY $3800 IN DAMAGES. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093390September 30, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TODAY I SENT THE FOLLOWING EMAIL TO SUBARU OF AMERICA CONCERNING THE INVESTIGATION OF ABS DEFECT IN WRX VEHICLES. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND ON NO OCCASION WAS I DRIVING IN AN "AGGRESSIVE" MANNER OR "HARD' BRAKING. NOR WAS MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT TO NHTSA A "PARROTING" OF SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM FROM THE IMPREZA WEBSITE, AS SUBARU HAS ACCUSED. THE ABS IS OVERLY SENSITIVE TO BUMPY SURFACES AND IS A SAFETY RISK, PERIOD. MY EMAIL TO SUBARU OF AMERICA: I HAVE JUST REVIEWED SOA'S LETTER DATED 9/10/04 TO NHTSA RE YOUR INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGED ABS PROBLEMS IN WRX'S. I AM DISMAYED BY SOA'S INABILITY TO DOCUMENT, AND REFUSAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE, THE ABS PROBLEM. I AM INSULTED THAT SUBARU BLAMES THE PROBLEM ON "AGGRESSIVE DRIVING PATTERNS." THE PROBLEM REGULARLY OCCURS AT ONE POINT IN MY DAILY URBAN COMMUTE WHEN I BRAKE FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT OVER A BUMPY SURFACE. I AM USING ONLY 15% OF THE BRAKING CAPABILITY AT 20 MPH WHEN THE ABS FAULT OCCURS-- HARDLY "AGGRESSIVE" OR "HARD" BRAKING, AND HARDLY A SITUATION THAT ONLY AGGRESSIVE PERFORMANCE DRIVERS WOULD ENCOUNTER. WHEN IT OCCURS, THERE IS A SUDDEN, DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN DECELERATION WHICHIS NO LONGER PROPORTIONAL TO PEDAL PRESSURE, AND INCREASED PRESSURE IS INEFFECTIVE WHILE THE ABS IS "CONFUSED" BY THE BUMPY SURFACE. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE HAD SCARY MOMENTS WHEN THE DROP IN DECELERATION HAS RESULTED IN NEARLY REAR-ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I AM VERY PUZZLED WHY AN EVENT, THAT FOR ME IS SO PREDICTABLE AND REPEATABLE, HAS ESCAPED YOUR ANALYSIS. *AK I FURTHER TAKE OFFENSE TO THE CLAIM IN YOUR LETTER THAT MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS TO THE NHTSA WERE DISHONEST REPETITIONS OF PROBLEMS A FEW HAD DESCRIBED ON AN OWNERS WEBSITE. NICE TRY, BUT I CAN ATTEST TO THE VALIDITY OF THE PROBLEM IN MY CAR, HAVING EXPERIENCED IT DOZENS OF TIMES. DISCUSSION ON THE WEBSITE HAS INFORMED OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM AND MAY HAVE PREVENTED SOME ACCIDENTS, SOMETHING I CANNOT SAY FOR SUBARU! CHARLES F. VISSER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10092950September 21, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, SOMETHING IS BANGING IN THE FRONT END. ONLY HAPPENS THE FIRST TIME I BACK UP AND APPLY BRAKES. MOVE FORWARD AND IT BANGS AGAIN BUT ONLY THE FIRST TIME I MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. DEALER TELLS ME THE BRAKE SHOES ARE MOVING BUT NOTHING CAN BE DONE, THEY CLAIM IT IS NOT A PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086580August 10, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WAGON. WHILE BRAKING ON UNEVEN ROADS, ESPECIALLY WHEN ENCOUNTERING POTHOLES OR OTHER CONDITIONS WHERE ONE OR MORE TIRES MOMENTARILY LOSE TRACTION, THE ABS WILL ENGAGE AND REMAIN ENGAGED FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME (AFTER THE MOMENTARY OR INSTANTANEOUS LOSS OF TRACTION). THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO BRAKE INEFFECTIVELY OR SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. THIS HAS PUT ME IN UNCOMFORTABLE AND/OR DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN THE CAR DOES NOT BRAKE AS EXPECTED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS ISSUE IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA AND SUBARU, SO I AM AWAITING THE OUTCOME OF THIS INVESTIGATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086441August 9, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I WAS RECENTLY RIDING WITH WHAT SUBURBAN SUBARU IN VERNON/MANCHESTER, CT SAY WAS 50% LIFE LEFT ON MY BREAK PADS IN MY 2002 WRX SEDAN. WHEN STOPPING FOR A FAST YELLOW TO RED LIGHT CHANGE FROM ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR THEIR WAS NO RESPONSE ON THE BREAK PEDAL. I QUICKLY TOOK MY FOOT OFF AND PRESSED AGAIN, EVEN HARDER THIS TIME, WHICH ENGAGED THE ABS AND LEFT ME COMING TO A BANGING ABS STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 5. LUCKILY ALL THE CARS AT THE INTERSECTION NOTICED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES NOT RESPONDING AT ALL GETS RECOGNIZED AND LOOKED INTO FURTHER. HOWEVER, I CAN PLAINLY SAY THAT AFTER THAT INCIDENT, I DO NOT TRUST THE BREAKS ON MY 02 WRX. I PLAN ON KEEPING THIS CAR, BUT I DEMAND RELIABLE BRAKING LIKE ALL OTHER DRIVERS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086171August 4, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGES ON DRY PAVEMENT WHEN IT ENCOUNTERS BUMPS, PEDAL GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKING FORCE IS SEVERELY REDUCED. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY CARS WITH ABS AND NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME. I HAVE SORT OF LEARNED TO "DRIVE AROUND" THE PROBLEM, BUT ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS WHERE EMERGENCY BRAKING WAS CALLED FOR IT HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT - ONCE FORCING ME TO DRIVE UP ONTO AND OVER A CURB AND INTO A DITCH. DESTROYING ONE OF MY WHEELS IN THE PROCESS. SOMEONE RAN A RED LIGHT AND I COULDNT STOP FROM 30 MPH IN WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF ROOM WITH A NORMAL BRAKING SYSTEM. PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE SINCE CAR WAS NEW, WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT IT WITH MY DEALER I WAS INFORMED THAT "ALL WRXS DO THAT, ITS NORMAL" BUT AFTER TALKING WITH SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME CAR I CAN TELL YOU THAT ALTHOUGH WE ALL MIGHT EXPERIENCE IT, ITS NOT NORMAL AT ALL AND QUITE SCARY. AS AN EXPERIMENT I FOUND A PARKING LOT WITH SOME BUMPS ON IT THAT WOULD CAUSE THE ABS TO GO NUTTY, I THEN PULLED THE ABS FUSE AND WENT OVER THE SAME PART OF THE PARKING LOT AT THE SAME SPEED AND I COULD GET TONS MORE BRAKING FORCE WITHOUT LOCKING UP THE WHEELS THAN I COULD WITH THE ABS ON, SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY SCREWY HERE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083063July 31, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
NO WARNING. BRAKES LOCKED UP FULLY ON INTERSTATE 44 GOING 70 MPH. ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND I TAPPED THE BRAKES AND THEY LOCKED UP AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I WAS NOT USING THE BRAKE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082276July 20, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2002 SUBARU WRX WAGON. NO WARNING, DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW (ELECTRIC) SNAPS OUT OF SHEET METAL BENDING THE LIVING CRAP OUT OF IT, SNAPPING NUMEROUS CLIPS AND BENDING THE WINDOW TRACK. FOUND BOLTS ON THE INSIDE OF DOOR WERE SHEARED OFF. CAR HAS ONLY 33,000 MILES. UNACCEPTABLE! *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078653June 23, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ABS ACTIVATES PREMATURELY DURING THRESHOLD BRAKING ON ROUGH OR UNEVEN DRY PAVED SURFACES (WASHBOARDS ESPECIALLY), CAUSING EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE, LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE. ABS OPERATES AS EXPECTED ON WET SMOOTH SURFACES WITHOUT BEING NOTICED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078715June 23, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN DRIVING IN PAVEMENT IRREGULARITIES THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO STOP. (ALMOST REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR) SO FAR I HAVEN'T HAD ANY ACCIDENT, JUST TRYING TO PREVENT ONE. I OWN A 2002 SUBARU WRX. THIS HAS HAPPEN IN SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER A SPECIFIC DATE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078640June 22, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I'VE HAD SEVERAL WINDSHIELDS CRACKED ALREADY, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WITH THE OTHER 10 CARS I'VE OWNED, NEVER A WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT, NOW TWO WITH THIS ONE IN TWO YEARS. OTHER IMPREZA OWNERS HAVE ADVISED ME OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078427June 18, 2004
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:BELL HOUSING
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING MY 2002 SUBARU WRX IN A NORMAL MANNER WHEN HE STOPPED AT A LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION. HE WENT TO PULL OUT AND COULD NOT GET INTO GEAR. HE GAVE A LITTLE GAS AND ATTEMPTED TO GET CAR TO GO IN FIRST GEAR, THEN THE LUTCH WENT TO FLOOR AND HE COULD NOT GET CAR TO MOVE, EXCEPT BY DRIFTING. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN TO GARAGE, THEY STATED THAT THE CLUTCH SPRINGS BLEW OUT, THE CLUTCH, 2ND GEAR WAS STRIPPED OF ITS TEETH. SUBARU OF AMERICA IS CLAIMING ABUSE AND WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY. THIS CAR HAS 35750 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR IS ENGINEERED INCORRECTLY, AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. YOU CAN NOT GET CAR TO MOVE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY ISSUE BUT A WARRRANTY ISSUE. SOMEONE NEEDS TO STOP THIS, BEFORE MORE COMPANIES START NEGATING WARRANTIES ALSO. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075426June 15, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I EXPERIENCE DBRAKE FAILURE WITH MY 2002 SUBARU WRX DURING A MODERATE SPEED (ABOUT 35 MPH) EMERGENCY PANIC STOP, RESULTING IN MY SLIDING INTO A TRUCK THAT CUT ME OFF AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND HIS TRUCK.*AK THE DATE LISTED BELOW MAY BE INCORRECT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE DATE WITH ME RIGHT NOW, BUT IT IS WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF THE INCIDENT. THE ROAD SURFACE WAS FAIRLY DRY AND SLIGHTLY BUMPY AND AFTER STOMPING ON THE BRAKES THEY WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN WITH NO PULSING AND VERY LITTLE STOPPING. I FELT LIKE I WAS ON ICE WITH NO ABS. I COMMENTED TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY DURING MY INITIAL CALL REPORTING THE ACCIDENT THAT I FELT I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP AND THAT THE BRAKES JUST "SLID". I ALSO REPORTED IT TO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHO CHECKED IT OUT AFTER THE ACCIDENT AFTER THE BODY WORK WAS DONE AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED NO OTHER INCIDENTS LIKE THIS SINCE I DON'T DRIVE THAT HARD AND AVOID HARD STOPS. I WOULD REALLY LIKE THIS TO BE ADDRESSED TO AVOID POTENTIAL FUTURE ACCIDENTS. THANKS, CRAIG HOFFMAN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075330June 14, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
COMPLETE TRANSIENT BRAKE FAILURE - SUBARU 2002 WRX WAGON.JUST EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE, THANKFULLY NOT "DRIVING" AT THE TIME. I WAS BACKING THE CAR DOWN OFF SERVICE RAMPS LAST NIGHT IN MY DRIVEWAY. NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AT THE WHEELS, I MAY HAVE RUN OVER A BLOCK OF WOOD WITH A REAR WHEEL AT THE SAME TIME, BUT ANYHOW JUST AS I CAME DOWN OFF THE RAMPS UNDER VERY LIGHT BRAKING, THE BRAKE PEDAL LITERALLY SANK TO THE FLOOR UNDER MY FOOT, - IT FELT LIKE IT DEFLATED.THE PEDAL JUST REMAINED LIMPLY WHERE IT WAS. APPLICATION / VARIATION OF PRESSURE HAD NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER, DON'T RECALL HEARING THE ABS MECH EITHER AFTER THE INITIAL SINK.*AK I WAS LEFT ROLLING SLOWLY BACKWARDS DOWN MY DRIVEWAY WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY PLANTED ON THE BRAKE - THERE WAS NOT EVEN ENOUGH BRAKING FORCE TO STOP THE CAR FROM A WALKING PACE ROLL. I USED THE E-BRAKE TO STOP. TRIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN AFTERWARDS, AND PRESSURE WAS BACK, LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. VERY SCARY. EVEN THOUGH I'D READ ABOUT THIS, STILL TOOK ME A FEW SECONDS TO REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THIS CLEARLY COULD BE FATAL "ON THE ROAD". SEE HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=487735&PERPAGE=25&PAGENUMBER=1 FOR MORE DETAIL AND REPORTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075100June 9, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS GOES OFF FOR NO REASON ON SLIGHTLY ROUGH ROADS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073191May 26, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I WAS PULLING IN TO A GAS STATIONS PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 15 MPH AND HIT A POT HOLE WITH MY PASSANGER SIDE FRONT TIRE AT THE SAME TIME I APPLYED THE BRAKE HEAVLY TO SLOW DOWN FOR THE LATE SEEN HOLE WHEN THE BRAKES GO COMPLETELY HARD. IT FELT AS IF I WASN'T APPLYING THE BRAKES AT ALL, IT TOOK A GOOD 10 TO 15 FT TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP LUCKLY I HAD ENOUGH ROOM TO STOP. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN I ALSO TRY TO SLOW DOWN TO FAST ONCE AND RAN OVER A PARKING CIRB. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES DON'T FEEL LIKE ALL OTHER CARS I HAVE DROVE (PONTIAC SATURN FORD), THEY NEVER PULSE ON LIKE THE OTHER CARS THEY ARE JUST HARD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073686May 17, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10072761May 17, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
GAS PERIODIC GAS SMELL IN CAR. COLD CLUCH JITTER.OOR BRAKING PREESSURE, OVER ACTIVE ABS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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