Subaru Impreza Complaints (2004)

96 consumer complaints on file.

#10208052November 6, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY 2004 SUBARU WRX STI HAS A FUEL ODOR IN THE CABIN WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED IN MODERATELY COOL TEMPERATURES. THE PROBLEM IS DESCRIBED IN ODI RESUME PE 04-002. THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THE PROBLEM OCCURS IN VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND STOPS QUICKLY. I HAVE FOUND THAT IT OCCURS IN MODERATE TEMPS. BELOW 50F AND LASTS FOR 20 TO THIRTY MINUTES. I TAKE THIS TO MEAN THAT THE PROBLEM IS WORSENING AND COULD RESULT IN IGNITION OF THE LEAKING FUEL. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS IN SEVERAL MODELS OF SUBARU ACCORDING TO MY INTERNET RESEARCH. THE MANUFACTURER HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN #09-36-03 THAT DESCRIBES HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE COST WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID BY ME. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX IT UNDER A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181323February 1, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
I OWN A 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA WAGON WRX WITH 67,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM SOMEONE IN NM AND I LIVE IN COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. IT HAD NO ISSUES IN THE SUMMER AND FALL BUT IN THE WINTER I HAD A FUEL SMELL IN CABIN WITH HEATER RUNNING DURING A COLD DAY ~15 DEGREES F OR BELOW. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE BUT IT NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING, EVENING OR WHEN ENGINE HAS COOLED DOWN AND IT IS REALLY COLD OUTSIDE (LESS THAN 20 DEGREES F). I CALLED A LOCAL SUBARU DEALER AND THEY SAID AROUND $500.00 TO FIX ISSUE. SEEMS THE RUBBER HOSES ON THE FUEL RAILS CONTRACT WHEN IT IS VERY COLD OUTSIDE. I HAVE SEEN ON THE WEB THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING IN 2002 WRXS AS WELL. I CAN'T BELIEVE SUBARU HAS NOT DONE A RECALL FOR THIS SERIOUS ISSUE! THE FUEL SMELL GIVES ME A HEADACHE AND POLLUTES THE ENVIRONMENT. I WOULD TRY TO FIX MYSELF BUT GETTING TO THE FUEL RAILS REQUIRES EXTENSIVE TOP SIDE ENGINE TEAR DOWN.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181018January 29, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL ODOR IN VEHICLE CABIN WHEN STARTING IN COOL/COLD TEMPERATURES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176263December 15, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR STRUTS (AND POSSIBLY FRONT) ARE MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE NOISE IS QUITE APPARENT AND WOULD NOT BE ITEMS INSIDE THE TRUNK AND/ OR CAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160501June 12, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2004 IMPREZA ENGINE FAILED CAUSED BY A LACK OF OIL IN THE ENGINE. *TS *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151781March 4, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
HELLO, I'VE BEEN HAVING EXTREME PROBLEMS WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IN MY 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. IT'LL KICK IN AT UNNEEDED TIMES, WHERE I WILL LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO LURCH FORWARD. THIS CAN BE A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IN THE WINTER, I HAVE TO PULL THE ABS FUSE, WHICH BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ACTUALLY HELPS MY BRAKING DISTANCE. IF I LEAVE THE ABS ENABLED AND HIT A PATCH OF ICE, I'LL LOSE TOTAL CONTROL OF THE BRAKES AND CONTINUE TO GLIDE. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN, AND ONE THAT MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT TO BOTH SUBARU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION. SUBARU ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR THE ABS SYSTEM FOR MODELS 2003 AND UNDER, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE FOR THE 2004 MODEL AS WELL. SUBARU REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING TO FIX MY PROBLEM. I APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME IN THIS MATTER. SINCERELY, PAUL AHERN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151917February 24, 2006
AIR BAGS
2004 WRX SEDAN AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *TS THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED FACIAL CONTUSIONS AND MEMORY LOSS. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10149728January 25, 2006
AIR BAGS
2004 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TS MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10147558January 3, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2004 SUBARU IMPREZA AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TS THE CONSUMERS SON RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. (LAWYER ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER) *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10144713December 7, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DURING COLD WEATHER MY 2004 SUBARU WRX SMELLS OF FUEL BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. USING THE HEAT CAUSES THE ODOR TO INCREASE AND TURNING OFF THE HEAT TO DISSIPATE THE ODOR CAUSES ALL OF THE WINDOWS TO FOG UP AND/OR ICE-OVER. THE FUMES HAVE CAUSED MY EYES TO WATER AND HAVE ALSO GIVEN ME HEADACHES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143599November 24, 2005
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
ON JULY 4, 2005, I GOT A GRINDING SOUND WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR AFTER PULLING AWAY FROM A LIGHT. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME MISSING THE SHIFT. SEVERAL DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I STARTED TO DELAY MY SHIFTS INTO 2ND GEAR. THIS SAME SCENARIO STARTED REPEATING ITSELF SEVERAL MORE TIMES. THEN THE SAME PROBLEM STARTED WHILE TRYING TO DOWNSHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR. ON NOVEMBER 14, 2005, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALER. I TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT THE SYNCHRONIZERS WERE BAD IN 2ND AND 4TH GEARS. THE NEXT DAY, THE DEALER CALLED AND TOLD ME THE SYNCHRONIZERS WERE BAD, AS WELL AS THE 2ND AND 4TH GEAR SETS, AND THE COST WOULD BE $2,900.00 TO REPAIR IT. HE SAID THAT THEY HAD DETERMINED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO "DRIVER ABUSE", AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. HE TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER AND SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE. TWO DAYS LATER, SUBARU SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION WITH NO CHARGE AS A GOOD WILL GESTURE, BUT NOT AS AN ITEM COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THEY DID THE REPAIR. I HAVE FOUND THAT MY SITUATION IS NOT UNIQUE IN THE 2002 THRU 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX AND STI . SUBARU DEALERS ARE DENYING WARRANTY REPAIRS FOR THESE TWO SUBARU MODELS, CLAIMING "DRIVER ABUSE". THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. MY THEORY IS THAT WHEN TURNING THE CARS AND SHIFTING, THERE IS TWISTING IN THE DRIVETRAIN THAT IS BRINGING THE SYNCHRONIZERS IN CONTACT WITH THE TRANSMISSION CASE CAUSING THE INITIAL DAMAGE. THE SENSOR'S WILL THEN NOT ALIGN THE GEARS PROPERLY AND THEN THE GRINDING STARTS. THE MORE THE CAR IS DRIVEN, THE MORE THE SENSOR'S ARE DAMAGED, AND, THUS, THE MORE THE GEARS GRIND. THE POINT IS THAT ALL SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE DAMAGED SENSORS, DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN, SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. SUBARU NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. SUBARU HAS PUT REDESIGNED, STRONGER SYNCHRONIZERS IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS OF THEIR 2006 WRX AND WRX STI MODELS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141695November 3, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
2004 IMPREZA STI - REPEATED MOMENTARY FUEL CUT OUT DURING LEFT TURNS. NEVER DURING RIGHT TURNS; LEFT TURNS ONLY. LOW SPEED AND HIGH SPEED. AT ALL FUEL LEVELS. WILL HAPPEN 3 TIMES IN ONE DAY, THEN GO AWAY FOR 3 WEEKS BEFORE OCCURING AGAIN. OCCURS FREQUENTLY DURING LEFT TURNS AND U-TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS. CAR HESITATES FOR A MOMENT AS IF FUEL TO ENGINE WAS MOMENTARILY CUT. ENGINE DOES NOT STALL HOWEVER AND COMES BACK TO NORMAL OPERATION AFTER THE MOMENTARY HESITATION. HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE ISSUE WITH BOTH MY LOCAL AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALER AND CORPORATE SUBARU OF AMERICA SERVICE REP. NEITHER WERE ABLE TO RECREATE PROBLEM AND SAY THEY ARE UNABLE TO RESOLVE ISSUE. CONTINUED FUEL CUT OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON CAUSING CAR TO HESITATE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I AM AFRAID TO MAKE LEFT TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC FOR FEAR THAT MY CAR WILL NOT RESPOND. MY CAR HAS NO MODIFICATIONS AND HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT HAD LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF IDENTICAL CAR ALSO REPORTING EXACT SAME ISSUES. I WILL HAVE THEM JOIN ME IN THIS COMPLAINT PROCESS TO NHTSA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141697November 3, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
2004 IMPREZA STI - REAR CLUNKING NOISE FROM RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION. OCCASIONAL STRUT LOCKUP IN COMPRESSED POSITION. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THREE TIMES BEFORE REALIZING IT WAS A FAULTY REAR STRUT. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME CAR HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS FORTUNATE AS MY DEALER PROPERLY DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE STRUT ISSUE WENT AWAY. SUBARU OF AMERICA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THIS MODEL TO CHECK FOR THIS STRUT PROBLEM. NOT ONLY DOES THE STRUT MAKE NOISE WHEN COMPRESSING, BUT IT SOMETIMES LOCKS IN THE COMPRESSED POSTION, CHANGING THE HANDLING AND PERFORMANCE DYNAMICS OF THE CAR IN AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND POTENTIALLY LIFETHREATENING WAY. BY REPLACING THE STRUT, THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED. DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF INSTANCES OF THE SAME STRUT FAILURE ON THESE CARS, AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE NUMBER OF SAME COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA HERE AT THIS WEBSITE, ONE CAN ONLY ASSUME SUBARU OF AMERICAN IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141326October 31, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
DT: THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND THE THROTTLE STUCK. HE USED THE FOOT PEDAL BRAKE AND IT WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID SLOW IT DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE RPMS REGISTERED UP TO 8000. HE SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AFTER IT SLOWED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY CHECKED IT AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE THAT MADE THE THROTTLE STICK. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138180September 29, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2004 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX - DURING BRAKING, IF A BUMP OR ROUGH PIECE OF ROAD IS ENCOUNTERED, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES LIMP, DROPS TO THE FLOOR, AND BRAKES CEASE TO FUNCTION UNTIL PEDAL IS RELEASED AND BRAKES REAPPLIED. RE-APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES RESUME FULL FUNCTIONALITY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137090September 20, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
SUBARU WRX STI HAS A SEVERE PROBLEM WITH THE STRUTS FAILING IN THE 2004 MODEL YEAR. I HAVE HAD MY REAR STRUTS REPLACED A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES AND THEY ARE BROKEN AGAIN AND MY CAR IS NOT EVEN TWO YEARS OLD. THERE ARE SEVERAL FORUMS ON THE INTERNET WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S IS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT CAN BE SAFE DRIVING AROUND WITH BROKEN STRUTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116193March 31, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR STRUTS STICK AND WILL NOT REBOUND AFTER A COMPRESSION STROKE. CAUSES REAR TO SAG AND HANDLING FEELS VERY LOOSE. VERY NOISY. SUBARU OF AMERICA KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS EITHER A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE FLAW, AND DOES NOTHING TO ISSUE A RECALL. THERE ARE HUNDRED IF NOT THOUSAND OF DOCUMENTED CASED ON THE INTERNET OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THREE REAR STRUTS REPLACED, SO FAR...AND ONCE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, REPAIR COSTS ARE $500 PER STRUT LABOR INCLUDED TO REPLACE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116133March 30, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
THE REAR STRUT OF MY 2004 WRX STI CLUNKS ALL THE TIME. ANY RANGE OF SPEED ALL THE WAY UP TO 50-60. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE STI'S OVER AS LITTLE AS 5,000 MILES. SUBARU HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT THIS!!!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116047March 29, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
FOR SOME TIME BOTH REAR STRUTS IN MY CAR HAVE BEEN MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WILL NOW GET STUCK IN A CERTAIN POSITION. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AS IT MAKES THE CAR WANDER ALL OVER THE ROAD. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO SUBARU OF AMERICA WITH NO RESOLUTION. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THESE PARTICULAR CARS. THEY HAVE BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE THE CAR HAD ABOUT 25,000 MILES ON IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111757March 25, 2005
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
WHEN THE FRONT WHEELS WOULD SLIP, THE SENSOR SENT POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS. THIS CONDITION CAUSED THE REAR WHEELS TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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