Subaru Impreza Complaints

2,698 consumer complaints on file.

#10292698November 18, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
RAW FUEL SMELL PLUS LEAKING FUEL IN 40*F OR BELOW TEMPERATURES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292364November 16, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2003 SUBARU WRX. COLD START RAW FUEL SMELL. FUEL LEAK UNDER INTAKE ON PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291836November 11, 2009
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I WAS DRIVING DOWN US RT 2 IN BOLTON VT WHEN HAD SUDDEN STEERING WHEEL WOBBLE. CAR THEN VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND OFF THE ROAD. CAR WENT ABOUT 20 FEET OFF THE ROAD. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT A FIELD WAS TO THE RIGHT. AFTER GETTING OUT, I NOTICED THAT THE LEFT SIDE FRONT WHEEL WAS SITTING SEVERAL INCHES TOO FAR TO THE REAR, RUBBING AGAINST THE BODY. MY MECHANIC INDICATED THAT A LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND BROKE OFF OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME. THE SUBFRAME ITSELF IS ALSO CORRODED. THIS IS ONLY ON THE LEFT SIDE; THE RIGHT SIDE IS FINE. THE CAR'S BODY IS GENERALLY IN GOOD SHAPE. I WOULD NOT HAVE EXPECTED THIS PART TO BE AT ALL WEAK OR CORRODED. I HAVE THE OLD CONTROL ARM. MY MECHANIC IS GOING TO REPLACE THE CORRODED PORTION OF THE SUBFRAME. *TRW UPDATED 01/13/11 *BP UPDATED 02/14/11 *BP UPDATED 03/11/11 UPDATED 03/14/11 UPDATED 03/30/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290784November 3, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PISTON RINGLAND FAILURE AFTER 10K MILES ON BRAND NEW 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA STI. ENTIRE ENGINE BEING REPLACED BY SUBARU UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290555November 2, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI HAD A NUMBER FOUR PISTON FAILURE WITH ONLY 28,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO A LOCAL AUTO SHOP WHEN A PROBLEM WAS NOTICED. THE SHOP DID A COMPRESSION TEST AND FOUND THE NUMBER FOUR PISTON TO BE AT FAULT. DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER WALLS THE BLOCK AND ALL ASSOCIATED INTERNALS WERE REPLACED. AFTER REMOVING THE HEADS THE SHOP OWNER SAID THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF DETONATION ON THE CYLINDER AND THAT THE FAILURE MOST LIKELY WAS DUE TO POOR BUILD QUALITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290086October 28, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ROLL OVER VALVES CRACK. VALVES INSIDE THE GAS TANK THAT PREVENT GAS FROM LEAKING OUT IN THE EVENT OF A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT ARE DEFECTIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290169October 28, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AT 15,500 MILES, MY 2008 SUBARU STI EXPERIENCED A RINGLAND FAILURE ON THE #4 PISTON. THIS WAS VERIFIED VIA A COMPRESSION/LEAKDOWN TEST. A LONGBLOCK REPLACEMENT WAS APPROVED BY SUBARU OF AMERICA. MY MAIN CONCERN, WITHOUT TAKING ENGINE COMPONENTS OFF, THIS MILD CRACKED RINGLAND WAS ALMOST UN-DETECTABLE. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE DEGRADATION IN PERFORMANCE, FOR RUNNING ON 3.5 OF 4 CYLINDERS. IN ADDITION, MY MECHANIC ALSO FOUND FUEL IN THE OIL PAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289180October 20, 2009
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
THE TPMS SYSTEM IN THE 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA IS FLAWED. WHEN I SEASONALLY CHANGE MY TIRES TO THE SPARE SET, I MUST GO TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE TPMS SENSORS RESET. THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO RECOGNIZE MORE THAN 4 TIRES; 8 WOULD BE A MINIMUM AND 9 WOULD BE PREFERRED FOR THE SPARE TIRE. THE IMPACT OF THIS FAULTY SYSTEM IS THAT IF I WANT MY TPMS SYSTEM TO WORK AS FEDERALLY MANDATED, I MUST PAY $50 TWICE PER YEAR TO THE DEALER OR TIRE SHOP TO RESET THE SYSTEM. BY LAW, THERE IS NO WAY TO DISABLE THE SYSTEM I.E. FOR WINTER RIMS AND TIRES. THE CONSUMER, ONCE AGAIN, IS GETTING PRICE GOUGED FOR A "SAFETY FEATURE" THAT HAS AN INHERENT DESIGN FLAW. PLEASE REMEDY THIS PROBLEM SOON AS ALL NEW CARS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THIS FEATURE AND CONSUMERS IN MANY STATES FREQUENTLY CHANGE THEIR TIRES DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287211October 13, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
IS NHTSA AWARE OF HOW NEARLY USELESS THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE ON SOME SUBARUS? I JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2009 IMPREZA. ITS LOW BEAMS ARE SO DIM THEY'RE DANGEROUS, AND BECAUSE OF THEM I WISH I HADN'T BOUGHT THE CAR. THE FIRST EVENING I DROVE IT, I ALMOST RAN OVER A GROUP OF PEOPLE -- AND WOULD HAVE IF I HADN'T BEEN STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. THE WAY THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE CONFIGURED, I COULDN'T SEE THESE PEOPLE UNTIL THEY STEPPED OFF THE CURB. SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE ADVICE? KEEP THE LIGHTS CLEAN. THEY WERE; THEY ARE; I WILL -- BUT NO MATTER HOW IMMACULATE THEY ARE, THEY STILL CAST TOO LITTLE LIGHT. WOULD NHTSA PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS DARKNESS AT SUBARU? AN EMPLOYEE AT THE CAR DEALERSHIP TOLD ME HIS 2008 SUBARU HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. OH AND BY THE WAY, THE FOG LIGHTS DON'T HELP A BIT. THEY MAKE NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL. I HOPE NSC CAN PROMPT SUBARU TO CAST SOME LIGHT! IF THIS PROBLEM IS TYPICAL -- AND I GATHER THAT IT IS -- I THINK A RECALL IS NEEDED. THANK YOU. *TR UPDATED 10/16/09
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285670September 29, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1. HAS HAPPENED SINCE CAR WAS NEW 2. PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWS OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. OCCURS RANDOMLY WHEN ANYONE IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. CONSEQUENCES COULD INCLUDE INJURY TO THE PASSENGER IF THE AIRBAG DOES NOT DEPLOY WHEN IT SHOULD. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AS THIS IS A NEW CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281765August 25, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 SUBARU IMPREZA - OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON....THE CAR RAN OUT OF OIL AFTER ONLY 4000 MILES USING SYNTHETIC. OTHER DRIVERS ONLINE REPORT THE OIL LIGHT NEVER COMES ON OR FLICKERS. THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH ON THE HIGHWAY IF THE ENGINE BLOWS UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281596August 24, 2009
SUSPENSION
CONTACT OWNS A 2002 WRX IMPERZA. CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE IN HALF DUE TO RUST. THE MANFACTURER OFFERED TO PAY FOR 50% OF THE REPAIRS BUT THE CONTACT THEY SHOULD PAY THE TOTAL COST. CONTACT FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE THE LOWER CONTROL BROKE AND CAUSED A CRASH. JO UPDATED 06/03/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280931August 18, 2009
SEAT BELTS
I HAVE A 2008 IMPREZA. EVER SINCE I PURCHASED IT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT LOCKS UP RIGHT AWAY AND TIGHTENS TO THE POINT THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT OFF. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED AND STILL DOES NOT WORK RIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10280935August 18, 2009
VISIBILITY
WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES STOP WORKING AND GET CAUGHT UP IN EACH OTHER, THE BOLT NEED TO BE TIGHTENED MANY TIMES, HAS ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278636July 29, 2009
VISIBILITY, VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE (NEW), THERE HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE FILM ON THE WINDSHIELD AND INTERIOR WINDOWS. SOMETIMES IT IS SO BAD, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDOWS (ESPECIALLY WITH LIGHT REFLECTIONS AND SUNSETS, ETC.). MY DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT IT HAS HAD MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I HAVE TRIED CLEANING THE WINDOWS WITH CLEANERS AND NOTHING SEEMS TO HELP. THE PROBLEM IS EVEN WORSE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WHEN THE DEFROSTER IS BEING USED MORE OFTEN. TO DATE, MY DEALER (AS WELL AS A DIFFERENT ONE) HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT LIMITS VISIBILITY FROM THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274168June 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA OUTBACK SPORT WHEN I HAD A FLAT TIRE (RIGHT REAR). I CHANGED THE TIRE, USING THE "DONUT" IN THE CAR. I DROVE ANOTHER 25 MILES NO FASTER THAN 40 MPH, AND US. SLOWER. THEN A DRIVER BEHIND ME FLASHED HER LIGHTS SIGNALING ME TO STOP. I STOPPED AND LEARNED MY CAR WAS BURNING UNDERNEATH, NEAR THE BACK. WHEN I HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT, I FOUND THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS BADLY DAMAGED. IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, PERSONS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS ARE INSTRUCTED TO USE A SWITCH TO TURN OFF THE AWD WHEN DRIVING ON THE "DONUT." OTHERWISE, DAMAGE TO THE DIFFERENTIAL IS LIKELY. HOWEVER, NO SUCH SWITCH EXISTS FOR CARS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, WHICH I HAVE. I FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS, NOT GOING MORE THAN 50 MPH OR MORE THAN 50 MILES ON THE DONUT. BUT I DID EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ANYWAY, AND THE FIRE (WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE HEAT OF THE DIFFERENTIAL SETTING THE UNDERCOATING ON FIRE) COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273870June 15, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 2008 STI AND HAVE JUST UNDER 6,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW WITH JUST UNDER 200 MILES ON IT IN DECEMBER OF 2008. IN JANUARY OF 2009, I BEGAN TO SEE WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY EXHAUST ON STARTUP. I HAD JUST OVER 1,200 MILES AT THE TIME. MY ENGINE FAILED SUFFERED A FAILURE AT JUST UNDER 2,000 MILES. SUBARU REPLACED THE ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. FAST FORWARD TO JUNE OF 2009 AND NOW I'M BEING TOLD MY ENGINE HAS AGAIN FAILED DUE TO THE PISTON RINGLANDS CRACKING AND BREAKING OFF. THIS IS A WIDELY REPORTED ISSUE FROM 2008 STI OWNERS AND WOULD SEEM TO INDICATE A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE PISTON DESIGN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268302May 9, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
1999 SUBARU IMPREZA 2.5RS, I DISCOVERED THE ENTRANCE TO THE FUEL FILLER STARTED TO RUST. IT WILL COST ME $500 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I ALSO NOTICED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267818May 6, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 09 WRX, PURCHASED IN OCTOBER, SPUN A BEARING ROD JUST OVER A MONTH AGO (HAD 6001 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME). I LIVE AT ALTITUDE (8200 FT) AND DRIVE A ROUGHLY PAVED MOUNTAIN ROAD EACH DAY. THIS IS NOT GOOD ON MY TIRES, NOT ONE BIT. MIKE SHAW SUBARU IN THORTON, COLORADO HAS FINALLY GOTTEN AROUND TO FIXING THE CAR. TOOK THEM ONE MONTH, AND I HAD A RENTAL CAR FOR ONE WEEK, BUT, THEY REPLACED THE TURBO AND ENGINE. ONE MAJOR HOWEVER HERE. LET ME QUOTE MY MIKE SHAW PAPERWORK- THAT I REFUSED TO SIGN- "THIS REPAIR IS NOT COVERED BY SUBARU'S LIMITED WARRANTY DUE TO THE ABUSIVE OR AGGRESSIVE DRIVING HABITS AND/OR VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS." BECAUSE OF TIRE WEAR? REALLY? NOW, MY WARRANTY IS SHOT FOR ANY FUTURE ENGINE WORK, THE DEALERSHIP ITSELF TOLD ME. I REFUSED TO SIGN ANY OF THEIR PAPERS, AND WILL BE AGGRESSIVELY PURSUING LITIGATION IF I DO NOT GET THIS DECISION REVERSED OR AT LEAST HAVE SOMEONE KNOWLEDGEABLE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW I 'ABUSED' MY CAR. I WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE BREAK-IN PERIOD (2K MILES BEFORE IT EVER HIT ANY SUBSTANTIAL, SUSTAINED RPM). THE VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT WILL KILL ME WHEN/IF I TRY TO SELL THIS CAR. I ALSO WARMED THE CAR UP FOR A FULL 10 MINUTES BEFORE EVEN REMOTELY PUSHING THE CAR BETWEEN 2K AND 6K MILES. WHAT THIS CAME DOWN TO WAS THEM TELLING ME, VERBATIM, THAT "9/10 OF THESE CARS WITH THIS ISSUE HAVE COME IN DUE TO DRIVER ERROR". ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THIS WAS FROM THE SAME PEOPLE THAT WANTED TWO PROOFS OF OIL CHANGE IN THE FIRST 5,970 MILES BEFORE THEY WOULD PROCEED WITH CHANGING MY ENGINE. I PROVIDED ONE, AND THEY RELENTED, BUT THE SHEER ABSURDITY IS THE ISSUE AT HAND HERE. I CALLED SOA AND AM STILL WAITING FOR A RETURN CALL. PERHAPS I WILL ENDLESSLY HIT REDIAL IN AN EFFORT TO REDEEM MY WARRANTY, OR PERHAPS I WILL DO MY ABSOLUTE BEST SHEDDING LIGHT ON THIS DEFECTIVE 09 WRX ISSUE VIA EVERY OTHER MEANS AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267707May 4, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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