Subaru Impreza Complaints

2,698 consumer complaints on file.

#10210683December 3, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, VISIBILITY, SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, COASTING, AND SHIFTING GEARS, THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL WHEEL DRIVE POWER. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THE FAILURE WAS MORE APPARENT AT HIGH ALTITUDES AND ON ICY ROADS. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE JERKS BEFORE IT SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THEY REPROGRAMMED THE ECM. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TORQUE CONVERTER AND TRANSMISSION WERE WORKING IMPROPERLY AND THE ENGINE WAS SIX DEGREES TOO HIGH. THE CONTACT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 01-30-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD LOCK INTO PLACE, WINDOWS SCREECHED, AND PASSENGER'S FRONT DOOR HINGES CAME LOOSE. THE CONSUMER STATED TOOK THE VEHICLE TO 2 INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO STATED THE TORQUE CONVERTER OR TRANSMISSION WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. UPDATED 01/30/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209698November 22, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT CONTROLS THE LIGHTS AND LOCKS WENT ON AND OFF OR FLICKS ON AND OF WITHOUT NOTICE. THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE TURBO SYSTEM WAS REPLACED AND NOW IS DEFECTIVE AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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
#10207885November 4, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
ON COLD MORNINGS THERE IS A TREMENDOUS GASOLINE SMELL IN SIDE THE CAR. THIS SEEMS TO ONLY HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR HAS SAT OVERNIGHT AND WHEN THE OVERNIGHT TEMP GOES BELOW 35F. GAS CAN BE SMELLED IN THE ENGINE BAY AND WHAT LOOKS LIKE GAS CAN BE SEEN POOLING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE MOTOR. I DECIDED TO FILE THIS REPORT AFTER SPEAKING WITH OTHER 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX OWNERS WHO INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE PRESENTS A FIRE HAZARD AND THAT IF THIS ISSUE IS WIDE SPREAD, A MANDATORY RECALL IS IN ORDER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207772November 2, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, CAUSING FUMES TO EMIT AND POSSIBLY START A FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 118,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207603November 1, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
BOUGHT NEW SUBARU 2008 IMPREZA OUTBACK SPORT WAGON- PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIRBAG DOES NOT TURN ON IF PASSENGER WEIGHS 100-107 LBS (THAT IS US)AND ONLY NOTICED WK 3 SINCE NO PASSENGER UNTIL THEN. ONLY WORKS WITH HEAVIER GUYS. NO FIX PER SUBARU. APPARENTLY I SEE ONLINE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN EARLIER COMPLAINTS OF SAME PROBLEM IN SUBARU FOR PAST 2 YEARS, EVEN OTHER MODELS. WHY IS THIS NOT REPORTED OR FIXED. OTHER MAKES DO IT WELL FOR ANY PERSON >65 LBS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206592October 22, 2007
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR, STEERING:COLUMN
1. I WAS DRIVING AND I HAD MY RIGHT HAND FIRMLY ON THE WHEEL. MEANWHILE I MOVED MY LEFT HAND TO THE BACK SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I GOT MY MIDDLE FINGER STUCK IN THE SMALL INDENT (WITH THE NUT/BOLT) ON THE DRIVER'S LEFTHAND SIDE ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE WHEEL. 2. MY MIDDLE FINGER GOT STUCK IN THAT INDENTED HOLE AND I RECEIVED AN ELECTRIC SHOCK. THE HORN/ALARM WAS ACTUALLY TRIGGERED SOMEHOW AND WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING AS A RESULT OF MY FINGER BEING STUCK THERE. I HAD EXCRUCIATING PAIN IN MY FINGER. WITHIN THE FEW SECONDS THAT IT TOOK ME TO PULL MY FINGER OUT, IT WAS ALREADY RED, SWOLLEN, AND BURNT. THE PASSENGER IN MY CAR HAD TO LEAN OVER AND PULL THE CAR OFF ONTO A SIDE ROAD AS I WAS IN TOO MUCH PAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10206186October 18, 2007
AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR STAYS IN "OFF" POSITION WHEN MY DAUGHTER - WHO IS 5'7" AND 136 LBS. - IS IN THE SEAT. WE HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR OVER LONG DISTANCES AND I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES HARD ENOUGH TO EMPLOY THE ABS, TO NO AVAIL. THE SENSOR CONTINUES TO STAY IN THE "OFF" POSITION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206154October 17, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
MY BROTHER WAS DRIVING HIS 2005 WRX STI ON A CLEAR MORNING ON DRY PAVEMENT AND LOST CONTROL. THE CAR SLID OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND THEN CROSSED BACK OVER THE ROAD WHERE IT COLLIDED SIDEWAYS WITH A TREE. THE VEHICLE MADE CONTACT WITH THE TREE ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR POST, KILLING HIM INSTANTLY AND INJURING THE PASSENGER. UPON INSPECTION OF THE CAR, WE FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE BALL JOINT SEPERATED FROM THE A-ARM. IT APPEARED THAT THE THREADS ON THE BALL JOINT WERE WORN EXCESSIVELY AND MAY HAVE SEPERATED OR WERE SEPERATING PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. WE SUSPECT THAT THIS COULD HAVE EVEN CAUSED THE LOSS OF CONTROL. I KNOW THE CAR HAS AN EXCELLENT SAFETY RECORD, BUT WE CONTACTED SUBARU ABOUT THE BALL JOINT/A-ARM. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT IT IS NOT A KNOWN PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS. WHEN WE SOLD THE CAR FOR SALVAGE, THE DEALER WHO BOUGHT IT TOLD US THAT HE DEALS IN WRX STI PARTS. HE TOLD US THAT THIS IS THE FIFTH SUBARU IMPREZA HE HAS PURCHASED WITH THE LOWER BALL JOINT SEPERATED FROM THE A-ARM. BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY OF OCCURENCE, I THINK IT WARRANTS TRACKING, EVEN IF THE BALL JOINTS ARE SEPARATING DURING COLLISION. THE PURCHASER WISHED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND AGAIN, WE SOLD THE CAR FOR SALVAGE, BUT WE HAVE PICTURES OF THE CAR AND OF THE A-ARM AND BALLJOINT. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE FROM IMPACT TO THE WHEEL OR TIRE. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#10204208September 26, 2007
PARKING BRAKE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE PARKED ON AN INCLINE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL, CRASHED THROUGH FENCES, AND STRUCK A MAILBOX. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A REPAIR SHOP AWAITING FURTHER INSPECTION TO DETERMINE WHY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 21,307.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203305September 18, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE VIBRATES AND RUMBLES EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD 19.5 MILES WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED BUT, WHEN HE RECEIVED THE PAPERWORK, IT READ 99 MILES. HE BELIEVES THAT HE WAS SHOWN ONE VEHICLE AND WAS SOLD ANOTHER. THE VIN AND MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203020September 14, 2007
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIFTH TO FOURTH GEAR, THE GEARS BECOME STUCK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR, THE VEHICLE SHIFTS INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS TO HAVE THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY REPAIRED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE THE FIRST FOUR TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE OF WHICH PARTS WERE ACTUALLY REPLACED, BUT HE BELIEVED THAT THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SPRINGS IN THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY AND REPLACED THE EXACT SAME PARTS FOR ALL FOUR FAILURES. AFTER THE FIFTH FAILURE, THE DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201321August 31, 2007
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AT 15,000KM PAST WARRANTY, I SUBMITTED MY CAR FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING FLUIDS, REQUIRED NEW HEAD GASKETS, NEW TRANSMISSION MOUNTS AND SWAY BAR BUSHINGS. BARRIE SUBARU DID NOT SHOW MUCH INTEREST IN THE AMOUNT OF WORK REQUIRED ON A VEHICLE THAT HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR LESS THAN 3 YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198928August 9, 2007
TIRES:SIDEWALL
BAD TIRE THIS LETTER WAS SENT TO BRIDGESTONE TIRE COMPANY ON 8/07/2007 AND MADE CALLS TO THE COMPANY ON AUG 7,8 2007 CONSUMER AFFAIRS AT 1-800-367-3872 IN CHICAGO,IL. I HAD TALK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE AND WAS GIVEN A CASE #1097787,AND THEN TALK WITH ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE ON AUG 8. THE SECOND REPRESENTATIVE CALLED THE STORE IN TERRELL TEXAS. MY SON HAS A NEW 2007 SUBARU IMPREZA WITH BRIDGESTONE TIRES. THE CAR IS ONLY 3 MONTHS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON THE CAR. ONE OF THE TIRES HAS A BUBBLE ON THE SIDE WALL. HE WENT TO A SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE AUTO DEALER. FIRESTONE DEALER DON'T WANT TO ADJUST THE TIRE. DEALER ARE JUST GIVING MY SON THE RUN AROUND. YOU GUYS NEED TO REPLACE BUBBLE TIRE WITH A NEW TIRE. IT'S NOT THE DEALER RESPONSIBILITY TO ADJUST THE TIRE! IT IS THE TIRE MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITY. TIRE DEALERS ARE JUST TRYING TO PASS THE BUCK. I WANT THAT TIRE REPLACE. PSI: I WANT THIS TIRE TAKEN CARE OF ASAP BEFORE THE TIRE BLOWS OUT AND CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. BRIDGESTONE WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ACCIDENT!!!!!CONTRACT ME OR MY SON WEDNESDAY 8/8/2007. MY NEXT STEP IS TO GO TO THE MEDIA. THEY WOULD JUST HAVE A FIELD DAY WITH TIRES THAT HAVE BUBBLES ON THE SIDE WALL. JUST THINK ABOUT A FEW YEARS AGO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198698August 7, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
(POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT). VEHICLE SURGES AND BUCKS UNCONTROLLABLY IN ALL GEARS AT LOW SPEEDS, WHICH OCCASIONALLY FORCES THE FOOT TO DEPRESS ACCELERATOR ACCIDENTALLY DO TO VIOLENT BUCKING IN SLOW TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. OTHER SUBARUS IN THE 2.5 LITER CATEGORY DO THE SAME THING. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT IS AN INHERENT CONDITION IN THIS VEHICLE I MUST LIVE WITH DESPITE THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ON THE 2006 MODEL SUBARU FORESTER EXPERIENCING THIS CONDITION, THAT SUBARU OF AMERICA CAME UP WITH AN ECU UPGRADE THAT CURED THE PROBLEM. I WAS BASICALLY TOLD THAT THEY WOULD KEEP ME ON RECORD SO THAT IF AND WHEN AN ECU UPGRADE BECOMES AVAILABLE THEY WILL CONTACT ME, BUT UNTIL THEN THIS IS A FLAW IN THIS MODEL I MUST LIVE WITH. SUBARU OF AMERICA ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMPLAINT AND PASSED IT ON TO THE DEALER. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING BACK FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA AFTER THE INITIAL CONTACT AND THE DEALER SAID THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN CURRENTLY BE DONE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198292August 2, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED, THIS CAUSED HIM TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AS OF AUGUST 2, 2007, THE DEALER WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10197390July 24, 2007
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HIT A BEAR AT 55MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. THE BEAR LEAPED OFF THE BANK IN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CRASH THAT RESULTED IN THE BEAR BEING KILLED INSTANTLY, ABOUT 600 LBS. OF BEAR. THE CAR CAME TO AN INSTANT HALT WITH THE FRONT END BEING PUSHED BACK, LIGHTS,GRILLE,FENDER, HOOD, ECT. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AFTER CALLING SUBARU OF AMERICA, I WAS ADVISED TO LET MY INSURANCE HANDLE IT, BUT AFTER MUCH ARGUMENT WAS ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER OF 1020805 BY SUBARU. THIS IS NOT A INSURANCE PROBLEM, THIS IS SUBARU PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO FIRST TEAM IN ROANOKE VIRGINIA AND THE COLLISION SHOP ADVISED ME TO CONTACT SUBARU. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196651July 18, 2007
TIRES
I HAVE TWO SUBARUS WITH BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES ON THEM. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I EXPERIENCED FLAT TIRES WITH THEM. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THEY WENT FLAT SO FAST, I COULDN'T EVEN GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD BEFORE I WAS RIDING ON THE RIM. I HAVE NEVER HAD TIRES GO FLAT SO FAST. IN BOTH CASES THE CAUSE WAS A SCREW IN THE TREAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196629July 17, 2007
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. WHEN SHE ARRIVED, THE MECHANIC INFORMED HER THAT A BUBBLE WAS PRESENT ON ONE OF THE BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE TIRE TO THE BRIDGESTONE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPLACED, BUT THEY STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,384. UPDATED 08/14/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191837May 28, 2007
TIRES:SIDEWALL
NEW VEHICLE PURCHASED IN APRIL 2006, VEHICLE IS 13 MONTHS OLD APPROXIMATELY 15,000 MILES. TWO FRONT TIRES HAVE SIDE WALL FAILURE. SIDEWALLS ARE BUBBLED OUT AND THE OUTSIDE TREAD IS DISFIGURED ABOVE EACH BUBBLE. VEHICLE IS AND AWD SUBARU IMPREZZA. THESE TIRES NEED TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOME DIES IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. P205/55/16 89V BRIDGESTONE POTENZA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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