Subaru Impreza Complaints

2,698 consumer complaints on file.

#10097707October 17, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
VEHICLE SERVICE SEVERAL TIME DUE TO GAS SMELL, UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *BF CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT A MOUSE NEST WAS THE CAUSE OF THE GAS SMELL IN HER VEHICLE AND WAS CHARGED $140.74. THE CONSUMER SHOWED THE MECHANIC WHERE THE FUEL WAS POOLING ON THE ENGINE. PROBLEM STILL NOT RESOLVED. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093777October 7, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
APPROACHING STOP LIGHT ON SURFACE STREET; DRY CONDITIONS, FLAT ROAD; APPROX 30 MPH; ANTICIPATING STOPPING. LIFT FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR AND APPLY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN; CAR DOES NOT SLOW; FEELS OUT OF CONTROL & UNABLE TO STOP; TURN CAR TO RIGHT TO GET OFF ROAD TO AVOID HITTING CARS AHEAD; TURN INTO A TREE; AIRBAG DEPLOYED; CAR TOTALED; EMERGENCY VEHICLES RESPOND; AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL; BROKEN L-2 IN BACK; SEVERE BRUISING; AT MY REQUEST, VEHICLE INSPECTED BY INSURER; HAVE NOT SEEN INSPECTION REPORT; REPORTED TO ME THAT "BRAKES HAD PRESSURE AND FLUID"; AFTER SEEKING ADVICE FROM ACCIDENT EXPERT, NOT CONFIDENT VEHICLE INSPECTION WAS THOROUGH ENOUGH; AM ABSOLUTELY SURE THERE WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE OF SOME TYPE DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES OF ACCIDENT (I.E., ENOUGH TIME TO CORRECT ANY DRIVER ERROR). *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10091782September 28, 2004
SEATS
AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION A RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED STATING THAT THE BOLT ON DRIVER'S SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND INJURY WAS IMMINENT. DURING THE COLLISION DRIVER'S SEAT BOLT BROKE, AND CONSUMER WAS THROWN UNDER THE DASHBOARD, AND SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10088976September 1, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS ARE GETTING TO BE HAZY AFTER 30000 MILES, VERY HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. SUBARU SAYS NOT THERE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088880August 31, 2004
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I HAVE HAD A FIRST GEAR GRIND EVER SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE DEALER CORRECT THE PROBLEM. FIRST TECHNICIAN EVEN SAID IT WAS INTERNAL. FINALLY GOT THE FLUID CHANGED TO CORRECT THS ISSUE AT 14K MILES, HELPED BUT DID NOT FIX. AT 26000 MILES I TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY ALSO CONFIRM THERE IS A PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP SAY THEY WILL NOT WORK ON IT DUE TO AN AFTERMARKET EXHAUST. I EXPLAINED IT IS A PREXISTING CONDITION AND THE EXHAUST WOULD HAVE NO AFFECT ON THIS PARTICULAR SCENARIO. DEALERSHIP STONEWALLS ME ON THIS ISSUE BUT PROMISES TO STILL FIX THE SEAT (SINCE IT HAS NNOT BEEN MODIFIED) I ASKED FOR THE TECHNICAL EXPLANATION OF WHY THE TRANNY WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THEY REFUSED TO ISSUE EITHER VERBALLY OR IN WRITING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088885August 31, 2004
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2002 SUBARU WRX - I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR 30,000 MILE SERVICE, CAR WAS RUNNING FINE, NO COMPLAINTS. WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK, I NOTICED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR, AND I WAS SOMETIMES MISSING THE SHIFT - GRINDING GEARS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS IN ANY CAR BEFORE. THE PROBLEM IS MORE SEVERE AT HIGHER SPEEDS, AND IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE LAST 5000 MILES. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE, THE FIRST TIME THEY "COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG", THE SECOND TIME THEY NOTED THAT THE "SENCROS" WERE GOING BAD. I HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND TALKING TO THE SERVICE TECH, WHO CLAIMS THIS IS A PROBLEM HE SEES A LOT ON WRXS, AND THAT "THERE ISN'T ANYTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT"!! THE DEALERSHIP HAS PROMISED TO "LOOK INTO WHAT WE CAN DO", BUT MEANWHILE THE CAR IS GETTING LESS AND LESS FUNCTIONAL. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THE INTENTION OF THE DEALERSHIP IS TO STALL TILL THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT (I'M GETTING CLOSE) THEN TELL ME IT'S MY PROBLEM TO DEAL WITH. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A CHAIN REACTION PILE-UP, AS THERE ARE STOPLIGHTS HIGHWAYS ON HILLS NEAR WHERE I LIVE. AN INCIDENT OF STALLING DUE TO SHIFTING PROBLEMS COULD CAUSE FOLLOWING TRAFFIC TO BADLY MISJUDGE THE SPEED OF THE STALLING CAR IN SITUATIONS WHERE THE LIGHT HAS CHANGED AND THERE IS SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC FOLLOWED BY FASTER TRAFFIC (PREVIOUS LIGHT TURNS SOONER, LIGHTS NOT COORDINATED).*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088599August 26, 2004
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
2004 WRX SUN ROOF HAS A SMELL LIKE MILDEW. 3 REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE (DETAIL, SUNROOF DOOR REPLACEMENT, HEADLINER REPLACEMENT) AND THE SMELL IS STILL THERE MONTHS LATER. SUBARU HAS TOLD ME THAT IS THE NORMAL SMELL, EVEN AFTER $1500 IN COVERED REPAIRS. IT IS FAR FROM A NEW CAR SMELL, MORE LIKE MILDEW.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088507August 24, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE FOGGING UP ON THE OUTSIDE LMITING THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT RADIATED AT NIGHT. I HAVE CHECKED NUMEROUS OTHER SIMILAR MODEL CARS AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IN SOME DEGREE. SUBARU REFUSES TO TAKE ACTION UNDER THE WARRANTY AND MAINTAINS THAT THE PROBLEM IS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR IN THE ENVIRONMENT". I MAINTAIN THEY SELECTED AN INFERIOR PLASTIC FOR THE HEADLIGHT LENSES.I KNOW THAT SUBARU IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE "LENSES" ARE SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED UNDER ALL THE EXTENDED SUBARU FACTORY WARRANTIES THEY OFFER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086695August 12, 2004
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
FAILED TRANSMISSION FOR MANUAL DRIVE 2004 SUBARU WRX MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CLAIM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086572August 10, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
INTERMITTENT FAILURE/SHORT OF POWER TO THE MAIN COMPUTER (ECU) AT APPOX. 120K MILES. CAR WOULD NOT START, NO CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT. AFTER WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK, IT STARTS AND RUNS FINE. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND HE SAYS NOTHING WRONG. TWO WEEKS LATER, SAME THING. HOOK UP OBD II MONITOR AND IT SAYS ECU RECIEVING "NO PWR." TOWED TO SHOP. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS FAILED ECU AND REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER, SAME SYMPTOMS (NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, "NO PWR" ON OBD II MONITOR), BUT AN HOUR LATER CAR STARTED FINE AND OBD II SHOWED NO PROBLEMS. TOOK TO MECHANIC WHO FOUND NOTHING WRONG. HAPPENED AGAIN A WEEK LATER, MECHANIC FINDS NOTHING. TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT, FAILED AGAIN, WOULD NOT START AFTER MANY DAYS AND STILL SAYS "NO PWR." TOWED TO MECHANIC, AND ONCE IT GOT TO SHOP, STARTED FINE -- MOVEMENT DURING TOWING CAUSED POWER TO BE RESTORED TO ECU. THUS, IT'S A SHORT IN THE POWER PATH THAT RUNS THE ECU. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. MECHANIC DISMANTLED FUSEBOXES AND FINDS NO APPARENT SIGNS OF SHORT ANYWHERE. SAYS IT'S A "SUBARU BUG." COST TO DATE: APPOX. $2000, AND NOT YET FIXED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086097August 3, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
HAD TO BRAKE HARD ON SEMI-BUMPY PAVEMENT AND ABS ACTIVATED AND LOST ALL STOPPING POWER. ABS IS WAY TOO SENSITIVE AND OVER-REATIVE. I ENDED UP SLIGHTLY CRASHING INTO VEHICLE IN FROT OF ME. THIS ABS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES AND I WAS WELL AWARE OF IT, HOWEVER I WAS STILL UNABLE TO COMPENSATE AND MAKE A COMPLETE STOP.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083987July 28, 2004
STRUCTURE
THERE WAS DEEP COWLING OVER THE INSTRUMENTATION AREA. *MR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS SHADED TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO VIEW THE DISPLAY. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082500July 23, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED 4 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY AND ADDITIONAL 4 TIMES OUT OF WARRANTY. BEARING WERE REPLACED DURING EACH REPAIR, SOMETIMES AXELS AND HOUSINGS AS WELL. SUBARU REFUSED TO CONTINUE REPAIRS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY PERIOD. 8 FAILUES TOTAL AT REGULAR INTERVALS . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082560July 23, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE BRAKES ON MY CAR HAVE BEEN WORKED ON THREE TIMES SINCE I GOT MY CAR A YEAR AGO AND ABOUT TO GO AGAIN. THEY KEEP TRYING TO FIX THEM BUT I KEEP HAVING TO TAKE IT BACK. THE DATE BELOW IS THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082304July 20, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT HAS COME ON 7 TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JANUARY 2004. THE FIRST TWO TIMES I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP (VALLEY DODGE, INC.) THAT IT WAS A FALSE CODE (#P0301) FOR A 1ST CYLINDER MISS FIRE. ON THE THIRD TIME THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, THE DEALERSHIP REMOVED THE ECM AND SENT TO THE SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. FACTORY TO REPROGRAM. THE FOURTH TIME THE DEALERSHIP, PER SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. FACTORY, ADJUSTED THE #1 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE. THE FIFTH AND SIXTH TIME, THE DEALERSHIP PER SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. REPLACED THE INJECTION AND STILL HAVE THE CAR TO BETA TEST ON A 100-MILE 'TEST DRIVE' AS I WAS TOLD TO COMPARE THE READ-OUTS FROM THE ECM DURING THIS 'TEST-DRIVE.' I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THE VEHICLE FOR 20 DAYS NON-CONSECUTIVE IN THE 6 MONTHS THAT I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081183July 16, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE KEPT OVERHEATING AND AIR WOULD APPEAR IN THE RADIATOR. ANTIFREEZE WOULD BE PUSHED OUT OF RADIATOR AND THE HEATER WOULD BLOW COLD AIR. THE CAR HAD TO BE SHUT OFF REPEATEDLY AND ALLOWED TO COOL DOWN AND THE ANTIFREEZE REPLACED. A CHECK OF THE COOLING SYSTEM DETECTED NO LEAKS. WE WERE TOOK THE CAR TO A NUMBER OF GARAGES UNTIL FINALLY ONE GARAGE TOLD US THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS MOST LIKELY CRACKED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3600. ACCORDING TO THE GARAGE, THEY HAVE REPLACED A NUMBER OF ENGINES FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, SPECIFICALLY ONE WITH THE DOHC.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078794June 25, 2004
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WAS AT THE LOCAL TRACK ON RUN WHAT YOU BRUNG NIGHT. LINED UP AGAINST AN SRT-4. LIGHT TURNED GREEN. I ACCELERATED TRYING TO GET A HOLESHOT. I HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE. SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION/CLUTCH GIVING UP. THE SRT-4 WAS WAY AHEAD OF ME. I SHIFTED THROUGH THE GEARS AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CATCH UP. THAT SRT-4 WAS FAST. THE LACK OF POWER IN MY STI REALLY DISHONORED MY FAMILY. IT FORCED ME TO BE HUMILIATED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS NORMAL AND TO EXPECT TO BE OUTMATCHED BY CARS LIKE THE DODGE SRT-4. THEY NEVER DID TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION/CLUTCH NOISE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078697June 23, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE SPEDOMETER READING IS NEARLY 10% HIGH ON MY CAR AND THAT OF MANY OTHERS THAT I HAVE CONTACTED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078474June 19, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK, SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I BOUGHT A 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI IN JULY 2003 FROM BOB BAKER SUBARU IN EL CAJON, CALIFORNIA AND EVER SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD ONE PROBLEM AFTER THE NEXT. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ALL SERVICING IS COMPLETED AT THE LANCASTER MAZDA-SUBARU LOCATION WHERE I LIVE. SEVERAL COSMETIC PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED SUCH AS: THE TRUNK LATCH DID NOT FUNCTION, THE BACK SEAT WAS UNHOOKED, THE SEAT LEVER THAT MOVES THE SEAT IN HALF, THE CUP HOLDER DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, AND THE HEAD LIGHTS FOGGED UP. MECHANICAL FAILURE HAS ALSO OCCURRED. IT HAS HAD AN ODD NOISE IN THE ENGINE SINCE THE BEGINNING WHICH SUBARU CLAIMS IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR BECAUSE IT IS A "RACECAR". THE STARTER SOMETIMES GRINDS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR, SUBARU COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM. THE LEFT REAR CHASSIS MAKES AN ODD NOISE WHEN ROLLING THAT SUBARU COULD NOT DIAGNOSE. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND NOW WHEN YOU TURN THE VEHICLE IT MAKES A LOUD METAL AGAINST METAL SCREECH. AS OF 6/18/2004 THE ENGINE HAS BEGUN TO FAIL. WHEN THE RPMS REACH BETWEEN 4000-5000 THE CAR CUTS OUT PRIOR TO ACCELERATING AND A BURNING SMELL IS DETECTED. I SPOKE WITH THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WHEN THIS CAR IS DRIVEN A LITTLE BIT HARDER THAN NORMAL THEY ARE NOTICING THAT SEVERAL OF THE IMPREZA WRX STI'S ARE BEING BROUGHT BACK IN WITH ENGINE FAILURE. THEY HAVE NOTED SEVERAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS TURBO BOG, OVERHEATING, POOR PERFORMANCE, AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS BURNING UP. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DISTINCT PROBLEM WITH THIS OVER $30,000 AND I THINK A COMPLAINT SHOULD BE FILED AGAINST SUBARU. WHEN IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT BREAKS, AS IT WILL, IT WILL JUST SIT IN A GARAGE BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX A CAR THAT IS MANUFACTURED POORLY. SUBARU HAS ADVISED THAT THIS CAR IS A RACE CAR AND IT IS FAR FROM THAT. THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THIS CAR SINCE THEY OBVIOUSLY MANUFACTURED A POORLY MADE VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078362June 17, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1998 SUBARU IMPREZA 53,000 MILES AND THE AUTO TECH AT SUBARU SAYS I HAVE A PISTON SLAP, $2500.00 TO PULL ENGINE AND CHECK THIS OUT. I HAVE CHANGED OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE 30,000 MILEAGE OVER ALL CHECK UP - WHAT IS UP WITH THIS MOTOR? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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