Subaru Impreza Complaints (2005)

75 consumer complaints on file.

#10503847March 20, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
IN JANUARY 2008, I NOTICED A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS WHEN I STARTED A THE CAR ON A COLD DAY. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW GAS DRIPPING FROM THE DRIVER LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. BECAUSE OF MY CONCERN OF A FIRE, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT COST $491.30 PLUS TOWING TO HAVE THE FUEL LEAK FIXED. THIS YEAR I STARTED SMELLING RAW GAS AGAIN WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. I HAD IT CHECKED AT THE DEALER ON 1/16/2013 AND THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. I ASKED ABOUT RECALLS AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NONE. THE SMELL OF RAW GAS IS VERY STRONG ON MOST COLD DAYS AND I'M AFRAID THERE WILL BE A FIRE. WHEN I SEARCHED THE WEB FOR SUBARU IMPREZA COLD WEATHER FUEL LEAK IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS A WIDESPREAD CHRONIC PROBLEM. DOES THERE HAVE TO BE FIRES AND INJURES BEFORE SUBARU IS FORCED TO FIX THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496133February 1, 2013
ENGINE
WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION AND THE HEATER IS ON THE SMELL OF BURNT OIL WHICH BECOMES WORSE WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A FULL STOP, VALVE COVER GASKETS LEAK ON TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING MANY PARTS NEED TO BE REMOVED TO GAIN ACCESS WHICH IN RESULT CAUSES A VERY EXPENSIVE BILL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493104January 15, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ON EXTREMELY COLD MORNINGS +/-0 DEGREES MY 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA RS HAS SUCH A STRONG FUEL SMELL THAT YOU CAN NOT USE THE HEAT SINCE YOU CAN'T TURN ON THE VENTS. IF YOU TURN THE VENTS ON THE SMELL IS SO INTENSE THAT YOU GET LIGHTHEADED AND SICK. YOU CAN SMELL THE FUEL SMELL OUTSIDE THE ENGINE AREA AND FUEL MILEAGE IS SO MUCH LOWER THAT YOU KNOW THAT IT IS LEAKING FUEL. CALLED SUBARU AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP WITHOUT CHARGING AND DID WARN OF THE POTENTIAL OF THE CAR CATCHING ON FIRE FROM THE FUEL LEAK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446110February 1, 2012
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE READ END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING MUCH LOWER THAN THE FRONT END. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR STRUTS MAY BE CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443962January 16, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
EXACT TO THE SUBARU RECALL ISSUED IN '09 (2002-2003 IMPREZA ONLY), MY 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX SMELLS TERRIBLY OF GAS ON COLD MORNING WHEN I START THE VEHICLE. THE SMELL IS SO BAD THAT I CANNOT SIT IN THE CAR WITHOUT FEELING FAINT IF I DO NOT ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN, AND CANNOT HAVE ANY PASSENGERS IN THE CAR AT STARTUP UNTIL THE CAR IS WARM AND DRIVEN AROUND THE BLOCK FOR FIVE MINUTES, WHICH IS THE WORST CONSIDERING THE COLD WINTERS I FACE IN CONNECTICUT. THIS SMELL OCCURS UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND LETTING IT IDLE FOR ABOUT AFTER A MINUTE, BUT ABOUT AFTER FIVE-TEN MINUTES OF DRIVING THE SMELL FINALLY GOES AWAY. I AM AWARE OF THE ISSUE WITH EARLIER YEAR MODELS, BUT AM SURPRISED AT THE FACT THAT THERE IS A GRAND AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE WITH 2004 AND UP IMPREZAS AS WELL, AND A RECALL HASN'T BEEN ISSUED YET (AND MY LOCAL SUBARU TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FULL PRICE FOR THIS REPAIR WHICH MIGHT TAKE TWO DAYS AND COST AROUND 500$ AND UP..WOW!). THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN IT IT BELOW ZERO, BUT FOR ME THAT IS QUITE COMMON DURING WINTER. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS ONLINE THAT PEOPLE WITH MY YEAR HAVE CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA, AND THAT THEY HAD PAID FOR THE CAR TO GET REPAIRED AS IF IT WAS A RECALL TYPE OF PROCEDURE, BUT PERSONALLY CALLED THEM TODAY AND WAS TOLD BY THE REP THAT THERE WERE NO SUCH REPORTED CASES WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA... SURE! QUITE DISAPPOINTING, BUT MOST OF ALL DANGEROUS, AND I DREAD DRIVING THE CAR AND PUTTING MYSELF AND OTHERS IN DANGER. I WAS TOLD BY A TECH AT SUBARU THAT IF THERE WAS ANY SORT OF IGNITION OR SPARK AROUND THIS AREA FOR ANY MALFUNCTIONING REASON, OR AN ACCIDENT, THAT THERE WOULD BE A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE CAR MIGHT IGNITE. HELP ME OUT HERE, I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL SUBARU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10438848December 7, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND REGAINED ACCELERATION AFTER RESTARTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT SUGGESTED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY BE REPLACED. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432202October 20, 2011
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE NOTICED A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. HE LATER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V464000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10403795May 31, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ON JAN 12 2011 MY 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STARTED TO HAVE A RAW FUEL SMELL COMING INTO THE CABIN AREA WHEN IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE NO MATTER IF IT WAS IN A GARAGE OR OUTSIDE. ON FURTHER INSPECTION I COULD SEE RAW FUEL STREAMING OUT OF THE FUEL LINES ONTO A HOT ENGINE BLOCK. THERE IS A RECALL FOR 02-03 SUBARU IMPREZAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT IT DOES NOT COVER ANY NEWER MODELS WITH THE SAME FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM PROBLEMS. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT IT BY THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY SOME TYPE RECALL BECAUSE OF FOUND DEFECTS IN JUST SLIGHTLY OLDER MODELS BUT THE SAME ENGINE CONFIGURATION AND FUEL SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378716January 26, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE RAW FUEL SMELL UPON START UP DURING COLD WEATHER. FUEL DRIPS FROM THE FUEL LINE UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR AND/OR DRIPS FROM THE FUEL RAIL. THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM FOR SUBARU IMPREZA'S FOR YEARS BEYOND THE RECALL THAT WAS ENTERED FOR THE 02-03 MODELS. RESEARCH ON SEVERAL SUBARU FORUMS REFLECT IT IS STILL A VERY SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM ON 04-05 YEAR WRX IMPREZAS. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL FIRES AND ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THE RAW FUEL DRIPPING ON THE HOT MOTOR BLOCK. AT THIS TIME THERE IS NO ACTION BEING TAKEN BY SUBARU FOR THE LATER YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372675December 28, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MH WHEN THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE ODOR EMITTING FROM THE AIR VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER TIGHTENED TWO HOSE FEEDER CLAMPS THAT WERE CONNECTED TO THE FUEL RAIL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328287April 30, 2010
STEERING
STEERING IN MY CAR WOULD LOCK WHILE TRYING TO TURN MY CAR. THIS WOULD HAPPEN PERIODICALLY AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. IT HAPPENED 5-6 TIMES BEFORE I TOOK IT IN AS I WAS AFRAID AN ACCIDENT MIGHT HAPPEN DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN MY CAR. SUBARU DEALER SAID MY POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FAILING. DEALER ALSO STATED THAT A NEWER DESIGN POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD BE INSTALLED. THIS INDICATED TO ME THAT SUBARU HAD AN ISSUE WITH THIS, OTHERWISE WHAT WOULD BE THE REASON FOR A NEW DESIGN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305368February 4, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
GAS LEAK IN THE FUEL LINE CAUSING A STRONG RAW ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON COLD DAYS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR IMPREZA MODELS AND THERE IS RECENTLY A RECALL FOR THE 02-03 MODELS. CURRENTLY THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE 04-05 MODELS YET. *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
#10261523March 11, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN IN TO STAR SUBARU FOR A TURBO CHANGE AND MY ENGINE WENT 1 WEEK LATER. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON 2DAYS AFTER GOT CAR BACK FROM STAR SUBURU SERVICE AND LESS THEN A WEEK THE ENGINE WENT. HAD CAR TOWED BACK TO STAR SUBARU AND MY PISTON HAD SHATTERED. NOW THEY ARE SAID THAT IT WAS DO TO THE WAY THE CAR WAS DRIVEN AND SO THE SUBARU WARRANTY NOW DOESN'T WANT TO PAY TO FIX IT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY JUST PUT IN THE NEW TURBO WITHOUT CHECKING THE AIRFUEL WERE IT WAS AT OR THEY MAY HAD FORGOTTEN TO PUT IN THE OIL. I AM FIGHTING THE CASE AND THEY DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT THAT THEY DIDN'T DO WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SUBARU SINCE I GOT IT I BOUGHT IT WITH 32,000 AND NOW IT HAS ABOUT 48,000. I ONLY HAVE THE HAVE 1 1/2 YEAR. IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE WITH THIS CAR AND DEALING WITH STAR SUBARU AND THE SUBARU WARRANTY. *TR
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
#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
#10177082December 27, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR STRUTS ON MY 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA HAVE BLOWN TREE TIMES SINCE VEHICLE PURCHASE IN JUNE 2005. SUBARU HAS CHANGED THE PN# TO AN UPDATED PART NUMBER BUT REFUSE TO REPLACE AGAIN STATING MY VEHICLE MILEAGE HAS SURPASSED THEIR WARRANTY LIMITATION. THIS IS KNOWN DEFECT WITH MANY DOCUMENTED CASES. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAS ISSUED AN UPDATED PART TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. DEFECTIVE STRUTS ARE A SAFETY CONCERN AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND OR DEATH. A STRUT SHOULD NOT BE DEFECTIVE THREE TIMES IN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR ON A BRAND NEW CAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174103November 22, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S CRUISE CONTROL TURNED ITSELF OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS NOT CODED CORRECTLY AND COULD NOT BE FIXED. UPDATED 1/19/2007 - THE CONSUMER EXPLAINED THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN THE TANK WAS HALF FULL. WHEN THE TANK WAS COMPLETELY FULL THE PROBLEM NEVER HAPPENED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160712June 25, 2006
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ON 6/8/06 I DROVE MY BRAND-NEW SUBARU IMPREZA 2005 (UNDER 6000 MILES AND NOT A WRX) STATION WAGON DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MILES PER HOUR. THE ROAD WAS STRAIGHT AND LEVEL; THE SURFACE WAS SMOOTH AND DRY. TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME HAD STOPPED BEFORE A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND I APPLIED THE BRAKES IN A NORMAL FASHION. I FELT THE MOST UNUSUAL SENSATION: THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN EVER SO SLIGHTLY - I GUESS ABOUT ONE HALF INCH AT THE MOST, AND THEN IT FELT AS THOUGH I HAD HIT A BRICK, AS IF SOMEONE PLACED A SOLID OBJECT UNDER THE PEDAL. I PUSHED HARDER ON THE BRAKES AND ENDED ALMOST LYING IN AN EXTENDED POSITION, PUSHING THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD. THE CAR DID NOT EVEN SLOW DOWN. THERE WAS NO ABS ACTIVITY, NO PULSATING BRAKE ACTION OR ANYTHING LIKE IT. I WAS IN SHOCK AS I REAR-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, STILL WAITING FOR THE LIGHT. THE IMPACT WAS SMALL, AND NO AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. NO ONE WAS INJURED, THANK GOD. MY SUBARU IS BEING FIXED AT THE TUNE OF $ 3500.00. THE OTHER CAR'S DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL AND ALL DAMAGE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A SUV WITH BIG SPARE ON THE BACK, EXTENDING ITS BUMPER. I SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IN THE CAR FOR INSPECTION, ONCE IT IS FIXED. I MOST CERTAINLY PLAN TO DO THIS BUT SOMEHOW I DO NOT EXPECT MUCH HELP, ESPECIALLY AFTER READING OTHER SUBARU OWNER'S EXPERIENCE WITH PROBLEMS OF BRAKE FAILURE. I AM HOPING TO GET THE ABS SYSTEM DISABLED, UNLESS THEY CAN REPLACE IT. I FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT DRIVING THIS CAR, AND EVEN MORE UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT SELLING IT TO SOME UNSUSPECTING SOUL. I WILL REGISTER THIS PROBLEMS WITH ALL POSSIBLE AGENCIES AND WAS COMFORTED TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR WEB-SITE. THANKS FOR BEING THERE. ANY ADVISE? *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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