Subaru WRX Complaints (2003)

60 consumer complaints on file.

#10067480April 20, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE BACK AND NECK INJURIES. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10058312February 17, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CRACKED WINDSHIELD -- IT HAPPENED WITH A SMALL PEBBLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057135February 13, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THIS YESTERDAY (2/12/04) MORNING, AND WAS JUST CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. I WAS GOING ABOUT 15MPH, AND SAW THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HIT THERE BREAKS. I PUSHED DOWN THE PEDAL, AND TO MY HORROR, IT SEEMED TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT MY CAR STOPPING AT ALL. NEXT THING I KNEW, I HAD REAR-ENDED A BUICK (WHICH AS AN ASIDE SUFFERED NOTHING WORSE THAN A SCRATCHED BUMPER, COMPARED TO MY FOLDED HOOD, RUINING FRONT BUMPER, AND OTHER TWISTED METAL).I HAVE ABOUT 15K MILES ON THE CAR, AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. THIS IS MY FIRST ACCIDENT IN ALMOST 15 YEARS OF DRIVING, AND DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO PROCEDE. I CALLED MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER, WHO SAID HE HAD NO IDEA OF SUCH A PROBLEM. WHEN THE POLICE OFFICER WAS ASKING ME WHAT HAPPENED JUST AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I DESCRIBE THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR FOR HIM, AND HOPEFULLY HE'LL INCLUDE MY STATEMENT IN THE REPORT. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054622January 21, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STATION WAGON WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE INCIDENT ON JANUARY 19, 2004 IS ONLY ONE OF AT LEAST FIVE EXAMPLES OF THE PROBLEM DETAILED BELOW. *AK HERE IS THE RECURRING PROBLEM: WHENEVER I BRAKE AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS (UNDER 30MPH AS FAR AS I REMEMBER) OVER EVEN MILDLY BUMPY SURFACES, THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSES COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DOES NOT BRAKE. THE CAR WILL NOT BEGIN BRAKING UNTIL I REALIZE WHAT IS GOING ON, RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THEN HEAVILY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN. I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE ON JANUARY 19, 2004. THIS IS VERY BAD, BUT EVEN WORSE IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST -- I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SOME OF THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS IN MY AREA UTILIZE RAISED, WHITE-PAINTED CONCRETE SURFACES TO HIGHLIGHT THE CROSSWALK. THIS RAISED, UNEVEN SURFACE HAS TRIGGERED THE BRAKE PROBLEM I'M DESCRIBING SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST. THIS IS VERY SCARY SINCE MY CAR MIGHT STRIKE A PEDESTRIAN IN THE CROSSWALK BECAUSE OF ITS INABILITY TO BRAKE SMOOTHLY ON UNEVEN SURFACES. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL ABS-EQUIPPED CARS IN THE PAST, AND NONE HAVE EXHIBITED THIS SCARY BEHAVIOR. AFTER READING ON A SUBARU OWNER'S INTERNET SITE THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM, I CONTACTED A SUBARU DEALER ABOUT THE ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR ABS-EQUIPPED CARS. I FIND THIS EXTREMELY SCARY AND VERY HARD TO BELIEVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054435January 19, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKE FAILURE. *CB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048945December 1, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
LOSS OF BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS ON ROUGH SURFACES. WHEN BRAKING ON AN UNEVEN PATCH ON THE ROADWAY AT APPROX 15MPH ABS SEEMED TO BE ACTIVATED HENCE REDUCING BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS. ALSO NOTICED THE PROBLEM AFTER RUNNING OVER A GENTLE SPEED BUMP AT SIMILAR SPEED. THIS SECOND INSTANCE CAUSED WHAT FELT LIKE A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046840November 13, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES TO DATE. THIS IS THE TYPICAL SITUATION: I WAS DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, AROUND 25, COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN. A SECOND OR SO AFTER I APPLIED THE BRAKES I WENT OVER SOME SMALL BUMPS ON DRY PAVEMENT AND IT FELT LIKE ABS WAS COMING ON, THE PEDAL DROPPED, BUT THEN IT WENT WAY DOWN AND IT WASN'T PULSING. NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESSED, IT DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046805November 12, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
SUBARU IMPREZA WRX SEDAN, 2003. ANTI-LOCK BRAKE ACTIVATION UNDER MINIMAL LIFT CONDITIONS (SUCH AS GOING OVER MINOR BUMPS IN ROADS, PARKING RAMPS, ETC.) HAVE HAD SEVERAL EPISODES OF ANTI-LOCK ACTIVATION LEADING TO LOSS OF BRAKING FORCE AND EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES. PROBLEM RESOLVED WITH REMOVAL OF ABS FUSE, BUT THEN I HAVE NO ABS EVER. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043535October 24, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
EARLY ABS ACTIVATION ON ROUGH OR UNEVEN SURFACES (MAN HOLE COVERS, ETC.) AND FOLLOWING THIS A HUGE LOSS OF BRAKING FORCE. ALMOST LIKE THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED UNTIL THE PEDAL IS RELEASED AN REAPPLIED WHICH CAN TAKE SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS IS NOT GOOD WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME JUST STOPPED. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043540October 24, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
OVERLY SENSITIVE ABS AND PROLONG ABS INTERVENTION. LOSS OF STOPPING POWER. SMALL BUMPS IN ROAD CAUSING ABS TO ACTIVATE AND STAY PULSING TOO LONG. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037676October 10, 2003
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH AND WITH NO WARNING REAR RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO BLOWOUT. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *PH *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033514August 26, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS FAILED. DRIVING ON ROAD, GOT CUT OFF, STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL. PEDAL DROPPED TO FLOOR, CALIPERS SEEMED TO RELEASE AFTER A SECOND CAUSING NO LOSS IN SPEED. REAR ENDED DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME. STOPPING DISTANCE MORE THAN DOUBLED. *NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10036626August 26, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
SUBARU WRX WAGON, 2003. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW FOR A CORNER ON A WELL GROOMED, DRY, GRAVEL ROAD THE ABS SYSTEM OF THE CAR INITIATED A MODE THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CARS BRAKES TO FUNCTION AT ALL. DURING THE EPISODE (WHICH HAS BEEN AND CAN BE RECREATED) PEDAL PRESSURE AND PEDAL HEIGHT WAS MAINTAINED AS DURING NORMAL BRAKING OPERATIONS. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK DESPITE THE FACT THAT I WAS STANDING WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF DISCONNECTING MY ABS AND SUBARU NA CLAIMS THAT I'M NUTS. *NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033096August 19, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
COMING AROUND CORNER ON A HILL DRIVER WAS IN MIDDLE OF ROAD AVOIDING POTHOLE I SWERVED AND BRAKED THEN SWERVED BACK. WHEN I SWERVED BACK MY BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR AND I PROCEDED TO DRIVE ONTO SOMEONES FRONT LAWN. THE ABS SHOULDNT HAVE DONE THAT.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031003August 7, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINSHIELD CHIPPED DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030250July 28, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2003 SUBARU WRX SEDAN - WHEN STOPPING ON SLIGHTLY BUMPY SURFACES THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM BECOMES INEFFECTIVE. THE DRIVER MUST LET OFF THE BRAKES AND REAPPLY IN ORDER TO GET ANY EFFECTIVE BRAKING. THIS IS DANGEROUS. I CAN REPEAT IT AT KNOWN PLACES ON MY DRIVE TO WORK EVERYDAY. I COMPENSATE. IF I HAD KNOWN I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR. THIS NEEDS TO BE "FIXED."*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10028374July 16, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN BRAKING OVER ROUGH SURFACES ON DRY PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE ENGAGED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKING THAT WAS NOT RESTORED UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND RE-APPLIED. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT A LARGE AMOUNT OF BRAKING FORCE BEING CALLED FOR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10022749June 10, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY
WHILE ACCELERATING VEHICLE STARTED MAKING LOUD NOISE AND WOULD NOT GAIN ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10022688June 9, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10008400March 4, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS FAILED. BRAKE PEDAL WOULD SINK TO FLOOR WHEN ROAD IS BUMPY. TAKES A VERY LONG DISTANCE TO STOP THE CAR. 2 NEAR-MISS INCIDENTS ALREADY. CAR IS BRAND NEW 2003 WRX. IT HAS 500 MILES ON IT. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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