There are 5 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2003 Subaru Imprezain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TAKATA AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SIDE IMPACT SENSOR DID NOT WORK. THE CAR TRAVELED SIDEWAYS INTO A LARGE OAK TREE IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH . THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS WHERE THE SIDE IMPACT SENSOR WAS LOCATED . NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED . SUBARU HAS BEEN VERY UNCOOPERATIVE WITH ANSWERS AS TO WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY . THIS HAPPENED UPON A RURAL ROAD IN THE FOG . NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED .
CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH AT ABOUT 45 MPH INTO A FIRE HYDRANT IN THE CITY OF BELL. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS EXPANDED AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH IT WAS HIT ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH AND CROSSING A STOP LIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEATHER WAS NICE THAT DAY. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 50,000.*AK
DT: CONSUMER STATES THE SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REFUSES TO UNLOCK. THE BELT JUST KEEPS GETTING TIGHTER AND TIGHTER. IT WILL NOT WORK UNTIL THE CONSUMER UNHOOKS THE BELT AND PUTS IT BACK IN. THEN IT WILL START TO LOCK BACK UP IMMEDIATELY. IT DOES NOT DO IT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS BELT IS DESIGNED FOR A CAR SET. DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. IT SEEMS TO DO IT WITH LARGER INDIVIDUALS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026