2005 Subaru Impreza Complaint Log

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

I HAVE A 2005 WRX STI, AND THE PAINT HAS BEEN CHIPPING OFF!!! I STORE MY CAR PRIVATELY, IT ONLY HAS 18,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE PAINT GETS CHIPPED OFF BY ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING. I WAX THE CAR MONTHLY AND GET IT DETAILED QUARTERLY. WHAT KIND OF PAINT CHIPS THAT FAST? I HAVE OTHER FRIENDS WITH SUBARUS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THANKS FOR THE 32,000 DOLLAR LEMON. *JB

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

WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITHIN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, AROUND 35 MPH AND TRANSMISSION JUST DIED. ENGINE AND POWER WERE WORKING, HOWEVER THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION WERE NOT RESPONDING. CAR WAS PICKED UP AND TOWED TO NEAREST SUBARU DEALER. DEALERSHIP REPORTED THE CLUTCH WAS WORN OUT BY DRIVER AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. AT ONLY 9,000 MILES. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. THEN IT WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

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

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

WITH AROUND 6,000 MILES ON MY 05 IMPREZA WRX STI A CLUNKING NOISE APPEARED IN THE REAR RIGHT SIDE SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER INSPECTED AND FOUND A DAMAGED STRUT. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT S IS A MEMBER OF A RELIGIOUS GROUP THAT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE IT ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A TREE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DID NOT ACCELERATE. DURING THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IT ACCELERATED WITHOUT PRESSING THE PEDAL. THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY STATED THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANY REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS GOING TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCELERATION. *AK

IT WAS A 95F DAY ,USING MY AIR CONDITIONER AND AFTER PULLING INTO MY GARAGE AT HOME MY DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW HAD AN EXPLOSIVE FAILURE CAUSING GLASS TO FLY INTO AND OUT OF THE CAR. THE SUBARU IS A MONTH OLD AND HAD NOT HAD PRIOR IMPACTS TO THE WINDOW GLASS. I BELIEVE THAT IMPROPER TEMPERING AND IMPROPER WINDOW DESIGN/INSTALLATION DIDN'T ALLOW FOR THERMAL EXPANSION / CONTRACTION AND LED TO THE FAILURE. *NM

I BOUGHT AN 05 WRX IN THE END OF AUGUST. 2 WEEKS AND LESS THAN 500 MILES LATER THERE WAS A QUARTER SIZED SPOT ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WHERE THE PAINT HAD COME OFF DOWN TO THE METAL. I NOTICED THE SPOT IMMEDIATELY AFTER WASHING MY CAR. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DEALER I CONTACTED SUBARU AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. FOR THE PAST 5 WEEKS I HAVE BEEN CONTACTING SUBARU AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO REPAINT ONLY THE AFFECTED BODY PANELS. HOWEVER, SINCE THE INITIAL SPOT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER SPOTS ALL OVER THE CAR. I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET THEM TO REPAINT THE ENTIRE CAR, ALTHOUGH I WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE A 7 WEEK OLD CAR COMPLETELY REPAINTED. *NM

EVENTS UP TO FAILURE - NOT RELATED TO FUEL LEVELS IN TANK. APPROACHING LEFT HAND 60-90 DEGREE TURN AT MODERATE SPEED AT NORMAL OPERATING VEHICLE TEMPERATURE. FAILURE - FUEL CUTS OFF LEADING TO NO AVAILABLE POWER VIA THE THROTTLE. COMING OUT OF APEX OF THE TURN THE POWER RETURNS.*JB

I WAS TRAVAILING 40-45 MPH ON A 2 LANE ROAD IN MY 2005 SUBARU WRX STI. I CAME OUT OF A SMALL S CURVE AND WENT OVER A ROUGH PATCH OF ROAD, AND THE TAIL END OF THE CAR STARTED SLIDING OUT TO THE RIGHT, THE NEXT THING I KNEW I HAD RAN INTO THE BANK AND I WAS FACING TRAFFIC, I HIT THE BANK AT LEAST 40 MPH, THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND ONE BEHIND ME, AND ONE COMING IN THE OTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC. IT FELT LIKE THE TAIL OF THE CAR HAD TIGHTENED UP AND SENT POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS AND KEPT ME SLIDING UNTIL RIGHT BEFORE I HIT THE BANK IT SWUNG THE CAR AROUND LIKE IT HAD SENT ALL POWER TO THE FRONT WITCH IN TURN PUT ME INTO THE BANK. NOTHING WORKED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN ME, I HIT MY HEAD ON THE SIDE WINDOW BECAUSE NONE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES WORKED ON THE CAR I SUSTAINED INJURIES INCLUDING: WHIP LASH, SEVERE HEADACHES AND I MAY HAVE A FRACTURED A VERTEBRA IN MY BACK. CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY BLEW ME OFF SAYING THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECTS IN THE CAR, AND THAT THEY WAITED TILL THE GOVERNMENT TOLD THEM TO FIX SOMETHING BEFORE THEY WOULD FIX ANY PROBLEMS.

THE LEFT REAR STRUT OF MY 2005 STI HAS FAILED TWICE IN LESS THAN 13K MILES. THE FIRST FAILED AT AROUND 10K AND THE SECOND AT 12.6K MILES. STRUT FAILURE ON A BUMPY ROAD AT HIGH SPEED COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICHLE CONTROL AND COULD RESULT IN VERY SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. SUBARU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND REMEDY THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. ON A WEBSITE FOR STI OWNERS, THERE ARE OVER 100 OWNERS REPORTING THIS SAME PROBLEM.

HI, MY WIFE HAS A NEW SUBARU IMPREZA WRX (4000 MILES). A FEW DAYS AGO WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING IT, THE DRIVER?S SIDE WINDOW COMPLETELY SHATTERED. HERS WAS THE ONLY CAR ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME, AND NO VEHICLES HAD RECENTLY COME BY TO KICK UP A STONE. SUBARU ASSUMES SOMETHING EXTERNAL SHATTERED THE WINDOW, SO THAT WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR (ABOUT $500, WHICH IS OUR INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE), BUT WE?RE WONDERING WHETHER A STRUCTURAL DEFECT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. I WAS WONDERING WHETHER YOU HAD EVER HEARD OF A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM LIKE THIS IN GENERAL, AND FOR SUBARUS IN PARTICULAR. THANK YOU. *AK

RAW FUEL ODOR INSIDE CABIN OF VEHICLE. 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA RS, RESEARCH FROM THE WEB RESULTED WITH MANY COMPLAINTS FROM ALL IMPREZA MODELS AND ONGOING PROBLEM PAST FEW YEARS.*AK

SNOWSTORM DURING WHICH I LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPERS LOCKED OUT AWAY FROM THE WINDOW. IN MORNING, HEATED VEHICLE UNTIL WIPE OF ICE/WATER (NO SCRAPE). CLEANED WIPER BLADES OF MOST ICE, SET/DROPPED WIPER BLADE ON WINDSHIELD, CRACKING/PITTING WINDSHIELD, SHORTLY A CRACK HALF THE WINDOW LONG RAN OUT.*AK

AFTER ~3,000 MILES ON MY 05 IMPREZA WRX STI A CLUNKING NOISE APPEARED IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS, BUT IT DEFINITELY IS AN ANNOYANCE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A MISALIGNED SPRING AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM FOR 3 DAYS, BUT THEN IT REAPPEARED. MANY OTHER OWNERS I'VE SPOKEN TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT'S SUPPOSEDLY A MFR DEFECT WITH THE STRUT ASSEMBLY. *AK

TEMPORARILY EXPERIENCE SOME FUEL SEEPAGE AT ENGINE FUEL DELIVERY PIPE/HOSE DURING COLD ENGINE START UP IN EXTREMELY COLD OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES. VEHICLE OCCUPANTS MAY NOTICE THE SMELL OF FUEL. THE SAME ISSUE IS DESCRIBED IN SUBARU CAMPAIGN/RECALL WVK-21 ISSUED FOR 2002-2003 MODEL YEAR SUBARU IMPREZA VEHICLES. SERVICE BULLETIN 01-170-09 HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/ACMS/CS/JAXRS/DOWNLOAD/DOC/ACM12948229/RCSB-09V468-1307.PDF

I HAVE HAD ONE ACCIDENT AND NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH MY ABS BRAKES NOT WORKING. *JB