2008 Subaru Impreza Complaint Log

I HAVE A 2008 IMPREZA. EVER SINCE I PURCHASED IT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT LOCKS UP RIGHT AWAY AND TIGHTENS TO THE POINT THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT OFF. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED AND STILL DOES NOT WORK RIGHT. *TR

FRONT WHEEL SHIMMY THAT INCREASES STOPPING DISTANCE AND EFFECTS HANDLING. SHIMMY COMES AND GOES IN INTENSITY BUT IS ALWAYS PRESENT. SHIMMY CAUSES THE WHEEL AND ROTOR TO SHAKE WHICH PREVENTS THE BRAKE PADS FROM STOPPING THE VEHICLE AS INTENDED. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED ME TO RUN A STOP SIGN AND ALMOST GET BROADSIDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SHIMMY STILL EXISTS AND HAS NOT BEEN FIXED DESPITE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PROBLEM TO SUBARU AND THE SUBARU DEALER. SUBARU ACKNOWLEDGED THERE IS A PROBLEM AND STATED THAT THERE IS AN AXLE BALANCING PROBLEM OR A BEARING RUN OUT PROBLEM, BUT HAS YET TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES STOP WORKING AND GET CAUGHT UP IN EACH OTHER, THE BOLT NEED TO BE TIGHTENED MANY TIMES, HAS ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS. *TR

MY 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI HAD A NUMBER FOUR PISTON FAILURE WITH ONLY 28,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO A LOCAL AUTO SHOP WHEN A PROBLEM WAS NOTICED. THE SHOP DID A COMPRESSION TEST AND FOUND THE NUMBER FOUR PISTON TO BE AT FAULT. DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER WALLS THE BLOCK AND ALL ASSOCIATED INTERNALS WERE REPLACED. AFTER REMOVING THE HEADS THE SHOP OWNER SAID THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF DETONATION ON THE CYLINDER AND THAT THE FAILURE MOST LIKELY WAS DUE TO POOR BUILD QUALITY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH SUDDENLY FAILED AS IT WOULD GRIP THEN NOT GRIP WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CLUTCH PLATE DID NOT SEEM TO BE GROOVED PROPERLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DRIVER ERROR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH DOES NOT SAY THE AIRBAG IS ON WHEN MY WIFE IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SHE IS 103 POUNDS AND SHOULD TURN THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON ACCORDING TO SUBARU. THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON WHEN I SIT IN THE SEAT (160POUNDS) OR WHEN ANYONE OVER SAY 130 POUNDS SITS IN IT. *TR

PISTON #4 HAD RINGLAND FAILURE OF BOTH RINGLANDS ON SAID PISTON IN MY 2008 SUBARU WRX STI. *TR

ENGINE STARTED STUTTERING AND WOULD ALMOST DIE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THEN STARTED BLOWING SMOKE OUT TALE PIPE. CAR HAD 3400 MILES. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS RINGLAND/PISTON FAILURE. *TR

SERIOUS WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE OF ENTIRE LINKAGE SYSTEM CAUSED BY A HOLD DOWN NUT COMING LOOSE FROM MAIN LINKAGE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING A RAIN STORM WHEN BOTH WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. SHE NARROWLY ESCAPED AN ACCIDENT AS THERE WAS NO PLACE TO SAFELY PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND SHE LOST TOTAL VISIBILITY. THE 2008 IMPREZA OUTBACK SPORT WAS TAKEN TO A NEARBY SUBARU DEALER WHERE THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM BY SIMPLY TIGHTENING THE HOLD DOWN NUT WHICH CAME LOOSE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED BY THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FROM A NEW CAR THAT WAS RATED THIS TOP SAFETY PICK. THE CAR HAD 9800 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED.*TR

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE (NEW), THERE HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE FILM ON THE WINDSHIELD AND INTERIOR WINDOWS. SOMETIMES IT IS SO BAD, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDOWS (ESPECIALLY WITH LIGHT REFLECTIONS AND SUNSETS, ETC.). MY DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT IT HAS HAD MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I HAVE TRIED CLEANING THE WINDOWS WITH CLEANERS AND NOTHING SEEMS TO HELP. THE PROBLEM IS EVEN WORSE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WHEN THE DEFROSTER IS BEING USED MORE OFTEN. TO DATE, MY DEALER (AS WELL AS A DIFFERENT ONE) HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT LIMITS VISIBILITY FROM THE VEHICLE. *TR

I OWN A 2008 STI AND HAVE JUST UNDER 6,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW WITH JUST UNDER 200 MILES ON IT IN DECEMBER OF 2008. IN JANUARY OF 2009, I BEGAN TO SEE WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY EXHAUST ON STARTUP. I HAD JUST OVER 1,200 MILES AT THE TIME. MY ENGINE FAILED SUFFERED A FAILURE AT JUST UNDER 2,000 MILES. SUBARU REPLACED THE ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. FAST FORWARD TO JUNE OF 2009 AND NOW I'M BEING TOLD MY ENGINE HAS AGAIN FAILED DUE TO THE PISTON RINGLANDS CRACKING AND BREAKING OFF. THIS IS A WIDELY REPORTED ISSUE FROM 2008 STI OWNERS AND WOULD SEEM TO INDICATE A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE PISTON DESIGN. *TR

SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST, ROUGH IDLE, OIL CONSUMPTION WERE MY FIRST SIGNS. THE DEALER WOULDN'T DO A COMPRESSION CHECK ON THE MOTOR SINCE THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, SO I HAD TO PAY WITH MY OWN CASH AND TAKE IT TO A PRIVATE SHOP AND FOUND OUT THAT IN FACT CYLINDER #2 HAD A SHOT RINGLAND. THEY REPLACED THE PISTON BUT THE MOTOR DOESN'T SEEM TO BE RIGHT STILL SINCE I HAVE A CAR THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A "STOP SALE" THAT INVOLVED SOME ENGINES HAVING SOME DEBRIS IN THE MOTOR AND WAS CAUSING KNOCKING AND THROWING BEARINGS. SUBARU SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE SHORT BLOCK BUT DIDN'T. *TR

I WAS INVOLVED IN A DIRECT HEAD-ON MVC TRAVELING 35 MPH(AT TIME OF IMPACT). THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS WEARING THE SEATBELT APPROPRIATELY. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S HEAD MADE CONTACT WITH DASH. THIS PASSENGER DID SUSTAIN A MODERATE NECK INJURY PRESENTING THE FOLLOWING MORNING REQUIRING EVALUATION AND TREATMENT IN AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. *TR

MY 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA HAS DEVELOPED A FILM ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHICH CAUSES A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. I AM UNABLE TO SEE AT NIGHT OR WITH ON COMING CARS WITH LIGHTS ON. IT HAS BEEN TO A DEALER TWICE AND THEY HAVE CLEANED IT BUT THE PROBLEM COMES BACK AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS. IT IS DANGEROUS! *TR

CAR WAS PARKED AND LOCKED IN MY DRIVEWAY .THE HORN STARTED BLARING AND HEADLIGHTS CAME ON. NOT CAR ALARM. INTERIOR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT THEN TRIED TO OPEN CAR WITH REMOTE TO EXTINGUISH FIRE. HAD TO USE KEY TO UNLOCK DOOR. FIRE ORIGIONATED FROM GUAGES/DASH AREA ON DRIVERS SIDE. THERE WERE SEVERAL EXPLOSIONS FROM CAR AS IT BURNED. HORN CONTINUED TO BLARE AFTER FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED FIRE. FIRE FIGHTERS THEN PRIED INTO HOOD AND CUT BATTERY CABLES BEFORE HORN STOPPED BLARING. TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG ON/OFF LIGHT CYCLES BETWEEN OFF AND ON WHEN A PASSENGER OF 100LBS IS SEATED IN THE SEAT. *TR

A FOG KEEPS DEVELOPING ON THE INTERIOR FRONT WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS WHICH IMPAIRS THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO SEE CLEARLY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR OF THIS FOG WHILE THE DEFROST IS RUNNING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK THAT LIMITS THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. *TR

I FIND THE HID HEADLAMPS ON MY 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA STI TO BE AIMED AND/OR THROW A LIGHT PATTERN THAT IS DANGEROUSLY LOW. AT NIGHT, OBJECTS ONLY VERY CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE ARE LIT UP. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON UNLIT ROADS AT NIGHT, PARTICULARLY IN THE RAIN. AN INQUIRY WITH THE DEALER INDICATED THAT SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAVE MADE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, BUT THAT THE HEADLAMPS CANNOT BE ADJUSTED BY THE DEALER, AND SUBARU HAS OFFERED NO SOLUTION. *TR

ON NOV. 20, 2008, FLATIRONS SUBARU AND SUBARU OF AMERICA SOLD ME A NEW 2008 IMPREZA WRX STI WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKES. ON DEC. 15, 2008, WHILE COMMUTING TO WORK I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. I PUSHED DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE (THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD). AS I WAS DRIVING CAUTIOUSLY, NO ONE WAS INJURED AND NO OTHER VEHICLE, EXCEPT MINE, SUFFERED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT HEADLIGHT. THE CAR WAS LESS THAN A MONTH OLD HAD FEWER THAT 650 MILES ON ODOMETER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INSPECTED THE CAR ON DEC. 17, THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER HOSE VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER IN REFUSING TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY WROTE TO ME STATING THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT THAT ONLY OCCURS IN EXTREME COLD WEATHER, AND SUBARU PERFORMS MOST OF THE INSPECTIONS AT THE FACTORY ON NEW CARS. THE DEALER PERFORMS A VERY LIMITED INSPECTION WITH A QUICK TEST DRIVE BEFORE THE SALE. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE BRAKES DEFECT UNDER WARRANTY ON DEC. 22, THEY TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE RESULTS OF THE DEFECT OR FOR NOT PROPERLY INSPECTING THE CAR PRIOR TO SELLING IT TO ME. THE ONLY RESPONSE I HAVE RECEIVED FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA IS THAT I SHOULD TAKE UP MY DAMAGE WITH MY INSURANCE CARRIER. IF SUBARU CAN CONTINUE TO SELL POORLY INSPECTED CARS WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKES WITHOUT ANY CONSEQUENCES, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. THAT'S NOT FAIR TO ME AND CERTAINLY NOT FAIR TO ANY PERSON WHO WRECKS BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE DEFECT AND PERHAPS INJURES SOMEONE. I THINK CAR COMPANIES SHOULD NOT SELL DEFECTIVE, INADEQUATELY INSPECTED NEW CARS TO THE PUBLIC AND I AM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP TO ENFORCE THIS. UPON YOUR REQUEST, I CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THE SERVICE INVOICES ON THE REPAIR DONE ON THE BRAKES; EMAIL AND MAIL CORRESPONDENCE WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA AND FLATIRONS SUBARU. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL PERIODICALLY STOP WORKING AND FAIL TO MOVE ALTOGETHER, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. HE MUST PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND MANUALLY PULL THE WIPERS DOWN WITH HIS HANDS. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED OVER TEN TIMES WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. MOST OF THE TIME THE WIPERS WORK NORMALLY, BUT DURING RAINY AND SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE FAILURE CAN CAUSE POOR VISIBILITY. THE SUBARU DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IF THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE, THERE WAS NOTHING TO REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,000.

I OWN A 2008 WRX STI SUBARU THAT HAD COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FACT THE DEALER COULD NOT PERFORM A CRITICAL ECM RECALL THAT WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF ENGINE FAILURE. SUBARU REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER WARRENTY. THE CAR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE START ALSO HAD BRAKE SYSTEM ISSUES THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR. *TR

2008 SUBARU IMPREZA FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR TURNS OFF AND ON WHILE MY WIFE 5'1" 110 LBS SITS IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. DEALERSHIP ORIGINALLY STATED THE SENSOR IS SET TO DETECT 80LBS. DEALERSHIP IS NOW STATING SENSOR IS SET TO 125 LBS AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. *TR

ALL-SEASON RUBBER FLOOR MATS FAIL, CREATING A CREASE WHICH CAN BECOME CAUGHT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. *TR

MY 24-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, WHO IS 5'2" AND WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 100 POUNDS, WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF MY 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN WE DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR DOES NOT REGISTER HER WEIGHT AND SHUTS OFF THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG. BY MOVING AROUND AND ADDING WEIGHT TO THE SEAT WE WERE ABLE TO TURN THE AIRBAG BACK ON TEMPORARILY -- BUT WHEN SHE IS JUST SITTING IN THE SEAT AS SHE NORMALLY WOULD, HER WEIGHT IS NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THE SENSOR. I CALLED THE SUBARU DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO CHANGE THE CALIBRATION OF THE WEIGHT SENSOR. THE SENSOR CUTOFF IS UNREASONABLY HIGH; THERE ARE MANY ADULTS WHO DO NOT MEET THIS WEIGHT REQUIREMENT (A GOOGLE SEARCH TURNED UP MANY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH SUBARUS). THIS MISCALIBRATION COULD HAVE DANGEROUS -- EVEN FATAL -- REPERCUSSIONS. *TR

2008 SUBARU IMPREZA THE WINDSHIELD GETS COVERED BY A FILM DURING COOL/COLD WEATHER AND IMPAIRS YOUR VISION WHILE DRIVING AND YOU NEED TO STOP AND REMOVE THE FILM ON THE WINDSHIELD . YES A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. SUBARU DENIES ANY PROBLEMS. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS. *TR

2008 SUBARU IMPREZA, STANDARD TRANSMISSION. AT SPEEDS UNDER 10 MPH, WHEN CLUTCH IS FULLY DEPRESSED, AND TRANSMISSION IS IN FIRST GEAR, ENGINE WILL REV UP TO 2500-4000 RPM'S. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS COASTING FORWARD AT SLOW SPEEDS AND WHEN IN GEAR WITH CLUTCH PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. WHEN BRAKE IS TAPPED OR GEAR PLACED TO NEUTRAL ENGINE WILL RETURN TO NORMAL IDLE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS 90 PERCENT OF THE TIME WHEN COASTING FORWARD. THE ENGINE SPEED VARIES EACH OCCURRENCE BUT GENERAL SPEEDS TO AROUND 2500 RPM'S WITH RARE JUMPS TO 4000+ RPM'S. *TR

WHILE MY AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED DURING AN ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT GOT UNLOCKED AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG IN MY 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI DOES NOT TURN ON WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN THE SEAT. *TR

THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT TURNS ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHEN MY WIFE IS IN THE SEAT....SHE IS 5FT 2IN AND 119LBS. OFTEN AS WE ARE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD WITH HER IN THE FRONT SEAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF. THIS FAILURE OCCURS FREQUENTLY AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT SHE IS RESTRAINED AND SEATED AS OUTLINED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. AFTER MULTIPLE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEALER AND SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE WE ARE ADVISED THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AS THE CAR IS DESIGNED THIS WAY. FOR OUR PURPOSES THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY PROVIDE THE SAFETY BENEFITS OF A FRONT IMPACT AIRBAG.....IS THE MANUFACTURER NOT RESPONSIBLE TO REMEDY THIS? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE FOR A HALF SECOND WITHOUT PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO THE PEDAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DESIGNED FOR A HALF SECOND ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE LOCAL MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ECU NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 255. UPDATED 03/11/10 *BF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE AS THOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGE FOR UP TO 1.5 SECONDS AFTER THE CONSUMER HAD REMOVED HIS FOOT. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING WITHIN DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS. THE CONSUMER WENT TO TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO STATED THE ECU THAT CONTROLLED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEHAVIOR WOULD NEED TO BE RE-PROGRAMMED. UPDATED 07/26/10

IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING A NEW 08 SUBARU IMPREZA, I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ON/OFF WARNING LIGHT WILL INTERMITTENTLY SWITCH BACK AND FORTH FROM ON TO OFF WHEN A PERSON 5'11' AND 160 LB WAS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY RECALIBRATED THE CUSHION SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I WENT BACK AND, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, FOLLOWING SUBARU'S INSTRUCTIONS, THEY REPLACED THE SEAT CUSHION (INCLUDING ALL THE SENSORS IN IT). THIS AGAIN DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER MAINTENANCE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE WEIGHT SENSORS ARE VERY SENSITIVE AND ALL THE IMPREZAS EXHIBIT THIS (DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WOULD REPLACE THE SEAT CUSHION IF THEY ALL EXHIBIT THIS). I REQUESTED TO MEET THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER, WHICH HAS NOT HAPPENED YET. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY FAILURE WITH POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES. MY VEHICLE HAS NOW LESS THAN 3,000 MILES. *TR UPDATED 10/03/08 *BF

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ON MY NEW 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA HATCHBACK WHICH I PURCHASED JULY 27, 2008 IS SET FOR A 125 POUND PERSON ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. MY WIFE WEIGHS BETWEEN 120 AND 130 POUNDS SO THE BAG GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND RANDOMLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, A DRUNK DRIVER STRUCK THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HEAD ON TOWARDS THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE DRUNK DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED A LARGE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY LOCATED AT A SHOP BEING REPAIRED. THE DRIVER AND ONE ADULT PASSENGER WERE BOTH AIRLIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL; HOWEVER, THE INJURIES WERE NON CRITICAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 15,000.

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG GOES ON AND OFF, WHEN MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER SITS IN SEAT! SHE'S 5'2" 130LBS. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY HAD HER RIDE IN TWO IMPREZA'S OFF THE LOT AND THEY ALL DID IT! *TR

I OWN A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA STI WHICH I PURCHASED IN FEB. OF 08'. 2 MONTHS AGO THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THEY SAID IT ONLY HAD 1 1/2 QUARTS OF OIL IN IT. I HAD CHECKED THE OIL THE PREVIOUS WEEK AND IT HAD SHOWN FULL. THEY REQUESTED THAT I GIVE THEM RECORD OF MY PREVIOUS OIL CHANGE SO I DID. UNFORTUNATELY, IT DID NOT HAVE MILEAGE DOCUMENTED BECAUSE IT WAS A SMALL SHOP THAT DID IT FOR ME. THEY REFUSED MY CLAIM ON THE GROUNDS THAT I DID NOT MAINTAIN THE CAR. THEY THEN SENT ME A RE-CALL FORM IN WHICH IT STATED THAT THE ECU WAS CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN DANGEROUSLY LEAN AND WAS CAUSING RING FAILURES. I TOLD MY LAWYER ABOUT THIS AND SENT HIM A COPY OF THE LETTER. WHEN HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS NECESSARY AND THAT IT WAS MY ISSUE. *TR

SENSOR FOR PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT KEEP THE AIRBAG ARMED AT ALL TIMES. PASSENGER WEIGHS 110 POUNDS. *TR

PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. MY WIFE WEIGHTS 120 AND IT SOME TIME GOES ON AND STAYS ON THEN THE NEXT MINUTE IT GOES OFF. I HAVE HAD THE DEALER ADDRESS THIS ISSUE TWICE NOW AND SAME RESPONSE. "DON'T WORRY IT WILL DEPLOY REGARDLESS IF THE LIGHT GOES ON OR OFF". HONESTLY CAN'T BELIEVE THAT. THEY ALSO SAID (SHERMAN OAKS SUBARU" THAT THEY HAVE ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM TO SUBARU AND THEY SAID ITS A LIGHT ISSUE AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. THAT IS NOT A GOOD ANSWER SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. PLUS THEY SAY THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IN THE IWSTI CHAT ROOM THEIR ARE ABOUT 10 COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE 2008 SUBARU WRX STI. THIS NEEDS TO GET ADDRESSED! *TR

FRONT PASSENGERS SITTING CORRECTLY THAT WEIGH BETWEEN ~95 AND 120LBS DO NOT ACTIVATE THE AIRBAG OR THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS INTERMITTENT. *TR

PAINT ON CAR EASILY DULLED BY NORMAL WASHING. LOTS OF SWIRL MARKS AND STREAKS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO 2,500 RPM'S. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE. IT HAS SINCE IMPROVED, BUT THE ENGINE STILL REVS FROM 1,500 TO 2,000 RPM'S. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WILL WORSEN IN THE WINTER. SHE FILED CASE NUMBER [XXX] WITH SUBARU. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,107 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400. UPDATED 07/17/08 INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

CAR HAS AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM WITH BREAKING PISTON RINGLANDS, RESULTING IN COPIOUS OIL CONSUMPTION AND EVENTUALLY A SEIZED ENGINE WHICH, IF IT HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY, CAN BE THE EQUIVALENT OF SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES IN TRAFFIC. ENDANGERING SURROUNDING VEHICLES AND THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER IF THE OIL FILM ON THE ROADWAY AND THE WINDSHIELDS OF FOLLOWING CARS DIDN'T ALREADY CAUSE THEM PROBLEMS. *TR

PAINT CHIPPED OFF WHILE WASHING. *TR

THE SUBARU STI SERIES KNOWN AS THE GR IS PRONE TO BREAKING PISTON RINGLANDS IF DETONATION EVER OCCURS, WHICH HAPPENS EASILY ON THIS ENGINE, WHICH IS NOW TUNED FOR MORE POWER YET FEWER EMISSIONS. THE RINGLAND BREAKAGE RESULTS IN POWER LOSS AND EXTREME OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO BLOWBY AND IF NOT NOTICED IN TIME WILL LEAD TO ENGINE SEIZING. IF DRIVEN AGGRESSIVELY ENOUGH, THIS SEIZING DUE TO OIL LOSS CAN HAPPEN IN AS FEW AS 10 MINUTES. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE FOR THE RINGLAND BREAKAGE TO BE SO SEVERE THAT THE ENGINE SPRAY-COATS A LARGE SECTION OF ROADWAY, MAKING FOR THE EQUIVALENT OF A BLACK ICE CONDITION FOR OTHER TRAFFIC. A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD I'M NOT AWARE OF HAPPENING WITH THIS VEHICLE YET BUT STILL POSSIBLE IS NOT ONLY THE LOSS OF CONTROL SHOULD THE ENGINE SEIZE AND THE DRIVER NOT BE MECHANICALLY SAVVY ENOUGH TO KNOW DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH WILL GIVE HIM BACK SOME CONTROL AND REDUCE THE CHANCES OF BEING REAR-ENDED WHEN THE CAR TRIES TO STOP VERY RAPIDLY WITHOUT THE BRAKES AND THEREFORE THE BRAKELIGHTS BEING USED. DESPITE THE LARGE NUMBERS OF THESE FAILURES BEING REPORTED, SUBARU DENIES A PROBLEM EXISTS. I HAVE ALL OF THE PARTS FROM MY ORIGINAL FAILED ENGINE WHICH ALSO SHOWED OTHER ASSEMBLY PROBLEMS. I WILL HAVE THE PIECES OF MY 2ND ENGINE WHEN I PICK THE CAR UP SOON. MANY MECHANICS ARE OF THE OPINION MANY OF THESE ENGINES HAVE BROKEN RINGLANDS AND THE OWNERS DON'T KNOW IT. WE ALSO FEEL THE PROBLEM IS AGGRESSIVE OEM TUNING WHILE USING WEAK CAST PISTONS AS IT'S DETONATION, EVEN A SINGLE EVENT, THAT BREAKS THEM. AND IT'S INCONCEIVABLE AN ENGINE WITH THIS DAMAGE WOULD PASS AN EPA EMISSIONS TEST. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG FAILURES IN 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA OUTBACK SPORT: I PURCHASED A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA OUTBACK SPORT ONE MONTH AGO, 4/17/08. I REALIZED A FEW DAYS AFTER OWNING THE CAR THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ONLY ACTIVATED BY PASSENGERS OVER 130 POUNDS. I AM 49 YEARS OLD, 5'4" AND WEIGH 125#. THE AIRBAG IS OFF ANYTIME I AM IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, NO MATTER HOW I SIT IN THE SEAT. SAME RESULT (OFF) HAPPENS WITH MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO IS 120# AND A COUPLE OF HER FRIENDS WHO ARE BETWEEN 105-115#. I THEN HAD TWO CHILDREN, 87# AND 95# SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS OFF. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON WHEN MY SONS ARE IN THE SEAT. THEY WEIGH 150# AND 160#. I CALLED SUBARU SERVICE AND THEY SAID THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS SET TO BE ON FOR PERSONS OVER 80# AND THEY RECOMMENDED I BRING THE CAR IN TO GET CHECKED. I TOOK MY CAR TO SUBARU SERVICE AND THEY SAID "THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OPERATING PROPERLY ACCORDING TO GOVERNMENT STANDARDS." I CALLED SUBARU CORPORATE OFFICE AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. I WENT BACK TO THE SUBARU DEALER AND SAT IN TWO IDENTICAL IMPREZA OUTBACK SPORTS AND THE EXACT SAME RESULT THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS OFF. I ALSO SAT IN FOUR 2009 SUBARU FORESTERS AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS OFF IN 2 OF THE 4. I SAT IN TWO 2008 LEGACY OUTBACK WAGONS AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS ON. I SAT IN TWO 2008 TRIBECAS AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS ON. SUBARU IS NOT BEING COOPERATIVE IN RESOLVING THE SITUATION. *TR

POOR PAINT DURABILITY. FINISH APPEARS TO BE EASILY DAMAGED BY "NORMAL" ROAD "DUST". *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES TO THE ON POSITION INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER TWICE, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT IDENTIFIED. THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE RELATING TO THIS FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A GREASY FILM THAT FORMS ON THE WINDOWS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 1-3 DAYS. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURS ON ALL OF THE WINDOWS, BUT IS THE WORST ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CONTINUE CLEANING THE WINDOWS AND THE FAILURE SHOULD EVENTUALLY CEASE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,900. UPDATED 02-12-08 *BF

THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG PERIODICALLY TURNS OFF WHEN MY GIRLFRIEND IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. SHE WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 125 LBS AND WHEN SHE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG WILL HAPHAZARDLY CHANGE FROM "ON" TO "OFF" WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE REMAINING IN THE "ON" POSITION. *TR

A HAZY FILM CONTINUALLY BUILDS UP ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CAUSING REDUCED VISIBILITY. *TR