NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Subaru Impreza. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNS OFF WITH ADULT IN PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHING 260 LBS
MY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DOESN'T REGISTER THE PASSENGER AND DISABLES THE AIRBAG.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT WENT OFF WHILE OCCUPIED BY A PASSENGER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT CAPACITIVE SENSOR HAS FAILED AND HAS ORDERED A NEW SEAT. THIS APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO YOUR NEWLY OPENED INVESTIGATION NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE15012 DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED: APR 10, 2015. I WILL SEEK TO RETAIN THE SEAT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT. MY REPAIRS ARE SCHEDULED FOR 6/1/2015.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH, THE ALERTS INDICATING THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS OFF LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD AND CENTRAL CONSOLE IN OUR 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND WE HAD BEEN DRIVING CONTINUOUSLY FOR OVER AN HOUR ALREADY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. WHEN WE LEFT TO RETURN HOME LATER THAT DAY, THE ALERTS WERE OFF WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON. HOWEVER, AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF OF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY HUSBAND IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE ALERTS INDICATING THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS OFF LIT UP AGAIN.
PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. WHEN PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED THE AIR BAG WILL RANDOMLY TURN ON AND OFF. OCCURS WITH BOTH LIGHT AND HEAVY PASSENGERS. SUBARU SERVICE RETRIEVED A CODE B1650 FROM COMPUTER. SUBARU ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE IS $300.00 FOR CONTROL UNIT REPLACEMENT.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE (ALMOST LIKE A GUNSHOT), AND LOOKED UP TO SEE MY SUNROOF/MOONROOF HAD SHATTERED. THE ROAD I WAS DRIVING ON WAS BEING REPAVED, SO I DID HIT A SLIGHT BUMP, BUT I HAD DRIVEN ON THE SAME BUMP FOR THE PREVIOUS 3 DAYS AND SO DID ALL OTHER DRIVERS. I DO NOT KNOW HOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAVE OCCURRED. MY CAR DID NOT BOTTOM-OUT OR HIT ANYTHING, BUT SOMEHOW THE SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED. *TR
WHEN A PASSENGER SITS ON PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT GO ON INDICATING AIR BAG ENGAGED. I AM FEARFUL THAT IF I DID HAVE A CRASH THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY AND PASSSENGER GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR DIE.
OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE: 33 DEGREES F. NO PRECIPITATION. ROAD CONDITION: DRY, MODERATELY ROUGH ROAD SURFACE. ONCOMING TRAFFIC: NONE INTERNAL HEAT APPLIED TO WINDSHIELD, FULL HEAT, AIR SPEED LEVEL 2. WITHOUT ANY EXTERNAL FORCE BEING APPLIED TO THE WINDSHIELD, SUDDENLY AN APPROXIMATELY 18 INCH CRACK APPEARED IN THE PASSENGER'S PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD, LOW DOWN, CRACKING FROM SLIGHTLY OFF RIGHT CENTER, TOWARD THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. *TR
I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED BACK IN NOVEMBER. APPROXIMATELY EVERY 1500 MILES, IT REQUIRES 1-2 QUARTS OF OIL. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE SALES REP, HE SAID THIS MODEL WAS KNOWN FOR HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE PISTONS LEAKING. HE SAID IT SEEMED THAT A RECALL WAS IN THE WORKS, SO I JUST WANTED TO REGISTER THE FACT THAT I AM ALSO HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS MANY OTHER CAR OWNERS ARE HAVING WITH THIS MODEL.
CAR WAS DRIVEN TO A GROCERY STORE AND WAS PARKED FOR APPROX. 15 MINUTES. UPON STARTING THE CAR AND PLACING IT IN REVERSE, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND THE POWER STEERING CEASED TO FUNCTION ACCOMPANIED BY AN EPAS WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED ON THE DASH. THE LIGHT EXTINGUISHED AFTER TWO RESTARTS, BUT RE-LIT UPON SLIGHT MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MOMENTARY VIBRATION AND LOSS OF POWER ASSIST. WE DROVE THE CAR .7 MILE TO THE SUBARU DEALER WITH NO POWER STEERING ASSIST. A SERVICE ADVISER STARTED THE CAR MINUTES LATER AND THE STEERING FUNCTIONED NORMALLY WITH NO MALFUNCTION LIGHT DISPLAYED. THE SERVICE ADVISER SAID IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO LOOK FOR A STORED CODE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 40 DEG F. THE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER WITHOUT POWER ASSIST AT LOWER SPEED. *TR
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I HAVE A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA PREZ, AND AM CONCERNED THAT MY AIRBAG MAY FAIL ON IMPACT. WHEN WILL THE RECALL MAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIPS SO THEY MAY BE ABLE TO SERVICE MY, FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS CARS TO MAKE THEM SAFE WITH FEAR-FREE DRIVING! THE COUNTRY WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR DEPARTMENTS RESPONSE TO OUR VALID CONCERN FOR SAFETY, AS I'M SURE ALL OF THE HUMANS WORKING IN THIS DEPARTMENT ARE CONCERNED FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR VALUABLE TIME AND EFFORT TO REMEDY THIS MOST IMPORTANT CONCERN THE UNITED STATES POPULATION HAS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASH LIT AND AIRBAG LIGHT STATED PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS OFF DESPITE SEAT BEING OCCUPIED..SUBARU STATES CANT FIND ISSUE BUT I HAVE A PIC OF THE WARNING LIGHT ON(LOOKS LIKE PREGNANT WOMEN!!). WORRIED CAR /AIRBAG UNSAFE. *TR
AT ANY SPEED, WHILE CARRYING A PASSENGER, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ON LIGHT WILL TURN TO THE OFF POSITION. PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DISABLED WHILE PASSENGER IS IN VEHICLE AT ANY GIVEN SPEED RANDOMLY. COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE SEVERE INJURY/DEATH IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE OWNED MULTIPLE 2012+ IMPREZAS WITH THIS EXACT ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT LEASES A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS AN OCCUPANT IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE JUMPER CABLES UNDER THE PASSENGER SEATED RESULTED IN THE SENSOR NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO FUEL THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL VENT WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FUEL TO LEAK OUT. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONTINUOUSLY FOR MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,500.
VEHICLE PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN A CELLULAR DEVICE IS PLACED IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE PASSENGER SEATBELT BUCKLE. ALSO A CELLULAR DEVICE PLACED ON THE SEAT WITH NO OCCUPANT ENGAGES THE OCS TO REGISTER THAT SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. SPOKE WITH SUBARU DEALER REGARDING THE ISSUE, AND WAS TOLD EVERYTHING IS OK, AND THERE IS NO FIX FOR THE COMPLAINT.
IN A CRIME RIDDEN NEIGHBORHOOD I HAD A FLAT TIRE WHICH I WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE. THIS WAS DUE TO MY SUBARU LABELED AND PACKAGED "MCGARD" WHEEL KEY WHICH CRACKED AND BECAME UNUSABLE. TIRE SALES AND REPAIR FACILITY SUMMONED FOR ASSISTANCE REPORTS THEY HAVE A "BUCKET" FULL OF THIS BRAND OF WHEEL LOCK "KEYS" WHICH CRACKED AND BECAME UNUSABLE. AFTER MY FIRST MCGARD WHEEL LOCK KEY CRACKED, MCGARD SENT ME A FREE WHEEL LOCK "KEY" AND SAID THE ORIGINAL CRACKED, BECAUSE SOMEONE USED EXCESSIVE AIR-WRENCH TORQUE TO REMOVE LUG NUTS. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE UNTRUE, BECAUSE TO ELIMINATE THIS POSSIBILITY, I PERSONALLY ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE FOUR KEYED WHEEL LOCKS (WITH MY BRAND NEW WHEEL LOCK KEY) PRIOR TO A TIRE ROTATION AT A TIRE SALES FACILITY. THE BRAND NEW WHEEL LOCK KEY CRACKED AGAIN (AFTER THE THIRD MCGARD LUG), SIMPLY BY ME TRYING TO REMOVE THE KEYED LUGS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED SUBARU LUG NUT TORQUE HAD BEEN APPROXIMATELY 62' LBS., AND IT IS NOW APPROXIMATELY 85' LBS. PLEASE ALSO SEE MY OTHER NHTSA COMPLAINT REGARDING THE UNUSABLE SUBARU SUPPLIED LUG WRENCH. I BELIEVE THIS AFFECTS 2013 MODELS, AND VERY POSSIBLY MODEL YEARS PRIOR TO 2012. *TR
THE DASHBOARD "AIRBAG MALFUNCTION" LIGHT TURNS ON AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT SWITCHES TO "OFF" WHILE THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR. THIS PROBABLY MEANS THAT IF THERE WAS A COLLISION, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY, WITH PASSENGER IN FRONT SEAT. IT WAS HAPPENING ABOUT 40% OF THE TIME THAT I HAD A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. TOOK THIS TO ALEXANDRIA'S BEYER SUBARU AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PULL THE CODE/REPRODUCE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THERE IS SOME SENSOR IN THE SEAT THAT CAUSES THIS MALFUNCTION. THEY ARE REPLACING THE SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE (COVERED UNDER WARRANTY). ..UPDATED 01/20/15 *TR UPDATED 08/28/2017*CT
2012 SUBARU IMPREZA HAS BEEN NEEDING AN AVERAGE OF 1 QUART OF OIL FOR EVERY 1,000 MILES DRIVEN SINCE MAY OF 2013. OIL CONSUMPTION TEXT STARTED AT NORTH COUNTRY SUBARU IN QUEENSBURY, NY ON AUGUST 5, 2014 WHEN THE CAR HAD 26586 MILES ON IT. NEW OIL FLOAT SWITCH WAS PUT INTO THE CAR ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 AT 28654 MILES. CAR CONTINUES TO NEED 1 QUART OF OIL FOR EVERY 1,000 MILES. *TR
UPON ENTERING A PARKING GARAGE AND PARKING, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT WALL. I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY HAVING JUST MADE SEVERAL TURNS WITHIN THE GARAGE AND THEN ALIGNED, AS USUAL, WITH THE LINES TO PARK. THE CAR REVVED EXTREMELY HIGH AND TOOK OFF STRAIGHT INTO THE WALL THROWING ME BACK IN TO THE SEAT. I ONLY NEEDED TO SOFTLY TAP THE BRAKES TO BREAK NORMALLY, BUT IT TOOK OFF. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I MADE SURE TO CHECK THE FOOT PEDAL AREA TO SEE IF ANYTHING WAS INTERFERING WITH THE GAS, BUT NOTHING WAS NEAR. THE MATS ARE CUT WELL AWAY FROM THE PEDALS. I SUFFERED BURNS/SCRAPES FROM THE SEAT BELT ACROSS MY COLLAR BONE, WHIPLASH FROM THE IMPACT, AS WELL AS, A SORE CHEST ALSO FROM THE IMPACT AND SEAT BELT. I FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS POSSESSED AND TOOK OVER. I REFUSE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. I AM SCARED THAT SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT, OR WORSE, DUE TO THIS DEFECT IN THE CAR. *TR
PLEASE READ THIS: HTTP://RUNNINGAHOSPITAL.BLOGSPOT.COM/2015/08/ENJOY-LIFE-STAY-SAFE-LOVE-EVERY-MILE.HTML LINKING TO THIS: HTTP://RUNNINGAHOSPITAL.BLOGSPOT.COM/2014/09/DONT-DRIVE-HOME-WET.HTML
SPONTANEOUS CRACKS IN WINDSHIELD. CAR WAS NOT IN USE AND SITTING IN OPEN SPACE. NO VISIBLE CHIPS OR ANY REASON FOR THIS OCCURRENCE. *TR
WARNING LAMPS FOR STABILITY CONTROL AIR BAG RANDOMLY LIGHT UP ON MY DASH BOARD PANEL. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL ALSO SWITCH TO OFF EVEN WHEN A PASSER IS SITTING IN THE SEAT OR THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING SOUND WILL GO OFF IF A SMALL OBJECT IS PLACED ON THE SEAT. MY MECHANIC CAN'T FIND THE ISSUE AS I CANNOT RECREATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CAUSE THE LAMPS TO SWITCH ON OR THE WARNING SIREN TO CHIME. COMPUTER READINGS DO NOT RETURN ANY "CODES" IF THE LAMPS AREN'T ON.
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNS OFF WHILE PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. IT WILL TURN ON FOR APPROX. 10-15 MINUTES THAN DEACTIVATES THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WHILE OCCUPANT IS STILL SEATED CAUSING THE WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON THE DASH. HAS HAPPENED CONSISTENTLY WHILE ON DRIVES MORE THAN 15 MINUTES. PASSANGER AIRBAG SYSTEM TURNS OFF WHILE PASSANGER SEAT OCCUPIED. COULD CAUSE FATALITY. SUBARU WILL NOT COVER REPLACEMENT DESPITE BEING OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE.
WHEN SOMEONE SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT LEANS SLIGHTLY, THE AIRBAG SENSOR FREQUENTLY MALFUNCTIONS AND THE CAR TURNS OFF THE AIRBAGS FOR THAT SEAT, AS INDICATED BY THE LIGHTED DASHBOARD INDICATOR SIGN. *TR
I SIDESWIPED A PARKED CAR AND THE MOMENTUM CAUSED MY CAR TO FLIP OVER AND LAND ON ITS ROOF. HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE ADJUSTER BUT IT IS OBVIOUS THE CAR IS "TOTALED". WRITING TO YOU TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I ALSO WROTE TO SUBARU TO ADVISE THEM THAT I THINK THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED BUT NONE OF THEM DID. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN UNION, N.J. *TR
I HAVE BEEN HAVING CONTINUOUS ISSUES WITH OIL CONSUMPTION IN MY 2012 IMPREZA 2.0I. I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN 2500 MILES SINCE MY OIL CHANGE AND MY LOW OIL LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE HAD TO TOP UP THE OIL AND THE PROBLEM IS ONLY GETTING WORSE! *TR
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AFTER GETTING OFF WORK AT !:30 AM WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. FROM TIME TO TIME SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW, THE ENGINE WOULD SPUTTER WHILE DRIVING. IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE WAS A CUT IN THE FUEL FILTER. OUR MECHANIC SAID IT WAS UNLIKELY THAT IT HAPPENED ANY TIME EXCEPT WHEN THE FILTER AND FUEL PUMP WERE INSTALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CAR USING OIL...MINE DOES TOO. *TR
THE SENSOR THAT DETERMINES WHETHER THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED OR NOT ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER THE AIR BAGS SOMETIMES WON'T TURN ON. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR AND IT CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR
THE SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN MY 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. NO IMPACT, CALM WEATHER (NO DEBRIS FLYING AROUND), NO OTHER VEHICLES NEARBY (THAT COULD HAVE THROWN A ROCK OR SOMETHING). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONTAL AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT THE AIRBAG DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE OFF SIGNAL. *TR
UNABLE TO CHANGE FLAT TIRE. THE WHEEL-NUT OR LUG-NUT TORQUE REQUIRED BY SUBARU IS 89FT LBS. THIS TORQUE WAS THE TORQUE ON MY WHEEL-NUTS, AS VERIFIED TWICE BY A NEW-TIRE SALES FACILITY. WITH SUBARU'S 11 1/2" WRENCH, MOST WOMEN AND MANY MEN (MYSELF INCLUDED) CANNOT LOOSEN THESE NUTS. MY WEIGHTLIFTING NEIGHBOR COULD NOT BELIEVE HE COULD NOT LOOSEN THE LUG-NUTS WITH THE SUPPLIED WRENCH. THEY ARE THAT TIGHT! THE OWNER'S MANUAL CAUTIONS NOT TO STAND ON THE WRENCH. THIS CONDITION CAN LEAVE SOMEONE STRANDED, PERHAPS IN A DANGEROUS AREA, OR UNDER DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. SUBARU SHOULD VERIFY THIS PROBLEM, BY HAVING INDIVIDUALS TRY TO LOOSEN THE NUTS. ANYONE WITH THIS VEHICLE (DO OTHER MODELS ALSO HAVE THIS CONDITION?) IS ADVISED TO FIGURE A WAY TO REMOVE THESE NUTS BEFORE AN EMERGENCY OCCURS. *TR
2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE INSTALLATION OF VEHICLE REMOTE STARTER. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE REMOTE STARTED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE REMOTE THAT WAS INSTALLED IN HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT A SUBARU MANUFACTURED UNIT, AND THEREFORE NOT SUBJECT TO RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ERRONEOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,116.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION: I AM EXPERIENCING A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH MY SUBARU IMPREZA 2012 WITH EXCESSIVE USE OF OIL AND THE OIL LIGHT GOING ON. I UNDERSTAND FROM THE SERVICE PEOPLE THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY "BLOWBACK" PAST THE CYLINDERS, CAUSING EXCESSIVE OIL USE, INCONVENIENCE TO OWNERS, AND AN INFLATED COST OF OWNERSHIP (SYNTHETIC OIL IS $8/QT.) SUBARU INSISTS THIS IS NORMAL BUT WHEN I TRADED IN MY LEXUS AT 257,000 MILES WITH NEVER AN ADDITIONAL DROP OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, I CERTAINLY DIDN'T EXPECT TO TRADE IT IN FOR AN OIL GUZZLER LIKE THE SUBARU IMPREZA. SUBARU WILL DO NOTHING AND INSISTS THIS IS NORMAL - - AT LEAST FOR THEM! IT WAS FIXED FOR THE 2013 AND 2014 MODELS BUT THEY ARE AVOIDING DOING ANYTHING FOR THOSE WHO PURCHASED THE 2012 MODEL AND ARE EXPERIENCING VERY INFLATED COST OF OWNERSHIP AS WELL AS TREMENDOUS INCONVENIENCE. *TR
GAS PEDAL IS ULTRASENSITIVE LEADING TO SURGING AT LOW SPEED. HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED MANEUVERING IN PARKING LOT. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. YOU WILL FIND MANY DISCUSSIONS ON THE WEB IF YOU SEARCH FOR "SUBARU SENSITIVE GAS PEDAL, A GENERALLY KNOWN ISSUE. FIND MANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT "REMAPPING" AND JACK-RABBIT STARTS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, ENGINE POWER CUT OUT, AND COMPLETE LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL OCCURRED. THE CAR COULD ONLY ACCELERATE EXTREMELY SLOWLY, AND NOT PAST 20-25 MPH. THANKFULLY NOT ON A HIGH-SPEED ROAD. MANAGED TO GET HOME (BARELY), CAR WORKED FINE THE NEXT DAY. DEALER FOUND OBD CODE P0128, REPROGRAMMED ECM TO REMOVE THE CODE. THE SAME PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED ~1 YEAR PREVIOUSLY DUE TO A FAULTY ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR (NHTSA COMPLAINT RECENTLY FILED). DEALER CLAIMS CAUSES ARE UNRELATED. THIS CAN BE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN IF IT OCCURS ON A HIGHWAY, WE NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. *TR
ADDENDUM TO 12/30/13 COMPLAINT: IN ADDITION TO THE PREVIOUSLY OUTLINED PROBLEMS: 1. CAR IS NOW LOOSING OIL. AT 26,500 MILES THE LOW OIL LEVEL LIGHT CAME ON. CHECKED OIL LEVEL AND REVEALED CAR HAD LOST APPROX 1.5-2 QT SINCE LAST REGULARLY SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. 2. BRAKES SQUEAL WHEN YOU FIRST COMPRESS THE PEDAL. I HAD THE BRAKES INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THEM OR THE BRAKE PAD. I DO NOT THINK THIS IS NORMAL TO OCCUR EVERY TIME YOU TOUCH THE BRAKES UNLESS SOMETHING IS WRONG. BRAKES DID NOT START MAKING NOISE UNTIL 25,000 MILES. **NO CONFIDENCE THIS CAR IS TRUSTWORTHY. SERIOUSLY WORRIED ABOUT ITS RELIABILITY/ COST TO REPAIR AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES.** *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING ON AN ICY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE AND THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF ANY INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND YARD AND THEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
11/30/2013 WHILE I WAS DRIVING I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL ON MY IPHONE 4 AT 9:35PM. THE ENGINE STOPPED BUT BLOWER FOR HEATER, LIGHTS AND RADIO REMAINED FUNCTIONAL. I PULLED OVER COASTED TO A STOP AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. MY PHONE WAS NOT CONNECTED VIA BLUETOOTH TO THE VEHICLE. 1/24/2014 WHILE I WAS WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT (0 MPH) AT 7:45 AM I UNPLUGGED A HEADPHONE CABLE FROM MY IPHONE 4. THE ENGINE STOPPED BUT BLOWER FOR HEATER, LIGHTS AND RADIO REMAINED FUNCTIONAL. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. MY PHONE WAS NOT CONNECTED VIA BLUETOOTH TO THE VEHICLE. *TR
OIL LIGHT CAME ON. SUBARU MANUAL SAYS TO CHANGE OIL EVERY 7,500 MILES. THEY USE SYNTHETIC OIL WHICH IS MORE EXPENSIVE. HAD TO FIND A DEALER WHO ADDED A QUART OF OIL. HAD THE 15,000 MILE SERVICE AND LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AT 18,000 AND AT 19,800. BOTH TIMES OIL WAS ADDED. SUBARU SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. HOWEVER, I DON'T FEEL I CAN MAKE A TRIP OF ANY EXTENSIVE MILEAGE SAFELY. ESPECIALLY WHEN SUBARU IS PUTTING IN A SYNTHETIC OIL THAT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO FIND. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND PERFORMED AN UNKNOWN REPAIR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECENTLY RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V419000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
WHILE DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ON THE DASH BOARD WENT FROM ON TO OFF AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DRIVERS DASH. THIS HAS OCCURRED A FEW OTHER TIMES BUT ONLY OCCURS WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. *JB
DRIVING ABOUT 30 - 35MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR LOST POWER. THE CAR DID NOT STALL, BUT ENGINE WENT DOWN TO IDLE SPEED AND MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD NO THROTTLE CONTROL. THE "CHECK ENGINE " LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE "TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHT. I DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND TURNED ENGINE OFF. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD TO CHECK ENGINE - OBSERVED NOTHING UNUSUAL - I RE-STARTED THE CAR. THE CAR SEEMED BACK TO NORMAL, BUT THE ENGINE CODE LIGHTS STAYED ON. THE WARNING LIGHTS EVENTUALLY TURNED THEMSELVES OFF - 3 OR 4 RE-STARTS LATER. SUBARU DEALER REPORTED A P2138 OBD CODE, BUT HE DID NOT REPLACE/REPAIR ANYTHING. THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED 9 MONTHS LATER (JULY 2, 2014), AND SUBARU DEALER REPORTED A P2138 CODE ONCE AGAIN. NO REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENTS DONE! *TR
USUALLY IT SHOULD BE ON, WITH A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WHILE DRIVING. BUT SINCE ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF INDICATOR LIGHT TURNED ON WHEN THERE WAS PASSENGER SITTING IN THE CAR. THIS.HAPPENED ABOUT 5-6 TIMES DURING THE LAST 3 MONTHS. WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND SENT THE CAR TO GARAVEL SUBARU DEALER IN NORWALK, CT ON 9/5/13 AT THE MILAGE AROUND 29,000MILES. THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR FOR JUST 10 MINUTES AND COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUE RELATED TO THIS. SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN ONCE AFTER ABOVE VISIT. I HOPE DMV COULD HELP ME TO SOLVE THIS SAFETY RELATED ISSUE BEFORE THE CAR WARRANTY EXPIRES AT 36K. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS FROM ON TO OFF WITH A PASSENGER SITTING THERE. MANUAL SAYS THIS HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS MOISTURE IN THE SEAT. FIRST OF ALL, THE AIRBAG SHOULD NOT TURN OFF FOR THAT REASON, THAT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. SECOND, IT TURNS OFF EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO MOISTURE. IT SCARES ME. I NEED TO KNOW THAT THE AIRBAG IS STILL WORKING EVEN IF THAT OFF LIGHT IS ON IF MY SON IS SITTING THERE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO SAW OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A ROD LOOSE IN CYLINDER FOUR. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,100.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE CONTACT ADDED ONE QUART OF OIL TO THE VEHICLE, WHICH ONLY LASTED APPROXIMATELY 900 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500 UPDATED 01/14/14 *BF
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026