2017 Subaru Impreza Electrical System Problems

I am filing a safety complaint regarding an Engine Control Module (ECM) failure in my 2017 Subaru Impreza and the handling of a prior recall repair. Dealership records show that a recall repair (WRE21 – ignition coil recall) was completed in June 2021. At that time, the dealership documented that the ECM calibration was up to date and functioning properly. However, I later experienced a check engine light and drivability concerns. Diagnostic records from February 2026 indicate: •Camshaft slow response codes •Persistent sensor issues •A technician recommendation to replace multiple components, including the ECM, stating that codes were “burned into the ECM” The dealership has since attempted to attribute the ECM failure to “engine sludge” and lack of maintenance. Concern with Dealership Explanation: This explanation is inconsistent and raises serious concerns: •Engine sludge is a mechanical lubrication issue and does not directly cause an ECM (electronic control module) to fail or become “burned.” •The ECM is an electronic unit, and failure typically results from electrical defects, internal faults, or manufacturing issues—not oil sludge. •The dealership has not provided technical evidence showing how sludge could damage or “burn” the ECM. •This appears to be an attempt to shift responsibility away from a potential defect or improperly completed recall repair. Safety Concern: The ECM is critical to safe vehicle operation. A failure can result in: •Engine malfunction or reduced power •Unpredictable vehicle behavior •Increased risk while driving If ECM failures are being misdiagnosed or incorrectly attributed to maintenance issues, this could allow serious safety defects to go unaddressed. Requested Action: I request that NHTSA: 1.Investigate whether ECM failures are being improperly attributed to maintenance issues such as engine sludge. 2.Review whether the recall repair (WRE21) was properly completed and whether it is related to thi

I noticed that visibility at night was poor. I was pulled over by the police and give a warning that my headlight was out and told to get it fixed. I thought it may be as simple as a bulb but was told the entire left headlamp assembly had to be replaced at a cost of more than $2,000. Just days later my Dealership send me a service notice which also stated that the left headlamp should be inspected. This was after I had already had it replaced at a local garage. The dealership confirmed that their was a recall but when I tried to get reimbursed by Subaru thru the safety recall WRG-22/NHTSA 22V624000 they said my vin# was excluded from the recall!(?)

Parked at a store. Car caught on fire while in store. Car had been parked approximately 10 minutes. Left side headlight spontaneously ignited.

I bought a "Subaru Impreza" 2017, and in the span of 4 years, had numerous issues, including: -dead battery -car suddenly stopping on highway: no electroninc warning whatsoever -over 6 possibly lethal recalls (mainly pertaining to car electronics andbrakes), which might cause car to stop moving/responsing to steering/braking at any moment, which I send in for repair ASAP. Afterwards, I was assured all the electronics and brake components had been checked, and I would be safe to drive everyday for work. -This week, after all these "repaired" recalls, my car suddenly while I was driving on one of the busiest/most dangerous highways in our area: it took me several minutes to even manage to pull onto the shoulder. During that time, I was almost hit 5 times, and had to call CHP to come take me. I could have easily been killed. and the CHP operator clearly told me not to drive this car again. -The next day, I got to Subaru dealership which sold me this car, asking for a loaner, and free repair. Although Subaru provided the loaner, they also gave me a 1133.98$ to fix the electronic issue, which they assured me "is not my fault, but not on the recall list, so even though it malfunctioned, I have to pay, even though their negligence almost cost me my life. I'm curious to know how many other Subaru 2017 drivers had similar experience.

The contact owned a 2017 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway and turned off, a fire ignited. The neighbor had discovered three vehicles in the driveway were on fire and called the fire department to the scene who extinguished the flames. During the incident, the three-vehicle were destroyed. A fire report was taken at the scene. Fire investigators determined that the fire started on the front passenger side of the Subaru vehicle. No further information was available. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 54,000.

BATTERY DRAINS TOO FAST AND KEEPS NEED A JUMP.

THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED THROUGH DEALERS HELP AND NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED YET FOR THESE PROBLEMS. FIRST: THE ENGINE STALLS AROUND 16 TO 11 MPH. THE ACCELERATION SLOWS DOWN RAPIDLY AFTER 16-15MPH THEN IT RAMPS UP AT 13MPH AND THEN SLOWS DOWN AROUND 11 MPH SPEEDS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN PERSISTENT SINCE THE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. NHTSA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT CAN BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK AND CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS. SECOND: THE BATTERY ON THIS VEHICLE WAS DEAD SUDDENLY OVER NIGHT WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE CLUES. NO MAP OR DOME LIGHTS WERE KEPT ON. THE VEHICLE WAS SWITCHED OFF PROPERLY AND NEXT MORNING THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE (THE SUSPECT IS INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM) THE BATTERY IS DRAINING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE AND HAD TO CHANGE THE BATTERIES. THESE ISSUES ARE HUGE SAFETY HAZARDS THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY.

IGNITION LOCKED. WOULD NOT RELEASE. TOOK 20 MINUTES. FINALLY THE LOCK RELEASED. HAVE COMPLAINED TO SUBARU SERVICE, TOLD IT IS ALL IN MY MIND.

SUBARU IMPREZA 2017, 14.7K MILES: I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN JUN 2017. IN JAN 2018 AND AUG 2018, SEVEN AND SIXTEEN MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, RODENTS CHEWED THROUGH THE SOY-BASED ELECTRICAL WIRING AND WIRE HARNESS, RESPECTIVELY. MY SUBARU SERVICE DEPT. ADVISED ME THE IMPREZA WILL ALWAYS BE PREDISPOSED TO WIRE DAMAGE FROM RODENTS BECAUSE THEY CAN GAIN ACCESS TO GARAGES AND OTHER TYPES OF CAR STORAGE FACILITIES, AND, THEY LOVE THE TASTE OF THE SOY WANTING MORE AFTER THEY EXPERIENCE THE TASTE. SUBARU WAS WELL AWARE OF THE SOY WIRING PROBLEM AS EARLY AS 2015 AND WAS SUED BECAUSE OF IT IN 2017. EVEN SO, SUBARU DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM, AND IN FACT, OBVIOUSLY CONTINUES TO MANUFACTURE VEHICLES CONTAINING SOY-BASED PRODUCTS THAT ARE A PROVEN ATTRACTANT TO RODENTS. IN AN ATTEMPT TO COMPLETELY PREVENT RODENTS FROM BEING ABLE TO ACCESS MY CAR, AND AFTER MANY, MANY RODENT ABATEMENT ATTEMPTS, I WAS FORCED TO BUY A CAR BUBBLE WHERE I COULD LITERALLY SEAL THE CAR INSIDE AND PROTECT IT. SUBARU'S NEGLIGENCE CAUSES A BUILT-IN FINANCIAL LIABILITY FOR MANY IMPREZA OWNERS. AS OF OCT 2018, THE REPAIRS, RODENT ABATEMENT AND CAR BUBBLE HAS COST $2,000+ DOLLARS. SUBARU USED PROVEN RODENT ATTRACTANTS IN IMPREZA VEHICLE PRODUCTION CAUSING 1) UNNECESSARY REPAIRS EVEN FOR NEW CAR OWNERS WHO RIGHTFULLY DO NOT HAVE ANY EXPECTATION THAT THE VEHICLE WILL REQUIRE REPAIRS BECAUSE OF SOY INDUCED RODENTS, 2) FINANCIAL HARDSHIP FROM REPAIRS THAT CAN BE EXTENSIVE AND EXPENSIVE, AS WELL AS THE COST OF PRIMARY AND SUPPLEMENTAL RODENT ABATEMENT PROGRAMS, 3) INCONVENIENCE HAVING TO DEAL WITH ONGOING, SIMILAR TYPES OF REPAIRS AND RELATED INSURANCE CLAIMS, AND, 4) THE ROUTINE OF THE TIME AND EFFORT REQUIRED TO REMOVE AND REPLACE A VEHICLE THAT HAS TO BE HOUSED IN A CAR BUBBLE. DESPITE MY REQUESTS, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO MAKE ANY AND ALL REPAIRS UNDER THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY.

RADIO SOUND AT HIGH VOLUME ON START-UP WITH CONTROL KNOB USELESS TO TURN DOWN OR TURN OFF THE SOUND. THE HEAD UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED. PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL. TURNING SOUND OFF AT SHUTDOWN THE DAY BEFORE MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. REVERSING IN PARKING LOTS IS PERILOUS. THERE CAN BE A FEW SECONDS OF DELAY BEFORE THE LOUD SOUND BEGINS, WHILE THE CAR IS ROLLING. STABBING THE OFF BUTTON IS USELESS. VOLUME KNOB SPINS USELESSLY FOR ABOUT TEN SECONDS BEFORE MUTING THE SOUND. IT HAPPENS PRETTY MUCH EVERY TIME I START THE CAR.

AFTER HAVING CAR SERVICED, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD NEED TO BE "RESET", THEN I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A 90% CHANCE THERE WAS A PART OVER THE REARVIEW MIRROR WHERE THE FRONT DOME LIGHTS ARE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY ORDERED THE PART AND WHEN THEY WERE ABOUT TO INSTALL IT THEY SAID IT WASN'T THAT PART BUT A WIRING PROBLEM THAT IS LOCATED OVER THE PASSENGER DOOR INSIDE THE CEILING PANELS THAT WERE "CHEWED" BY A RODENT. HOWEVER THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF THE RODENT AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW THE "RODENT" MIGHT HAVE ENTERED THE CEILING PANEL BECAUSE OF THE TIGHT SPACE. I ASKED FOR A PHOTOGRAPH. THE WIRES ARE BARE AND IT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE A LOW GRADE FIRE CAUSED FROM WIRES BEING EXPOSED. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $600 DOLLARS TO REPAIR. I WAS ALSO ASKED AT THE TIME IF I HAD ANY SMALL RODENT RELATED PETS, I DO NOT. I CALLED SUBARU IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE I WASN'T BUYING THE RODENT STORY.THE DEALERSHIP HAS SINCE CALLED ME BACK TO TELL ME NOW THEY THINK A ROBOTIC ARM MIGHT HAVE ACCIDENTALLY DAMAGED THE WIRES IN PRODUCTION BUT THEY ARE NOT SURE. THE CAR IS NOT REPAIRED AS OF YET, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR IS "SAFE" TO DRIVE. THEY ALSO BROKE A PART ABOVE THE PASSENGER VISOR WHEN CHECKING ALL THIS OUT BECAUSE THE SPACE WAS SO TIGHT , YET A RODENT GOT IN AND OUT AND ONLY DESTROYED THOSE WIRES? THEY REASSURED ME THAT THEY ORDERED THE PART THEY BROKE AND WILL FIX THAT WHEN IT COMES IN. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE "WIRE PROBLEM" AND ME NOT APPROVING THE $600 "RODENT" REPAIR, MY DOME LIGHTS OVER MY REARVIEW MIRRORS WILL NOT WORK ANYMORE, HOWEVER THEY WERE WORKING BEFORE THEY CHECKED EVERYTHING OUT. I AM WAITING FOR SUBARU TO CALL ME BACK.

I WAS PARKING MY CAR AT APARTMENT'S PARKING LOT BY RIGHT TURNING. I WAS DRIVING REALLY SLOW ABOUT 5MILES/HR.MY FOOT WAS ON THE BREAK PEDAL AND AS I PRESS THE BREAK TO SLOW MY CAR FURTHER IT GOT ACCELERATED (WITH RAVING ENGINE NOISE) AND HIT FRONT PARKING FENCE AS WELL AS PARKED CAR RIGHT TO ME. I MOVED THE AUTOMATIC GEAR STICK TO PARKING POSITION AND ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. I TALKED WITH MY CAR MAKER AND THEY LOOKED AT IT AND PREPARED A REPORT IN 10 WEEKS. ACCORDING TO THEM WEATHER MAT MIGHT BE THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.BUT I DO NOT THINK WEATHER MAT MOVED FROM ITS PLACE DURING INCIDENT. I AM REALLY SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN SPECIALLY MY CAR MANUFACTURER DOESN'T SEEMS TO FIND THE REAL CAUSE OF PROBLEM. I THINK MY VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION THAT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE ACCELERATING EVEN MY FOOT WAS ON BREAK.

RADIO TURNS ON AUTOMATICALLY AT STARTUP. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. VOLUME IS LOUD AND CANNOT REDUCE VOLUME WHILE BACKING UP. VOLUME CONTROL WORKS WHEN CAR MOVING FORWARD. AT TIMES VOLUME CONTROL DOES NOT WORK AND HAVE TO MUTE THE RADIO. MOST OF THE TIME I JUST KEEP THE VOLUME ON ZERO AND DO NOT USE THE RADIO AT ALL.

[XXX] 2017 Subaru Impreza VIN [XXX] Cruze control error. Will it make brake lights fail if not repaired? go look in your database and see if Impreza has more than normal rear end collisions? What else is on bus that might be damaged by spike? Braking? Antilock? Lights? Why is this NOT a recall? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

RADIO CONTROLS "FROZE" BEFORE I EVEN DROVE IT OFF THE DEALER'S LOT. COULD NOT SELECT AF OR FM. SATELLITE RADIO, HOWEVER, WORKED. FIX WAS EITHER TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY OR REMOVE AND REINSERT A FUZE. DEALER MECHANIC SHOWED ME HOW TO USE THE FUZE METHOD. CAR WAS STATIONARY AND HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR 5-10 MINUTES. I DID NOT TEST TO SEE IF OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS WERE IMPACTED AS WELL.

EYESIGHT DISABLES IT'S SELF, RADIO VOLUME STOPPED WORKING, REARVIEW CAMERA DISABLES IT'S SELF, CAR LOCKED ITS SELF WITH ENGINE RUNNING FOR 1 HOUR WITH BOTH KEYS IN MY POCKET WHILE STANDING OUTSIDE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK. I PURCHASED THE 2017 SUBARU IMPREZA SPORT ON MEMORIAL DAY 2017. SINCE MY PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES TO FIX THESE ISSUES. THE LAST ISSUE REGARDING THE SELF LOCKING HAPPENED ON 07/13/17. SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS ADDRESSED THE PREVIOUS CONCERNS BY STATING AND UPGRADING SOFTWARE UPDATES TO MY VEHICLE BUT IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTIME THE SOFTWARE GETS UPDATED A ANOTHER ISSUE COMES UP. MY VEHICLE HAS A OPEN CASE WITH SUBARU TECH AND IS NOW UNDER REVIEW FOR BUY BACK/REPLACEMENT. THIS IS MY F FIRST AND LAST SUBARU PURCHASE. THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE SUBARU'S GUINEA PIGS FOR THEIR VEHICLES.

DASHBOARD AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES ARE HOT. HAPPENS ALLS SURFACES/MOVEMENT: STATIONARY, MOVING, CITY STREET, HIGHWAY. PASSENGER SEAT EMPTY, DRIVER IN CAR ONLY. SUBARU DEALER BLAMED IT ON MY SEAT COVERS, AFTER PUSHING FOR MORE RESEARCH DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SENSOR BUT ONLY TECHS WHO CALL INTO THEIR TECH HELP LINE ARE MADE AWARE. THE PART TO FIX THE AIRBAG ISSUE/LIGHT IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, AND NO SPECIFIC DATE THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE TO FIX. DEALERSHIP STATES THE ISSUE IS THE SENSORS LOCATED ON THE INTERIOR ROOF OF MY CAR NEXT TO INTERIOR LIGHTS. STATES THE SENSOR WIRES AREN'T COATED WELL ENOUGH FROM HEAT, CAUSING THE LIGHT TO COME ON/NOT PROPERLY REGISTERING IF THERE IS OR IS NOT A PERSON IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. AIRBAG IS OFF IF IT DOESN'T REGISTER A PASSENGER. HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS.

EYESIGHT SYSTEM KEEPS TURNING ITSELF OFF. REAR CAMERA HAS FAR MORE PROBLEMS AFTER FEDERAL REAR CAMERA RECALL. CAMERA OFTEN DOESN'T APPEAR AND LEAVES ME WITH A BLANK SCREEN. EYESIGHT SYSTEM SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY AND RESETS AFTER A RESTART. NOTHING ELSE CHANGES BUY A RESTART, AND PROBLEM IS SOLVED. SOUND ALSO CEASES TO COME OUT OF THE RADIO, TOTAL SILENCE, REGARDLESS OF INPUT AND VOLUME SETTING. ALL OF THE ABOVE IS RANDOM. CAR'S BATTERY RUNS DOWN AT TIMES, AS THE SCREEN STAYS ON ON THE RADIO, EVEN WHEN TURNED OFF. TWICE THE CAR WOULD NOT START. WE NOW CARRY A BATTERY JUMP BOX WITH US AT ALL TIMES. PROBLEMS HAPPEN WHEN IN MOTION OR PARKED. SPEED OR TIME RUNNING NOT RELATIVE TO ISSUES. CAR HAS BEEN INTO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS AND HAS AN APPOINT FOR A FOURTH RIGHT NOW. CAR WAS DELIVERED FEB 9, AND HAS BEEN A TOTAL ELECTRICAL DISASTER.

WE PURCHASED A NEW IMPREZA ON 2/4/17, WITHIN DAYS OF BRINGING THE CAR HOME WE NOTICED THAT ALL THE RADIO PRESETS HAD BEEN WIPED OUT, AND THE XM RADIO HAD REVERTED BACK TO A TRIAL PERIOD. THAT SAME DAY WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL SAYING THAT OUR CAR WAS SENDING A PROBLEM CODE FOR THE STARLINK SYSTEM. UPON CALLING THE DEALERSHIP WE SPOKE WITH A SERVICE ADVISER WHO OWNS THE SAME CAR AND SHE TOLD US THAT SHE HAS ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SOFTWARE. INCLUDING BACKUP CAMERA, SCREEN FREEZING, LOSING RADIO PRESETS, CLOCK TIME CHANGING. AND SHE INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOW ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE MODEL AND SHE HAD BEEN DEALING WITH IT FOR 2 MONTHS. SHE TOLD US THAT SHE HAD BEEN TOLD SUBARU HAD NOT IDEA HOW TO FIX IT AND MAYBE IN MAY THEY MIGHT HAVE IT FIXED. UPON BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE SALES MANAGER, HE HOLD US THAT SUBARU HAD NOT PUT A STOP SELL ORDER ON THE CALL SO THEY KEPT SELLING THEM. WE WERE NEVER TOLD ABOUT THIS DEFECT PRIOR TO BUYING THE CAR. RECENT CALLS WITH SUBARU HAVE CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM, BUT NOBODY WILL CALL US BACK. WE HAVE PUT 3 MILES ON THE CAR SINCE WE PICKED IT UP. WE WANT TO RETURN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. WE HAVE BEEN DEFRAUDED BY SUBARU. THIS WAS A KNOW DEFECT! SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAVE THE ISSUE. MY STARLINK SYSTEM WHICH WARNS IF IN AN ACCIDENT, IS SENDING OUT A PROBLEM CODE AND IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN I TRY TO CONNECT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY RELATED TO THE SOFTWARE ISSUE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. WE NEED YOUR HELP IN INVESTIGATION THIS. OTHER UNSUSPECTING BUYERS ARE GETTING DUPED EVERY DAY.