2011 Subaru Impreza Owner Complaints

THE VEHICLE HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER ON AN EXIT RAMP FROM THE INTERSTATE. THE HIT WAS FRONT RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK CAUSING THE DRIVER HEAD INJURY. *TR

8/31/2012

THE DRIVER WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT THROUGH A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION. A VEHICLE APPROACHING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ATTEMPTED TO TURN LEFT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME, CAUSING THE COLLISION. MY VEHICLE STRUCK THE OTHER VEHICLE AT ALMOST A PERFECT 90 DEGREE ANGLE, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE, INCLUDING DESTROYING THE BUMPER/BUMPER COVER, FRONT GRILL, HEADLIGHTS, RADIATOR/AC CONDENSER, BOTH FRONT FENDERS, HOOD, ETC. DESPITE THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGE NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN MY VEHICLE. THE ATTENDING POLICE OFFICER (WHO CITED THE OTHER DRIVER) AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER BOTH COMMENTED THAT THEY WERE EXTREMELY SURPRISED THAT THE BAG(S) DID NOT DEPLOY AND THAT IT WAS THEIR BELIEF THAT THE BAG(S) SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *TR

3/8/2013

I RECEIVE MY NEW SWP STI WITH 7 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. RIGHT OF THE BAT NOT A GREAT TASTE IN MY MOUTH. DIDN'T GET A GREAT DEAL, FINANCE ROOM HAD SOME SHADY STUFF GOING ON. WHATEVER THOUGH, I HAVE MY NEW STI I'M HAPPY ENOUGH! AROUND 500 MILES MY CAR, I'M ON THE FREEWAY IN THE LEFT LANE GOING ABOUT 75 AND THE THROTTLE VANISHES. THE CAR GOES IN TO FAILSAFE MODE AND WON'T GO FASTER THAN 40 MILES AN HOUR, IN HOUSTON, IN THE LEFT LANE, WITH NO SHOULDER. I'M TERRIFIED, BUT I MANAGE TO LIMP IT TO A PARKING LOT. THEY CALL ME LATER IN THE WORK DAY TO TELL ME IT WAS A THROTTLE RELAY OR SOMETHING AND THEY'VE FIXED IT. THEY WANT TO DRIVE IT 30 MILES (!!!!!!!!!!!!) TO MAKE SURE IT'S FIXED. I, OF COURSE SAY NO, AND THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DRIVE MY NEW CAR NOT SOME RANDOM STRANGER ALL THE TIME. DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY 2 DAYS LATER, THE SAME [XXX] THING HAPPENS AGAIN. LOSING 35 MPH OF SPEED. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

10/25/2010

PURCHASED VEHICLE BRAND NEW NO 9, 2011. WITH IS A FEW WEEKS, SEVERAL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON (CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL, FLASHING CRUISE CONTROL) RENDERING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE TRACTION CONTROL DISABLED. CALLED DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING VEHICLE IN. WHEN I BROUGHT VEHICLE IN THE FIRST TIME, THE LIGHTS WERE OFF AND THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO WITHOUT THE LIGHTS BEING ONE. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND REMAINED ON. BROUGHT VEHICLE FOR OIL CHANGE AND TO HAVE CODES PULLED JAN 12. WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T CONFIRM WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. RESET LIGHTS AND TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK IF THE LIGHTS CAME ON, AND LEAVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS SO THEY COULD FIGURE IT OUT. LIGHTS CAME ON WITH IN A FEW WEEKS AND REMAINED ON. BROUGHT IT IN SATURDAY MARCH 17 - ALL LIGHTS WERE ON. WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A POSSIBLE CONSUMPTION ISSUE AS MY OIL WAS AT LEAST 2 QUARTS LOW. LEFT CAR THERE AND LEFT IN RENTAL CAR. ON TUESDAY MARCH 20, SERVICE MANAGER CALLS ME AND TELLS ME 'SUBARU HAS DETERMINED THERE IS NO CAUSE AND THUS NO RESOLUTION TO THE ISSUE' AND THAT I SHOULD PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND BEGIN DOCUMENTING WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON AGAIN. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. TO INFORM A CONSUMER THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO A MECHANICAL ISSUE IS DEPLORABLE. IF MY CAR IS BURNING OIL AT AN ABNORMALLY FAST RATE, CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IS NOT ONLY POTENTIALLY HARMFUL TO MYSELF, BUT TO MY ENGINE AND VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW, AND THIS ISSUE HAS PRESENTED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, BEGINNING ONLY WEEKS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. *TR

3/22/2012

THIS IS A 2011 WRX WAGON. THE CLUTCH HAD BEGUN TO SLIP A LITTLE BIT A FEW DAYS EARLIER, WITH SOME SLIGHT REVVING. I WAS GOING UP A HILL ON A NARROW ROAD, AT NIGHT, IN THE RAIN. THERE WAS NO SHOULDER AND NO STREET LIGHTS. THE CLUTCH SUDDENLY GAVE WAY AND THE MOTOR WOULD NO LONGER MOVE THE CAR. I ALLOWED THE CAR TO ROLL BACK ENOUGH TO GET AS CLOSE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS POSSIBLE. THE FIRST TIME THE CLUTCH GAVE WAY WAS ABOUT 18 MONTHS EARLIER, 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE NEW CAR. THE CLUTCH IS DEFECTIVE ON THESE CARS. I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN MANUAL CARS FOR 30 YEARS, AND HAD 2 GO TO OVER 100,000 MILES ON THE SAME CLUTCH. THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM ON A HIGHWAY. I CALLED THE POLICE TO "PROTECT" ME FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I NOW WANT TO TRADE IN MY CAR FOR A SAFER AND MORE DEPENDABLE VEHICLE. *TR

2/4/2013

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2011 STI MAKES A LOUD CREAKING NOISE EVERY TIME IT'S DEPRESSED. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THE NOISE, I NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY (ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL) SHIFTS APPROX 1/4 INCH EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. I FOUND THAT THE THREE SPOT WELDS SECURING THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL WERE BROKEN. FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE FIREWALL, JUST UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, I SAW THE SPOT WELDS PULLING AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS ALLOWS THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY TO MOVE, CAUSING THE CREAKING NOISE. IF THE BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATES FROM THE FIREWALL, THE CLUTCH MAY BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE - ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS ALSO DIRECTLY CAUSED THE FAILURE OF THREE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDERS IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. 2 OF WHICH FAILED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS LEAVING ME WITH NO CLUTCH, AND A HARDLY ANY BRAKING CAPABILITY. (THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE BOTH ATTACHED TO THE SAME ASSEMBLY, THUS WHEN THE CLUTCH DOES NOT WORK, NEITHER DO THE BRAKES. REFERENCE LINKS: SUBARU IMPREZA GENERAL SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEMS SUBARU IMPREZA 2009 - POWER TRAIN - CAR SAFETY INFORMATION, FAILING PARTS, RECALLS, BULLETINS, COMPLAINTS FIREWALL WELD BREAK INFORMATION NEEDED. HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/37-C...INKAGE-45.HTML POPPING CLUTCH BROKEN FIREWALL FIX HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/37-C...BLY-ISSUE.HTML MY CLUTCH SQUEAK/BROKEN WELDS STORY ANOTHER 08 CLUTCH PEDAL/FIREWALL PROBLEM... CLUTCH SQUEAK FIX WITHOUT TAKING THE WHOLE DASH APART (NUT/BOLT STYLE) SQUEAK+CLICK CLUTCH PEDAL HELP - NASIOC 08 SQUEAKY CLUTCH PEDAL...ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT? - NASIOC BAD FIREWALL FLEX - NASIOC. *TR

2/2/2014

THIS IS A 2011 WRX WAGON. THE CLUTCH HAD BEGUN TO SLIP A LITTLE BIT A FEW DAYS EARLIER, WITH SOME SLIGHT REVVING. I WAS GOING UP A HILL ON A NARROW ROAD, AT NIGHT, IN THE RAIN. THERE WAS NO SHOULDER AND NO STREET LIGHTS. THE CLUTCH SUDDENLY GAVE WAY AND THE MOTOR WOULD NO LONGER MOVE THE CAR. I ALLOWED THE CAR TO ROLL BACK ENOUGH TO GET AS CLOSE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS POSSIBLE. THE FIRST TIME THE CLUTCH GAVE WAY WAS ABOUT 18 MONTHS EARLIER, 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE NEW CAR. THE CLUTCH IS DEFECTIVE ON THESE CARS. I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN MANUAL CARS FOR 30 YEARS, AND HAD 2 GO TO OVER 100,000 MILES ON THE SAME CLUTCH. THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM ON A HIGHWAY. I CALLED THE POLICE TO "PROTECT" ME FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I NOW WANT TO TRADE IN MY CAR FOR A SAFER AND MORE DEPENDABLE VEHICLE. *TR

2/4/2013

3 TIMES THIS MONTH HAD TO TAKE MY SUBARU TO DEALER BECAUSE MY CAR WAS NOT ACCEPTING GAS IN THE TANK. IT WOULD SQUIRT EVERY GALLON BACK AT ME EACH INCIDENT THAT THIS OCCURRED. I HAD TO SUFFER SEVERE EYE BURNS TWICE DUE TOO THE GASOLINE HITTING ME DIRECTLY IN THE FACE. THANK GOD A FIRE DID NOT START. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE TO THE DEALER AGAIN BECAUSE PROBLEM STILL NOT SOLVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

7/24/2014

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2011 STI MAKES A LOUD CREAKING NOISE EVERY TIME IT'S DEPRESSED. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THE NOISE, I NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY (ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL) SHIFTS APPROX 1/4 INCH EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. I FOUND THAT THE THREE SPOT WELDS SECURING THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL WERE BROKEN. FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE FIREWALL, JUST UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, I SAW THE SPOT WELDS PULLING AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS ALLOWS THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY TO MOVE, CAUSING THE CREAKING NOISE. IF THE BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATES FROM THE FIREWALL, THE CLUTCH MAY BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE - ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS ALSO DIRECTLY CAUSED THE FAILURE OF THREE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDERS IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. 2 OF WHICH FAILED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS LEAVING ME WITH NO CLUTCH, AND A HARDLY ANY BRAKING CAPABILITY. (THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE BOTH ATTACHED TO THE SAME ASSEMBLY, THUS WHEN THE CLUTCH DOES NOT WORK, NEITHER DO THE BRAKES. REFERENCE LINKS: SUBARU IMPREZA GENERAL SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEMS SUBARU IMPREZA 2009 - POWER TRAIN - CAR SAFETY INFORMATION, FAILING PARTS, RECALLS, BULLETINS, COMPLAINTS FIREWALL WELD BREAK INFORMATION NEEDED. HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/37-C...INKAGE-45.HTML POPPING CLUTCH BROKEN FIREWALL FIX HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/37-C...BLY-ISSUE.HTML MY CLUTCH SQUEAK/BROKEN WELDS STORY ANOTHER 08 CLUTCH PEDAL/FIREWALL PROBLEM... CLUTCH SQUEAK FIX WITHOUT TAKING THE WHOLE DASH APART (NUT/BOLT STYLE) SQUEAK+CLICK CLUTCH PEDAL HELP - NASIOC 08 SQUEAKY CLUTCH PEDAL...ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT? - NASIOC BAD FIREWALL FLEX - NASIOC. *TR

2/2/2014

IN COLD WEATHER (APPROX. 10 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR BELOW) UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE A HIGH-PITCHED NOISE CAN BE HEARD AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT AND HILL-HOLD WARNING LIGHT AT TIMES SIMULTANEOUSLY ILLUMINATE. EACH TIME I HAVE CYCLED THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE NO LONGER ON. IN SUCH EXTREME TEMPERATURES THIS FORCES ME TO DECIDE BETWEEN CLEARING THE WARNING LIGHTS IN THIS MANNER AND HOPING THE VEHICLE WILL START AGAIN DUE TO THE STRAIN PLACED ON THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY IN SUCH CONDITIONS OR LEAVING THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED KNOWING THAT I WILL HAVE LIMITED SAFETY ASSIST FROM THE AFFECTED SYSTEMS IN THESE EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS. IN EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE I AM FORCED TO MAKE AN UNFAVORABLE CHOICE. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA TO DOCUMENT THIS CONCERN. *TR

2/9/2014

ADD OUR NAMES TO THE LIST OF SUBARU DRIVERS WHOSE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE AND NO LONGER STAYED IN PLACE. THE CONTROL ARM ON THE VISOR CRACKED, RESULTING IN THE VISOR HANGING DOWN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER AND IMPAIRING VISIBILITY. WE WERE REQUIRED TO REMOVE THE VISOR AND LACK THE USE OF A VISOR DURING GLARE CONDITIONS WHICH WAS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE AS BOTH CONDITIONS IMPAIR THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC, OBSTACLES IN THE ROAD, ETC. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SERIOUS DEFECT WHICH MANY OTHERS HAVE APPARENTLY HAD AN ISSUE WITH AS WELL, AND CLEARLY SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL. WE WERE FORCED TO PURCHASE A NEW VISOR FROM THE DEALERSHIP FOR $100, AND I WOULD ECHO THE COMMENTS OF ANOTHER COMPLAINANT THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAVING PLENTY OF VISORS IN STOCK SUGGESTS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE. *TR

3/6/2014

BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS NO LONGER STAY UP AND FLOP DOWN OBSCURING VISIBILITY. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REMOVE THEM COMPLETELY AND NOW THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE DURING GLARE CONDITIONS WHICH REDUCES VISIBILITY DRASTICALLY. IN NO WAY WERE THE VISORS ABUSED NOR WAS ANY WEIGHT PLACED ON THEM CAUSING THE MALFUNCTION. *JS

6/15/2014

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I HIT A BUMP AND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF IT'S ATTACHMENT ON THE WINDSHIELD. REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS DANGLING DOWN FROM WIRE. CHECKED WITH THE DEALER, STATED THERE WAS A "CAMPAIGN" IE. NOT A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE SO IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE. MY CAR BEING OUT OF WARRANTY, I PURCHASED NEW REAR VIEW MIRROR MOUNT ADAPTOR FROM THE DEALER AS CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. NEW ADAPTOPR SHOWS REDUCED CHAMFERS ENSURING SCREWS (TOO SHORT?) ENGAGE PROPERLY. INSTALLED NEW MOUNT WITH BLUE LOCKTITE TO ENSURE THIS THING WILL NOT BE SCARING THE HECK OUT OF ME AGAIN (WHILE DRIVING FREEWAY SPEED) PREVIOUS BLOCK AND NEW PURCHASE ONE DO NOT SHOW EVIDENCE OF BLUE LOCKTITE. REF SUBARU P/N H501SSA041. *TR

4/13/2015

THE HEAT SHIELDS ON THE EXHAUST PIPES AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER RATTLE AT TIMES VERY LOUD, ANY RE-CALLS?

10/14/2017

WHILE DRIVING HOME TO DENVER, CO FROM DURANGO, OUTSIDE OF BAYFIELD, WE HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT OVERHEAD AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. MY SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED OUTWARD. THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. THE SUNSHADE (?) WAS CLOSED, SO NO GLASS FELL INTO THE CAR. HALF THE GLASS WAS GONE, AND WHAT WAS STILL ATTACHED WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. *TR

11/4/2013

WHILE DRIVING HOME TO BOULDER, CO FROM GOLDEN, I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT OVERHEAD AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. MY SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED OUTWARD. THERE WAS NO ROAD DEBRIS OR ROCKS OR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT HAVE HIT IT. THE SUNSHADE WAS CLOSED, SO NO GLASS FELL INTO THE CAR. HALF THE GLASS WAS GONE, AND WHAT WAS STILL ATTACHED WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. NOT COOL. *TR

3/25/2014

VEHICLE HAS SEVERE VIBRATION AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55MPH. TIRES HAVE BEEN ROAD FORCE BALANCED TWICE AND SOA TSB FOR STEERING COLUMN, STEERING WHEEL, CONTROL ARMS AND VARIOUS BUSHINGS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. THE CAR IS WORSE THAN EVER. VEHICLE ALSO "HUNTS" OR SHIMMYS ON DRY LEVEL HIGHWAYS CREATING AN UNSAFE OUT OF CONTROL FEELING. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS. *TR

3/31/2011

I HAD LEASED MY 2011 IMPREZA 2.5I PREMIUM THROUGH METRIC SUBARU IN 2011, I EXTENDED MY 36 MONTH LEASE ANOTHER 5 MONTHS IN JUNE 2014 THROUGH CHASE BANK, AND WAS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF BUYING THE CAR THROUGH CHASE. ON OCTOBER 11, 2014, AFTER DOING A COURTESY MULTI-POINT INSPECTION, [XXX], THE SERVICE ADVISOR, ADVISED ME TO GET OUT OF THIS CAR AND INTO A NEW CAR WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, SHE TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED REAR BRAKE PADS FOR $265 AND MY STRUTS WERE SWEATING AND I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THEM FOR $1,100. I LEFT THERE, MY BRAKES WERE NOW SQUEALING... VERY ODD. I CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND SPOKE TO [XXX], I ASKED IF THEY BE ABLE TO SOMEHOW EXTEND MY WARRANTY TO COVER THE COST OF THE REAR STRUTS, [XXX] SAID THAT SOA WOULD COVER THE COST. [XXX] MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH RICH, THE SERVICE MANAGER AT METRIC, AND I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR OCTOBER 18, 2014 TO HAVE THE REAR STRUTS AND REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED. I LEFT METRIC SUBARU WITH A VIBRATION IN MY SEAT AND ON THE FLOOR, AND A BOUNCINESS/BUMPINESS IN MY SEAT, THE BELTS, ENGINE AND EXHAUST SEEMS TO VIBRATE AND SOUND MUCH LOUDER. ONE WEEK LATER, NORTH COAST SUBARU TELLS ME I NOW NEED FRONT BRAKES AND I HAVE A BEND IN THE RIM OF THE FRONT LEFT SIDE AND MY TIRE IS RIPPED ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE, AND I NEED MY FRONT WHEELS BALANCED. THE PRICE TAG FOR THIS $550. TWO WEEKS LATER, COMPETITION SUBARU RECOMMENDS A BRAKE AND STEERING FLUID FLUSH AND AN OIL CHANGE, BECAUSE MY FLUIDS MAY BE CONTAMINATED. METRIC SUBARU TOPPED OFF MY FLUIDS ON OCTOBER 11? OTHER THAN THAT, THEY TELL ME MY CAR IS FINE. BUT IT'S NOT! GRAND PRIX SUBARU ALSO TELLS ME, "YOUR CAR IS FINE." I HAVE KEPT [XXX] WELL INFORMED, ALL SHE SAY IS "I AM SORRY YOU ARE HAVING SO MANY ISSUES WITH YOUR CAR". SUBARU IS DESTROYING MY CAR AND BLACKBALLING ME FROM ALL OF THE DEALERSHIPS. THERE IS ANOTHER BRAKELINE RECALL COMING UP... WHERE CAN I FIND AN HONEST SUBARU DEALERSHIP? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

1/16/2015

1. WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT STARTED TO SMOKE LIKE CRAZY, AND LOST POWER WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. 2. I HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE, ALMOST 75% OF THESE CARS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE 3. BROUGHT IT IN FOR WORK AND THE DEALER MADE ME PAY FOR IT BECAUSE SUBARU DIDN'T WANT TO WARRANTY THE CAR! *TR

8/9/2011

THE CAR IS A 2011 SUBARU WRX STI. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL NOTHING LED UP TO THE FAILURE. IT WAS FINE ONE DAY, THEN FAILED THE NEXT. THE FAILURE WAS BROKEN PISTON RING LANDS ON THE #2 AND #4 PISTONS IN THE ENGINE. THE CONSEQUENCES WERE THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE SHORT BLOCK OF THE ENGINE ALONG WITH ALL ASSOCIATED PARTS LIKE NEW PISTONS. SUBARU REPLACED THE SHORT BLOCK AND ALL ASSOCIATED PARTS UNDER WARRANTY, INCLUDING NEW PISTONS AND RINGS. *TR

8/10/2011

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. *TR

7/30/2013

3 TIMES MY ENGINE HAS NEEDED A SHORT BLOCK REPLACEMENT. I HAVE BROUGHT CAR IN FOR ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND HAVE CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3500-4000 MILES. THE FIRST ENGINE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 26,250 MI. I NOTICED A KNOCKING SOUND AND BROUGHT TO SUBARU DEALER. DIAGNOSIS: "BEARING DAMAGE TO CONNECTING ROD BEARING FOR CYLINDER 2." SHORT BLOCK REPLACED, UNDER WARRANTY. (SEE DOCS) 2ND INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 51,232 MILES. THIS TIME THERE WAS NO WARNING AND I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. TOWED TO A SUBARU DEALER. NO DIAGNOSIS WAS GIVEN AT THAT TIME BUT SHORT BLOCK WAS AGAIN REPLACED. THIS TIME I HAD TO PAY FOR THE TEARDOWN ($222) BUT SUBARU, AFTER NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS AGREED TO DO THE WORK AS A "GOOD WILL GESTURE." (SEE DOCS) THE 3RD & LAST MALFUNCTION OCCURRED AT 58,700 MILES, A MERE 7,000 MILES SINCE THE LAST ENGINE WAS REPLACED. AGAIN, I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND WITH A MOMENTS NOTICE (REDUCTION IN POWER) THE ENGINE SEIZED. IT WAS SHEER LUCK THAT I WAS NOT KILLED TRYING TO MOVE OVER 6 LANES WITH NO POWER OR STEERING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. TOWED TO A SUBARU DEALER. I DO NOT HAVE ANY PAPERWORK FROM THIS LAST INCIDENT. SUBARU SAID THEY WOULD PAY FOR ENTIRE REPAIR. BUT BEFORE I COULD MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION, I ASKED FOR WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION OF THE PROBLEM, CAUSE AND A DETAILED REPAIR DESCRIPTION. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION & DID NOT GIVE CONSENT TO REPAIR CAR. JUST GOT A CALL FROM THE DEALER SAYING CAR WAS REPAIRED AND READY FOR PICKUP. THE ONLY INFORMATION I HAVE REGARDING THIS LAST SEIZURE WAS FROM A SUBARU OF AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICES REP WHO VERBALLY TOLD ME THAT "THE CYLINDER 4 ROD WAS THROWN." THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WHEN A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 58000 MILES NEEDS 3 ENGINES. I REFUSE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. I WILL NOT JEOPARDIZE MY LIFE AND OF THOSE AROUND ME.

3/29/2019

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2011 STI MAKES A LOUD CREAKING NOISE EVERY TIME IT'S DEPRESSED. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THE NOISE, I NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY (ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL) SHIFTS APPROX 1/4 INCH EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. I FOUND THAT THE THREE SPOT WELDS SECURING THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL WERE BROKEN. FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE FIREWALL, JUST UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, I SAW THE SPOT WELDS PULLING AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS ALLOWS THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY TO MOVE, CAUSING THE CREAKING NOISE. IF THE BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATES FROM THE FIREWALL, THE CLUTCH MAY BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE - ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS ALSO DIRECTLY CAUSED THE FAILURE OF THREE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDERS IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. 2 OF WHICH FAILED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS LEAVING ME WITH NO CLUTCH, AND A HARDLY ANY BRAKING CAPABILITY. (THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE BOTH ATTACHED TO THE SAME ASSEMBLY, THUS WHEN THE CLUTCH DOES NOT WORK, NEITHER DO THE BRAKES. REFERENCE LINKS: SUBARU IMPREZA GENERAL SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEMS SUBARU IMPREZA 2009 - POWER TRAIN - CAR SAFETY INFORMATION, FAILING PARTS, RECALLS, BULLETINS, COMPLAINTS FIREWALL WELD BREAK INFORMATION NEEDED. HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/37-C...INKAGE-45.HTML POPPING CLUTCH BROKEN FIREWALL FIX HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/37-C...BLY-ISSUE.HTML MY CLUTCH SQUEAK/BROKEN WELDS STORY ANOTHER 08 CLUTCH PEDAL/FIREWALL PROBLEM... CLUTCH SQUEAK FIX WITHOUT TAKING THE WHOLE DASH APART (NUT/BOLT STYLE) SQUEAK+CLICK CLUTCH PEDAL HELP - NASIOC 08 SQUEAKY CLUTCH PEDAL...ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT? - NASIOC BAD FIREWALL FLEX - NASIOC. *TR

2/2/2014

I experienced a sudden acceleration issue when parking my car in January 2020. As I was pulling into my parking spot and removed my foot from the gas pedal to the brake the gas pedal quickly went all the way to the floor and the car sped forward despite the fact that my foot was on the brake. The car was stopped by a large pile of snow. There was some damage to the bumper. Took the car to the dealership and was told they couldn't find any issue with the car. The problem only happened once to mee but I read of similar things happening with other makes and models of Subarus so I wanted to report it.

5/17/2021

CLUTCH PEDAL SQUEAKS WHILE BEING DEPRESSED. CLUTCH PEDAL IS ATTACHED TO THE FIREWALL. FIREWALL JOINT IS WEAK. BRAKE PEDAL WILL SLIGHTLY SHIFT WHEN CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. THERE IS CURRENTLY ONLY MINOR MOVEMENT BUT IT HAS BECOME WORSE AND WORSE. THERE ARE SHOPS THAT OFFER A "REPAIR" BY RE-WELDING THE FIREWALL BUT IT IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX. I FORESEE THIS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. THE FIREWALL SEAMS COULD BREAK AND WE COULD LOSE OUR BRAKING. ALSO, THE FIREWALL WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO ITS JOB OF PROTECTING US FROM A POTENTIAL FIRE. PLEASE ADVISE. I WANT THIS REPAIRED BEFORE IT BECOMES A MAJOR OR CATASTROPHIC ISSUE. *TR

6/26/2014

THE 2008-2014 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX AND STI HAVE A DESIGN FLAW WHERE THE PEDAL MOUNTING BOX IS SPOT-WELDED TO THE FIREWALL USING ONLY A HANDFUL OF TINY SPOT WELDS. THE FIREWALL ITSELF IS OF A WEAK DESIGN AND INHERENTLY HAS QUITE A BIT OF FLEX AND OVER TIME AND NORMAL USE THESE SPOT WELDS FAIL FROM TOO MUCH STRESS AND THE PEDALS WILL BEGIN TO SQUEAK, CREAK, POP AND EVENTUALLY THE PEDALS WILL MOVE AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL WHEN DEPRESSED. ONCE THIS HAPPENS THE CLUTCH WILL NO LONGER PROPERLY ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE AND THE CAR WILL NO LONGER BE DRIVABLE.

7/29/2016

WHILE STATIONARY OR IN MOTION, THE PASSENGER DETECTION SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WILL REGULARLY (MORE THAN 50% OF THE TIME) NOT DETECT A FULL-GROWN ADULT PASSENGER WEIGHING ~115 POUNDS AND AS A RESULT WILL NOT TURN ON THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. THE CAR WILL ONLY TURN ON THE AIRBAG (AND DISABLE THE 'PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF' LIGHT) AFTER THE PASSENGER VIGOROUSLY BOUNCES SEVERAL TIMES ON THE SEAT. THIS IS A HAZARD TO ANYONE THAT DOES NOT APPRECIATE THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT AND SUBSEQUENTLY BOUNCE IN THE SEAT.

1/2/2016

WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF STARTING THE VEHICLE ACTIVATING THE SEAT HEATER ASSOCIATED TO THE DRIVER SEAT A BURNING SMELL BEGAN TO BECOME APPARENT IN THE PASSENGER CABIN. EVENTUALLY THE SMELL DEVELOPED INTO PAIN IN THE LEGS AND THERE WAS A HOLE BURNED INTO THE DRIVER SEAT. THE SEAT HEATER WAS STILL OPERATING AT FULL CAPACITY AND SUPPLYING ENERGY TO THE SYSTEM AS IT WAS IGNITING THE DRIVER SEAT. THIS EVENT OCCURED ON 140TH IN RENTON, WASHINGTON. THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE ROADWAY TRAVELING WITH TRAFFIC WHEN IT OCCURED.

1/17/2017

VEHICLE HAS SEVERE VIBRATION AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55MPH. TIRES HAVE BEEN ROAD FORCE BALANCED TWICE AND SOA TSB FOR STEERING COLUMN, STEERING WHEEL, CONTROL ARMS AND VARIOUS BUSHINGS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. THE CAR IS WORSE THAN EVER. VEHICLE ALSO "HUNTS" OR SHIMMYS ON DRY LEVEL HIGHWAYS CREATING AN UNSAFE OUT OF CONTROL FEELING. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS. *TR

3/31/2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU IMPREZA OUTBACK. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET TO APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH. AFTER TRYING TO DECELERATE AND CONTINUOUSLY DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO FOUR OTHER VEHICLES. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD INJURIES. ONE OTHER PASSENGER IN ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS REPORTED INJURED AND BOTH WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED AND AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE AN INVESTIGATION WAS PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 4,100. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

12/19/2011

THE VEHICLE HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER ON AN EXIT RAMP FROM THE INTERSTATE. THE HIT WAS FRONT RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK CAUSING THE DRIVER HEAD INJURY. *TR

8/31/2012

IN COLD WEATHER (APPROX. 10 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR BELOW) UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE A HIGH-PITCHED NOISE CAN BE HEARD AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT AND HILL-HOLD WARNING LIGHT AT TIMES SIMULTANEOUSLY ILLUMINATE. EACH TIME I HAVE CYCLED THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE NO LONGER ON. IN SUCH EXTREME TEMPERATURES THIS FORCES ME TO DECIDE BETWEEN CLEARING THE WARNING LIGHTS IN THIS MANNER AND HOPING THE VEHICLE WILL START AGAIN DUE TO THE STRAIN PLACED ON THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY IN SUCH CONDITIONS OR LEAVING THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED KNOWING THAT I WILL HAVE LIMITED SAFETY ASSIST FROM THE AFFECTED SYSTEMS IN THESE EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS. IN EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE I AM FORCED TO MAKE AN UNFAVORABLE CHOICE. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA TO DOCUMENT THIS CONCERN. *TR

2/9/2014

ADD ME AS WELL TO THE LIST OF SUBARU DRIVERS WHOSE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE AND NO LONGER STAYED IN PLACE. THE CONTROL ARM ON THE VISOR CRACKED, RESULTING IN THE VISOR HANGING DOWN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER AND IMPAIRING VISIBILITY. WE WERE REQUIRED TO REMOVE THE VISOR AND LACK THE USE OF A VISOR DURING GLARE CONDITIONS WHICH WAS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE AS BOTH CONDITIONS IMPAIR THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC, OBSTACLES IN THE ROAD, ETC. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SERIOUS DEFECT WHICH MANY OTHERS HAVE APPARENTLY HAD AN ISSUE WITH AS WELL, AND CLEARLY SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL. WE WERE FORCED TO PURCHASE A NEW VISOR FROM THE DEALERSHIP FOR $100. *JS

4/28/2014

CONTINENTAL EXTREME CONTACT DW TIRES THAT CAME WITH USED SUBARU HAVE ALMOST NO WEAR ON TREAD, BUT WHEN I ASKED THAT THEY BE SWAPPED WITH THE CAR'S WINTER TIRES, TECHNICIAN SAID THEY WEREN'T SAFE BECAUSE OF CRACKS IN THE TREADS. THESE TIRES ARE ONLY 2 YEARS OLD, MANUFACTURED IN MARCH 2013, AND HAVE BEEN STORED IN COVERED SHED SINCE LATE LAST FALL (SO NO EXCUSE FOR SUNLIGHT DEGRADATION). CONTINENTAL'S WARRANTEE IS ONLY FOR ORIGINAL BUYER, SO WE'RE OUT OF LUCK. DEFINITELY WILL NOT REPLACE THESE WITH CONNENTALS!!!!

5/29/2015

2011 SUBARU IMPREZA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A FAULTY TRANSMISSION CLUTCH. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED ON COLD STARTS AND ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS COLD AND/OR RAINY THE THROW OUT BEARING WOULD HAVE A CONSISTENT SQUEAL. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS WARMED UP AND OPERATING TEMPERATURE WAS REACHED, THE NOISE WOULD SUBSIDE. AT 50,000 MILES, THE CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE CLUTCH WAS WORN. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS NORMAL. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CONSUMER HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE 5TH GEAR GRINDING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR WITHOUT IT GRINDING. A FAULTY TRANSMISSION PART WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, ALSO, THE POWER STEERING RACK FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. SEVEN THOUSAND MILES LATER, THE SAME NOISE IN THE THROW OUT BEARING HAD RETURNED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. NOT ONLY WAS THERE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, BUT, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER CLAIMED THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING A THE DEALER, FOR OVER A MONTH. *JB

8/11/2016