1999 Subaru Impreza

Routine

Owners filed 22 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Suspension › Rear2
000
Suspension › Front › Wheel Bearing2
000
Air Bags › Frontal2
202
Wheels1
000
Visibility › Windshield1
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Cables1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Tires1
000
Suspension › Front › Macpherson Strut1
000
Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm1
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Headlights09E025000
Filed May 11, 200942,540 vehiclesDope, Inc.

Defect. DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights08E050000
Filed Aug 11, 20081,921 vehiclesK2 Motor Corporation

Defect. K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

Exterior Lighting06E049000
Filed May 24, 200627,176 vehiclesCk Motorsport, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Fuel System, Other
Filed May 9, 200968,000 miles00

1999 SUBARU IMPREZA 2.5RS, I DISCOVERED THE ENTRANCE TO THE FUEL FILLER STARTED TO RUST. IT WILL COST ME $500 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I ALSO NOTICED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Suspension › Rear
Filed Mar 1, 200667,500 milesNY

MY 99 SUBARU IMPREZA RS'S REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ARE STARTING TO FAIL. I'VE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH AND FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBARU'S. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT WITH THE BEARING BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. I ALSO FOUND THAT THERE IS A NEW PROCEDURE FOR REPAIRING THE WHEEL BEARING, WHICH WOULD INDICATE SUBARU'S KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEFECTIVE PART. *JB

Child Seat › Tether › Strap/Webbing
Filed Aug 31, 2005MN

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRYING TO INSTALL CAR SEAT IN ORDER TO USE THE TETHER STRAP A MOUNTING BRACKET HAS TO BE INSTALLED. SUBARU INSISTED THAT CONTACT PAY FOR THIS BRACKET, HE FELT THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS. HE WAS GOING TO PURCHASE THIS MOUNTING BRACKET BECAUSE FOR THE SAFETY OF HIS CHILD, BUT HE FELT THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD DO. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON AUGUST 27, 2005.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Fuel Rail
Filed Dec 20, 200480,000 milesMA

FUEL LEAK ON PASSENGER SIDE FUEL RAILS IN WEATHER BELOW 30' F. SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FUEL IS LEAKING DUE TO THE RUBBER HOSES UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NOT BEING TIGHTENED ENOUGH. THERE IS A TSB ON THIS MATTER HOWEVER I'M PAST MY WARRANTY PERIOD. CONSIDERING THIS LEAK IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE TURBOCHARGER THIS IS JUST AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.*AK

Suspension › Front › Wheel Bearing
Filed May 18, 200459,950 milesMA

REPEATED REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURES EVER 30K MILES.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed May 4, 200482,000 milesPA

THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN SUBARU DECIDED TO NO LONGER SERVICE MY VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. LEADING UP TO WHEN I HAD TO SELL THE VEHICLE ON 8/23/2001 I HAD THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACED AT 43,460 MILES. THE LEFT HEAD GASKET CHANGED ON 12/28/2001 AT 48,817 MILES. THE AIRFLOW METER SENSOR WAS RECALLED ON 7/22/2002 WITH 55,797 MILES. THE CLUTCH WOULD STICK TO THE FLOOR SO I HAD TO HAVE THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER GRAVITY BLED ON 7/22/2002 AS WELL. THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT AGAIN ON 8/9/2002 WITH 57,454. ALL THE ABOVE THING WERE REPLACE AND PERFORMED UNDER WARRANTY. I PERSONALLY HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT VALVE COVER GASKET, ALTERNATOR BELT, O2 SENSOR, KNOCK SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, AND EXHAUST Y PIPE. I SOLD THE CAR BECAUSE THE HEAD GASKET STARTED TO GO OUT AGAIN, THE CLUTCH NEED REPLACED, AND THE TRANSMISSION GEAR OIL, AND MOTOR OIL WERE BOTH LEAKING. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN TO SUBARU (LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY) AND THEY WERE UNWILLING TO HELP WITH THE REPAIR OF THE HEAD GASKET SINCE I DID NOT HAVE THE SCHEDULED COOLANT SERVICE PERFORMED AT SUBARU. WELL I HAD WITHIN A COUPLE MILES. SUBARU CHANGED THE FIRST HEAD GASKET AT 48,817 MILES AND IT WHEN OUT AGAIN AT 82,796 MILES A DIFFERENCE OF AROUND 33,000 AND THE SERVICE IS SCHEDULED FOR EVERY 30,000 MILES. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Cables
Filed Apr 8, 2004100,000 milesNC

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO DRIFT OFF THE ROAD. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE FAILED. *AK *JB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 11, 200475,000 milesCA

AIRFLOW METER/SENSOR FAILED AT 75,000. *AK

Suspension › Front › Wheel Bearing
Filed Jul 24, 200344,000 milesMA

CONSUMER HEARS A "RUMBLING" NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END. CONSUMER PREVIOUSLY HAD REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED AT 42000 DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR. THE BEARINGS HAVE WORN OUT AGAIN, AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 44000 MILES.*AK

Suspension › Rear
Filed Mar 18, 200346,000 milesCA

THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *JB

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Feb 13, 2003CT

NAR 02/13/2003 ANSWERED BY TIS. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE HIS CLUTCH REPLACED TWICE DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR WHILE STILL UNDER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY, HOWEVER SUBARU REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIRS. *JB

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Nov 26, 200262,000 milesMA

THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WAS INJURED. TS *JB

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Nov 18, 2002MA

CONSUMER WAS HIT FROM THE REAR BY A VAN, PUSHED FORWARD, AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STOPPED FOR TRAFFIC. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TS

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jul 7, 2001CT

REARVIEW MIRROR WAS BEING ADJUSTED AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD WHICH ACTION BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE WINDSHIELD MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY SINCE THERE WAS VERY LITTLE PRESSURE INVOLVED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT. THE FACTORY REP SAID THEY WOULDN'T REPLACE IT. I CONTACTED SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE, KATE CLARK, WHO ALSO SAID THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER I COULDN'T SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE FACTORY REP, SO NEITHER HE NOR CUSTOMER SERVICE EVEN ASKED HOW THE WINDSHIELD BROKE. A PROPERLY INSTALLED WINDSHIELD ON A NEW VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BREAK FROM MERE CONTACT WITH THE REARVIEW MIRROR, IN MY OPINION, AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY AND SUBARU SHOULD REPLACE IT.*AK

Wheels
Filed May 10, 2001GA

REAR WHEELS REQUIRED NEW BEARINGS...HARSH GRINDING NOISE AS CAR SPED UP...WARRANTIED ITEM. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT I'VE DROPPED THE CAR OFF TWICE IN 3 MONTHS FOR SIMILAR NOISES...BRAKES, TRANSMISSION AND WHEELS.*AK

Seat Belts
Filed Mar 16, 2001CT

MANUFACTURER SHOULD MAKE SEAT BELT EXTENDERS AVAILABLE FOR CONSUMERS WHEN NEEDED. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND IS UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT BECAUSE THE FASTENER IS SO FAR BEHIND HER, IT PULLS THE SHOULDER STRAP UP UNDER HER RIGHT ARM WHICH CAUSES PAINFUL CHAFING. *SLC

Suspension › Front › Macpherson Strut
Filed Mar 8, 2001NY

WHILE DRIVING REAR STRUT WOULD MAKE NOISE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Sep 26, 2000CA

BRAKES ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONT ROTORS AND PADS, AND BRAKE SENSOR ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP FOR REPAIRS, AND WHILE DRIVING OFF DEALER'S LOT, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPING DISTANCE, ALMOST CAUSING A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Sep 24, 1999NY

THE TRANSMISSION PLUG FELL OUT, LEAKAGE OF ALL THE FLUID WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOCK UP. NO WARNING LIGHTS TO INDICATE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. MJS

Tires
Filed Aug 27, 1999IL

WHILE TRAVELING 45MPH RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW. TOOK TO TIRE STORE & HAD TIRE REPLACED. THE BACK TIRE BLEW IN 21 JUL 99. IT WAS A GAS STATION ATTENDANT WHO INFORMED OWNER THAT TIRE HAD BUBBLES ON INSIDE WALL. ALL THE TIRES WITH VEHICLE WERE DEFECTIVE. BRIDESTONE, THE TIRE MANUFACTURER, CLAIMS THAT THE DEFECTS WERE DUE TO POOR ROAD CONDITIONS. *AK *ML

20 of 22 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2002
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20261000Routine
20255000Routine
202431220Routine
20234200Routine
202213120Routine
202114200Do not drive
202085120Routine
2019194510Routine
2018150511Fatalities reported
2017125730Routine
201675100Routine
201577200Routine
2014108300Routine
2013249470Above average
2012243640Above average
2011571420Routine
2010461510Routine
20091031530Routine
20081761540Routine
200768920Routine
2006561000Routine
200575611Fatalities reported
200496820Routine
200362610Routine
2002292630Above average
200111300Routine
200041411Fatalities reported
1999 — this page22400Routine
199830300Routine
199730310Routine
199620310Routine
199546420Routine
19948300Routine
199333300Routine
19901000Routine

Compare every Impreza year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 11, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.