2001 Subaru Impreza

Routine

Owners filed 11 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the tires. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Tires2
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip2
100
Air Bags › Frontal2
203
Tires › Sidewall1
000
Suspension1
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc1
000
Fuel/Propulsion System1
000
Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control Module1
000

3 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jan 10, 2016151,000 milesNY

THE CAR HAS A GAS ODOR IN CABIN WHEN STARTED IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THE SMELL WILL GO AWAY AFTER A LITTLE WHILE. JUDGING UPON HOW MANY ARTICLES I HAVE READ , THIS IS A PROBLEM. WHY HAVE THEY NOT EXPANDED THEIR RECALL?

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 17, 2007121,000 milesNY

TL* - THE CONSUMER BLACKED OUT AND DOESN'T REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER HIT A GUARD RAIL POST AND THEN TWO TREES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE OF FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG FAILED NOT TO DEPLOY. UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed May 30, 200642,000 milesCA

I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHEN A WOMAN FELL ASLEEP AND HIT ME HEAD ON. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Apr 24, 200675,000 milesCA

DRIVING ALONG THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH, THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS THE INTERIOR SIDEWALL WHERE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. I NOTICED THAT IN THE SPECIFIC LOCATION OF THE FAILURE, THE SIDEWALL WAS EXTREMELY SOFT; UNLIKE THE REST OF THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN BACK TO COSTCO; BUT THEY REFUSED TO ACCEPT THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE. THE TIRE HAD 25,000 MILES ON IT; DRIVEN CONSERVATIVELY. I DO STILL HAVE THE FAILED TIRE, AND TWO OTHER TIRES JUST LIKE IT ARE STILL ON THE CAR. THE TIRE IS A BRIDGESTONE POTENZA 205/55R16 91W, ULTRA HIGH PERFORMANCE. *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Oct 27, 20031,000 milesTX

AFTER READING ABOUT INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE SUBARU WRX ABS PROBLEMS, I NOW FEEL LIKE THE ISSUE IS BROADER THAN THE NHTSA RECALL SUGGESTS. I DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A SITE TO FILE THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT.*AK I DRIVE A 2001 SUBARU IMPREZA 2.5RS. THE ABS SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE INCREDIBLY SENSITIVE TO SMALL BUMPS AND UNDULATIONS IN THE ROAD. IF THE CAR HITS A BUMP WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED, THE ABS SYSTEM BEGINS PUMPING THE BRAKE WHICH CAUSES, IN MY OPINION, LENGTHENED STOPPING DISTANCES AND A FEELING OF LACK OF CONTROL OVER THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM IS EASILY DUPLICATED.

Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control Module
Filed Oct 22, 2003CA

FOR SOME REASON, THE FACTORY ANTI-THEFT DEVICE HAS CUT OFF THE STARTER AND IT WOULD NOT LET ME START THE CAR. WHEN I TURN THE KEY TO "START", THE ENGINE DOES NOT TRY TO TURN OVER AT ALL. WHEN I OPEN THE HOOD, I CAN HEAR A QUIET HIGH-PITCH NOISE WHEN KEY IS TURNED TO "START", AND THAT'S ALL. ALL THE ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS STEREO, RADAR DETECTOR, WORK FINE WHEN KEY IS IN "ON" POSITION. I HAVE TO HOLD DOWN THE OVERRIDE SWITCH TO START MY CAR. FURTHERMORE, THE REMOTE ENTRY/ANTI-THEFT DEVICE HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DISABLED. TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE "BRAIN" OF THE ALARM SYSTEM, OR THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT'S SIMPLY DEAD. *LA

SuspensionCrash
Filed Jul 3, 200325,000 milesMI

THE REAR WHEEL BEARING REPEATIDLY FAILED. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED TEN TIMES. THE VEHOICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT RELATED TO THE FAULT BEARING. *AK *CB *NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Jun 19, 2003300 milesNJ

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM OVER REACTS. HAD TO AVOID ACCIDENTS MANY TIMES WHEN CRUISING TO STOP AND HITTING EITHER A DIP,SMALL OR LARGE POTHOLE,SLIGHT IMPERFECTION IN ROAD SERVICE WILL CAUSE ABS TO ENGAGE (BRAKE PETAL DOPS AND ABS STARTS) ESPECIALLY ON DOWNHILL BREAKING. I WILL INCLUDE 1 INCIDENT DATE BECAUSE THAT IS ALL YOU WILL ALLOW ME TO DO ON THE FORM. PROBLEM IS REPEATABLE AND HAPPENS OFTEN (2-3 TIMES A WEEK) I KNOW THIS IS NOT JUST MY CAR OR A PROBLEM RELATED TO ONLY MY CAR IT IS ALREADY KNOWN, SUBARU KNOWS OF PROBLEM. YET DOES NOT OFFER A SAFE SOLUTION. I ACTUALLY FOUND THIS OUT THE HARD WAY 2 MONTHS AFTER GETTING MY NEW CAR THE RS MODEL.NO INJURIES LUCKILY. FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM SUBARU CLUBS THIS HAPPENS WITH OTHER MODEL YEARS AS WELL. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS BEEN VERY STUBBORN TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. *NLM

Tires
Filed Sep 28, 2001MA

TIRE FAILURE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Sep 17, 2001CA

THE BRAKE ROTORS HAVE SURFACE IMPERFECTIONS WHICH CAUSES INCOMPLETE BRAKE SHOE CONTACT TO THE ROTOR AND CONCENTRIC GROOVES IN THE ROTOR. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM WRX OWNERS OF THE SAME PROBLEM, AS WELL AS REPORTS OF BRAKE SHOES WEARING OUT BEFORE 5000 MILES AND GRINDING NOISES. SUBARU HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND CHOOSES TO USE THE EXCUSE "IT IS ONLY A PROBLEM OF APPEARANCE" WHEN IN FACT THE ROTORS, A VITAL PIECE OF A MAJOR SAFETY COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE. WE DEMAND A RECALL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE ROTORS. SUBARU'S FLIPPANT AND RIDICULOUS ATTITUDE IS IRRESPONSIBLE. PLEASE FORCE THEM TO FIX THIS OBVIOUS MECHANICAL DEFECT.*AK

TiresCrash
Filed Mar 13, 2001TX

FIRST OFF THE ROADS WERE WET FROM A PREVIOUS RAIN AND THERE WAS NO STANDING WATER. I WAS TURNING A LEFT HAND CORNER FROM 3040 ONTO SERVICE ROAD OF I-35E SOUTH. WHILE IN THE TURN I HYDRO PLANED INTO THE CURB. I CALLED FOR A WRECKER AND WHILE LOADING THE CAR I'VE FOUND THAT 2 OF THE 4 TIRES WERE PUT ON BACKWARDS. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND THE LEFT REAR. THERE IS A ROTATION ARROW ON THEM. I CALLED B.F GOODRICH AND THEY SAID THAT THE TIRE BEING PUT ON BACKWARDS COULD HINDER THE RAIN SHEDDING OF THE TIRE. HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRES ON BACKWARDS AND A ESTIMATE OF THE DAMAGE.*AK (TIRESIZE: 235/50ZR16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/50ZR16 )

11 of 11 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
2001 — this page11300Routine
200041411Fatalities reported
199922400Routine
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.