TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAPITAL CHEVROLET (2855 MAPLE AVE NE, SALEM, OR 97301, (503) 585-4141) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM IS WITH DEFECTIVE PLATE OPERATED BY THE GEAR SHIFTER TO TOUCH A SENOR WHICH JOB IS TO RELEASE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THIS PLATE DOESN'T ALWAYS DO THE JOB THEREBY THE FAILURE OF THE KEY. I WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING IN ALL SUBARU MODELS OF 2016 AND BEYOND. CONSUMER STATED IGNITION KEY GETS STUCK AND NOT RELEASING THE KEY.*JB
2016 Subaru Impreza complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2016 record →
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR BRAKE LIGHTS SUBARU SAFETY RECALL WUE-90; NHSTA RECALL ID 19V-149; APRIL 2019. I CALLED OUR LOCAL DEALER TO ARRANGE REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULDN'T OCCUR UNTIL 8 JULY. WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO IN THE MEANTIME? THE CAR IS USED FOR BUSINESS AND THE ONLY ONE WE OWN. WE CAN'T JUST "NOT DRIVE IT" AND ARE APPARENTLY AT INCREASED RISK DESPITE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES PER YEAR. IN THE TWO MONTHS BEFORE THIS CAN BE REMEDIED IT WILL HAVE BEEN DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES, ALL THE WHILE RUNNING THE RISK OF GETTING REAR ENDED.
WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND PLACED INTO PARK POSITION, THE GEAR SHIFTER IS ABLE TO BE MOVED FROM PARK INTO DRIVE, REVERSE, AND NEUTRAL WITH THE ENGINE OFF. THE KEY ALSO BECOMES STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER IS MALFUNCTIONING. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE SHIFT INTERLOCK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE.
THE BRAKE STOP SWITCH FAILS INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING DASH LIGHTS TO SHOW THE HILL BRAKE ASSIST, STABILITY CONTROL, AND ABS SYSTEMS HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. ANOTHER SIDE-EFFECT OF THIS SITUATION IS THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS CAUSING A RISK OF REAR COLLISION IF THE DRIVER CONTINUES TO DRIVE EVEN WHEN THE DASH LIGHTS GO OFF. AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE DRIVING SITUATION.
BRAKE LIGHTS TURN ON AUTONIMOUSLY WITHOUT HAVING TO PULL THE EMERGANCY BRAKE OR DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKE LIGHT WITHIN MY VECHILE WILL TURN ON WHILE DRIVING RANDOMLY OR EVEN WHILE IN A STATIONARY POSITION, THERE IS NOT SET TIME INTERVAL TO THE RANDOM ON AND OFF BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. SOME TIMES IT'LL TURN ON AND OFF WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF DRIVING OR THRITY MINUTES.THERE HAS RECEMTLY BEEN A RECALL BY SUBARU FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A DEALER NOTIFICATION YET.
2016 SUBARU IMPREZA. CONSUMER WRITES WITH CONCERN FOR VERY DIM HEADLIGHTS AND EASILY SCRATCHED/SOFT WINDOW SHIELD. *AS *TR
EXPERIENCED UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WHEN TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT; SUCCESSFULLY STOPPED THE CAR WITH THE BREAK HOWEVER WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK AGAIN TO GO FORWARD, THE CAR ACCELERATED DRIVING OVER A SMALL ISLAND AND HIT A PARKED CAR WHICH WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER PARK CAR. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. RECENTLY AN OUTSIDE AGENCY WAS HIRED BY SUBARU AND AN ENGINEER FROM THIS AGENCY COMPLETED AN INSPECTION. AM WAITING TO GET THE RESULTS OF THIS REPORT.
THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR HAS BEEN GOING OFF WHEN NOTHING IS IN THE SEAT. BECAUSE THE SENSOR THINKS SOMETHING IS IN THE SEAT THE AIRBAG FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE IS TURNED ON. AFTER GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP, QUIRK SUBARU, IN BANGOR MAINE, THEY TOLD ME MY CELL PHONE WAS SETTING OFF THE SENSOR. THEIR RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, "DON'T BRING YOUR CELL PHONE INTO THE CAR." THE CAR CAN BE MOVING OR STATIONARY AND WILL RANDOMLY TURN ON. IT'S GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE LAST YEAR HAPPENING ABOUT 4 TIMES SINCE AUGUST OF 2018. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO HANDLE THE MATTER. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THIS POSES A RISK TO OCCUPANTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHICH MAY LED TO AN UNWANTED AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.
I WAS DRIVING TO A THANKSGIVING GATHERING, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JULTED. IT WAS VERY ODD FELT ALMOST LIKE A PIN WAS PUT IN THE TRANSMISSION FORCING THE TIRES TO STOP SPINING. BUT WAS VERY BRIEF. AFTER ANOTHER 0.5 MILES OF DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70MPH IT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT CONTINUOUSLY WITH LOUD GRINDING AND CRUNCHY NOISES. AFTER PULING OVER THE CAR WAS SMOKING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS EXTREMELY HOT. NO LIGHTS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. GOT A TOW TRUCK AND IT STRUGGLED TO PULL THE CAR ON TO THE TRAILER BED. AND WHILE IT WAS ROLLING ON YOU COULD STILL HEAR THE GRINDING NOISES. WE HAD 4 PEOPLE IN THE CAR 2 SMALL 5FT 2IN WOMEN AND 2 MAKES WINNING 180 LBS. WE HAD FOOD AND DUFFLE BAGS IN THE TRUNK AND IT WAS 40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OUTSIDE WE WERE 1 HOUR INTO THE TRIP AND ON FLARE ROADS
I WAS DRIVING ON A DECLINE AT 10 TO 15 MILES PER HOUR ON A SNOWY EVENING AND WHEN I TRIED TO BREAK, MY BREAKS LOCKED UP AND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OF MY AUTOMOBILE EXCEPT FOR STEERING AND MADE THE CHOICE TO GO TOWARDS THE GUARD RAIL TO SLOW MY AUTOMOBILE DOWN SINCE I HAD NO BRAKES. I BOUGHT MY AUTOMOBILE 16 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE HAD DIFFICULTIES WITH TIRE LIGHTS COMING ON AND MANY OTHER ISSUES AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS AUTOMOBILE.
INTERMITTENTLY UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION AFTER PLACING CAR IN PARK. UPON RESTARTING VEHICLE AND TURNING IT BACK OFF, KEY IS ABLE TO BE REMOVED.
THE AIRBAGS TURN OFF WHEN IT IS RAINING OR HUMID OUTSIDE. PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND WHEN THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. PASSENGER AIRBAG HAS TURNED OFF WHEN THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT; DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG HAS ALSO TURNED OFF DURING RAINING/HUMID CONDITIONS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
REAR AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK/UNLOCK USING KEY FOB OR AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK FEATURE ON INTERIOR OF CAR. IT SEEMS TO BE MORE AFFECTED DURING HOT OR COLD DAYS. THE ONLY WAY TO LOCK/UNLOCK IS TO MANUALLY DO IT. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, NO WATER DAMAGE OR HAS HAD ANY OTHER ISSUE.
CVT WILL NOT SHIFT IN COLD WEATHER. I TOOK TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE TACH REACHING 2600 RPM'S AT 30 MILES TO 55 MPH AND CVT WAS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR, WOULD NOT SHIFT. I SAY THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM, NOT NORMAL FOR THIS OR ANY CAR. GAS MILEAGE IS BAD, ENGINE WEAR IS BAD AND NOT SAFE ON HIGHWAY. THIS HAPPENED )1/3/18, 1/6/18 AND 1/8/18.
THE BLUETOOTH HAS A CONNECTIVITY ISSUE. IT HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING, WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, WHEN I'M STATIONARY. THERE IS REALLY NO TELLING WHEN IT WILL SKIP, BUT IT HAPPENS ONE TO TWO TIMES EVERY HOUR. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT CAUSES MY HEART TO RACE AND SOMETIMES I FEEL I'M HAVING A PANIC ATTACK. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW, THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE CAR, IT'S NOT THE PHONE, BUT IT'S THE WAY IT CONNECTS, AND THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA AND IT DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE RADIO UNIT, MADE SURE THE CAR'S OPERATING SYSTEM IS UP TO DATE, AND BASICALLY TOLD ME IT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT.
MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH ON A CIITY STREET WHEN A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF HER. SHE SWERVED TO MISS THE DEER, LEAVING THE ROAD AND ENTERING A HEAVELY WOODED LOT. SHE CAME TO A STOP APPROXIMATELY SIX FEET OFF THE ROAD STOPPED BY A TREE DEAD CENTER IN THE FRONT BUMPER. EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, NEVER LOCKED UP THE BRAKES, AND HER REAR PUMPER WAS ONLY SIX FEET OFF THE ROAD, THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND SURGED WHILE MAKING A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS TO CHECK WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I TURNED MY CAR ON ONE AFTERNOON AND FOUND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT STAYED LIT ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE CAR WAS STATIONARY. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE, I DISCOVERED THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY GONE (I.E., VERY HARD TO TURN STEERING WHEEL). HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER, SINCE ONLY 1 YEAR OLD. DEALER INITIALLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BAD POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE. THREE DAYS LATER, AFTER THE PART ARRIVED, THEY INSTALLED IT AND FOUND MORE ERROR CODES INDICATING A POWER SUPPLY ERROR. MORE NEW PARTS WERE ORDERED THAT TOOK ANOTHER THREE DAYS TO ARRIVE. UPON REMOVAL OF POWER STEERING RACK, TECHNICIAN FOUND RODENT DAMAGE ON WIRING TO MODULE ON RACK AND PINION UNIT. MY ONLINE RESEARCH SUGGESTS RODENTS ARE ATTRACTED TO SOY WIRE INSULATION THAT IS USED IN NEWER SUBARU VEHICLES LIKE MINE. I AM CONCERNED OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS CAN SHORT OUT IN THE CAR AT ANY TIME, SINCE I CANNOT AVOID SQUIRRELS AS MY CAR IS PARKED IN AN OPEN PARKING LOT AT HOME. MY PRIOR CAR (A 1999 SATURN SL2) WAS DRIVEN AT THE SAME INTERVALS AND PARKED AT THE SAME LOCATION FOR 5.5 YEARS WITHOUT A SIMILAR PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A WHIPLASH AND A BLOODY NOSE, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,047.
TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, I BLACKED OUT. FIRST TIME, RAN OFF EDGE OF ROAD; SECOND TIME, RAN OVER INTO ON-COMING LANE. TWICE, I HAD MAJOR ALLERGIC SYMPTOMS. FIRST, RIGHT AFTER BUYING CAR; SECOND, SIX MONTHS LATER. TWICE, I GREW BREATHLESS AFTER DRIVING CAR FOR SEVERAL HOURS. ONCE, I COULD NOT KEEP MY BALANCE AFTER DRIVING CAR ON A HIGHWAY. ALL OF THESE EPISODES OCCURRED AFTER LONGER THAN USUAL DRIVES. NORMALLY, I DRIVE SHORT DISTANCES AROUND TOWN. TWICE, AN OPAQUE FILM FORMED ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, OBSCURING VISIBILITY - ONCE ON A DARK HIGHWAY; ONCE ON ENTERING A GARAGE. WIPERS, WASHER FLUID, RAIN DID NOT AFFECT THE FILM. *TR
THE 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA STARTED TO GO FORWARD WHEN THE SHIFT KNOB WAS IN THE REVERSE POSITION. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN A ROW AND ON THE THIRD TIME THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BRAKE HARD IN ESSENCE "FIGHTING" THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, TRIED AGAIN, MADE IT HOME. IT WAS A RAINY DAY. MADE APPT. WITH DEALER. AFRAID TO DRIVE IT!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY FROM A STANDING OR SLOW MOVING POSITION THE CAR STALLS OFTEN TIMES LEAVING YOU MOMENTARILY STOPPED IN THE FACE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC.THIS ACTION IS SPORADIC, IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME YOU MASH THE ACCELERATOR FOR TAKE-OFF . THE DEALER MECHANIC SAYS IT HAS BEEN A NORMAL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR.
WHEN MY WIFE SITS ON A 3 INCH FOAM CUSHION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THE PASSENGER SIDE TO SIT MORE COMFORTABLY (SHE IS 4'11' AND HAS HIP PROBLEMS); THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ONLY GOES INTO ON MODE INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAPPEN WHEN ENTERING THE CAR AND CONTINUES WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IN AN ACCIDENT, IF NOT NOTICE BE THE PASSENGER OR DRIVER. CORRECTIVE ACTION BELIEVE IT OR NOT INVOLVE.S BOUNCING UP AND DOWN ON THE SEAT. A SIDE EFFECT SEEMS TO BE, THAT WHEN THE SIGN IS IN OFF POSITION, THE SEAT BELTS LOCKUP AND CONSTRICT THE PASSENGER.
THE SEAT BELTS LOCK OFTEN AND WILL NOT RELEASE UNTIL THEY ARE FULLY RETRACTED AND PUT BACK ON. THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER WILL BE FIRMLY SECURED TO THE SEAT WHEN THIS OCCURS. IT HAS CAUSED US MANY TIMES TO HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO CORRECT THE BELT. THIS CAUSES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN THE DRIVER CANNOT MOVE TO CHECK FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC ETC. THE DEALER CALLS THIS NORMAL OPERATION AND SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG. ALSO, THIS HAPPENS IN MOTION OR STANDING STILL AND EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF.
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2016 Subaru Impreza → · Every Impreza year → · How the figures are calculated →