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The 2018 Subaru Impreza was released and enthusiasts expected it to follow the long history of reliability and superior drivability. The newest lineup is hailed as being “engineered to last,” but owners tend to experience something very different. With a defective electrical system, a malfunctioning engine and a poorly-built structure, this Impreza doesn’t live up to the brand’s previous reputation.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2019 2020 2021 2022
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NHTSA Complaints for the 2018 Subaru Impreza
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Exterior Lighting | |
| Electrical System | |
| Engine | |
| Visibility:windshield | |
| Structure:body | |
| Power Train | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Air Bags |
Problems with the Electrical System
What isn’t the electrical system responsible for? It runs most everything in a modern vehicle. When something fails, it becomes irritating and even dangerous at times.
One Edmunds user talks about electrical issues. “Infotaintment issues: Back up camera did not always come on, GPS did not always work or froze, display would freeze and not allow to change volume etc. – Reprogrammed then eventually replaced. Bluetooth sometimes cuts out on long drives but cannot verify if my phone or infotaintment system.”
While this is annoying, there’s a much larger electrical system issue happening in the background. NHTSA Campaign Number 19V743000 states that the ECM software can short circuit and cause the vehicle to stall. If this occurs, owners are at risk of a collision. Sadly, this problem affects nearly 500,000 vehicles on the road. If it is “engineered to last,” this simple and essential system would work as it should. Yet, even basic functions are failing, which is why it isn’t lasting with today’s driver. Instead, enthusiasts are switching brands.
Problems with the Engine
One thing Subaru used to do right was to create powerful and reliable engines, but the 2018 Impreza ends that reign.
Here is yet another Edmunds review to pay attention to. “I had a 2018 Subaru Impreza. It ran so bad in traffic surging then almost stalling. I took it to the dealer 2 times but they could not recreate the problem so too bad even though it was still under warranty. I am so disappointed. Prior to this car I had a 2011 Impreza and loved it for 180,000 miles. The 2018 is gone now traded in and not for another Subaru.”
Again, the Impreza suffers from a massive recall, this time with the engine. It turns out that more than 200,000 vehicles have a Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve that might separate. If this occurs, drivers will experience a loss of power, which again, increases the chance of an accident. Between short circuits and vital parts simply falling apart, this model can’t brag about being “engineered to last” with a straight face. In fact, it must be a sick joke offered by the brand, labeling this lemon as something reliable.
Problems with the Windshield Cracking
Seeing out of the windshield is essential to safety behind the wheel of any car, but this Impreza has some serious concerns to discuss.
Look at this NHTSA complaint. “Purchased this car brand new about a month ago. A large fracture crack appeared in the middle of my windshield, originating from the base underneath the plastic stripping, extending upward in an inverted L-shape. Happened for no apparent reason; the car was stationary, parked inside my closed garage, so there was no reason or cause for a crack to occur. Apparently Subaru is aware of their windshield defects as they recently lost a lawsuit over this issue for their Outback models.”
Subaru doesn’t freely offer up any information about windshield defects, but a quick look at the communications does show structure concerns. Service Bulletin #WTX-83 initiated a program to inspect the driver’s side rear subframe assembly weld. It turns out that many cars require a replacement because of an improper weld. Subaru claims that this mistake won’t affect the safety, but still is noticed by the driving and handling of the Impreza, which is why the company offered to fix it. At this point, one has to wonder what the Impreza was actually engineered for, and what were these engineers doing when designing this car. Parts are failing, welds are done wrong and the car is basically falling apart at the seams. Owners agree that the 2018 Subaru Impreza is no longer impressive at all.
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Complaint Data
| Category | Visibility |
| Date | Mar 01, 2023 |
| State | CO |
| Description | The contact owns a 2018 subaru impreza. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v624000 (visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. |
| Category | Exterior Lighting |
| Date | Feb 22, 2023 |
| State | OR |
| Description | The contact owns a 2018 subaru impreza. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v624000 (exterior lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available. |
| Category | Exterior Lighting |
| Date | Feb 21, 2023 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2018 subaru impreza. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v624000 (exterior lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available. |
| Category | Exterior Lighting, Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jan 30, 2023 |
| State | OR |
| Description | Have had low visibility at night since purchase in 2018. Thought it was just the bulbs until receiving a recall notice that it is a manufactured issue and there is still no remedy. Very low night visibility is a serious safety risk to myself and other drivers when having to operate after dark. It has been over 5 months and subaru has still failed to make a remedy available to resolve problem. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Jan 25, 2023 |
| State | OR |
| Description | Driver / owner of vehicle was found deceased from a fire that originated in the engine compartment of the vehicle. This is being reported by portland fire and rescue fire investigator [xxx]. No apparent body damage to the metal parts of the vehicle. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6). |
| Category | Exterior Lighting |
| Date | Jan 23, 2023 |
| State | CT |
| Description | Headlights on #22v624000 recall wrg22. My headlights never illuminated the road properly since new. Mentioned it several times to dealership on service visits and they stated they are all the same. It seems there was an issue. I called subaru and they advised there is no time line to fix a safety recall? It has been 5 months since the recall was issued and they still cannot tell when it can be fixed? |
| Category | Engine, Power Train, Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | Jan 18, 2023 |
| State | OR |
| Description | After the coil pack recall was done, our car began shuddering, hesitating and stalling. Went to the dealership 4-5 times. Ecm and prindle valve were replaced but still doing it. Then engine exploded going up a hill, stranding us for 2. 5 hours on the freeway. Engine replaced under warranty (which expired while in shop for two months). No warranty on new motor. Same issues still going on and shop now charges us to "look at it." it stalled last week in heavy traffic, so it definitely is dangerous. We don't want to sell the car and pass the problem on to someone else. |
| Category | Exterior Lighting |
| Date | Jan 04, 2023 |
| State | PA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2018 subaru impreza. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v624000 (exterior lighting) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available. |
| Category | Visibility:windshield |
| Date | Jan 04, 2023 |
| State | CO |
| Description | The contact owns a 2018 subaru impreza. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, he noticed that a vertical crack had formed on the bottom passenger's side windshield. The crack quickly extended approximately 30 inches. The contact stated that the crack obstructed his vision while driving at various speeds. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000. |
| Category | Exterior Lighting |
| Date | Dec 27, 2022 |
| State | WA |
| Description | My car was involved in an accident and one headlight was smashed. I found out from my body shop that was my car was recalled and they have no way to fix my headlight. I called subaru and they told me that the body shop could just put another head light in. But when I talked to the body shop, they cannot just put a headlight in because of the recall. No one is able to help me and now I am out of a car for months instead of only one month. |
| Category | Exterior Lighting |
| Date | Dec 19, 2022 |
| State | NV |
| Description | The contact owns a 2018 subaru impreza. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v624000 (exterior lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available. |
| Category | Exterior Lighting |
| Date | Dec 15, 2022 |
| State | NE |
| Description | The contact owns a 2018 subaru impreza. The contact received notification of the nhtsa campaign number: 22v624000 (exterior lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer was notified of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available. |
| Category | Exterior Lighting |
| Date | Dec 06, 2022 |
| State | CO |
| Description | The contact owns a 2018 subaru impreza. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v624000 (exterior lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available. |
| Category | Exterior Lighting |
| Date | Nov 13, 2022 |
| State | CT |
| Description | This recall was issued aug 12 2022 and 3 months later still no parts available to fix the lighting issue? I reported this headlight issue at the first scheduled service that I thought the headlights were dim and did not shine far enough. Dealer service sept said they are all like that. Yes they are …. When will they have the parts? |
| Category | Visibility:windshield |
| Date | Oct 24, 2022 |
| State | TX |
| Description | The contact owns a 2018 subaru impreza. The contact stated that he parked and remained at a close distance from the vehicle; however, upon returning to the vehicle, he noticed that there was a large crack on the windshield. The contact inspected the windshield but could not determine the cause of the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 25,500. |
| Category | Service Brakes |
| Date | Sep 19, 2022 |
| State | VT |
| Description | Suspected defective and/or faulty brake booster or brake hose on the front left tire. Car starts violently shaking/shuddering when easing onto the brakes (once the brakes have warmed up for my daily commute to work). Resulting vibrations travel up the steering column to the steering wheel, and into the cabin. The car will then pitch its nose in various directions; it feels as though the front left brake is being grabbed and not properly released. Taken to a subaru dealership multiple times. New brakes and rotors installed in july 2022; other components of the brake (calipers, pistons) were inspected in aug. 2022 and appeared fine. However, on inspection (08/2022) the newly replaced rotor on the front left tire was already showing visible wear/damage (white scalding) due to excessive heat generated while braking. I have taken the car to be serviced at a dealership multiple times & have been told the shaking "couldn't be replicated." I recreate it every day I drive to work (350 miles every week). *please* see the video linked to a third-party website: https://imgur. Com/a/wfvlv0a other symptoms: the engine starts and runs roughly despite recent oil changes. Obdii code p0300 (random/multiple cylinder misfire detected) was detected by a personal obdii scanner, although I don't know if that issue is related. Ignition timing advance for the 1st cylinder is near red zone. Please help.. |
| Category | Steering, Structure |
| Date | Sep 13, 2022 |
| State | NY |
| Description | Bought this car 1 year ago at east hills subaru. Among other problems such as water leaking inside vehicle due to clogged drains, most recent issue is the steering column not locking firmly. This is causing the steering wheel to shift up or down while driving, even though locking mechanism under steering wheel column is engaged. The car has under 40k miles. The safety of the driver is at risk here as the shifting movement of the steering wheel affect proper steering. Dealer is unable to give me a reasonable appointment to address this and only has drop off service, no loaner cars available. I am not happy with the subaru service department and the inability of this service department to address serious issues in a timely matter. |
| Category | Electrical System, Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jul 17, 2022 |
| State | WI |
| Description | After less than two years into my lease, the car was completely 'dead'. I could not start it or 'jump' it. It cost me out of pocket money to have it towed 50 miles to dealership. They replaced battery. They car was recalled a year or so. Took it into dealership for repair. After I noticed that automatic headlight dimmer would not work.-still doesn't. 2 weeks ago, car would not start. Was told again by dealer that car had to be brought in. Was referred to 'roadside service company' was quoted an ' out of pocket' charge of 4 to tow vehicle to dealership. Since I could not do that, decided to order battery myself for 0. Waiting for battery to arrive |
| Category | Visibility:windshield |
| Date | Jun 14, 2022 |
| State | SC |
| Description | The contact owns a 2018 subaru impreza. The contact stated that the front windshield was cracked. The contact was unsure what caused the windshield to crack since the vehicle was rarely driven. The contact scheduled an appointment with the dealer for an inspection. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 81,500. |
| Category | Visibility:windshield |
| Date | May 04, 2022 |
| State | AZ |
| Description | The contact owns a 2018 subaru impreza. The contact stated that after he poured water onto the windshield to wash the windshield, the windshield shattered. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | May 01, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Rear view mirror fell off while driving. There was no impact or otherwise cause for this to fall off. The mirror took a chunk of glass from the front windshield with it. Very dangerous. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 06, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Windshield cracked for not apparent reason. Parked car, places visor up, came back to car, took visor down and immediately noticed the crack. I do not remember any rocks hitting the windshield at that spot and I did not notice it at all until this morning when returning to my car. Very unusual. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jan 07, 2022 |
| State | PA |
| Description | The windshield on my 2018 impreza car cracked on the lower left drivers side. The crack was unexpected and was not triggered by anything. It arrived out of no where. There is no chip or indentation. Crack is about the length of 2 dollar bills. I feel this is a manufacturing defect and should be paid for by subaru. This is absolutely faulty craftsmanship and I am extremely disappointed with the durability considering I take excellent care of my vehicle and have had it for less than 1 year! Not to mention, I do not even want to think about the lack of protection this windshield would have provided me if I were ever been in an accident. As a mother, I prefer to drive a vehicle that is safe with my 2 year old daughter in the back seat. I read that there is an ongoing lawsuit with subaru concerning 2017-2019 vehicles with windshield defects. I am not the only individual experiencing this. Not to mention, this is not an expense I was prepared for and shouldn't have to be, if subaru would make a windshield that was not faulty and safe for its consumers! Subaru needs to make this right and be considerate of its consumers. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Dec 05, 2021 |
| State | VA |
| Description | I have had 3 windshields crack (all in the winter months) for no reason with this impreza. On december 4 2021, I turned on the car and while still in park, a 5" crack started growing from the bottom of the front windshield upward. The crack was not there when I started the car and during the day it grew to 8". This repair costs 00 each time and from what I have read, subaru is aware that this is not an isolated incident with these windshields. I complain each time that the windshields are defective and that vehicles I have that are 10 years old have not had a windshield crack or be relaced. Even a subaru employee joked I should trade before getting another cracked windshield this winter. I should have heeded that advice. |
| Category | Visibility:windshield |
| Date | Nov 29, 2021 |
| State | PA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2018 subaru impreza. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked in the driveway and as he sat in the vehicle, he noticed that there was a crack on the passenger's side of the windshield. The contact looked around but could not determine the cause of the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to an independent mechanic for repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Nov 02, 2021 |
| State | MD |
| Description | Front windshield cracked for no reason. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Sep 05, 2021 |
| State | TX |
| Description | This vehicle was sold to me with the recall not fixed and not disclosed to me. They also did not disclose that this vehicle is a salvage. (they being a dealership). It was sold at salvage/insurance auction with 14, 170 miles. It was then sold at a dealer auction with 14, 171 miles. When it was sold to me the mileage on the duplicate title I was given showed actual mileage of 14,171. The odometer disclosure statement I received indicates mileage of 14, 172. Upon purchasing the vehicle which is financed through chrysler capital, I noticed the car while driving on the freeway at 70 mph would pull to the right. Without the multiple details this is a quick summary. This vehicle needs to be off the road and not sold again. I have documentation of all this and more. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jun 07, 2021 |
| State | IL |
| Description | The windshield is cracked for the 3rd time without anything hitting it. The past 2 times I have taken it to the dealer for repair and made them aware of it. I have receipts in my possession showing the cost of replacement from my previous 2 windshields I have replaced from the dealership. Currently the windshield cracked yesterday while it was parked on 6/6/21. No damage to the vehicle was noticed prior to this time. This will be the 3rd windshield I will have to replace at my own cost. I am worried about my safety after the fact the windshield has cracked 3 times and wonder if it's going to happen while I am driving. There was no prior warning for each time it has cracked. |
| Category | Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Unknown Or Other |
| Date | May 01, 2021 |
| State | NJ |
| Description | Since january 2021, the screen with the rear camera go to black, many times and you only can see the red and yellow lines, so and other words when activate reverse the screen is black you can see nothing. Please help. |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Apr 16, 2021 |
| State | MI |
| Description | I lease a 2018 subaru impreza, which currently has about 14,000 miles. Since january 2021, it's battery has failed multiple times. I have taken the car to the dealer (dunning subaru in ann arbor, mi) and the service department has installed 4 new batteries. Their diagnosis has been that as long as I don't drive more often and farther (in these vague terms) my car's battery will continue to fail. The last time I took my car to get it fixed after it stranded me, on april 16, the dealership and subaru of america's consumer advocate office both suggested that I purchase an off-market battery tender to recharge the battery. This means that they anticipate their car battery will fail with my current driving needs. In other words, the vehicle is unreliable. But from their perspective, I am at fault for not driving more. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other, Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Apr 15, 2021 |
| State | SC |
| Description | The rubber at the bottom of the windshield from end to end is not secure properly. I bought it 2/8/2021. My first time washing it was 4/12/2021 when I noticed that the rubber is loose |
| Category | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking, Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Apr 03, 2021 |
| State | CO |
| Description | They were towing my car, and this vehicle only has one place to grab it, when the towing service was going to release my car this place to grab it broke and released, and ejected the car, if not for the handbrake it had happened a fatal accident, a car from 2018 that has these faults, I don't think so, now they must pay for the damages to the 2 vehicles, which is not what it should be because this is a factory damage I'm sure, I have videos, photos, everything, this was in colorado and it happened when I was going to leave my car at the dealer, it could happen in another place and it could attempt with someone's life |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Apr 02, 2021 |
| State | IL |
| Description | Oem battery failed and left driver stranded in nov 2020. Dealer replaced battery at that time. Dealer had to replace battery again today, 04/02/2021 because it was also failing. Dealer would not acknowledge that issue was with car. Simply stated that they would continue to replace failed batteries if within warranty period. Extremely dangerous. When battery fails, car is unresponsive to any/all commands. |
| Category | Structure:body |
| Date | Mar 23, 2021 |
| State | NY |
| Description | Windshield cracked in middle for no reason. Crack is 1. 5 feet long. Vehicle was stationary when it occurred. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 13, 2021 |
| State | NY |
| Description | In 2019, I experienced 2 incidents related to the glass in this vehicle. In the first incident, I noticed a chip in the front windshield on the passenger side. This was patched by a glass repair service. In the 2nd incident, I noticed a chip in the glass of the driver's side window. This required replacing the entire glass pane, also done by a glass repair service. In both of these instances, there was not a definite event I could identify as the cause of the damage. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 11, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Windshield needed to be replaced twice in a single month due to the formation of large cracks during normal highway driving in the san francisco bay area. Both windshields were subaru oem installed at certified subaru dealerships. The windshield also appeared to have an excessive amount of chips considering its age and the driving conditions it experienced (paved highways) |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jan 06, 2021 |
| State | NC |
| Description | Weak windshield cracked like every other subaru owners I know of this generation. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jan 02, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | On december 13, while my car was parked at my house on the side of the road, my windshield cracked. It started at the top center of the windshield and has grown since. There is no impact point or reason for the crack. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Dec 18, 2020 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The front windshield spontaneously cracked |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Dec 17, 2020 |
| State | PA |
| Description | Windshield cracked under normal driving conditions. Car only has 35k miles on it. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Nov 28, 2020 |
| State | CA |
| Description | When starting the subaru releases dark grey smoke in high quantities, and has been loosing power when speeding up. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Nov 28, 2020 |
| State | NE |
| Description | On the morning of friday, november 13 2020, we found the windshield of the 2018 impreza to have cracked overnight without any sign of impacts. The crack originated on the passenger side near the bottom where the wiper blade locates, but has spread quickly in less than 2 weeks ' now reaching across to the driver side, as shown by the photos. We have reached out to the subaru dealership where we purchased the vehicle and requested a windshield replacement under warranty. We are awaiting for a resolution. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Nov 27, 2020 |
| State | CO |
| Description | Windshield cracked for no apparent reason. Parked at work in morning, when I returned in the afternoon about a 12 inch crack across passenger side of windshield. No chips or cracks were there before. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Nov 26, 2020 |
| State | OR |
| Description | Windshield cracked when I set down the windshield wiper after cleaning it. Not covered by warranty, had to pay out of pocket. |
| Category | Service Brakes |
| Date | Nov 11, 2020 |
| State | NY |
| Description | I began the lease of my 2018 subaru impreza wagon in march of 2018. In september of 2019, I brought my vehicle in for brake issues I was having. My brakes were making a squealing noise, and considering that my mileage was 20,527, I found this to be odd. Dealership had my car until 10/5/19, and had to bring in a new tech to remedy the problem. I was told that this was a known problem with my car, and that my car would be the "guinea pig" to figure out the solution. Brought my car in again on 2/26/20 for an open recall for the brake hoses swelling. Replacement happened then. Mileage at that time was 25,908. Less than 5,000 miles later, I bring my car in again to have the brakes looked at, as they were squealing. 9/19/2020, mileage 30,770. Dealership looked at the brakes then, and said there was no issue. Contacted the dealership again after leaving, as the brakes continued to make the noise, and had started to smell like burning rubber. I emailed videos of the noise on 9/25, and 9/30. I called and I was told to bring the car in on 10/6/2020, though they didn't look at it then. The brakes also started to vibrate while braking at higher speeds, and the smell of burning rubber was quite strong. Went in on 10/17/2020, and had my car until 10/22/2020. Mileage in was 31,908, mileage out was 32,044. Inspection by the tech found that the rotors were hot spotted and pads were discolored. Replaced front pads and rotors. On 10/27/2020 I emailed again with more videos of the brakes continuing to squeal. I was asked if I could bring the car in, and I did again, same day. Mileage was 32,482. I was then told at pickup on 11/4/2020 that they believe that the noise was being caused by a "slag grease buildup on the caliper pins." I was told that should remedy the problem. On the drive on 11/4/2020, the brakes began to squeal again. Continues to squeal daily on all drive terrains. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Oct 07, 2020 |
| State | SD |
| Description | Windshield cracking with only light impact. Have several cracks from these impacts. Did not hear impact, noticed crack after being in sun for a few hours. Have never seen such a weak windshield. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Sep 28, 2020 |
| State | CO |
| Description | Damage to the windshield was noticed the morning of july 12,2020 while the vehicle had been parked overnight from 6pm to 8am at a residential parking lot. The damage appeared in a small "u" shape on the passenger side and quickly increased in size within two weeks. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Sep 27, 2020 |
| State | ME |
| Description | Windshield spontaneously cracked while stationary in a driveway |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Sep 23, 2020 |
| State | OH |
| Description | Yesterday when I left work there was a long crack starting from the top and middle of the windshield, down about 8 inches before it takes a large c shaped turn ~24inches total. No obvious sign of impact, nor did I hit anything or hear anything while I was driving yesterday work. This was not there when I got to work and I park in a parking lot that doesn't have much traffic so nobody would have been there to damage it. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Aug 13, 2020 |
| State | OH |
| Description | I got in my car in the morning and first noticed a small crack in my windshield. Nothing had hit the windshield when I was driving the day before to cause the crack. Since then it continues to spider web and impair my visibility while driving. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jul 20, 2020 |
| State | NM |
| Description | I turned on my windshield wipers with fluid and my windshield cracked within 5 seconds. I had just pulled out of my driveway, speeds where at 0-5 mph on residential street, no trees overhead, clear skies, temperature at 95 degrees, the vehicle was parked outside under no trees or branches at all times. There is no other damage to that area, or any other area, of my windshield that would have cause this. The crack started from the top middle, came down past the rear view mirror and split off into multiple other cracks. At no point in the past couple of months did I ever getting hit on the windshield that would have caused unseen damage or weakened the windshield. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jun 30, 2020 |
| State | TX |
| Description | With the call being less than 2-months old and under 2k mi. The windscreen was struck with a small rock just below the drivers wiper blade. I was proceeding from a full stop and the opposing car was stopping at an intersection, speed was under 25-mph. The windscreen cracked over 12-in. From a very low velocity impact. I now have to pay 0 out of pocket to replace the glass (aftermarket, oem is over 0) to pass state inspection. This is the same problem as with other subarus with inferior windscreens cracking. |
| Category | Steering, Suspension, Wheels |
| Date | May 25, 2020 |
| State | PA |
| Description | The car is less then 2 years old and it has a problem braking, it makes a rubbing noise everting time it turns while braking, at higher speeds it vibrates, and also has problem shifting dealership said they had no problems with the car |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | May 19, 2020 |
| State | OH |
| Description | I entered my car in my driveway at a rural home to see that my windshield had a hairline crack starting at the top by the rearview mirror and curving to the left (looking at the car). The car had not been driven in the past two days. The last time the car was driven, there was no crack in the windshield. The crack is not from a vehicle accident. It is possible it is from environmental issues, but there is no entry point of a foreign object. *tr |
| Category | Suspension, Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Apr 02, 2020 |
| State | AL |
| Description | Since the end of 2018, about 6 months after acquiring the vehicle lease, I started to hear noises while driving the car. They sounded like creaky noises you'd hear from a car that was 10+ years old. At first, jim burke subaru dealership said they did not hear the sound, then after another four or five months went by I decided to take my car in again. It was so loud at that point that they kept my car to work on it. Over the course of a year they have kept my car about 5+ times, replaced the suspension system, replaced the ball joints and now have labeled it as a "spot weld" issue that must have occurred when the car was made in the factory. This sound occurs when driving the car around town but not over 45 mph. It is mainly on the passangers side but I have heard it previously on the drivers side. Subaru corporate has offered me either a warranty extension on the car if I choose to keep it or a voucher for text="Who are we? We are Lemberg Law, a Consumer Law Firm" smalltext="Lemberg Law is a consumer law firm helping victims of bad manufacturing and run-arounds from auto companies. We are ranked A+ by the BBB. Call our Helpline today! There is no charge unless we win." img="balance" color="green",500 if I wanted to trade in the car at the end of my lease. In december of 2019 I agreed to this but since then I have taken my car back into the dealership and after a months time of working on the car they still have not been able to repair the issue. I then contacted subaru corporate again and they said they are "not obligated to replace the vehicle, only repair the issue". The amount of hours I have spent taking my car to the dealership and now feeling unsure of the strength of the body of the car or the integrity of the manufactured vehicle I am stuck with a 6 lease payment every month until summer of 2021. I am paying for the same amount someone else is paying for a nice, well functioning car. At what point is subaru responsible for replacing the vehicle? All repairs and documentation of this issue has occurred through jim burke subaru. I can provide documents from the dealership if this would support any reason for investigation. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Mar 23, 2020 |
| State | TN |
| Description | Driving down the highway and the glass cracked seemingly for no reason. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Mar 14, 2020 |
| State | CO |
| Description | Windshield has cracked on various occasions. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 14, 2020 |
| State | WA |
| Description | Front windshield is cracked for no reason. Insurance company wont cover it |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 13, 2020 |
| State | WA |
| Description | 2 months after purchasing brand new vehicle, the windshield cracked after a small pebble hit the windshield while driving. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 23, 2020 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The windshield of my brand-new subaru impreza *spontaneously* developed a crack. Implicitly acknowledging that the problem was caused by a factory defect, the dealer installed a new windshield. Unfortunately, the replacement developed a crack, too. The dealer argued that it was probably hit by some object when, in fact, it was not. |
| Category | Engine, Power Train, Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | Jan 16, 2020 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Intermittent loss of power at 2000 to 3000 rpm is getting worse and worse. I've taken it to my local subaru dealer 8 times to address this issue and they have denied anything I've reported. They've had technicians on rides with me but I can't recreate something that is so intermittent. It seems to happen more in hot weather but I can safely say ac isn't the cause. Although my car isn't a crosstrek, the motor in one is exactly the same as mine. I suspected it was due to a recall repair that hadn't been performed but ive had both of my recalls done but my dealer never reported it to subaru of america. The name of my main dealership is hine subaru of temecula. Https://www. Subaruxvforum. Com/threads/hesitation-bog-on-acceleration-6mt. 175290/page-2 this forum and countless others have discussed this issue and continue to claim it's a safety issue, especially when merging onto the freeway. When the issue is present, the car has absolutely no throttle input. The only way to accelerate out of danger when merging is to downshift to keep the rpms above 3000 to avoid the loss of power. There have been times when I've had to pull off the freeway when trying to merge because my car would not accelerate properly. I immediately brought it to the dealer after it happened and they turned me away because I didn't have an appointment. I implore anyone reading this to delve into the forums discussing this issue. There are dozens of others who report the exact same issue. Some were lucky and traded their vehicle in. I was referred by a user to file a complaint in fact. Please, this is a real hazard and I don't feel safe in my car. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Dec 17, 2019 |
| State | IL |
| Description | Oem windshield chips with no cause. At 10,000 miles window is covered in chips everywhere. Dealer admitted chips/cracks are a known issue with all new models but not a warranty or recall claim. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other, Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Oct 27, 2019 |
| State | CA |
| Description | My windshield cracked for no apparent reason. |
| Category | Air Bags, Electrical System, Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | Aug 11, 2019 |
| State | TX |
| Description | The side airbags did not deploy and 3 sensors where activated but because of the electrical problems it never went off. *js *js |
| Category | Structure:body |
| Date | Apr 01, 2019 |
| State | CA |
| Description | 2018 sport model noticed front windshield cowl panel warped at 4770 miles and again at 6880 miles after warranty placement. Cowl panel pops up at the center of the panel leaving a 1/8" gap between the rubber seal and the base of the windshield. Upon pressing it down, the gap will return in a few days leaving a larger 1/4" gap. Over time the panel pulls itself completely off the windshield exposing the plastic clips that holds the cowl behind the windshield. This gap exposes the 2 wire windshield heating element to dust and rain along with trapping various dust and debris. |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Mar 24, 2019 |
| State | OH |
| Description | Problem with the ignition switch not wanting to engage, wouldn't turn the key at all. Has been a problem for the last few months where I had to play with ignition to get it to turn over |
| Category | Structure:body |
| Date | Feb 28, 2019 |
| State | WA |
| Description | The wiper cowl cover separates from the windshield resulting in a gap between the cowl cover and the windshield. This gap allows an abnormal amount of water to flow inside, especially during heavy rainfall, snow, or carwash. In addition, debris such as leaves, pine needles, etc enter through the gap, resulting in clogged drain tubes over time. In the photo below the gap is around 0. 25 in after attempting to push it back in, after driving, the gap grows to an 1 in at the center. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Feb 06, 2019 |
| State | CT |
| Description | The car was designed so that the radio turns on automatically when the car is parked & the engine is started. That feature is distracting to the driver. For example, the driver must remember to turn the radio volume completely down before turning off the engine. Otherwise, when the driver turns the engine back on again, the radio noise is audible & can sometimes be startling. The driver must then either turn the volume completely down or turn off the radio; there is always a short delay before the radio shuts off. Having to focus on eliminating radio noise distracts the driver from focusing on essential tasks, such as putting the car in gear & checking the surroundings before parking or moving the car. |
| Category | Air Bags, Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module, Seat Belts, Seats |
| Date | Jan 27, 2019 |
| State | CA |
| Description | I was involve to car accident, I was a passenger the seat belt was on me and, praporly lucked to the seat. The driver airbag deploey. He didnt get any damege to his body. And my iarbag did not deploey cause of that I have spine fracture lambar l3-l2. It happend in 08/23/2018. |
| Category | Structure:body |
| Date | Dec 23, 2018 |
| State | WA |
| Description | About two weeks ago when the first frost hit I noticed there was a windshield crack but it looked unrelated to an impact crack as it came from the side of the windshield and extended towards the center. After getting the windshield replaced one week later while sitting in my car and it is warming up another crack appears in my windshield. It seems as though the windshields and crack but it looked unrelated to an impact crack as it came from the side of the windshield and extended towards the center. After getting the windshield replaced one week later while sitting in my car and it is warming up another crack appears in my windshield. It seems as though the windshields in subaru's are susceptible to damage when there's is temperature changes. The vehicle was stationary both times when it got cracked in my driveway. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Dec 04, 2018 |
| State | MA |
| Description | The vehicle is swaying left and right at highway speeds even without strong wind. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Nov 10, 2018 |
| State | NJ |
| Description | 3 months after purchasing a new 2018 subaru impreza, the windshield spontaneously cracked on the evening between 11/8/18 and 11/9/18. The wind shield had not sustained any impacts during the 3 months of use and was always parked so that nothing could fall on it from trees etc. The crack had no chips on the morning of 11/9/18, when it had spontaneously appeared and was a clean glass fracture. I took it to the dealer the following day on 11/10/18 for replacement under warranty as there are many online complaints as well as a class action law suit against subaru for this exact defect in many of their vehicles dating back to 2015. The crack is clearly caused through a manufacturer defect; however, the subaru dealership took a pen and placed it in the crack causing a small dent to occur in the glass fragments. They then said the crack was caused by a stone impact and would not be covered under warranty. The crack was clearly not caused from a stone and the vehicle had not been hit by any stones. The crack occurred when the vehicle was stationary away from anything that could fall on it or impact the windshield in any way. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Oct 18, 2018 |
| State | MD |
| Description | 2 months after purchasing the car new, while driving on a highway about 65 mph, something small (a rock likely, but it was imperceptible; only heard the sound) hit the windshield, causing a small chip, approximately 1 mm in length. After parking my vehicle and returning to it the next day, I found a crack through 75% of my windshield (outer passenger seat edge to inside edge of driver's seat) starting from the chip. I had the windshield replaced with an oem glass and re-calibrated the eyesight per the instructions. A week later, while driving on a 40 mph road, a rock clearly hit the windshield and scratched the new windshield. The scuff leftover is maybe 2 mm. The car is 3 months old and it already has one new windshield and one scuffed windshield. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Oct 05, 2018 |
| State | AZ |
| Description | Purchased this car brand new about a month ago. A large fracture crack appeared in the middle my windshield, originating from the base underneath the plastic stripping, extending upward in an inverted l shape. Happened for no apparent reason; the car was stationary, parked inside my closed garage, so there was no reason or cause for a crack to occur. Apparently subaru is aware of their windshield defects as they recently lost a lawsuit case over this issue for their outback models. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Sep 22, 2018 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The engine died while coming to a rapid stop from about 35-40 mph. All the lights on the instrument panel turned yellow. After putting the transmission park the engine would not restart. After numerous attempts, removing and replacing the key, and about 2 to 3 minutes the engine did start. I was unable, after a few attempts, to reproduce the problem. We took the car to the dealer. They stated that they had not seen this problem. They did, however, perform a software update in the hope that it would solve the problem. |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine, Power Train |
| Date | Jun 11, 2018 |
| State | TN |
| Description | The car has stalled 3 times while driving. At a stop sign, red light and at a stop sign. The incident at the traffic light caused the vehicle to start rolling backwards and almost hit into another vehicle. Subaru can not find the problem but acknowledges the incidents of stalling. The car is not safe to drive and was purchased in the later half of april 2018. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jan 15, 2018 |
| State | CT |
| Description | Driver's side door glass shattered in temperatures of -5 degrees when the door was closed. The car was parked and in my driveway |
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About the Author:
Brian Jones spent more than 20 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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