Windshield, electrical, fuel system and steering issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
Subaru has long been synonymous with quality, which is why customers relied on the 2019 Subaru Impreza. The newer models have the tagline “engineered to last,” but what does this say about the previous versions? Once an examination is done into the faulty electrical system, malfunctioning fuel system, defective steering and poor visibility, everyone sees that this model doesn’t stack up.
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When a car’s electrical system is glitchy, it can create a number of problems from non-working features to a car fire. Unfortunately, some Impreza owners have had to face the latter.
Just look at this NHTSA review. “Car caught fire on the morning of Sunday, January 5, 2020 while stationary in a parking lot. The car had been stationary for approximately 12 hours. The attending fire department felt the fire started in the engine compartment, and consumed the entire car by the time it was extinguished. The car was a total loss. The car ran perfectly until then, and had its routine 1st service by a Subaru dealer around 5,000 miles.”
A recent recall shows other electrical system issues that could cause problems. NHTSA Campaign Number 19V743000 states that over 400,000 vehicles might be equipped with ECM software that isn’t programmed right. It could lead to a blown fuse or short circuit, which causes the vehicle to stall. While this won’t cause a car fire, it can still lead to an accident. However, many owners are hoping the Impreza will just die so they can move on.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | |
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Electrical System | |
| Engine | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Steering | |
| Visibility:windshield | |
| Air Bags |
The fuel system is a vital component, providing the energy needed for the motor to run. When this system malfunctions, owners are left with a car that doesn’t run the way it should.
That’s what is revealed through this NHTSA comment. “Car stopped running while driving down the street. Automobile was towed to dealer yesterday (9-11-19). Dealer, called today (9-12-19), said problem is a bad fuel pump and may take up to a month to get the ordered part delivered and installed. New vehicle purchased April, 2019 a little less than 2800 miles on odometer.”
There’s another recall related to the fuel system. NHTSA Campaign Number 20V218000 states that almost 200,000 vehicles might have a low pressure fuel pump that can stop working. If this component fails, the engine will stall and owners will not be able to restart the vehicle. Of course, it’s only a month until the repairs get done, so owners might want to get used to using Uber in the meantime.
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When it comes to keeping the vehicle on the road, the Impreza must be equipped with a solid steering system, but that area seems to be lacking as well.
One more NHTSA review states, “The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Impreza. While driving various speeds over bumps in the road, the contact heard an abnormal dragging, scraping noise emerging from the driver’s side of the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to [dealer] where it was diagnosed that the shocks and steering rack assembly needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided [case number]. The contact was provided a loaner vehicle. The failure mileage was 600.”
Something must have gone terribly wrong for this car to fail after 600 miles. It turns out that there are also serious suspension concerns related to the Impreza. Service Bulletin #05-66-18 states that all four front suspension crossmember retaining bolts need to be replaced to improve efficiency. So far, it’s difficult to see how Subaru can boast of such superior engineering, especially on a vehicle that seems to fall apart when it leaves the lot.
The final concern comes from what appears to be a defective glass design.
Here is one Edmunds review to illustrate the point. “Beware of the easily broken windshield in this car in less than 8000 miles of owning it I have had to replace the windshield twice already due to extensive damage from a small pebble kicked up by the car in front of me. I will not recommend this car to anyone because of the poor quality windshield. As soon as I can trade it in I will go buy another car like a Honda. I had a new windshield installed and as I left the dealership it cracked. I will never buy another Subaru they lost a loyal customer. Less than 2 weeks of having a new windshield installed it has cracked again. Subaru is making crappy cars now buyer beware.”
Despite the endless list of complaints regarding the glass and how easy it shatters, Subaru hasn’t had anything to say. However, there are tons of other communications about the structure and how poor this car was built. For example, Service Bulletin #10-89-18 states that there could be a gap or improper fit of the center vent grille assembly. Of course, this is only one of many parts that wasn’t engineered correctly. In fact, at this point, it might be better to scrap the entire design and start over. There’s very little that’s salvageable from this vehicle.
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Subaru pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 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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