Tire & Steering issues are among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
The Subaru Impreza, first introduced in 1992, is a family car that was developed from the brand’s motorsport cars. It’s popular and has sold well. But it has its problems, and there are Impreza owners who are convinced they have bought a lemon.
Lemberg Law has already discussed issues that have been experienced by owners of 2018, 2019, and 2020 models. Now we are reporting on problems with the 2021 model.
One of the most alarming is a recall (one of 2) that has resulted in an urgent notification to 2021 owners of 802 vehicles to “stop driving this vehicle immediately.”
That has to be a soul-stopping message for any 2021 Subaru Impreza to receive. The reason for the recall is that a “separated control arm may cause the tire to contact the wheel well, resulting in a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.” Categorized as a suspension problem (not tires), it is one of 2 recalls on this model and is dated August 30, 2021.
So far, there are 6 complaints about the 2021 Subaru Impreza that have been made to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While 2 relate to tires, none appear to relate to the problem that prompted the recall.
This means that you need to be ultra-aware of anything that seems to be wrong with your vehicle. And if it is a recurring problem, file a complaint with NHTSA and contact a reputable lemon law firm like Lemberg Law.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2019 2020 2022
Of the 6 complaints reported to NHTSA so far, steering and tires top the list, with 2 complaints each. The rest relate to the engine, vehicle speed control, and windshield of the car.
What is interesting, is that when we examine the manufacturer communications that Subaru has sent to dealers, the biggest issues relate to the electrical system and equipment. There are a total of 82 of these documents, which, by law, must be shared with NHTSA.
Clearly, these have crossover issues, but 45 are listed as relating to the electrical system and 43 to equipment. Only 1 tire issue has been shared and it doesn’t appear to relate to the recall. There is nothing on record that warns 2021 Impreza owners about possible steering issues.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | |
| Steering | |
| Tires | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Air Bags | |
| Engine | |
| Power Train |
The two complaints about tire problems involve different brands of tires, Yokohama, and Continental.
The first reports a bulge developing on the sidewall of the tire on the driver’s side. “The integrity of the tire was compromised so I contacted the dealership and arranged to have the tire replaced.” Not long after, the same thing happened on the rear driver’s side tire. And, again the tire was replaced at the owner’s cost.
Additionally, the complaint contains an important warning:
“It is also possible that the bulge might appear on the backside of the sidewall where it would not be noticed. It is possible that another motorist might not recognize the integrity of the tire was compromised and that their life and the lives of others were potentially at risk.”
The second tire complaint describes “a loud abnormal noise” which was the front tire blowing out and damaging the rim. This vehicle only had about 1,700 miles on the clock.
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The 2 complaints about steering problems are quite different from one another. One states the car won’t drive straight, which is “outright dangerous in weather or wind.” At the time of the complaint, it was a new car with only 700 miles on the clock.
“A Subaru dealer is checking the alignment, but they say they are aware of this issue and have no answers.”
The second reports an “erratically loose” steering column that “does not feel safe to drive at highway speed.”
One of the other issues related to engine and vehicle speed control problems. The car accelerates on its own and this reportedly happened several times, including in a parking lot.
Another reports a windshield cracking within 3 weeks of purchasing a new 2021 Subaru Impreza Hatchback AWD.
Not every 2021 Subaru Impreza with faults and malfunctions is a lemon, but if yours has recurrent or persistent problems, it might be. If you suspect yours is a lemon, please feel free to call the Lemberg Law Helpline so that we can assess your case.
We have substantial experience in the lemon law niche and have helped many clients negotiate settlements. These include buybacks, trade-ins, and cash settlements.
The good news is that if you have purchased a lemon, you aren’t going to have to foot the legal bills. The law says that this is the responsibility of Subaru.
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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