NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
108 reports28,000 miles · Oct 30, 2018
Air Bags
AIRBAGS IN THE CAR SHUT OFF WHEN A PASSENGER GETS IN THE SEAT IF THEY HAVE EVEN A TINY AMOUNT OF MOISTURE....SUCH AS AFTER WORKING OUT AT THE GYM *AND CHANGING CLOTHES*. ALSO IF IT'S RAINING, THE 50' WALK FROM THE HOUSE TO THE CAR PUTS ENOUGH MOISTURE ON THE PASSENGER TO MAKE ALL OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR SHUT OFF. CALLED THE DE…
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AIRBAGS IN THE CAR SHUT OFF WHEN A PASSENGER GETS IN THE SEAT IF THEY HAVE EVEN A TINY AMOUNT OF MOISTURE....SUCH AS AFTER WORKING OUT AT THE GYM *AND CHANGING CLOTHES*. ALSO IF IT'S RAINING, THE 50' WALK FROM THE HOUSE TO THE CAR PUTS ENOUGH MOISTURE ON THE PASSENGER TO MAKE ALL OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR SHUT OFF. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME TO NOT GET THE SEAT WET. SEVERAL OTHER YEAR MODELS OF SUBARU HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE- THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED.
NHTSA ODI #11144013
56,000 miles · Aug 31, 2018
Electrical SystemEngine
FOR THE THIRD TIME, WHILE DRIVING THE SUBARU THE ENGINE DIED AND ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. CAR CONTROL WAS DIFFICULT. THE FIRST TWO TIMES WAS ON A FREEWAY AND THE THIRD TIME WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. CAR WAS TOWED TO A SUBARU DEALER WHO DETERMINED, THAT THE ELECTRICAL BULKHEAD HARNESS WAS DAMAGED DUE TO RODENTS CHEWING ELECTRICA…
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FOR THE THIRD TIME, WHILE DRIVING THE SUBARU THE ENGINE DIED AND ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. CAR CONTROL WAS DIFFICULT. THE FIRST TWO TIMES WAS ON A FREEWAY AND THE THIRD TIME WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. CAR WAS TOWED TO A SUBARU DEALER WHO DETERMINED, THAT THE ELECTRICAL BULKHEAD HARNESS WAS DAMAGED DUE TO RODENTS CHEWING ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT RESULTING IN A BLOWN FUSE. AFTER THREE WEEKS OF REPAIR AND AT A COST OF $7173.65 THE CAR WAS REPAIRED, HOPEFULLY. HAVING THE ENGINE SIMPLY FAIL, TWICE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, WAS AN EXTRAORDINARILY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE. I HAVE A DETAILED REPAIR INVOICE BUT NO ABILITY TO SCAN IT. MY INSURANCE CLAIM WAS DONE BY PHONE AND ELECTRONICALLY.
NHTSA ODI #11123894
30,000 miles · Aug 29, 2018
Engine
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (55MPH IN CALIFORNIA) I HEARD A LOUD SLAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE HIGHWAY WAS RELATIVELY STRAIGHT. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW. I COULD NOT GIVE THE ENGINE MORE POWER BY STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED T…
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WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (55MPH IN CALIFORNIA) I HEARD A LOUD SLAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE HIGHWAY WAS RELATIVELY STRAIGHT. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW. I COULD NOT GIVE THE ENGINE MORE POWER BY STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO THE FAR RIGHT SHOULDER.
NHTSA ODI #11123317
Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2018
Air Bags
ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS IN MY 2014 IMPREZA STOPPED WORKING DUE TO A SENSOR MALFUNCTION AFTER THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION GOT WET (E.G., BY PEOPLE SITTING IN THE SEAT AFTER EXERCISING OR GETTING CAUGHT IN THE RAIN). AN AIRBAG SENSOR SHOULD NOT DISABLE AN AIRBAG BECAUSE OF A WET SEAT. THIS IS A SA…
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ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS IN MY 2014 IMPREZA STOPPED WORKING DUE TO A SENSOR MALFUNCTION AFTER THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION GOT WET (E.G., BY PEOPLE SITTING IN THE SEAT AFTER EXERCISING OR GETTING CAUGHT IN THE RAIN). AN AIRBAG SENSOR SHOULD NOT DISABLE AN AIRBAG BECAUSE OF A WET SEAT. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT, HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED FOR THE 2014 IMPREZA IN ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS, AND IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE DEFECT THAT PRECIPITATED A 2012 IMPREZA SAFETY RECALL (RECALL #WQT-55, SAFETY CAMPAIGN 15V419000) SUBARU SHOULD RECALL THE 2014 IMPREZA AND PAY FOR THE COST OF REPLACING DEFECTIVE AIRBAG SENSORS.
NHTSA ODI #11118699
50,000 miles · Jun 24, 2018
Air Bags
MY FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNS OFF SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN I HAVE PASSENGERS SITTING THERE. I TOOK THE CAR TO CARMAX, WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND THEY SAID THE SEAT SENSOR WAS MALFUNCTIONING DUE TO A WET SEAT. THE SEAT WAS NOT WET TO MY TOUCH AND NO LIQUID HAD SOAKED IT. SINCE THEN, THE AIRBAG HAS CONTINUED TO TURN OFF WITH A PAS…
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MY FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNS OFF SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN I HAVE PASSENGERS SITTING THERE. I TOOK THE CAR TO CARMAX, WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND THEY SAID THE SEAT SENSOR WAS MALFUNCTIONING DUE TO A WET SEAT. THE SEAT WAS NOT WET TO MY TOUCH AND NO LIQUID HAD SOAKED IT. SINCE THEN, THE AIRBAG HAS CONTINUED TO TURN OFF WITH A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT WHEN DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 5 TIMES IN A 6 MONTHS TIMESPAN. I HAVE A VIDEO DOCUMENTING ONE OF THE TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED.
NHTSA ODI #11103629
75,000 miles · Jun 20, 2018
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING WITH THE HATCH OPEN, THE HATCH FELL DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HATCH BOLT HAD FRACTURED IN HALF. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING WITH THE HATCH OPEN, THE HATCH FELL DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HATCH BOLT HAD FRACTURED IN HALF. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
NHTSA ODI #11102810
21,000 miles · Aug 28, 2017
Service Brakes
MY 2014 SUBARU HAS LESS THEN 21,000 MILES AND THE FRONT BRAKES STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE WHHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE CALIPERS WERE BINDING UP DUE TO RUST, PRESUMABLY FROM ROAD SALT. MY CAR SPENT 2 WINTERS IN UTAH AND THE REMAINDER OF ITS SHORT 3 YEAR LIFE IN THE CALIFORNIA BAY AREA. I CONTACTED SUBARU …
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MY 2014 SUBARU HAS LESS THEN 21,000 MILES AND THE FRONT BRAKES STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE WHHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE CALIPERS WERE BINDING UP DUE TO RUST, PRESUMABLY FROM ROAD SALT. MY CAR SPENT 2 WINTERS IN UTAH AND THE REMAINDER OF ITS SHORT 3 YEAR LIFE IN THE CALIFORNIA BAY AREA. I CONTACTED SUBARU CUSTOMER SUPPORT ABOUT THIS AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR WAS 6 MONTHS OUTSIDE ITS 3 YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY, THERE WERE NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME. BRAKE CALIPERS SHOULD NOT NEED REPLACING AT 21,000 MILES AND SHOULD LAST CLOSER TO 100,000 MILES. I BELEIVE THESE CALIPERS ARE DEFECTIVE AND A SAFETY HAZARD. SUBARU HAD TO RECALL 660,000 VEHICLES DUE TO RUST AFFECTING THEIR BRAKE LINES (HTTPS://WWW.NYTIMES.COM/2014/07/04/AUTOMOBILES/SUBARU-RECALLS-660000-VEHICLES-FOR-BRAKE-LINE-CORROSION.HTML?MCUBZ=3) AND I BELEIVE THAT THIS PROBLEM ALSO EXTEND TO THEIR BRAKE CALIPERS AND THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THIS PART OF THE VEHICLE. I THINK THE NHTSA NEEDS TO EXOAND THE SUBARU RECALL. I MENTIONED THIS RUST RELATED BRAKE RECALL TO SUBARU SUPPORT AND THEY REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN MY ISSUE AND THE RECALLS THEY HAVE HAD.
NHTSA ODI #11020153
92,000 miles · Aug 7, 2017
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A RED LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY THAT …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A RED LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NAPLETON'S ARLINGTON SUBARU MAZDA (LOCATED AT 1555 E RAND RD, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60004 (847) 255-5700), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
NHTSA ODI #11013379
50,000 miles · Aug 2, 2017
EngineCrash
HAD JUST PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY AND WAS PUTTING CAR INTO PARK WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED--REVVED--AND CRASHED THROUGH THE WOODEN GARAGE DOOR AND INTO THE POURED CONCRETE WALL AT END OF GARAGE, CRACKING IT AND MOVING WALL BEHIND IT.
NHTSA ODI #11012269
50,000 miles · Aug 2, 2017
EngineCrash
I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN EXTREME ACCELERATION JUST AFTER I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR SUDDENLY--VERY RAPIDLY--ACCELERATED AND CRASHED THROUGH WOODEN GARAGE DOOR AND INTO THE POURED CONCRETE WALL AT BACK OF GARAGE, CRACKING THE WALL AND OF COURSE TOTALING THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI #11012263
Official recalls
3Feb 28, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
Nov 1, 2018
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Subaru Impreza, 2012-2013 Impreza Stationwagon, 2013 Subaru BRZ, XV Crosstrek and Toyota Scion FR-S vehicles. The engine valve springs in these vehicles may fracture causing an engine malfunction or a possible engine stall.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. Toyota will notify the FR-S owners. Dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614, Toyota owners may contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-888-270-9371. Subaru's number for this recall is WTY-84.
Oct 13, 2016
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, all equipped with turbo-charged engines. The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTM-73.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗