subaru impreza Problems

subaru impreza 2013 Complaints

ENGINE

vehicle will not start after an extended period of attempts. appears to happen most often when vehicle is parked (either indoors or outside) for more than several hours. car will crank over for 10+ seconds and will not start. after multiple attempts, car has started eventually. have communicated with dealer and sia offices that i have noticed the car will make whirring noises that come from the back rh side of vehicle - and also a clicking noise near center of dash when turned off and sitting. this will go on for over 5 minutes at a time, which must drain battery since car is not turned on or engine running. was told by dealer that this is the emission system "purging" itself - and is considered normal for this vehicle. sia offices confirmed this and also stated that nothing is noted in the current owners manual which explains this feature. my concern is that the car is unable to start when required to - and am guessing that it might be related to this unusual feature... . regardless of origin, safety issue with car not starting and being ready to operate when normal starting procedures are followed.

Reported in: TEMPERANCE MI || Crash: N || VIN #: JF1GPAL62DH

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

vehicle will not start after an extended period of attempts. appears to happen most often when vehicle is parked (either indoors or outside) for more than several hours. car will crank over for 10+ seconds and will not start. after multiple attempts, car has started eventually. have communicated with dealer and sia offices that i have noticed the car will make whirring noises that come from the back rh side of vehicle - and also a clicking noise near center of dash when turned off and sitting. this will go on for over 5 minutes at a time, which must drain battery since car is not turned on or engine running. was told by dealer that this is the emission system "purging" itself - and is considered normal for this vehicle. sia offices confirmed this and also stated that nothing is noted in the current owners manual which explains this feature. my concern is that the car is unable to start when required to - and am guessing that it might be related to this unusual feature... . regardless of origin, safety issue with car not starting and being ready to operate when normal starting procedures are followed.

Reported in: TEMPERANCE MI || Crash: N || VIN #: JF1GPAL62DH

AIR BAGS

i was involved in an accident while driving my recently acquired 2013 subaru impreza, where another driver hit my vehicle in a side impact on the driver side front wheel and driver door (i can send the pictures via email). the good news is that i was able to get out on the other side of the vehicle. the bad news is that the side air bags did not deploy, and this was also noted by the emergency crew who arrived on the scene. i believe that this may be a design flaw or defect that subaru engineers need to have a closer look at.

Reported in: NORTH SALT LAKE UT || Crash: Y || VIN #: JF1GPAU65D2

POWER TRAIN

was at a red light, stopped. light turned green started to go, went to shift into 2nd gear and heard a loud pop and the car wouldn't go any more. had it towed to gerald jones subaru dealer, where i bought it. was told it was driver error and the clutch went out. an independent mechanic said he's seen it plenty of times in the wrx going back to 2008 and that subaru has defective welds on the vehicles' firewall, which results in clutch and/or brake failure.

Reported in: MARTINEZ GA || Crash: N || VIN #: JF1GR7E68DG

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST

2013 subaru impreza. consumer writes in regards to brake assist system. *smd according to the subaru manual, the brake assist system assisted the brake power when the driver cannot depress the brake pedal strongly and the brake power was insufficient. brake assist generated the brake power according to the speed at which the driver depressed the brake pedal. the consumer stated while driving in the right lane, on a rural interstate highway, with very little traffic. with the cruise control set at 65 mph, he immediately had to hit the brake, as another driver moved into his lane. the consumer stated the power assist forcefully slowed the vehicle down, against his will. the consumer stated he found himself struggling with the accelerator pedal, to try and gain speed.

Reported in: MONTPELIER VT || Crash: N || VIN #: JF1GJAC69DG

STEERING

the malfunction described in the following always occurs under the conditions described. this is a potentially life-threatening malfunction that in many cases would result in the total loss of steering control while the vehicle is in motion. 1. car is parked, with the engine off. 2. driver enters car, depresses clutch pedal, and releases parking brake. 3. vehicle rolls (even slightly) before engine ignition is turned on and engine starts. 4. engine starts and the steering malfunction light illuminates and the electric power steering servo powers on and actively locks the steering wheel in position, preventing the driver from turning the steering wheel. this condition continues to exist when the clutch is released and the vehicle is in motion under engine power. this condition lasts 4-10 seconds, and then the vehicle begins operating normally. in order to turn the wheel, the driver must overpower the power steering, something many drivers would be unable to do. this is not a case of "dry steer" (engine off steering) or attempting to steer without power steering. the vehicle can be steered (with increased steering effort, as expected) under "dry steer" (engine off) conditions, the first time this malfunction occurred, the vehicle was moving at approximately 10 mph before the driver (myself) noticed the inability to steer. i narrowly missed crashing into a curb/divider by performing a "panic stop" with the brakes. i was unable to steer to avoid the curb, i was forced to come to a rapid stop using the brakes.

Reported in: EVERETT WA || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

i bought my 2013 subaru impreza and with approx 10,000 miles i got a low oil light on. i found out my subaru burns a quart of oil every 2500-3000 miles. that is unacceptable for a brand new car. subaru is selling a lemon.

Reported in: MONTEBELLO CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

we were pulling into a parking place, turning the wheel and the car unexpected leaped forward. this has occurred now 5 times--all times moving slowly forward, turning the wheel as we tried to park. this has occurred with both my partner driving, and with myself driving. so far we have managed to slam on the brakes in time--and they stopped the car. but we fear crashing or accidentally hurting someone.

Reported in: BRONXVILLE NY || Crash: N || VIN #: JF1GJAD61DH

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

tl* the contact owns a 2013 subaru impreza. the contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated as the traction control independently disengaged while driving. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. the dealer found certain spider species had crawled into the fuel system, creating a web that caused the engine light to illuminate and the traction control to fail. the fuel system was cleaned. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure and current mileage was 3,200. . updated 03/12/14*lj

Reported in: PORT WASHINGTON NY || Crash: N || VIN #: JF1GPA566D2

EQUIPMENT:AIR CONDITIONER

tl* the contact owns a 2013 subaru impreza. the contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated as the traction control independently disengaged while driving. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. the dealer found certain spider species had crawled into the fuel system, creating a web that caused the engine light to illuminate and the traction control to fail. the fuel system was cleaned. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure and current mileage was 3,200. . updated 03/12/14*lj

Reported in: PORT WASHINGTON NY || Crash: N || VIN #: JF1GPA566D2

SERVICE BRAKES

in an outside parking lot with parking blocks started the car and moved forward toward and over the parking block at starting speed. the car leaped forward and lost braking power, with the brake pedal going to the floor. car leaped ahead across the asphalt road to next parking row on gravel with driver turning right, to avoid a pole and standing cars ahead, and non-accelerating steady-speed movement continued over several parking blocks on gravel without ability for the driver to stop using brake pedal. the car could not be stopped, with brakes dropping, even when back on asphalt road. movement only stopped when shift put in parking position. in total the braking power was lost for at least 5 seconds. the trigger for evidenced brake disfunction was low-speed front-wheel collision with the concrete below-bumper parking block, or pressing the brake pedal when going over the block, or a combination of these and possibly other factors. dealer stated no brake failure, no fluid leak, no error codes. driver hold responsible for the > $2400 cost to replace damaged exhaust system and scratched driver-side front wheel. however, most of the damage was caused not by the initial collision with the parking block, but the subsequent uncontrollable movement over several (4-6) parking blocks due to loss of brake pedal function. had there been people, cars or bigger objects ahead of the car, the accident could have caused serious injury or extensive property damage. the height of the parking block was just slightly higher than the height of a standard speed bump. we encourage investigation on subaru impreza 2013 brake and abs function when braking over speed bumps, curbs and other low obstacles or following a low-speed, low-obstacle front-wheel collision.

Reported in: WEST LAFAYETTE IN || Crash: N || VIN #: JF1GPAC64DH

ENGINE

i was driving into work in the morning and as i entered the parking area i noticed my oil light come on. i parked the car and checked the oil, and to my surprise there was nothing on the stick. i had just changed the oil less than 2000 miles prior to this and i was concerned. i proceeded to check for leaks and found none. i took the car in to the dealer and was informed that my engine is a quart low on motor oil (0w20), and that this is normal because 2.0i fb engines burn a quart of oil every 1200 miles at the most. this is absurd, i am a former ase certified mechanic and this was not something i thought to be normal. this cars is rated to go 7500 miles between oil changes, and if i am burning a qrt of oil every 1200 mile then i am essentially changing the oil in between oil changes. to call this a common/normal occurrence is like saying that they care nothing about there customers. the dealer essentially toped off my oil, put a sticker in the window and said in 1200 mile come back and we will start an oil consumption test, but not at the cost of the dealer or subaru. this initial cost would be charged to me the customer at a cost of almost $100.00 dollars which i find ridiculous since the car is under warranty and this is a diagnostic of a failure not a normal oil change. when i contacted subaru of north america i still got the run around, and i feel as if they are hiding the fact that they have a whole fleet of vehicles out on the road ready to blow engines and they are going to do the same thing they did in the past with the 2.5 and blame the customer.

Reported in: YORKTOWN VA || Crash: N || VIN #:

SERVICE BRAKES

brake failure at low speed coming to stop at traffic light, traction control light came on,brake light came on and check engine light on. returned to dealer to repair. dealer took 2 days to repair . at witch it lasted till today(12/30/2013). the same thing has happened again. very scary you wonder if the car is reliable and always afraid to travel now. have grandchildren and cannot trust this car. i hope someone can help. have to return to dealer (again) to have them look at it (again). wonder if they know how to fix it.

Reported in: MENTOR-ON-LAKE OH || Crash: N || VIN #: JF1GPAR6XD2

STEERING

brake failure at low speed coming to stop at traffic light, traction control light came on,brake light came on and check engine light on. returned to dealer to repair. dealer took 2 days to repair . at witch it lasted till today(12/30/2013). the same thing has happened again. very scary you wonder if the car is reliable and always afraid to travel now. have grandchildren and cannot trust this car. i hope someone can help. have to return to dealer (again) to have them look at it (again). wonder if they know how to fix it.

Reported in: MENTOR-ON-LAKE OH || Crash: N || VIN #: JF1GPAR6XD2

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

brake failure at low speed coming to stop at traffic light, traction control light came on,brake light came on and check engine light on. returned to dealer to repair. dealer took 2 days to repair . at witch it lasted till today(12/30/2013). the same thing has happened again. very scary you wonder if the car is reliable and always afraid to travel now. have grandchildren and cannot trust this car. i hope someone can help. have to return to dealer (again) to have them look at it (again). wonder if they know how to fix it.

Reported in: MENTOR-ON-LAKE OH || Crash: N || VIN #: JF1GPAR6XD2

SERVICE BRAKES

tl* the contact owns a 2013 subara impreza. the contact was driving 30 mph, the contact stated that the brakes failed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where master cylinder was replaced however the failure recurred. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the issue. the approximate failure mileage was 7,000.

Reported in: CARMEL NY || Crash: N || VIN #: JF1GV8J61DL

AIR BAGS

the passenger air bag illuminated with an off. it should always be on. the bought the car new with less than a year driving it and the passenger air bag illumination light turns to off. its really scary to think of what might have happen if there was an accident during the malfunction.

Reported in: RENTON WA || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2013 subaru impreza. the contact stated that while driving 4 mph in reverse, the vehicle rapidly accelerated in reverse. the contact was unable to stop the vehicle, as it proceeded to crash into a boulder followed by a tree. the rear bumper was damaged however, there were no injuries and a police report was not filed. the contact stated that the failure occurred twice, initially in november 2013 and again in february 2014 while in reverse. the manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance with repairing the vehicle. the failure mileage was 6,300 and the current mileage was 7,000.

Reported in: CROTON-ON-HUDSON NY || Crash: Y || VIN #: JF1GJAA6XDH

ENGINE

i have had my 2013 subaru impreza for about a year when i started enduring multiple visits to the dealer for low oil. i am being told by the service manager that my oil issue is normal. i have never owned a brand new vehicle that had to be take to the dealer as much as my subaru. i am having my oil changes done every 3-4 months and having to take it in 1-2 times in between to have oil added. every time i show up for the oil consumption test i am about 1-1/2 qts low on oil. i purchased a subaru because they talked about how efficient and reliable they are. now, i was told that i just need to carry oil in my car at all times. i could understand if this was a used car off of a lot, this was not. this has been the biggest pain of a car and i will be trading it in and never buying another subaru.

Reported in: ALBANY OR || Crash: N || VIN #: JF1GPAA64DG

AIR BAGS

there is an intermittent issue where the "passenger air bag off" light erratically comes on when an occupant is seated in the passenger seat, and then the red dash light looking like a balloon will come on. neither the weight/positioning of the occupant nor restarting the vehicle change whether the passenger air big off light will turn on or off.

Reported in: SEATTLE WA || Crash: N || VIN #: