2004 Subaru Impreza Complaint Log

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA OUTBACK SPORT WHEN I HAD A FLAT TIRE (RIGHT REAR). I CHANGED THE TIRE, USING THE "DONUT" IN THE CAR. I DROVE ANOTHER 25 MILES NO FASTER THAN 40 MPH, AND US. SLOWER. THEN A DRIVER BEHIND ME FLASHED HER LIGHTS SIGNALING ME TO STOP. I STOPPED AND LEARNED MY CAR WAS BURNING UNDERNEATH, NEAR THE BACK. WHEN I HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT, I FOUND THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS BADLY DAMAGED. IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, PERSONS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS ARE INSTRUCTED TO USE A SWITCH TO TURN OFF THE AWD WHEN DRIVING ON THE "DONUT." OTHERWISE, DAMAGE TO THE DIFFERENTIAL IS LIKELY. HOWEVER, NO SUCH SWITCH EXISTS FOR CARS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, WHICH I HAVE. I FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS, NOT GOING MORE THAN 50 MPH OR MORE THAN 50 MILES ON THE DONUT. BUT I DID EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ANYWAY, AND THE FIRE (WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE HEAT OF THE DIFFERENTIAL SETTING THE UNDERCOATING ON FIRE) COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS. *TR

FUEL LEAKING FROM HOSES UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD, CAUSING POOLING OF FUEL ON TOP OF THE MOTOR. *TR

AT TEMPERATURES OF 20 DEGREES F OR BELOW, THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. TIGHTENING UP THE FUEL HOSES/CLAMPS WORKS FOR A DAY OR TWO HOWEVER THE SMELL ALWAYS COMES BACK. THE SMELL WILL GO AWAY AFTER 30 MINUTES TO 60 MINUTES OF WARMING UP OR DRIVING. *TR

2004 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX ABS SYSTEM WILL NOT ALLOW SAFE STOPPING ON SNOW/SLEET/ICE. ABS SYSTEM WILL OCCASIONALLY KICK IN WHEN HITTING SMALL BUMPS/POTHOLES WHILE STOPPING AND CAUSE THE PEDAL TO GO LIMP REQUIRING YOU TO RELEASE BRAKING PRESSURE AND REENGAGE THE BRAKE TO STOP. I'M READING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THIS CAR. THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID ANY ACCIDENTS IS TO KEEP AN EXCESSIVELY LONG DISTANCE BEHIND CARS DURING SNOWY/ICY CONDITIONS AND PRAY NO ONE CUTS IN FRONTS OF YOU WHILE BREAKING OR YOU WILL HIT THEM. *TR

TODAY'S DATE IS DECEMBER 06, 2008. I STARTED TO SMELL A FOUL GAS SMELL INSIDE MY CABIN A FEW DAYS AGO. THE SMELL HAS OCCURRED SINCE THEN. WHAT SEEMS TO TRIGGER THE SMELL OF GAS IS THE COLD START UPS IN TEMPERATURE DEGREES OF LOW 20'S AND BELOW. THE SMELL IS EXTREME. IT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE SITTING DRIVING ALMOST UNBEARABLE, MY PASSENGERS, ALONG WITH ME GET HEADACHES. I AM FORCED TO OPEN THE WINDOWS IN FREEZING WEATHER TO ALLOW THE GAS SMELL TO EXIT. THE SMELL GOES AWAY AFTER OPENING WINDOWS AND/OR 10 OR MORE MINUTES OF VEHICLE OPERATION. I HAVE ONLY SEARCHED FOR HELP FROM THE NASIOC ONLINE COMMUNITY. IT IS A COMMUNITY OF THOUSANDS OF SUBARU OWNERS WHO AS WELL HAVE REPORTED HUNDRED OF CASES OF THE SAME GAS SMELL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHEN THE CONSUMER SAT IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON, THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF ON ITS OWN. IN ADDITION, THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO THE TREES BEHIND HIS HOUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 32,000. UPDATED 12-15-08 *BF UPDATED 12/17/08. *JB

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAIN ROAD IN BOSTON WHEN MY ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. AS A RESULT I ENDED UP CRASHING INTO A SNOW BANK. WHEN I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT. WHEN THE CAR WAS INSPECTED IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE AFTERMARKET PARTS THAT ARE NOT D.O.T. LEGAL AND NO C.A.R.B. ID'S. ALL OF THESE MODIFICATIONS WERE INSTALLED PRIOR OF ME BUYING THIS VEHICLE AND IT WAS SOLD TO ME WITH A WARRENTY. I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT A SMELL OF GAS AND A HUGE LOSS OF OIL BEFORE THIS HAPPENED BUT WAS TOLD THAT IS HOW A SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI RUNS. ALSO THE DEALERSHIP GOT A EMMISIONS STICKER FOR THIS CAR WHEN IT WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS WITH ALL OF THE AFTERARKET PARTS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS EVENT. *TR

RAW FUEL SMELL WHEN STARTING OUR 2004 SUBARU WRX IN SUB FREEZING WEATHER. THE FUEL FUMES FILL THE CABIN AND CREATE A FIRE HAZARD UNDER THE HOOD.

THE WINDSHIELD OF MY SUBARU IMPREZA TS CRACKED THE WHOLE LENGTH. I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT CRACKED. IT WAS COLD OUT AND I DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT BEFORE. AFTER THE CRACK I LOOKED CLOSER AND NOTICED A LOT OF BUBBLES IN THE GLASS. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT A LOT OF SUBARUS AROUND THE SAME YEAR HAVE BEEN CRACKED. I HAVE ASKED A COUPLE OF THE OWNERS AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THEM. THE WINDSHIELD JUST CRACKED. *TR

I OWN A 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA WAGON WRX WITH 67,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM SOMEONE IN NM AND I LIVE IN COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. IT HAD NO ISSUES IN THE SUMMER AND FALL BUT IN THE WINTER I HAD A FUEL SMELL IN CABIN WITH HEATER RUNNING DURING A COLD DAY ~15 DEGREES F OR BELOW. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE BUT IT NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING, EVENING OR WHEN ENGINE HAS COOLED DOWN AND IT IS REALLY COLD OUTSIDE (LESS THAN 20 DEGREES F). I CALLED A LOCAL SUBARU DEALER AND THEY SAID AROUND $500.00 TO FIX ISSUE. SEEMS THE RUBBER HOSES ON THE FUEL RAILS CONTRACT WHEN IT IS VERY COLD OUTSIDE. I HAVE SEEN ON THE WEB THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING IN 2002 WRXS AS WELL. I CAN'T BELIEVE SUBARU HAS NOT DONE A RECALL FOR THIS SERIOUS ISSUE! THE FUEL SMELL GIVES ME A HEADACHE AND POLLUTES THE ENVIRONMENT. I WOULD TRY TO FIX MYSELF BUT GETTING TO THE FUEL RAILS REQUIRES EXTENSIVE TOP SIDE ENGINE TEAR DOWN.*JB

FUEL ODOR IN VEHICLE CABIN WHEN STARTING IN COOL/COLD TEMPERATURES. *JB

REAR STRUTS (AND POSSIBLY FRONT) ARE MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE NOISE IS QUITE APPARENT AND WOULD NOT BE ITEMS INSIDE THE TRUNK AND/ OR CAR. *JB

1.AT ABOUT 12000 MILES,THE RIGHT REAR OF VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS,BRAKING OR ACCELERATING IS MORE EVIDENT AT LOW SPEEDS BUT IS STILL PRESENT AT HIGHER VELOCITIES. 2.THE FAILURE IS CURRENTLY STILL EXISTENT,THE RIGHT REAR OF VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 1/4 IN LOOSE PLAY BEFORE THE REAR STRUT BINDS. THIS AFFECTS HANDLING OF VEHICLE DURING TURNS OR EMERGENCY MANEUVERS AS THE SUSPENSION IS NOT WELL CONTROLLED BY STRUT BINDING. WHEN COMING TO A STOP,ONE CAN FEEL THE RIGHT REAR CORNER OF VEHICLE SETTLE AND HEAR A KNOCKING SOUND. THIS ISSUE TWICE SENT THE VEHICLE OUT OF CONTROL WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT ON BUMPY ROADS AND FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED AND NO DAMAGE WAS DONE. THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT AT GREAT LENGTH IN VARIOUS SUBARU IMPREZA STI FORUMS AND IS REFERRED TO AS THE"REAR STRUT CLUNK" AND IT CAN AFFECTS BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE. MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA STI ARE INVOLVED IN THIS. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT MY 2006 AND 2007 ARE AS WELL BUT I HAVEN'T CHECKED. 3.THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE UPPER STRUT MOUNT A FEW TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE DEFECTIVE PARTS ARE STILL ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

HELLO, I'VE BEEN HAVING EXTREME PROBLEMS WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IN MY 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. IT'LL KICK IN AT UNNEEDED TIMES, WHERE I WILL LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO LURCH FORWARD. THIS CAN BE A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IN THE WINTER, I HAVE TO PULL THE ABS FUSE, WHICH BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ACTUALLY HELPS MY BRAKING DISTANCE. IF I LEAVE THE ABS ENABLED AND HIT A PATCH OF ICE, I'LL LOSE TOTAL CONTROL OF THE BRAKES AND CONTINUE TO GLIDE. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN, AND ONE THAT MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT TO BOTH SUBARU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION. SUBARU ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR THE ABS SYSTEM FOR MODELS 2003 AND UNDER, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE FOR THE 2004 MODEL AS WELL. SUBARU REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING TO FIX MY PROBLEM. I APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME IN THIS MATTER. SINCERELY, PAUL AHERN. *NM

2004 IMPREZA ENGINE FAILED CAUSED BY A LACK OF OIL IN THE ENGINE. *TS *JB

DURING COLD WEATHER MY 2004 SUBARU WRX SMELLS OF FUEL BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. USING THE HEAT CAUSES THE ODOR TO INCREASE AND TURNING OFF THE HEAT TO DISSIPATE THE ODOR CAUSES ALL OF THE WINDOWS TO FOG UP AND/OR ICE-OVER. THE FUMES HAVE CAUSED MY EYES TO WATER AND HAVE ALSO GIVEN ME HEADACHES. *JB

ON JULY 4, 2005, I GOT A GRINDING SOUND WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR AFTER PULLING AWAY FROM A LIGHT. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME MISSING THE SHIFT. SEVERAL DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I STARTED TO DELAY MY SHIFTS INTO 2ND GEAR. THIS SAME SCENARIO STARTED REPEATING ITSELF SEVERAL MORE TIMES. THEN THE SAME PROBLEM STARTED WHILE TRYING TO DOWNSHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR. ON NOVEMBER 14, 2005, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALER. I TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT THE SYNCHRONIZERS WERE BAD IN 2ND AND 4TH GEARS. THE NEXT DAY, THE DEALER CALLED AND TOLD ME THE SYNCHRONIZERS WERE BAD, AS WELL AS THE 2ND AND 4TH GEAR SETS, AND THE COST WOULD BE $2,900.00 TO REPAIR IT. HE SAID THAT THEY HAD DETERMINED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO "DRIVER ABUSE", AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. HE TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER AND SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE. TWO DAYS LATER, SUBARU SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION WITH NO CHARGE AS A GOOD WILL GESTURE, BUT NOT AS AN ITEM COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THEY DID THE REPAIR. I HAVE FOUND THAT MY SITUATION IS NOT UNIQUE IN THE 2002 THRU 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX AND STI . SUBARU DEALERS ARE DENYING WARRANTY REPAIRS FOR THESE TWO SUBARU MODELS, CLAIMING "DRIVER ABUSE". THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. MY THEORY IS THAT WHEN TURNING THE CARS AND SHIFTING, THERE IS TWISTING IN THE DRIVETRAIN THAT IS BRINGING THE SYNCHRONIZERS IN CONTACT WITH THE TRANSMISSION CASE CAUSING THE INITIAL DAMAGE. THE SENSOR'S WILL THEN NOT ALIGN THE GEARS PROPERLY AND THEN THE GRINDING STARTS. THE MORE THE CAR IS DRIVEN, THE MORE THE SENSOR'S ARE DAMAGED, AND, THUS, THE MORE THE GEARS GRIND. THE POINT IS THAT ALL SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE DAMAGED SENSORS, DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN, SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. SUBARU NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. SUBARU HAS PUT REDESIGNED, STRONGER SYNCHRONIZERS IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS OF THEIR 2006 WRX AND WRX STI MODELS. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND THE THROTTLE STUCK. HE USED THE FOOT PEDAL BRAKE AND IT WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID SLOW IT DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE RPMS REGISTERED UP TO 8000. HE SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AFTER IT SLOWED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY CHECKED IT AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE THAT MADE THE THROTTLE STICK. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

MY 2004 SUBARU WRX STI HAS A FUEL ODOR IN THE CABIN WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED IN MODERATELY COOL TEMPERATURES. THE PROBLEM IS DESCRIBED IN ODI RESUME PE 04-002. THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THE PROBLEM OCCURS IN VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND STOPS QUICKLY. I HAVE FOUND THAT IT OCCURS IN MODERATE TEMPS. BELOW 50F AND LASTS FOR 20 TO THIRTY MINUTES. I TAKE THIS TO MEAN THAT THE PROBLEM IS WORSENING AND COULD RESULT IN IGNITION OF THE LEAKING FUEL. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS IN SEVERAL MODELS OF SUBARU ACCORDING TO MY INTERNET RESEARCH. THE MANUFACTURER HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN #09-36-03 THAT DESCRIBES HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE COST WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID BY ME. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX IT UNDER A RECALL. *TR

2004 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX - DURING BRAKING, IF A BUMP OR ROUGH PIECE OF ROAD IS ENCOUNTERED, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES LIMP, DROPS TO THE FLOOR, AND BRAKES CEASE TO FUNCTION UNTIL PEDAL IS RELEASED AND BRAKES REAPPLIED. RE-APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES RESUME FULL FUNCTIONALITY. *JB

2004 WRX SEDAN AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *TS THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED FACIAL CONTUSIONS AND MEMORY LOSS. *NM

2004 IMPREZA STI - REPEATED MOMENTARY FUEL CUT OUT DURING LEFT TURNS. NEVER DURING RIGHT TURNS; LEFT TURNS ONLY. LOW SPEED AND HIGH SPEED. AT ALL FUEL LEVELS. WILL HAPPEN 3 TIMES IN ONE DAY, THEN GO AWAY FOR 3 WEEKS BEFORE OCCURING AGAIN. OCCURS FREQUENTLY DURING LEFT TURNS AND U-TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS. CAR HESITATES FOR A MOMENT AS IF FUEL TO ENGINE WAS MOMENTARILY CUT. ENGINE DOES NOT STALL HOWEVER AND COMES BACK TO NORMAL OPERATION AFTER THE MOMENTARY HESITATION. HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE ISSUE WITH BOTH MY LOCAL AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALER AND CORPORATE SUBARU OF AMERICA SERVICE REP. NEITHER WERE ABLE TO RECREATE PROBLEM AND SAY THEY ARE UNABLE TO RESOLVE ISSUE. CONTINUED FUEL CUT OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON CAUSING CAR TO HESITATE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I AM AFRAID TO MAKE LEFT TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC FOR FEAR THAT MY CAR WILL NOT RESPOND. MY CAR HAS NO MODIFICATIONS AND HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT HAD LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF IDENTICAL CAR ALSO REPORTING EXACT SAME ISSUES. I WILL HAVE THEM JOIN ME IN THIS COMPLAINT PROCESS TO NHTSA.

THE REAR STRUT OF MY 2004 WRX STI CLUNKS ALL THE TIME. ANY RANGE OF SPEED ALL THE WAY UP TO 50-60. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE STI'S OVER AS LITTLE AS 5,000 MILES. SUBARU HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT THIS!!!*AK

I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 WRX SUBARU IMPREZA SPORTSWAGON ON 03-12-04. THE CAR CAME WITH BRIDGESTONE, POTENZA RE92, P205/55R16-89V TIRES. AT A LITTLE OVER 16,000 MILES THREE OF THE TIRES HAVE SHIFTED BELTS AND ONE HAS DRY ROT.*AK

SOLO CAR SPIN OUT....HIT A BRICK WALL NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IN THE FRONT END CRASH. RECIEVED TWO HEAD WOUNDS/KNEE INJURY/MEMORY LOSS. OTHING DONE TO CORRECT DAMAGE OR SITUATION. *AK

2004 SUBARU IMPREZA AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TS THE CONSUMERS SON RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. (LAWYER ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER) *JB

2004 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TS MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. *NM

WINDSHIELD STARTED TO CRACK FROM BOTTOM (BELOW THE WIPERS) AND TRAVLLED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT SIDE WHEN EVER USED FAN TO DEFOG THE WINDSHIELD. TALKED TO DEALER BUT REFUSED WARRENTY COVERAGE, STATING IMPACT BELOW THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS. I CANNOT SEE THE SO CALLED IMPACT BUT I HAVE TO FIX THE WINDSHEILD. THIS IS A THERMAL VARIENCE CRACK. VERY WEAK GLASS, CRACK HAS TRAVELLED ALL ACROSS WINDSHEILD BUT I AM STUCK WITH THE COST.

2004 IMPREZA STI - REAR CLUNKING NOISE FROM RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION. OCCASIONAL STRUT LOCKUP IN COMPRESSED POSITION. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THREE TIMES BEFORE REALIZING IT WAS A FAULTY REAR STRUT. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME CAR HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS FORTUNATE AS MY DEALER PROPERLY DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE STRUT ISSUE WENT AWAY. SUBARU OF AMERICA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THIS MODEL TO CHECK FOR THIS STRUT PROBLEM. NOT ONLY DOES THE STRUT MAKE NOISE WHEN COMPRESSING, BUT IT SOMETIMES LOCKS IN THE COMPRESSED POSTION, CHANGING THE HANDLING AND PERFORMANCE DYNAMICS OF THE CAR IN AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND POTENTIALLY LIFETHREATENING WAY. BY REPLACING THE STRUT, THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED. DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF INSTANCES OF THE SAME STRUT FAILURE ON THESE CARS, AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE NUMBER OF SAME COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA HERE AT THIS WEBSITE, ONE CAN ONLY ASSUME SUBARU OF AMERICAN IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

A TERRIBLE RAW FUEL SMELL IS PRESENT IN THE CABIN AT STARTUP IN COLD WEATHER. FUEL SEEMS TO BE LEAKING AND POOLING SOMEWHERE. THIS IS NOT THE SAME LEAK AS THE TSB FOR 2002 MODELS.*AK

WHEN THE FRONT WHEELS WOULD SLIP, THE SENSOR SENT POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS. THIS CONDITION CAUSED THE REAR WHEELS TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK *SC

DRIVING SOUTH ON SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 45 MPH. UPON NOTICING THE RED LIGHT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THEM AT ALL. I HAD TO REDIRECT THE COURSE OF THE CAR TO AVOID HITTING OTHER CARS AT A RED LIGHT. AS I TURNED TO THE RIGHT I CAME UPON A CURB AND THE FRONT LEFT TIRE AS WELL AS THE LEFT REAR TIRE HIT THE CURB. THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF THE CAR WAS DAMAGED. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVEABLE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. IT WAS TOWED TO BIRD ROAD SUBARU IN MIAMI. I HAVE BEEN FEELING FLUTTERING IN THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR 2 DAYS PRIOR TO THE EPISODE. *AK

UNABLE OR DIFFICULT TO PLACE CAR IN GEAR WHILE DRIVING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. FIRST TOTAL FAILURE OCCURRED IN ROADWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND LEFT ME STRANDED ROADSIDE. SECOND TOTAL FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE EXITING FREEWAY AND WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY PUT CAR IN GEAR AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. ORIGINAL DEALER, REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER AND CORPORATE OFFICES WERE UNRESPONSIVE AND/OR UNCOOPERATIVE RELATIVE TO MY REQUESTS FOR VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE CLUTCH. AFTER MULTIPLE REQUESTS, ASSURANCE OF LEGAL ACTION AND REFUSAL TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO FEAR OF BEING INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, OTHER DEALERSHIP AGREED TO REPLACE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

REAR STRUTS STICK AND WILL NOT REBOUND AFTER A COMPRESSION STROKE. CAUSES REAR TO SAG AND HANDLING FEELS VERY LOOSE. VERY NOISY. SUBARU OF AMERICA KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS EITHER A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE FLAW, AND DOES NOTHING TO ISSUE A RECALL. THERE ARE HUNDRED IF NOT THOUSAND OF DOCUMENTED CASED ON THE INTERNET OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THREE REAR STRUTS REPLACED, SO FAR...AND ONCE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, REPAIR COSTS ARE $500 PER STRUT LABOR INCLUDED TO REPLACE.

MOVING AT CONSTANT 45 MPH BEHIND A MINIVAN DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON SMALL ROCK STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD (UPPER CORNER/PASSENGER SIDE) WITH VERY LITTLE FORCE AND RESULTED IN AN 8 INCH CRACK.*AK

I HAVE HAD A FIRST GEAR GRIND EVER SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE DEALER CORRECT THE PROBLEM. FIRST TECHNICIAN EVEN SAID IT WAS INTERNAL. FINALLY GOT THE FLUID CHANGED TO CORRECT THS ISSUE AT 14K MILES, HELPED BUT DID NOT FIX. AT 26000 MILES I TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY ALSO CONFIRM THERE IS A PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP SAY THEY WILL NOT WORK ON IT DUE TO AN AFTERMARKET EXHAUST. I EXPLAINED IT IS A PREXISTING CONDITION AND THE EXHAUST WOULD HAVE NO AFFECT ON THIS PARTICULAR SCENARIO. DEALERSHIP STONEWALLS ME ON THIS ISSUE BUT PROMISES TO STILL FIX THE SEAT (SINCE IT HAS NNOT BEEN MODIFIED) I ASKED FOR THE TECHNICAL EXPLANATION OF WHY THE TRANNY WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THEY REFUSED TO ISSUE EITHER VERBALLY OR IN WRITING.*AK

FAILED TRANSMISSION FOR MANUAL DRIVE 2004 SUBARU WRX MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CLAIM

THERE WAS DEEP COWLING OVER THE INSTRUMENTATION AREA. *MR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS SHADED TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO VIEW THE DISPLAY. *SC *JB

FOR SOME TIME BOTH REAR STRUTS IN MY CAR HAVE BEEN MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WILL NOW GET STUCK IN A CERTAIN POSITION. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AS IT MAKES THE CAR WANDER ALL OVER THE ROAD. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO SUBARU OF AMERICA WITH NO RESOLUTION. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THESE PARTICULAR CARS. THEY HAVE BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE THE CAR HAD ABOUT 25,000 MILES ON IT.

WAS AT THE LOCAL TRACK ON RUN WHAT YOU BRUNG NIGHT. LINED UP AGAINST AN SRT-4. LIGHT TURNED GREEN. I ACCELERATED TRYING TO GET A HOLESHOT. I HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE. SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION/CLUTCH GIVING UP. THE SRT-4 WAS WAY AHEAD OF ME. I SHIFTED THROUGH THE GEARS AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CATCH UP. THAT SRT-4 WAS FAST. THE LACK OF POWER IN MY STI REALLY DISHONORED MY FAMILY. IT FORCED ME TO BE HUMILIATED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS NORMAL AND TO EXPECT TO BE OUTMATCHED BY CARS LIKE THE DODGE SRT-4. THEY NEVER DID TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION/CLUTCH NOISE.*AK

2004 WRX SUN ROOF HAS A SMELL LIKE MILDEW. 3 REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE (DETAIL, SUNROOF DOOR REPLACEMENT, HEADLINER REPLACEMENT) AND THE SMELL IS STILL THERE MONTHS LATER. SUBARU HAS TOLD ME THAT IS THE NORMAL SMELL, EVEN AFTER $1500 IN COVERED REPAIRS. IT IS FAR FROM A NEW CAR SMELL, MORE LIKE MILDEW.*AK

SUBARU WRX STI HAS A SEVERE PROBLEM WITH THE STRUTS FAILING IN THE 2004 MODEL YEAR. I HAVE HAD MY REAR STRUTS REPLACED A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES AND THEY ARE BROKEN AGAIN AND MY CAR IS NOT EVEN TWO YEARS OLD. THERE ARE SEVERAL FORUMS ON THE INTERNET WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S IS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT CAN BE SAFE DRIVING AROUND WITH BROKEN STRUTS. *JB

THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT HAS COME ON 7 TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JANUARY 2004. THE FIRST TWO TIMES I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP (VALLEY DODGE, INC.) THAT IT WAS A FALSE CODE (#P0301) FOR A 1ST CYLINDER MISS FIRE. ON THE THIRD TIME THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, THE DEALERSHIP REMOVED THE ECM AND SENT TO THE SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. FACTORY TO REPROGRAM. THE FOURTH TIME THE DEALERSHIP, PER SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. FACTORY, ADJUSTED THE #1 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE. THE FIFTH AND SIXTH TIME, THE DEALERSHIP PER SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. REPLACED THE INJECTION AND STILL HAVE THE CAR TO BETA TEST ON A 100-MILE 'TEST DRIVE' AS I WAS TOLD TO COMPARE THE READ-OUTS FROM THE ECM DURING THIS 'TEST-DRIVE.' I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THE VEHICLE FOR 20 DAYS NON-CONSECUTIVE IN THE 6 MONTHS THAT I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. *LA

REF PE04002: SUBARU IMPREZA WRX '02/'03 FUEL LEAK 1 ? TEMP: ~5 DEG. F OVERNIGHT. STARTED CAR IN AM; SMELLED RAW FUEL VIA THE VENTS. 2 - WITH FLASHLIGHT COULD SEE LEAKAGE FROM BOTH HOSE CLAMPS NOTED IN SUBARU TSB (09-36-03); ALSO TOOK PHOTOS. FRONT CLAMP: PRESSURIZED STREAM OF FUEL; APPROX. 2 OZ. FUEL POOLED IN RECESS IN THE MANIFOLD BY THE TIME ENGINE SHUT OFF. REAR CLAMP: RAPID DRIP OF FUEL; APPROXIMATELY 0.5 OZ. POOLED. FUEL ACCUMULATION OCCURRED WITHIN APPROX. 3 MIN. OF STARTING. 3 - SPENT 6+ HRS TIGHTENING THE SCREWS ON BOTH CLAMPS. BOTH LEAKS DIMINISHED TO SLOW DRIP; NOT STOPPED COMPLETELY; MIN. FUEL POOLING, STILL THERE IF TEMP LOW ENOUGH. TSB FIX NOT IMPLEMENTED YET. FILING COMPLAINT AGAINST CLOSED PE04002 BECAUSE: A - NO MENTION OF FUEL ACCUMULATION IN THE PUBLISHED RESOLUTION, ONLY SMELL OF FUEL. NUMEROUS INSTANCES REPORTED ONLINE OF NOTICEABLE FUEL LEAKAGE. B - SUBJECT VEHICLES NOTED FOR THEIR ALL WEATHER TRAVEL ABILITY; COMMONLY USED FOR WINTER SPORTS - POTENTIALLY VULNERABLE TO THIS PROBLEM. C - APPARENTLY NO REPORTED FIRES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT SEEMS VERY POSSIBLE: COINCIDENTAL ELECTRICAL FAULT OR STATIC ELECTRICITY DISCHARGE. D - IF VENTS CLOSED, FUEL ACCUMULATION COULD OCCUR UNNOTICED. E - IF FUEL POOLED UNDER A LEAKING JUNCTION IGNITED IT SEEMS VERY POSSIBLE THAT THE HEAT GENERATED COULD BURN/MELT THE HOSE ABOVE AND CREATE A FAR LARGER DISCHARGE OF FUEL. WHILE THE ODOR OF FUEL MAY NOT BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM, I CANNOT SEE HOW SIGNIFICANT FUEL LEAKAGE ONTO A RUNNING ENGINE CAN BE CONSIDERED ANYTHING EXCEPT A SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

THE SPEDOMETER READING IS NEARLY 10% HIGH ON MY CAR AND THAT OF MANY OTHERS THAT I HAVE CONTACTED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

I BOUGHT A 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI IN JULY 2003 FROM BOB BAKER SUBARU IN EL CAJON, CALIFORNIA AND EVER SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD ONE PROBLEM AFTER THE NEXT. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ALL SERVICING IS COMPLETED AT THE LANCASTER MAZDA-SUBARU LOCATION WHERE I LIVE. SEVERAL COSMETIC PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED SUCH AS: THE TRUNK LATCH DID NOT FUNCTION, THE BACK SEAT WAS UNHOOKED, THE SEAT LEVER THAT MOVES THE SEAT IN HALF, THE CUP HOLDER DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, AND THE HEAD LIGHTS FOGGED UP. MECHANICAL FAILURE HAS ALSO OCCURRED. IT HAS HAD AN ODD NOISE IN THE ENGINE SINCE THE BEGINNING WHICH SUBARU CLAIMS IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR BECAUSE IT IS A "RACECAR". THE STARTER SOMETIMES GRINDS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR, SUBARU COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM. THE LEFT REAR CHASSIS MAKES AN ODD NOISE WHEN ROLLING THAT SUBARU COULD NOT DIAGNOSE. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND NOW WHEN YOU TURN THE VEHICLE IT MAKES A LOUD METAL AGAINST METAL SCREECH. AS OF 6/18/2004 THE ENGINE HAS BEGUN TO FAIL. WHEN THE RPMS REACH BETWEEN 4000-5000 THE CAR CUTS OUT PRIOR TO ACCELERATING AND A BURNING SMELL IS DETECTED. I SPOKE WITH THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WHEN THIS CAR IS DRIVEN A LITTLE BIT HARDER THAN NORMAL THEY ARE NOTICING THAT SEVERAL OF THE IMPREZA WRX STI'S ARE BEING BROUGHT BACK IN WITH ENGINE FAILURE. THEY HAVE NOTED SEVERAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS TURBO BOG, OVERHEATING, POOR PERFORMANCE, AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS BURNING UP. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DISTINCT PROBLEM WITH THIS OVER $30,000 AND I THINK A COMPLAINT SHOULD BE FILED AGAINST SUBARU. WHEN IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT BREAKS, AS IT WILL, IT WILL JUST SIT IN A GARAGE BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX A CAR THAT IS MANUFACTURED POORLY. SUBARU HAS ADVISED THAT THIS CAR IS A RACE CAR AND IT IS FAR FROM THAT. THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THIS CAR SINCE THEY OBVIOUSLY MANUFACTURED A POORLY MADE VEHICLE.*AK