There are 7 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2008 Subaru Imprezain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I was driving to work and the car was running funny after a few blocks when I saw smoke pouring out of the car I pulled over ad got out and watched the car burn to the ground. I cant get to work and the car contained my personal.belongings.
BOTH HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT TEN TIMES OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND NOW I HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE TRIED THREE DIFFERENT HEADLIGHTS IN THE LAST MONTH, THE FIRST TWO WORKED BRIEFLY AND THE LAST ONE FROM SUBARU DID NOT WORK AT ALL. FROM 2005 - 20011 SUBARU HAS RECALLED OTHER MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT AS I WAS TOLD, "THE IMPREZA IS THE CHEAP CAR"
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY RELAY/FUSE BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
I WAS OUT ALL MORNING RUNNING ERRANDS. I CAME HOME FROM ABOUT 4 HOURS OF DOING THE RUN AROUND. AT 12:25 PM I GOT HOME , TOOK MY BABIES OUT OF THE CAR AND PUT THEM DOWN FOR A NAP. I WENT OUT ABOUT 40 MINS LATER TO THE CAR AND THE KEY FOBS WERE NOT WORKING SO I THEN WENT TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER DOOR WITH THE KEY AND WHEN I OPENED IT BLACK SMOKE STARTED ROLLING OUT. I THEN CALLED 911 AND REPORTED THE FIRE. THE FIRE ITSELF WAS OUT BUT THE INSIDE OF THE CAR ALL UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT WAS BURNED UP. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STARTED GOING THREW THE CAR AND SAID THEY ARE CLAIMING IT AS ELECTRICAL. I REPORTED IT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND NOW THEY ARE INVESTIGATED IT AS WELL. THE CAR WAS TOTALED OUT BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY SINCE THERE WAS SO MUCH DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE. *TT
HIGH BEAMS FAIL, VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. DEALER STATES UNSURE WHAT PROBLEM IS, AFTER 1 HOUR CHARGE OF DIAGNOSTICS,SENT ME ON MY WAY. *TR
VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, STABILITY CONTROL ASSIST, AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT COME ON ALL AT THE SAME TIME RENDERING THOSE SYSTEM USEFUL. ALSO SOMETIMES THE HILL START ASSIST AND ABS LIGHT COME ON RENDERING THOSE UNAVAILABLE AS WELL. MAKING THE VEHICLE NOT AS SECURED AS ADVERTISED. IT STARTED IN 2010 TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY JUST ERASED THE CODES, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, STILL HAPPENING TODAY.
CAR WAS PARKED AND LOCKED IN MY DRIVEWAY .THE HORN STARTED BLARING AND HEADLIGHTS CAME ON. NOT CAR ALARM. INTERIOR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT THEN TRIED TO OPEN CAR WITH REMOTE TO EXTINGUISH FIRE. HAD TO USE KEY TO UNLOCK DOOR. FIRE ORIGIONATED FROM GUAGES/DASH AREA ON DRIVERS SIDE. THERE WERE SEVERAL EXPLOSIONS FROM CAR AS IT BURNED. HORN CONTINUED TO BLARE AFTER FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED FIRE. FIRE FIGHTERS THEN PRIED INTO HOOD AND CUT BATTERY CABLES BEFORE HORN STOPPED BLARING. TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026