2008 Subaru Impreza Lighting Problems

For the last few years, the reverse lights would intermittently work when the six-speed manual transmission was put into reverse. Lately, the lights fail to work more often than actually work. I have read other Subarus have a common reverse light switch failure and I think more of the older cars use a similar switch and design to recalled models.

SUBMISSION FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. RE CONSUMER COMPLAINT- 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON JANUARY 24, 2014, THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON. HOWEVER, SHE DID SMELL A BURNT PLASTIC SMELL COMING FROM HER VEHICLE. SHE PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT BULB FROM AN AUTO PARTS STORE. THE CONSUMER LATER WENT TO A LUBE ESTABLISHMENT, TO HAVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE REPLACED. BUT, WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, IT WAS DISCOVERED BOTH HEADLIGHT PLASTIC COVERS HAD MELTED . THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE HER, THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION, SHE WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $1300 TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. SOON AFTER, THE PASSENGER HIGH BEAM LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON. SHE WENT BACK TO THE AUTO PARTS STORE AND PURCHASED ANOTHER BULB. ON FEBRUARY 24, 2014, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, SUBARU WOULD PAY 50% FOR THE REPLACEMENT, AS A COURTESY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

I FIND THE HID HEADLAMPS ON MY 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA STI TO BE AIMED AND/OR THROW A LIGHT PATTERN THAT IS DANGEROUSLY LOW. AT NIGHT, OBJECTS ONLY VERY CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE ARE LIT UP. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON UNLIT ROADS AT NIGHT, PARTICULARLY IN THE RAIN. AN INQUIRY WITH THE DEALER INDICATED THAT SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAVE MADE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, BUT THAT THE HEADLAMPS CANNOT BE ADJUSTED BY THE DEALER, AND SUBARU HAS OFFERED NO SOLUTION. *TR