2013 Subaru Impreza Electrical System Problems

In the morning of 7-11-2024, I started the engine to go to work as usual. I found the engine light on and noticed strange symptoms from the hood, such as unusual loud noise. Thereafter, I lifted the hood and confirmed loud noise coming from somewhere. Then, I immediately shut down the engine (no key in ignition), but still, the secondary air pump kept running. I thought it may be blowing up, so I immediately disconnected the battery. I touched the pump and almost burnt my hand. I did do this immediate action because I have some experience/knowledge on car maintenance, but I feel terrible if this happened to someone else, such as young drivers. Then, I googled for the similar symptoms, and found something matching my symptoms in the recall notification letter (NHTSA recall no. 16V738), in which the relay in fuse box can cause the issue. The letter appeared to be revised in 7-11-17, and it was supposed to be sent to me, but I did not receive this important letter at all. I think that this letter should be re-sent to all the owners again to avoid possible terrible incidents related to overheating of the secondary air pump.

During humid days, when a passenger sits in the passenger seat for more than a minute, the airbags will turn off for both the driver and passenger seat. With some further research, this is a somewhat common problem with 2013 Subaru Imprezas. This is a massive safety risk.

Key will not remove from the ignition. This is a known issue by Subaru but they refuse to correct it.

The wires that connect to the climate control have started an electrical fire and burned out my climate control twice. Upon reporting this to Subaru they advised the climate control randomly not working is a very common problem as it can melt due to high heat outside (90-100+ temperature). Now upon replacing the climate control unit, the wire connected was burned as there was an active electrical fire that was the cause of the climate control not working because it could not connect to the wire pack properly due to the fire. Fire started and went out on its own but without my knowledge as it’s internal behind the radio portion of the car. I would not have known about the fire unless I replaced the part, which is what I did.

Ignition key can not always be removed. If I turn the ignition back on it will usually release the key.

Upon placing the vehicle in park, the key will not be released from the ignition. This has happened intermittently for months. The vehicle has not yet been inspected, but I do believe this is a known issue with this model/year, along with other Subaru models/years. I have had to leave me key in the ignition with the vehicle unlocked, on city streets, due to having to make work appointments on time and not having the time to play with the shifter, steering wheel and/or ignition until it decides to work. When my vehicle is stolen, will Subaru replace it? This is a problem for which Subaru should beheld responsible.

Sometimes when a passenger sits in the front passenger seat the Airbag light will show that it is turned off. It happens about 70% each time we are in the vehicle. I don't know if it is a wire issue or the airbag sensor. It seems that it is covered in other recalls, but not my vehicle. Not sure why but it seems they are the same system.

Check engine/break/ABS/traction control/ cruise control and AT OIL TEMP lights are all on. Now my back break lights are not working! Car jerks at times. Read on a few forms that this was an issue for Subaru Imprezas 2012 and up. There was also a recall on this issue on April 2019. Please have this recalled again.

Malfunction with my dashboard lights. ABS/ AT OIL TEMP/TRACKTION CONTROL/ HILL LIGHT and CRUISE CONTROL GAGE. Are all on car seems to run somewhat alright until car jerks then all of the mentioned issues comes on.

Key gets stuck in ignition and cannot be removed when in park. This is a know issue and documented in Service Bulletin 16-112-18R.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AT A LOCAL MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN THE FAN MOTOR AND CLIMATE CONTROL FAN SPEED SWITCH BURNED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 107,000.*DT

PASSENGER AIR BAG RED DASH LIGHT REMAINS ON WEATHER IN MOTION OR STATIONARY WITH A PASSENGER OR WITHOUT. AMBER AIR BAG CENTER DASH LIGHT REMAINS "OFF" IN MOTION OR SATIONARY WITH OR WITHOUT A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. TURNING THE CAR ON OR OFF DOES NOT CHANGE THE ISSUE. CAR HAS 112,000 MILES.

PERIODICALLY THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" SIGN ILLUMINATES EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM ENTERPRISE RENTAL SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION. SOMEHOW THEIR MECHANIC GOT LIGHT TO GO OFF. PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED BUT DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION UNTIL NOW. MY DAUGHTER WILL BE DRIVING THE CAR. DO NOT TRUST THE AIRBAG OR SEAT SENSOR.ON PASSENGER SIDE.

2013 SUBARU IMPREZA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINEERING DEFECT. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ATTRACTS RODENTS THAT CHEW THROUGH THE WIRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. *JS

MY PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR NEVER TURNS ON. EVEN IF I HAVE A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT, THE LIGHT STILL REMAINS OFF. I KNOW THAT THE 2012 MODELS USED THE SAME OCCUPANCY SENSOR AS THE 2013 IMPREZA BUT THE 2013 MODELS HAVEN'T BEEN RECALLED. THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE BECAUSE THEY'RE THE SAME EXACT MODELS SO THEY SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED SO THEY CAN BE FIXED. THE SEAT HAS NEVER BEEN WET AND I HAVEN'T BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS, SO THIS IS A FAULTY OCCUPANCY SENSOR. I DON'T KNOW WHY I SHOUL DHAVE TO PAY $1500 FOR A FAULTY SENSOR.

VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF NOT STARTING, ENGINE LOSING POWER, EXTENDED ENGINE CRANKING AND OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES FOR WHAT WAS UNKNOWN REASONS, DOCUMENTED IN NUMEROUS DEALER REPORTS. WAS INFORMED THAT THE ISSUE IS DUE TO OIL LEAKING FROM OIL CONTROL VALVE (OCV) LEAKING INTO WIRING HARNESS. VEHICLE HAS HAD ISSUES WHEN IN MOTION, BEFORE RUNNING AND WHILE TRYING TO START.

THE PASSENGER'S SEAT OCS MALFUNCTIONS WITH TERRIFYING FREQUENCY. THE CAR WILL BE IN MOTION WITH THE PASSENGER'S SEAT OCCUPIED AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. ONCE AGAIN WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. I HAVE SEEN MANY POSTS DETAILING THE SAME EXPERIENCE. SUBARU HAS RECALLED OTHER CARS FOR THIS PROBLEM. MY 2013 IMPREZA NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED AS WELL.

TAIL LIGHTS DON'T TURN ON , FIRST TIME THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL HARNESS WAS BURNED OUT , DEALER CHANGED THE WHOLE THING , THIS IS SECOND TIME TAIL LIGHTING IS COMPLETELY OFF WHEN THE SWITCH IS ON , I AM AFRAID IT WILL BURN OUT THE WHOLE HARNESS AGAIN !

WHEN CAR IS PUT INTO PARK THE KEY CANNON BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. IT'S AN ONGOING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THIS IS A DEFECT IN DESIGN AND SUBARU SHOULD PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 20 TIMES NOW. CAR CANNOT BE TRUSTED.

SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN 16-112-18R KEY STUCK IN IGNITION. HAVE TO KEEP PUTTING TRANSMISSION INTO PARK IN ORDER TO GET KEY OUT. KNOWN ISSUE BUT NO RECALL.