2010 Subaru Impreza Problems & Owner Complaints

Unknown Or Other 8

“The driver side visor hangs in the face of the driver. It will not stay up against the window, so it blocks the drivers ability to see. The driver must take a hand off the steering wheel to hold it out of the way, and have it block the blazing sun so that she can see the road. This is very unsafe. The passenger side visor fell right off, so the sun shines right in the driver's eyes from that side of the windshield. Both need to be replaced, and/or have their mechanisms replaced so they are safe to use and don't block the driver's vision.”
NHTSA complaint #11474226, 2022

“I HAVE HAD THE MOST RECENT AIRBAG RECALL PERFORMED ON MY CAR RECENTLY. I LATER RECEIVED TWO SEPARATE LETTERS IN THE MAIL ADVISING ME TO CALL/TEXT "FIX" TO PHONE NUMBERS 877-244-0533 OR 844-898-7574 BECAUSE MY CAR IS SUPPOSEDLY STILL IN NEED OF AN AIRBAG RECALL FIX. I HAVE VERIFIED THROUGH SEVERAL SOURCES THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY FURTHER RECALLS. THESE LETTERS ARE APPARENTLY PHISHING SCHEMES, AS THE PHONE NUMBERS ARE NOT LISTED AS BEING NHTSA NUMBERS. THE LETTERS INCLUDE THE SUBARU AND NHTSA LOGOS AT THE TOP. THE WEBSITE LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF BOTH LETTERS IS "SAFEAIRBAGS.COM"…”
NHTSA complaint #11398909, 2021

“AFTER 72 HOURS OF MY PURCHASE OF THE 2010 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX FROM TOYOTA BOULDER DEALERSHIP LOCATED IN BOULDER, COLORADO, I HAD EXPERIENCED MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE STARTER OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO FAULT IN THIS SITUATION, HOWEVER I WAS SIMPLY MISINFORMED AND THEREFORE PURCHASED A VEHICLE THAT WASNT IN ADEQUATE, SAFE CONDITIONS. ON TUESDAY I HAD EXPERIENCED A LACK OF POWER WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE . I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING HOWEVER AROUND NOON I HAD DRIVEN 10 MILES FROM MY WORK AND HAD DOWN SHIFTED TO 1 GEAR FROM 2ND AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FOLLOW…”
NHTSA complaint #11241142, 2019

Engine 7 1 fire

“The contact owned a 2010 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while her son was driving approximately 60 MPH, he stated that he heard a loud bang from the engine compartment and saw smoke coming from under the hood. The son stated that an unknown warning light had illuminated. The son safely stopped the vehicle, exited, and noted that more smoke was coming from under the hood. The son stated that a small fire had ignited under the front end of the hood and eventually engulfed the vehicle. The police were on the scene and called the fire department. The son was not sure if the fire department ext…”
NHTSA complaint #11477460, 2022 · fire

“AFTER 72 HOURS OF MY PURCHASE OF THE 2010 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX FROM TOYOTA BOULDER DEALERSHIP LOCATED IN BOULDER, COLORADO, I HAD EXPERIENCED MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE STARTER OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO FAULT IN THIS SITUATION, HOWEVER I WAS SIMPLY MISINFORMED AND THEREFORE PURCHASED A VEHICLE THAT WASNT IN ADEQUATE, SAFE CONDITIONS. ON TUESDAY I HAD EXPERIENCED A LACK OF POWER WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE . I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING HOWEVER AROUND NOON I HAD DRIVEN 10 MILES FROM MY WORK AND HAD DOWN SHIFTED TO 1 GEAR FROM 2ND AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FOLLOW…”
NHTSA complaint #11241142, 2019

“ENGINE FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY AT 73K MILES. SUBARU ATTRIBUTED FAILURE TO "POOR LUBRICATION", BUT DENIES RESPONSIBILITY. THESE CARS BURN OIL EXCESSIVELY AND HAVE NO LOW OIL CAUTION LIGHT. MAJOR INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURES ARE COMMON WITH EJ AND FB ENGINES DUE TO FAILURE OF ROD BEARINGS, TURBOS, HEAD GASKETS AND DUE TO ABNORMAL COMBUSTION.”
NHTSA complaint #10956578, 2016

Service Brakes 7 1 crash

“SUBARU HAS AN INHERENT BRAKE DEFECT IN THEIR 2010-2011 SUBARU WRX AND WRX STI MODEL CARS. THE BRAKE SENSOR IN NEW CARS IS FAULTY CAUSING SYSTEM FAILURE WITH REGARDS TO ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. WHEN BRAKES ARE USED IN A PANIC SITUATION THEY LOCK UP CAUSING DRIVERS TO LOSE CONTROL WITH THE ROAD AND DO NOT PROVIDE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. DRIVERS ARE UNAWARE OF THE BRAKE DEFECT BECAUSE SUBARU HAS NOT ISSUED A PROPER RECALL IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10451474, 2012 · crash

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND WENT TO THE FLOOR BOARD WITH THE BRAKES FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND BECAME OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BY AN UNKNOWN DEALER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V311000 (SERVICE BRAKES HYDRAULIC). THE DEALER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,0…”
NHTSA complaint #11311511, 2020

“CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM A DEALER WHO PURCHASED THE CAR FROM NEW YORK AUCTION. AFTER PURCHASING AND REPLACING COMMON THINGS YOU WOULD AFTER BUYING A USED CAR, WE RECENTLY REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, AND AFTER INSTALLING THE PADS, AND DRIVING THE CAR AROUND, AND BREAKING SOFT AND HARD THE CAR WAS VIBRATING VIOLENTLY FROM A STOP FROM 60 MPH, AFTER PULLING OVER I NOTICE SMOKE AND BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. AFTER GETTING THE CAR HOME AND PULLING THE DRIVER SIDE APART, I NOTICED THE BRAKE CALIPER'S MAIN PISTONS FROZE UP AND WASN'T WORKING PROPERALY , DUE TO SO MUCH COROS…”
NHTSA complaint #10870188, 2016

Air Bags 6 1 crash

“I WAS GOING ON 60 AND CRASHED ON MEDIAN BY FRONT PART, AND FLIPPED OVER BY SIDE FROM REACTION OF CRASH. I WEIGHT 115 POUND AND 5'4''. I BROKE MY BONE EVEN THOUGH I WAS WEARING SEAT BELT. I HAD TO BE AT HOSPITAL ALL DAY TO GET MY BRAIN DAMAGE CHECK AND BUNCH OF XRAYS AND CT SCANS BECAUSE ACCIDENT WAS SO BIG. EVERY SINGLE DOCTORS TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY I SURVIVED FROM THAT ACCIDENT. I PARALYZED FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 HOURS AFTER ACCIDENT. MY CAR HAVE BIG FRONTAL DAMAGE THAT IS CONSIDERED AS TOTALED. I AND EVERY SINGLE PEOPLE THINKS AND WONDER HOWCOME MY AIRBAG DID NOT WORK AT THIS TIME? IT SHOULD…”
NHTSA complaint #10549489, 2013 · crash

“TAKATA RECALL MY CAR WAS PARKED IN A SPACE WHEN I LEFT TO GO AND EAT. WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE CAR S0MEONE HAD BACKED INTO IT . THEY HAD IT REPAIRED AND IT WAS FINE.”
NHTSA complaint #11171972, 2016

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN INTERIM RECALL NOTICE MONTHS AGO AND THERE WAS NO TIME FRAME TO INDICATE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SPECIFIC TIME FRAME FOR WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE RECALL DETAILS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE.”
NHTSA complaint #10953734, 2016

Fuel/Propulsion System 6

“VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. CAR DIED WHEN STARTING. THE STARTER TURNED OVER AND THE ENGINE ENGAGED, BUT IMMEDIATELY DIED. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING CONCERNING THE HEALTH OF THE ENGINE (I.E. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO ROUGH RIDING/ISSUES WITH GEARS). MY MECHANIC CHECKED INSIDE THE FUEL PUMP AND SAW THERE WAS A WIRE BURNED BLACK THAT CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A FAULT OF EQUIPMENT AND NOT SIMPLE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE CAR.”
NHTSA complaint #11162299, 2018

“I AM UNABLE TO ADD ANY MORE FUEL TO MY CARE EVEN THOUGH MY FUEL TANK IS ALMOST EMPTY. I KNOW IT IS ALMOST EMPTY BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 350 MILES SINCE MY LAST FILL. WHEN I TRY TO ADD FUEL, THE NOZZLE STOPS PUMPING AND GAS SPURTS OUT ALL OVER THE CAR.”
NHTSA complaint #10992070, 2017

“CAR IS 6 YEARS OLD, ~50,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE FUEL TANK IS RUSTED OUT. LEAKING ENOUGH THAT IT CANNOT BE FIXED AND MUST BE REPLACED. MY MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS HIGHLY IRREGULAR. DEALER SAYS THEY HAVEN'T HAD TO REPLACE A FUEL TANK IN DECADES.”
NHTSA complaint #10898265, 2016

Power Train 5

“THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES ARE RUSTING AND CORRODING, WHICH LEADS TO TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING OR SPRAYING OUT OF THE LINE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHICH LEADS TO LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID AND TRANSMISSION NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. SEE IN PICTURE THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE WAS FIXED BUT THERE IS STILL CORROSION. THIS TRANSMISSION FLUID LINE SEEMS LIKE THE SAME MATERIAL IN THE BREAK LINE RECALL FOR CORROSION.”
NHTSA complaint #11301093, 2018

“SUBARU 2010 WRX CLUTCH FAILED AT LOW MILEAGE. THERE'S A KNOWN DEFECT INVOLVING THE FIREWALL THAT SUBARU IS NOT ISSUING A RECALL ON AND SHOULD, THIS USUALLY BURNS OUT CLUTCHES EARLY IN THE LIFECYCLE. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10655418, 2014

“MY 2010 WRX STI HATCHBACK IS MAKING A CREAKING/FLEXING/BENDING SOUND EVERY TIME I DEPRESS MY CLUTCH PEDAL. I STARTED TO NOTICE THIS ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AND AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A NOISE ISSUE AND UPON FURTHER RESEARCH I NOTICED THAT MY CLUTCH PEDAL/BRAKE ASSEMBLY IS FLEXING AND THE SPOT WELDS ARE FAILING ON THE FIREWALL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS IN VIRGINIA AND THEY ALL HAVE SAID IT IS "NORMAL" AND REFUSED TO WORK ON IT SAYING MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I AM NOT SURE IF THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE OR IF THE ASSEMBLY WILL STOP WORKING CAUSING AN ACC…”
NHTSA complaint #10620926, 2014

Electrical System 4

“The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle would not start. The contact was able to jumpstart the vehicle and the vehicle was able to start. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact replaced the battery, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, but no cause for the failure was found; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 90,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11539134, 2022

“VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. CAR DIED WHEN STARTING. THE STARTER TURNED OVER AND THE ENGINE ENGAGED, BUT IMMEDIATELY DIED. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING CONCERNING THE HEALTH OF THE ENGINE (I.E. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO ROUGH RIDING/ISSUES WITH GEARS). MY MECHANIC CHECKED INSIDE THE FUEL PUMP AND SAW THERE WAS A WIRE BURNED BLACK THAT CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A FAULT OF EQUIPMENT AND NOT SIMPLE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE CAR.”
NHTSA complaint #11162299, 2018

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS A SMELL OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE WIRE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL PUMP HAD A SHORT AND CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO MELT. THE FUEL PUMP AND THE WIRING HARNESS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE…”
NHTSA complaint #10787917, 2015

Vehicle Speed Control 4 1 crash 1 injury

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 100 MPH, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE CHEST AREA DURING THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10573149, 2014 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“VEHICLE HESITATES THEN SURGES FORWARD VIOLENTLY WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED WHEN ENGINE IS COLD OR IN COLD WEATHER. CONDITION IMPROVES WHEN ENGINE IS WARMED UP. DEALERSHIP AND SUBARU HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE ISSUE. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO DRIVE VEHICLE AS THEY SAY IT'S UNSAFE, BUT ARE NOT WORKING ON SOLVING THE ISSUE.”
NHTSA complaint #11163702, 2018

Visibility/Wiper 4

“The driver side visor hangs in the face of the driver. It will not stay up against the window, so it blocks the drivers ability to see. The driver must take a hand off the steering wheel to hold it out of the way, and have it block the blazing sun so that she can see the road. This is very unsafe. The passenger side visor fell right off, so the sun shines right in the driver's eyes from that side of the windshield. Both need to be replaced, and/or have their mechanisms replaced so they are safe to use and don't block the driver's vision.”
NHTSA complaint #11474226, 2022

“The driver's side sun visor, which is supposed to stay where you put it (either up out of the way or down in front of the window) has lost its grip and now just hangs straight down obscuring my view of the road ahead and could swing into my face if I brake or accelerate quickly.”
NHTSA complaint #11442503, 2021

“THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DROPS DOWN. THE SWIVEL PIN THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE CONSISTS OF A PLASTIC SLEEVE COVERING A METAL ROD. THE PLASTIC SLEEVE HAS BROKEN AND WILL NOT EXERT ENOUGH FORCE TO KEEP THE VISOR FROM UNEXPECTEDLY DROPPING DOWN, OBSCURING THE DRIVER'S VISION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAY SPEED (65 MPH). APPARENTLY, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 2010 AND RELATED YEARS OF THE IMPREZA AS THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THIS ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE EVEN AFTERMARKET PARTS MANUFACTURERS SELLING REDESIGNED REPLACEMENT VISORS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A "THRILL" WHE…”
NHTSA complaint #10714423, 2015

Engine And Engine Cooling 3

“FIRST FAILURE WAS MY CLUTCH DUE TO THE PRESSURE PLATE BEING INSTALLED INCORRECTLY FROM THE FACTORY AND WAS WARRANTED. SECOND FAILURE WAS AN AIR FUEL SENSOR WHICH ALSO WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIRD FAILURE WAS MY 4TH CYLINDER CRACKED PISTON. THE DEALERSHIP WHICH HAS BEEN THE SAME THAT I HAVE GONE TO FOR ALL MY SERVICE AND WARRANTY REFUSED TO WARRANTY THE PISTONS BECAUSE OF AN AFTERMARKET EXHAUST WHICH WAS INSTALLED FOR THE FIRST TWO WARRANTY FAILURES MENTIONED ABOVE. I WAS FORCED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE!”
NHTSA complaint #10417470, 2010

“BEFORE THE FAILURE WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT THE TAILPIPE AND THE ENGINE WAS HESITATING. PISTON #4 HAD A FAILED RINGLAND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. TO CORRECT THE FAILURE THE ENGINE HAD TO BE TAKEN APART AT THE DEALER AND HAVE NEW PARTS INSTALLED. THE CAR WAS OUT OF MY POSSESSION FOR TWO WEEKS. THE CAR HAD ONLY ~8000 MILES ON IT AND IT APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON 2008-2010+ SUBARU IMPREZA STI'S. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10344766, 2010

“ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO COMPLETE LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE IN 2006 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX LIMITED SPORTWAGON. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10328997, 2010

Tires 2

“All four tires had to be replaced due to tire rot. The tires had a 45,000 warranty and had to be replaced with 14,000 miles on the tires. The tires were deemed unsafe to drive on. 08/05/2021”
NHTSA complaint #11428776, 2021

“TIRE SIDE WALL BULGE DEVELOPED AFTER HITTING POTHOLE IN PARKING LOT AT <15 MPH. BULGE ~1/2" HIGH AND EXTENDS FROM JUST ABOVE BEAD TO JUST BELOW EDGE OF TREAD. BULGE ~1" WIDE. FOUR TIRES PURCHASED AND INSTALLED BY SEARS (PLATTSBURGH, NY) ~1 YEAR AGO - OEM SIZE ON OEM RIMS. VEHICLE HAS TWO SETS OF WHEELS (SUMMER. WINTER), NO SEASONAL DISMOUNT/REMOUNT. REPORTING INCIDENT AS THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS TIRE.”
NHTSA complaint #10715560, 2015

Visibility 2

“WHILE DRIVING ALONG,DRIVERS SIDE SUNVISOR JUST SNAPPED. IT MOMENTARLY BLOCKED VISION. NOW IT HANGS IN THE DOWN POSITION. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH IMPREZZA SUNVISORS .COULD CAUSE OPERATOR TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10693979, 2015

“DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR HAS BEEN DROPPING DOWN FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. TODAY AS I WAS PUSHING IT UP IT CAME OFF ENTIRELY. THE PIECE IT SLID OFF FROM LOOKS BROKEN. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10543502, 2013

Seats 1

“THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ON MY 2010 SUBARU IMPREZA IS INTERMITTENTLY DISABLED, EVEN WITH A 125 POUND ADULT OCCUPYING THE SEAT. SHIFTING YOUR WEIGHT IN THE SEAT MAY ENABLE THE AIRBAG, BUT IT WILL USUALLY BECOME DISABLED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. THIS SEEMS LIKE A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD AND IS VERY CONCERNING. I'VE SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON DIFFERENT WEBSITES; IS SUBARU CONSIDERING A RECALL OR DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET INJURED FIRST? *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10536026, 2012

Structure 1

“THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2010 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX MAKES A LOUD CREAKING NOISE EVERY TIME IT'S DEPRESSED. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THE NOISE, I NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY (ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL) SHIFTS APPROX 1/4 INCH EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. I FOUND THAT THE THREE SPOT WELDS SECURING THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL WERE BROKEN. FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE FIREWALL, JUST UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, I SAW THE SPOT WELDS PULLING AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS ALLOWS THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET…”
NHTSA complaint #10495971, 2012