2004 Subaru IMPREZA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
96 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 72 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 96 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 12.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 4.2% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.1% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 24 |
| Air Bags | 12 |
| Suspension | 10 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 5 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 4 |
| Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 24; Air Bags: 12; Suspension: 10; Fuel System, Gasoline: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 5; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 4; Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 8
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 24 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 16 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2004: 11; 2005: 16; 2006: 6; 2007: 3; 2008: 5; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 7; 2014: 5; 2015: 8; 2016: 9; 2017: 5; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 4; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10100223 · 2004-11-19 (November 19, 2004)
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 BR…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100223 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138180 · 2005-09-29 (September 29, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 20,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110361 · 2005-02-11 (February 11, 2005)
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. …
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250958 · 2008-12-06 (December 6, 2008)
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 ONL…
Owner-reported narrative. 89,107 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250958 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078794 · 2004-06-25 (June 25, 2004)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086695 · 2004-08-12 (August 12, 2004)
FAILED TRANSMISSION FOR MANUAL DRIVE 2004 SUBARU WRX MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CLAIM
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086695 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141695 · 2005-11-03 (November 3, 2005)
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 C…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141695 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11512789 · 2023-03-20 (March 20, 2023)
The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with an unknown code for the throttle body. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 162,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11512789 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10903274 · 2016-09-02 (September 2, 2016)
LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING DUE TO RUST.CAR WAS STARTING OUT JUST AFTER TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN SO A VERY SLOW SPEED.THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF I WAS TRAVELING AT A FASTER SPEED. CAR WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE AND THE REPAIR WAS TO INSPECT AND SPRAY RUST PROOFING ON LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THIS WAS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE REPAIR AS IT FAILED ANYWAY. I HAVE A 2006 SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE SAME RECALL AND IT WAS SPRAYED WITH RUST PROOFING. I EXPECT IT WILL FAIL ALSO IF SOMETHING MORE IS NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. 127,842 miles reported. Look up ODI 10903274 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11652517 · 2025-04-03 (April 3, 2025)
The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH and hard braking, the vehicle started shuddering violently and the steering wheel was not operating as needed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence at 20 MPH. The contact then inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the front driver's side control arm had fractured. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not in…
Owner-reported narrative. 235,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11652517 at NHTSA ↗