2005 Subaru IMPREZA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
75 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
72,073 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 64 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 75 complaints (14.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 10.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 5.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 11 |
| Suspension | 11 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
Air Bags: 11; Suspension: 11; Fuel/Propulsion System: 9; Fuel System, Gasoline: 8; Engine: 5; Structure:Body: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Service Brakes: 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 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 11 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2005: 11; 2006: 7; 2007: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2011: 4; 2012: 2; 2013: 6; 2014: 7; 2015: 13; 2016: 4; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10151762 · 2006-03-04 (March 4, 2006)
I HAVE HAD ONE ACCIDENT AND NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH MY ABS BRAKES NOT WORKING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160712 · 2006-06-25 (June 25, 2006)
ON 6/8/06 I DROVE MY BRAND-NEW SUBARU IMPREZA 2005 (UNDER 6000 MILES AND NOT A WRX) STATION WAGON DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MILES PER HOUR. THE ROAD WAS STRAIGHT AND LEVEL; THE SURFACE WAS SMOOTH AND DRY. TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME HAD STOPPED BEFORE A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND I APPLIED THE BRAKES IN A NORMAL FASHION. I FELT THE MOST UNUSUAL SENSATION: THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN EVER SO SLIGHTLY - I GUESS ABOUT ONE HALF INCH AT THE MOST, AND THEN IT FELT AS THOUGH I HAD HIT A BRICK, AS IF SOMEONE PLACED A SOLID OBJECT UNDER THE PEDAL. I PU…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10493104 · 2013-01-15 (January 15, 2013)
ON EXTREMELY COLD MORNINGS +/-0 DEGREES MY 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA RS HAS SUCH A STRONG FUEL SMELL THAT YOU CAN NOT USE THE HEAT SINCE YOU CAN'T TURN ON THE VENTS. IF YOU TURN THE VENTS ON THE SMELL IS SO INTENSE THAT YOU GET LIGHTHEADED AND SICK. YOU CAN SMELL THE FUEL SMELL OUTSIDE THE ENGINE AREA AND FUEL MILEAGE IS SO MUCH LOWER THAT YOU KNOW THAT IT IS LEAKING FUEL. CALLED SUBARU AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP WITHOUT CHARGING AND DID WARN OF THE POTENTIAL OF THE CAR CATCHING ON FIRE FROM THE FUEL LEAK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10493104 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10503847 · 2013-03-20 (March 20, 2013)
IN JANUARY 2008, I NOTICED A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS WHEN I STARTED A THE CAR ON A COLD DAY. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW GAS DRIPPING FROM THE DRIVER LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. BECAUSE OF MY CONCERN OF A FIRE, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT COST $491.30 PLUS TOWING TO HAVE THE FUEL LEAK FIXED. THIS YEAR I STARTED SMELLING RAW GAS AGAIN WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. I HAD IT CHECKED AT THE DEALER ON 1/16/2013 AND THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. I ASKED ABOUT RECALLS AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NONE. THE SMELL OF RAW GAS IS VERY STRONG ON MOST COLD DA…
Owner-reported narrative. 57,949 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147110 · 2006-01-06 (January 6, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. THEN IT WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147110 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149282 · 2006-02-02 (February 2, 2006)
WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITHIN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, AROUND 35 MPH AND TRANSMISSION JUST DIED. ENGINE AND POWER WERE WORKING, HOWEVER THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION WERE NOT RESPONDING. CAR WAS PICKED UP AND TOWED TO NEAREST SUBARU DEALER. DEALERSHIP REPORTED THE CLUTCH WAS WORN OUT BY DRIVER AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. AT ONLY 9,000 MILES. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149282 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10328287 · 2010-04-30 (April 30, 2010)
STEERING IN MY CAR WOULD LOCK WHILE TRYING TO TURN MY CAR. THIS WOULD HAPPEN PERIODICALLY AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. IT HAPPENED 5-6 TIMES BEFORE I TOOK IT IN AS I WAS AFRAID AN ACCIDENT MIGHT HAPPEN DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN MY CAR. SUBARU DEALER SAID MY POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FAILING. DEALER ALSO STATED THAT A NEWER DESIGN POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD BE INSTALLED. THIS INDICATED TO ME THAT SUBARU HAD AN ISSUE WITH THIS, OTHERWISE WHAT WOULD BE THE REASON FOR A NEW DESIGN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328287 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10671710 · 2015-01-12 (January 12, 2015)
ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR. SPECIFICALLY, ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC THE O-RING FAILED IN THE STEERING PUMP RETURN HOSE. THIS CAUSED AN AIR LEAK IT IS A GOOD THING I WAS ONLY GOING SLOWLY. THE CAR HAD LOW MILEAGE. THE O-RING THAT FAILED WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND BECAME WARPED DUE TO ENGINE HEAT OVER 9 YEARS. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR CRASH AND DEATH TO THE OCCUPANTS IN THE CAR. I AM SURE THAT MY CAR WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE O RING FAILURE. CHECK AT YOUTUBE. IN MY OPINION THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS CAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 62,560 miles reported. Look up ODI 10671710 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10882678 · 2016-07-05 (July 5, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT SOME CODES NEEDED TO BE CLEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH A DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE IDLING FOR SOMETIME IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE RELEARN…
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10882678 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11414627 · 2021-04-30 (April 30, 2021)
THE KEY INTERMITTENTLY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE GEARSTICK IS SET IN THE 'PARK' POSITION. THE CAR CAN BE TURNED OFF, BUT THE KEY CANNOT BE MOVED FORWARD INTO THE #1 POSITION (LOCK/OFF) AND CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION IN THE #2 POSITION (ACCESSORY). THIS SCENARIO RETAINS THE ELECTRICAL IN THE 'ON' POSITION WHICH POTENTIALLY DRAINS THE BATTERY AND FORCES THE DRIVER TO INDEFINITELY REMAIN WITH THE VEHICLE TO AVOID A DEAD BATTERY AND/OR VEHICLE THEFT. SUBARU HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS ISSUE IN SERVICE BULLETIN 16-112-18R (NHT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11414627 at NHTSA ↗