2002 Subaru IMPREZA: complaints, problems and recalls

ABS FAILED RESULTING IN CAR CRASH. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 11,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002828 at NHTSA ↗

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005965 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A CRACK THAT RUNS FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IN A "C" OR "L" SHAPED PATTERN AROUND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TOWARD THE DRIVER SIDE. CONSTANT WITH MANY WRX OWNERS. IT HAS GROWN FROM 4 INCHES TO AROUND 12. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT HIT BY ANY DEBRIS TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. IF IT WAS THE DEBRIS WAS SMALL ENOUGH NOT TO NOTICE WHILE DRIVING, INDICATING THAT THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD HAVE WITH STOOD THIS IMPACT WITHOUT CRACKING. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770828

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006829 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN BRAKING HARD, IF A SMALL BUMP IS ENCOUNTERED ABS WILL OFTEN ACTIVATE AND FAIL CAUSING LOSS OF STOPPING POWER. RELEASING THE BRAKE AND RE-APPLYING WILL RESTORE STOPPING POWER BUT NOT BEFORE GIVING THE DRIVER A GOOD SCARE. I HAVE NOT HIT ANYTHING YET BUT I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS, EVEN TAKING TO THE GRASS TO AVOID A COLLISION. DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE. *TS *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS****761464

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008794 at NHTSA ↗

SEVERE CLUTCH SHUDDER AT START OF FORWARD MOVEMENT. AFFECTED BY LOWER OUTSIDE TEMPS. IF CAR SITS IN COLD WEATHER AT FIRST USE OF CLUTCH SEVERE SHUDDER VIBRATES WHOLE VEHICLE. AS CLUTCH WARMS UP SHUDDER LESSENS BUT NEVER GOES AWAY. *TS *NLM *DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***761550

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009206 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER SMELLED GAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CLAMP ON THE FUEL LINE CAME LOOSE AND LEAKED FUEL. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012243 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE MAKING A TURN , VEHICLE SLID OFF THE ROAD, WITHOUT CAUSE OR WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012404 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT ABOUT 30-35 MPH, THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING FOR ABOUT 1-2 SECONDS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE FEEL OF THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMED TO INDICATE THAT THE ABS SYSTEM HAD BEEN ACTIVATED. CAN'T RECALL IF THIS WAS OVER A BUMPY ROAD AS MENTIONED IN EARLIER COMPLAINTS. HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST TWICE - VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS.

Owner-reported narrative. 12,385 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013943 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-10-30 (October 30, 2002)

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "P" (PARK) POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM, THAT IS INTENDED TO HOLD YOUR VEHICLE, MAY NOT ENGAGE.

Consequence: THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION JANUARY 8, 2003. AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT DURING NOVEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Reported: 2004-03-16 (March 16, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER SEDANS, WAGONS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE COULD COME OUT OF ITS TRACK ON THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER AND LODGE ON THE CONTROL LEVER TAB WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE THROTTLE WILL NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION AND WILL REMAIN IN AN OPEN POSITION.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP TO THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER TAB ON THE THROTTLE SHAFT IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FROM COMING OUT OF ITS TRACK. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Reported: 2004-07-14 (July 14, 2004)

ON CERTAIN SEDAN AND WAGON MODEL VEHICLES, THE LEFT FRONT BOLT THAT RETAINS THE FORWARD PART OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE SEAT SLIDE RAIL MAY LOOSEN. IF THE SEAT SLIDE RAIL BOLT LOOSENS, IT WILL EVENTUALLY FALL OUT, AND THE SEAT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE SEAT SLIDE.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVER MAY SUSTAIN MORE SEVERE INJURIES DUE TO THE SEAT MOVEMENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LEFT HAND DRIVER'S SEAT RAIL MOUNTING BOLT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Reported: 2008-03-24 (March 24, 2008)

SUBARU IS RECALLING 36,791 MY 2002-2003 IMPREZA WAGONS. THE STUD BOLT(S) OF REAR GATE STAY MAY HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED WITH INSUFFICIENT TIGHTENING TORQUE AND A GAP MAY HAVE RESULTED BETWEEN THE REAR GATE PANEL AND STUD BOLT BASE. AFTER REPEATED REAR GATE OPERATIONS (OPENING AND CLOSING), THE REAR GATE INNER PANEL AT THE WELDING NUT MAY BREAK, WHICH WILL LEAD TO DETACHMENT OF THE REAR GATE STAY, AND THE REAR GATE DROPPING DOWN.

Consequence: IN CASE SOMEONE IS UNDERNEATH OR NEAR THE REAR GATE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A DROPPING REAR GATE PANEL MAY HIT THEM INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY GAP AT THE STUD BOLT OF THE REAR GATE STAY INSTALLATION. IF A GAP IS FOUND, THE STUD BOLT WILL BE REMOVED TO CHECK FOR DAMAGE TO THE WELDING NUT. IF THE WELD NUT IS CRACKED, THE REAR GATE STAY WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 2, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Reported: 2009-12-04 (December 4, 2009)

SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 IMPREZA WRX VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF SOUTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, MINNESOTA, IDAHO, IOWA, MONTANA, COLORADO, WISCONSIN, NEW YORK, WYOMING, MICHIGAN, ALASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, AND MAINE. DURING COLD STARTS, TYPICALLY UNDER EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES, FUEL LEAKS IN THE FUEL DELIVERY LINE COULD OCCUR WHERE THE LINE CONNECTS WITH A RUBBER HOSE.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKS, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL LINE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Reported: 2011-09-06 (September 6, 2011)

SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2007 IMPREZA, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 FORESTER, AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 SAAB 9-2X VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 THROUGH NOVEMBER 26, 2007 ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW JERSEY, OHIO, RHODE ISLAND, WEST VIRGINIA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY BREAK AT THE HANGER BRACKETS DUE TO CORROSION IF THE HANGER BRACKET IS EXPOSED TO SALTY AND HUMID ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS ROADS CONTAINING SNOW MELTING AGENT.

Consequence: A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: SUBARU WILL HANDLE THEIR VEHICLES AND SAAB WILL HANDLE THEIRS. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DEGREE OF CORROSION OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AND WILL EITHER RUSTPROOF OR REPLACE THEM. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.