Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Subaru Impreza problems
Owners filed 64 complaints about the 2003 Subaru Impreza with NHTSA between Nov 2002 and Jan 2022. The most-cited component is fuel system, gasoline (13).
Complaints
64
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
13
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Fuel system, gasoline13
- Service brakes, hydraulic13
- Fuel/propulsion system12
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Air bags4
- Suspension3
- Structure3
- Visibility2
- Engine1
- Tires1
- Fuel system, other1
- Electrical system1
- Power train1
- Equipment1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
10
9
2
2
7
5
5
3
0
1
3
4
2
3
0
1
1
2
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Fuel system, gasoline
13 reports1 fire1 related recall
“IT HAS RECENTLY BEEN EXTREMELY COLD IN CHICAGO AND UPON INITIAL STARTUP OF THE VEHICLE THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE CABIN. THE SMELL DOES NOT GO AWAY UNTIL THE CAR IS COMPLETELY WARMED UP. I NOTICED THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. IT WAS SUBARU RECALL NO. WVK-21. I BELIEVE MY CAR SHOULD FALL UNDER THIS RECALL. I CALLED SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR DID NOT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN. BUT THE PROBLEMS I'VE BEEN HAVING FIT THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
13 reports2 crashes
“APPROACHING STOP LIGHT ON SURFACE STREET; DRY CONDITIONS, FLAT ROAD; APPROX 30 MPH; ANTICIPATING STOPPING. LIFT FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR AND APPLY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN; CAR DOES NOT SLOW; FEELS OUT OF CONTROL & UNABLE TO STOP; TURN CAR TO RIGHT TO GET OFF ROAD TO AVOID HITTING CARS AHEAD; TURN INTO A TREE; AIRBAG DEPLOYED; CAR TOTALED; EMERGENCY VEHICLES RESPOND; AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL; BROKEN L-2 IN BACK; SEVERE BRUISING; AT MY REQUEST, VEHICLE INSPECTED BY INSURER; HAVE NOT SEEN INSPECTION REPORT; REPORTED TO ME THAT "BRAKES HAD PRESSURE AND FLUID"; AFTER SEEKING ADVICE FROM ACCIDENT EXPERT, NOT CONFIDENT VEHICLE INSPECTION WAS THOROUGH ENOUGH; AM ABSOLUTELY SURE THERE WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE OF SOME TYPE DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES OF ACCIDENT (I.E., ENOUGH TIME TO CORRECT ANY DRIVER ERROR). *NM”
Fuel/propulsion system
12 reports
“My 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX has a very strong fuel odor that is coming into the cabin when I start my car up on cold days. It's been unusually cold here in Washington state this winter with temperatures in Seattle dipping well below freezing. I see that there is a recall for this exact problem for my exact car (https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2009/RCONL-09V468-4248.pdf). But when I called the dealer (Michael's Bellevue Subaru), and then subsequently called Subaru (1-800-SUBARU3), they told me that they will not fix this issue, since this recall does not apply to my state (Washington). I think that's not right. It is the exact same problem of cold weather causing this fuel line to leak, and they should honor this recall.”
Engine and engine cooling
5 reports
“OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS MODERATE(75F), BUT ENGINE WAS COLD. UPON ENGINE START STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN CABIN AND IN ENGINE BAY AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TR”
Air bags
4 reports3 crashes
“TAKATA AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SIDE IMPACT SENSOR DID NOT WORK. THE CAR TRAVELED SIDEWAYS INTO A LARGE OAK TREE IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH . THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS WHERE THE SIDE IMPACT SENSOR WAS LOCATED . NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED . SUBARU HAS BEEN VERY UNCOOPERATIVE WITH ANSWERS AS TO WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY . THIS HAPPENED UPON A RURAL ROAD IN THE FOG . NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED .”
Suspension
3 reports1 related recall
“ON THE NIGHT OF 12/6/2020 I WAS BACKING OUT OF A FRIENDS DRIVEWAY TO DRIVE HOME, WHEN I REACHED THE STREET, I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND A GRINDING NOISE. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR TO INVESTIGATE WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED AND THE FRONT PORTION OF MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD COMPLETELY LOST ALL STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. FORTUNATELY MY CAR WAS AT A LOW SPEED AND I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL (PICTURES ATTACHED). HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE THE EVENTS ON 12/6/2020 INDICATES THE REMEDIATION STEPS PROPOSED BY SUBARU ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE AS THIS PART FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY AFTER THESE STEPS HAD BEEN PERFORMED. THE SAFETY RECALL REMEDIATION STEPS IN QUESTION ARE THAT OF: "TYPE: SAFETY | SAFETY RECALL: WVX34 | NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 11V464000" ACCORDING TO SUBARU'S WEBSITE FOR THIS VEHICLE, THE SAFETY RECALL WAS COMPLETED: HTTPS://WWW.SUBARU.COM/VEHICLE-RECALLS.HTML/VIN=[XXX] ACCORDING TO THE CARFAX REPORT, THE SAFETY RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON 2/7/2012 ONLY 5 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. (SCREENSHOT ATTACHED) THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE AND THE DESCRIPTION OF THE…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.