RoadVitals

1999 Subaru Impreza Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
22
Latest May 9, 2009
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Aug 19, 1999

What this page shows

Our database holds 22 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Subaru Impreza. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–22 of 22

Fuel system
Filed May 9, 2009

1999 SUBARU IMPREZA 2.5RS, I DISCOVERED THE ENTRANCE TO THE FUEL FILLER STARTED TO RUST. IT WILL COST ME $500 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I ALSO NOTICED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10268302
Incident
Mar 4, 2009
Mileage
68,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 1, 2006

MY 99 SUBARU IMPREZA RS'S REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ARE STARTING TO FAIL. I'VE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH AND FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBARU'S. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT WITH THE BEARING BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. I ALSO FOUND THAT THERE IS A NEW PROCEDURE FOR REPAIRING THE WHEEL BEARING, WHICH WOULD INDICATE SUBARU'S KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEFECTIVE PART. *JB

NHTSA ID
10151499
Incident
Mar 1, 2006
Mileage
67,500 mi
Seat belts
Filed Aug 31, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRYING TO INSTALL CAR SEAT IN ORDER TO USE THE TETHER STRAP A MOUNTING BRACKET HAS TO BE INSTALLED. SUBARU INSISTED THAT CONTACT PAY FOR THIS BRACKET, HE FELT THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS. HE WAS GOING TO PURCHASE THIS MOUNTING BRACKET BECAUSE FOR THE SAFETY OF HIS CHILD, BUT HE FELT THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD DO. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON AUGUST 27, 2005.*AK

NHTSA ID
10134937
Incident
Aug 27, 2005
Fuel system
Filed Dec 20, 2004

FUEL LEAK ON PASSENGER SIDE FUEL RAILS IN WEATHER BELOW 30' F. SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FUEL IS LEAKING DUE TO THE RUBBER HOSES UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NOT BEING TIGHTENED ENOUGH. THERE IS A TSB ON THIS MATTER HOWEVER I'M PAST MY WARRANTY PERIOD. CONSIDERING THIS LEAK IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE TURBOCHARGER THIS IS JUST AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10104190
Incident
Dec 20, 2004
Mileage
80,000 mi
Suspension
Filed May 18, 2004

REPEATED REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURES EVER 30K MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10072807
Incident
May 14, 2004
Mileage
59,950 mi
Engine
Filed May 4, 2004

THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN SUBARU DECIDED TO NO LONGER SERVICE MY VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. LEADING UP TO WHEN I HAD TO SELL THE VEHICLE ON 8/23/2001 I HAD THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACED AT 43,460 MILES. THE LEFT HEAD GASKET CHANGED ON 12/28/2001 AT 48,817 MILES. THE AIRFLOW METER SENSOR WAS RECALLED ON 7/22/2002 WITH 55,797 MILES. THE CLUTCH WOULD STICK TO THE FLOOR SO I HAD TO HAVE THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER GRAVITY BLED ON 7/22/2002 AS WELL. THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT AGAIN ON 8/9/2002 WITH 57,454. ALL THE ABOVE THING WERE REPLACE AND PERFORMED UNDER WARRANTY. I PERSONALLY HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT VALVE COVER GASKET, ALTERNATOR BELT, O2 SENSOR, KNOCK SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, AND EXHAUST Y PIPE. I SOLD THE CAR BECAUSE THE HEAD GASKET STARTED TO GO OUT AGAIN, THE CLUTCH NEED REPLACED, AND THE TRANSMISSION GEAR OIL, AND MOTOR OIL WERE BOTH LEAKING. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN TO SUBARU (LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY) AND THEY WERE UNWILLING TO HELP WITH THE REPAIR OF THE HEAD GASKET SINCE I DID NOT HAVE THE SCHEDULED COOLANT SERVICE PERFORMED AT SUBARU. WELL I HAD WITHIN A COUPLE MILES. SUBARU CHANGED THE FIRST HEAD GASKET AT 48,817 MILES AND IT WHEN OUT AGAIN AT 82,796 MILES A DIFFERENCE OF AROUND 33,000 AND THE SERVICE IS SCHEDULED FOR EVERY 30,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10068271
Incident
Feb 8, 2004
Mileage
82,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 8, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO DRIFT OFF THE ROAD. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE FAILED. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
10063164
Incident
Feb 15, 2004
Mileage
100,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 11, 2004

AIRFLOW METER/SENSOR FAILED AT 75,000. *AK

NHTSA ID
10057037
Incident
Feb 9, 2004
Mileage
75,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jul 24, 2003

CONSUMER HEARS A "RUMBLING" NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END. CONSUMER PREVIOUSLY HAD REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED AT 42000 DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR. THE BEARINGS HAVE WORN OUT AGAIN, AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 44000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10030120
Mileage
44,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 18, 2003

THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
10010009
Mileage
46,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 13, 2003

NAR 02/13/2003 ANSWERED BY TIS. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE HIS CLUTCH REPLACED TWICE DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR WHILE STILL UNDER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY, HOWEVER SUBARU REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIRS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10008572
Incident
Feb 3, 2003
Airbags
Filed Nov 26, 2002
Crash reported2 injuries reported

THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WAS INJURED. TS *JB

NHTSA ID
8023343
Incident
Nov 1, 2002
Mileage
62,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 18, 2002
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS HIT FROM THE REAR BY A VAN, PUSHED FORWARD, AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STOPPED FOR TRAFFIC. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TS

NHTSA ID
8022867
Incident
Nov 1, 2002
Visibility
Filed Jul 7, 2001

REARVIEW MIRROR WAS BEING ADJUSTED AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD WHICH ACTION BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE WINDSHIELD MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY SINCE THERE WAS VERY LITTLE PRESSURE INVOLVED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT. THE FACTORY REP SAID THEY WOULDN'T REPLACE IT. I CONTACTED SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE, KATE CLARK, WHO ALSO SAID THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER I COULDN'T SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE FACTORY REP, SO NEITHER HE NOR CUSTOMER SERVICE EVEN ASKED HOW THE WINDSHIELD BROKE. A PROPERLY INSTALLED WINDSHIELD ON A NEW VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BREAK FROM MERE CONTACT WITH THE REARVIEW MIRROR, IN MY OPINION, AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY AND SUBARU SHOULD REPLACE IT.*AK

NHTSA ID
748025
Incident
Apr 29, 2001
BrakesOther / unspecifiedTransmission
Filed May 10, 2001

REAR WHEELS REQUIRED NEW BEARINGS...HARSH GRINDING NOISE AS CAR SPED UP...WARRANTIED ITEM. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT I'VE DROPPED THE CAR OFF TWICE IN 3 MONTHS FOR SIMILAR NOISES...BRAKES, TRANSMISSION AND WHEELS.*AK

NHTSA ID
745152
Incident
May 10, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Mar 16, 2001

MANUFACTURER SHOULD MAKE SEAT BELT EXTENDERS AVAILABLE FOR CONSUMERS WHEN NEEDED. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND IS UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT BECAUSE THE FASTENER IS SO FAR BEHIND HER, IT PULLS THE SHOULDER STRAP UP UNDER HER RIGHT ARM WHICH CAUSES PAINFUL CHAFING. *SLC

NHTSA ID
883304
Incident
Sep 15, 1999
Suspension
Filed Mar 8, 2001

WHILE DRIVING REAR STRUT WOULD MAKE NOISE. *AK

NHTSA ID
882466
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
Brakes
Filed Sep 26, 2000

BRAKES ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONT ROTORS AND PADS, AND BRAKE SENSOR ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP FOR REPAIRS, AND WHILE DRIVING OFF DEALER'S LOT, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPING DISTANCE, ALMOST CAUSING A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
871559
Incident
Sep 13, 2000
Transmission
Filed Sep 24, 1999

THE TRANSMISSION PLUG FELL OUT, LEAKAGE OF ALL THE FLUID WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOCK UP. NO WARNING LIGHTS TO INDICATE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. MJS

NHTSA ID
848638
Incident
Sep 12, 1999
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 27, 1999

WHILE TRAVELING 45MPH RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW. TOOK TO TIRE STORE & HAD TIRE REPLACED. THE BACK TIRE BLEW IN 21 JUL 99. IT WAS A GAS STATION ATTENDANT WHO INFORMED OWNER THAT TIRE HAD BUBBLES ON INSIDE WALL. ALL THE TIRES WITH VEHICLE WERE DEFECTIVE. BRIDESTONE, THE TIRE MANUFACTURER, CLAIMS THAT THE DEFECTS WERE DUE TO POOR ROAD CONDITIONS. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
846048
Incident
Jul 7, 1999
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Aug 19, 1999

MY VIN # IS CORRECT. YOUR COMPUTER IS OFF. ANYWAY, THE REAR WHEEL BEARING (RIGHT SIDE) ON MY SUBARU 2.5RS HAS GONE BAD WITH ONLY 500 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED MANY SUBARU 2.5RS OWNERS OVER THE INTERNET THIS LAST WEEK AND FOUND THAT MANY OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS SIEZING UP WITH VERY LOW MILES ON THEIR CARS. ONE MAN REPORTED HE IS TAKING HIS 2.5RS IN FOR THE THIRD TIME TO HAVE THE BEARINGS REPLACED, WITH ONLY 26,000 MILES ON THE CAR. AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, EVERYONE THAT IS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING THE SAME "NO ONE ELSE IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM" ATTITUDE FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE DEALERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BUT WE ARE COMPLAINING, AND NO ONE IS LISTENING. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFFECT IN THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS OR IN THE INSTALLATION PROCCESS AT THE FACTORY. A SEIZED REAR WHEEL BEARING COULD CAUSE AN OPERATOR TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. YOU SHOULD BE GETTING MORE COMPLAINTS ON THIS DEFFECT IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS. OWNERS ARE COMING TOGETHER VIA THE INTERNET AND VOICING THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS, AND ARE BEING ENCOURAGED TO FILE WITH THE NHTSA IF THEY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I MORE THAN WELCOME ANY FEEDBACK YOU MAY HAVE TO MY E-MAIL OR TELPHONE. I WILL ALSO ASSIST YOU IN ANY WAY I CAN IF NEEDED. THANKYOU FOR HEARING MY CONCERNS ON THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ID
710234
Incident
Aug 4, 1999
Steering
Filed Aug 19, 1999

FAILED/WORN REAR WHEEL HUBS ONLY AFTER 8500 MILES. WHIRRING/GRINDING NOISE THAT INCREASES WITH SPEED. UNDER WARRANTY, BUT OTHER DRIVERS OF THE SUBARU IMPREZA 2.5RS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM AT SIMILAR MILEAGES.

NHTSA ID
710200
Incident
Aug 18, 1999

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .