2000 Subaru Impreza Owner Complaints

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A SERVICE BAY AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, I WAS GOING A LITTLE TO FAST SO I HIT THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED, I LET UP OFF THE PEDAL AND BRAKED AGAIN AND IT ACCELERATED AGAIN. I BUMPED THE ATTENDANT IN FRONT OF ME AND KNOCKED HIM DOWN. HE SAID HE WAS OK. I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR RATHER THAN THE BRAKE BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE I DID THAT. IT ALMOST FELT LIKE THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT FURTHER DOWN THAN NORMAL AND WHEN I BRAKED MY FOOT CAME DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. AS PART OF THE SERVICE THEY CHECKED MY BRAKE FLUID AND SAID IT LOOKED GOOD. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I DROVE THE VEHICLE QUITE A BIT TO CHECK IT OUT. IT SEEMED TO BE OPERATING CORRECTLY. NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME. I'VE BEEN INTO 100S OF SERVICE BAYS AND HAVE DRIVEN MANY MANY MILES. I HAVE ALWAYS CONSIDERED MYSELF AN EXCELLENT DRIVER. AFTER THIS INCIDENT I'M NOT SO SURE ANYMORE. IN ADDITION, THIS IS MY HIGH SCHOOL DAUGHTER'S CAR AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS SAFE FOR HER TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11040924

Incident

Oct 28, 2017

Mileage

148,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, FUEL FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10658889

Incident

Nov 18, 2014

Mileage

135,000 mi

VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. FOUND SERIOUS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINES AND INTAKE MANIFOLD. DEALER/OTHER OWNERS REPORTED SAME PROBLEMS FOR THIS MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563693

Incident

Jan 23, 2014

Mileage

93,000 mi

RE: GENERAL ALTIMAX RT 205/60R15 DOT 65TM3T3 (PER CONTINENTAL). TREAD SEPARATION/BUBBLED SIDEWALLS WHEN VEHICLE TRAVELING 50-55MPH. DRIVER FELT TIRE GOING FLAT & PULLED OVER TO FIND SIDEWALL BUBBLED & DISTORTED AROUND ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE. SENT TO CONTINENTAL TIRE (ADMINISTRATOR OF THE GENERAL TIRE WARRANTY) WHO DENIED THE CLAIM BLAMING "UNDERINFLATION/OVERLOADING". THE OWNER/DRIVER OF THE CAR IS A FORMER DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN WHO MAINTAINS THE TIRES AND KNOWS SYMPTOMS OF TIRE PROBLEMS. (TWO AIR COMPRESSORS IN HOME GARAGE). THE CAR WAS NOT OVERLOADED. WHEN THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY SUBMISSION, A NUMBER OF TECH'S GATHERED AROUND AS NONE HAD EVER SEEN THIS PROFOUND LEVEL OF SEPARATION/BUBBLING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10494960

Incident

Oct 30, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU IMPERZA. THE REAR CONTINENTAL TIRES MADE A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE TIRES WERE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED ABNORMAL TREAD WEAR INSIDE OF THE SIDE-WALL. THE TIRES ARE CUPPED AT THIS POINT. THE TECHNICIANS INSPECTED THE SUSPENSION AND THE ALIGNMENT, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE A FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10296601

Incident

Dec 1, 2009

Mileage

140,000 mi

RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACED 63948, 67346, 84427 MILES. HAD TO GO ON THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE CAR (NEW) THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A NOISE LIKE SOMETHING RATTLING INSIDE OF IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE ENGINE APART, AND SINCE THE PROBLEM WASN'T DANGEROUS, THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT. VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTED IN SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236253

Incident

Sep 27, 2006

Mileage

63,948 mi

TURN SIGNAL DIMMER SWITCH. HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT IF TURN SIGNAL IS TOUCHED. FAILURE OF LIGHTS OPERATING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT FOR SECONDS UNTIL LIGHTS TURN BACK ON. NO CORRECTION MADE YET. WATER PUMP MAKING HIGH PITCH SOUND. FAILURE OF PUMP COULD CAUSE SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE. NO CORRECTION MADE YET. *NM

NHTSA ID

10179279

Incident

Jan 20, 2007

DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARINGS. REPLACED REAR-RIGHT IN 2002, REAR LEFT FEB 2004, BOTH REAR JUN 2006. *NM

NHTSA ID

10160795

Incident

Jun 23, 2006

Mileage

64,000 mi

I HAVE A 2000 SUBARU IMPREZA WAGON....I BOUGHT IT NOV 2004 TO USE IN MY BUSINESS. I BOUGHT IT MAINLY BECAUSE SUBARUS ARE RELIABLE, ECONOMICAL CARS...IT HAD 55,000 MILES ON IT...NOW IT HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT AND THE CLUTCH IS REALLY SLIPPING BADLY; NOT GOOD WHEN YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY INTO TRAFFIC. I KNOW PEOPLE WITH SUBARUS THAT DIDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH UNTIL ALMOST 200,000 MILES. I REALLY FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING DEFECTIVE WITH MY PARTICULAR CAR FOR IT TO BE SLIPPING SO BADLY AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE...IM THE SOLE DRIVER OF THE CAR AND I DO NOT RIDE THE CLUTCH....IT IS NOW DEC 14, 05 AND IT HAS BEEN SLIPPING FOR A COUPLE MONTHS NOW. IS THERE ANYTHING THE MANUFACTURER CAN DO TO HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM? I LOVE THE CAR BUT AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10145425

Incident

Dec 14, 2005

Mileage

62,500 mi

1. NOT AWARE OF EVENTS LEADING TO THIS DEFECT. DESIGN IS SENSITIVE TO SMALL ADJUSTMENTS AND NOT ROBUST. 2. THROTTLE CABLE DISLODGES FROM GROOVE ON THROTTLE BODY LEVER WHEN ACCELERATOR IS FULLY DEPRESSED, PREVENTING THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO IDLE POSITION. THIS CONDITION CAUSES MOTOR TO ACCELERATE AT APROXIMATELY 1/3 TO 1/2 FULL THROTTLE. THIS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE TO SURGEN OF POWER DURING BRAKING. . CABLE END WAS REPOSITIONED AND CABLE SLACK ADJUSTED FROM 10 MILIMETERS TO 2 MILIMETERS. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE PREVENTED RECURANCE. 4.SUGGESTED DESIGN MODIFICATIONS INCLUDE: A. INCREASE GOOVE DEPTH ON THROTTLE LEVER AN ADDITIONAL 6 MI;IMETERS TO LESSEN TENDANCY OF CABLE TO DISLODGE. B. CHANGE SHAPE OF CABLE END TO PREVENT SEVERE TWISTING OF CABLE. CYLINDRICAL END COULD BE CHANGED TO SPHERICAL SHAPE, ALLOWING CABLE TO RELAX AND FIND NATURAL POSITION. THROTTLE LEVER WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE RE-DESIGNE TO ACCEPT THIS NEW CABLE END. A SIMPLE DEALER KIT WITH NEW LEVER COULD BE COULD BE INSTALLED QUICKLY DUE TO EASY ACCESSABILITY. THIS WOULD BE BETTER THAN NOTHING AND PREVENT A DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10104825

Incident

Nov 23, 2004

Mileage

80,600 mi

2000 SUBARU IMPREZA HAS DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARINGS.*MR (NAR) THE VEHICLE'S WHEEL BEARING HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES, 16481 MILES, 21401 MILES, 34770 MILES AND 56171 MILES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10046665

Incident

Oct 3, 2003

Mileage

16,481 mi

ON OCTOBER 2002, MY MOTHER WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL CAR ACCIDENT, WHEN WE WENT TO VIEW HER VEHICLE, I NOTICED HER DRIVERS SIDE DOOR PANEL, ON THE INSIDE WAS BURNED COMPLETELY. THIS DOOR WAS HIT FROM THE IMPACT OF THE CAR THAT RAN INTO HER. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE MOTOR THAT ALLOWS THE WINDOW TO ROLL UP CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THATS WHY THE DOOR GOT BURNT. WHEN THE DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE, MY MOTHER WAS BURNED VERY BADLY, AS THIS WAS NOT THE TOTAL CAUSE OF HER DEATH, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10069873

Incident

Dec 15, 2002

UPON STARTING THE CAR ON A COLD DAY (AROUND 0 F), A VERY STRONG RAW GASOLINE SMELL CAME THROUGH THE DASHBOARD VENTS. THE ODOR DISSIPATED WHILE DRIVING, BUT EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED/IDLING (EVEN AFTER THE ENGINE WAS WARMED UP), THE OVERWHELMING GASOLINE VAPOR ODOR CAME BACK THROUGH THE VENTS. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL SOURCE--IN MY 2.2L ENGINE, THERE IS A SHORT RUBBER HOSE CONNECTING TWO METAL FUEL LINES THAT BECOMES WETTED WITH FUEL AND SOMETIMES EVEN DRIPS DOWN ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE ONE SOURCE, IF NOT THE ONLY ONE, FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE NOT ONLY FOR THE PASSENGERS' HEALTH, BUT INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS WELL. PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING INTERNET DISCUSSION: HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=131755&PERPAGE=50&PAGENUMBER=1 *LA

NHTSA ID

10052908

Incident

Jan 5, 2004

PREMATURE FAILURE OF REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. THE REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED AT 36,408 MILES. IT PROBABLY STARTED FAILING SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES EARLIER. I WASN'T AWARE OF THE CHANGE UNTIL A FRIEND POINTED OUT THE NOISE THAT HE THOUGHT SOUNDED LIKE THE WHEEL BEARING. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ALTERING THE REPAIR PROCESS TO AVOID "REPEAT PREMATURE FAILURES"(QUOTE FROM THE SERVICE BULLETIN.

NHTSA ID

10052583

Incident

Dec 26, 2003

Mileage

36,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE FISH TAILED AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053350

Incident

Jan 2, 2004

Mileage

51,000 mi

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING A LONG DISTANCE, AND IT BEGUN TO THROW OIL, OIL WAS COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS NOT UNUSAL BECAUSE THE AUTO HAS TO BE BLOWN OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10022806

Incident

Jun 10, 2003

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP FOR NHTSA ODI NUMBER: 768872. AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURED I CONTACTED THE CAR DEALER, THEY SAID THAT PARTS AND REPAIRS WERE ONLY COVERED FOR ONE YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I CONTACTED SUBARU AMERICA(CASE # 440952) BEFORE TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND INFORMED THEM THAT THIS REPLACEMENT WOULD BE THE 3RD RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING IN THE CAR. WHEN I GOT TO THE DEALER, THEY EXAMINED THE BEARING. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME SUBARU HAD CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD THEM CHECK THE PART NUMBER OF THE FAILED BEARING. THE NUMBER MATCHED THE NUMBER SUBARU HAD GIVEN HIM TO CHECK FOR, THE BEARING WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW PART NUMBER FREE A CHARGE. AFTER THE CAR WAS REPAIRED I CALLED SUBARU AMERICA TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE ORIGINAL PART THAT FAILED TO SEE IF I COULD RE-COUP THE COST OF THE 1ST REPLACEMENT($316.000). THEY WOULDN'T ADMIT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND SAID THAT THE DEALER CHANGED THE PART BECAUSE I PROBABLY WAS A GOOD CUSTOMER(COME NOW). IF POSSIBLE PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, I THINK THE ONLY REASON MY DEFECTIVE PART WAS CHANGED IS BECAUSE I CONTACTED SUBARU AMERICA AND TOLD THEM THAT THE SAME PART FAILING 2 TIMES WAS UNACCEPTIBLE. WELL I GUESS THE 'SQUEAKY WHEEL GET'S THE OIL'. THANKS FOR LOGGING THIS REPORT. DT

NHTSA ID

769143

Incident

Aug 18, 2001

THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AS A NEW VEHICLE. THE ORIGINAL RIGHT REAR BEARING FAILED IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR AND WAS REPLACED. IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL STARTED MAKING A NOISE AGAIN. I HAD AN INDEPENDENT SUBARU DEALER CONFIRM THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING HAD FAILED AGAIN. WHEN THIS IS REPLACED THIS WILL BE THE THIRD RIGHT WHEEL BEARING. CAR HISTORY: AFTER OWNING THE NEW CAR FOR 4 MONTHS THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK. THE DEALER TRIED TO TELL ME THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED BECAUSE OF A STONE. I SHOWED HIM THAT THE CRACK STARTED BY THE RIGHT WINDSHIELD PILLAR. IT WAS REPAIRED FOR FREE. I WENT IN FOR ROUTINE BRAKE SERVICE AND ONE OF THE MECHANICS ASKED ME IF THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE CALIPER WAS A MITSUBISHI CALIPER AND NOT A SUBARU CALIPER. WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO THE SERVICE MANAGERS ATTENTION HE STATED THE JAPANESE MANUFACTURERS SOMETIME CROSS-USE COMPATIBLE PARTS IN DIFFERENT MAKES OF CARS. I AM NOT SURE THIS IS A VAILD EXPLAINATION. I'M WONDERING IF I BOUGHT A NEW CAR THAT HAD SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE RIGHT SIDE(WINDSHIELD PROBLEM, RIGHT FRONT CALIPER FROM ANOTHER MANUFACTURER AND PROBLEMS WITH THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING). ALSO WHEN I GOT THE WHEEL BEARING REPLACED, THERE WAS ANOTHER SUBARU CUSTOMER GETTING THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACED ON A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK, SHE ONLY HAD 24,000 MILES WHEN THE PART FAILED. DT

NHTSA ID

768872

Incident

Aug 18, 2001

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE REAR BEARINGS HAVE GONE OUT ON THIS CAR (PREVIOUS OWNER HAD REPLACED. SO FAR, THE DEALER HAS BEEN GREAT. HOWEVER, THE FRONT BEARINGS ARE STARTING TO GO OUT (AT 38,900K) AND I AM NOT SURE IF THE DEALER IS STILL GOING TO BE AS GOOD- THEY CLAIM THAT THEY NEED TO TALK TO THE MANUFACTURER. I WILL BE CONTACTING SUBARU IN THE MEANTIME. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS CAR, AND THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM- BUT SEEMS TO HAVE HAPPENED WITH A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE. SEE HTTP://WWW.RANMA.COM/%EHARLOCK/SUBARU/WHEELBEARING.HTML- ALSO THERE IS A YAHOO GROUP DEVOTED TO SUBARU OUTBACK SPORTS WITH MANY POSTING ABOUT BAD BEARINGS. THANKS FOR YOU PROMPT ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID

766677

Incident

Jun 10, 2002

I CONTACTED MANUFACTURER SUBARU OF AMERICA (SOA) REGARDING MY ISSUES. THEY (SOA) ACKNOWLEDGED THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BEARINGS, BUT COULD NOT GUARANTYME ANY ASSISTANCE.*AK

NHTSA ID

766245

Incident

Apr 9, 2002

THIS IS THE SECOND SUCH INCIDENT. 80% OF MY DRIVING IS HIGHWAY.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

766076

Incident

May 30, 2002

THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO SUCH INCIDENTS. 80% OF MY DRIVING IS HIGHWAY. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

766075

Incident

Mar 28, 2001

SUBARU IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS A CONTINIUOSLY DEFECTIVE PART AND SHOULD BE RECALLED! NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

765993

Incident

Apr 15, 2002

CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION WAS WARRANTED BY SUBARU FIRST THREE TIMES, ON FOURTH OCCASION SUBARU DECLINED WARRANTY STATING THAT CONDITION WAS CAUSED BY DRIVER TRYING TO MOVE GEAR INTO REVERSE WHILE MOVING FORWARD, OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE A WHINING SOUND WHILE IN REVERSE AFTER THE THIRD DISASSEMBLY, CONSUMER FEELS THE TRANSMISSION WAS PROBABLY NEVER ASSEMBLED CORRECTLY IN THE BEGINNING, CONSUMER IS DISAPPOINTED WITH SUBARU AND ITS WARRANTY. *TT

NHTSA ID

785926

Incident

May 1, 2000

ABS SYSTEM TOO SENSITIVE. SYSTEM ENGAGE OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT THEN FAILED TO ALLOW THE BRAKES TO GRIP AGAIN RESULTING IN A NEAR COLLISION WITH A TOLLBOOTH. PEDAL WILL DROP TO FLOOR WITH NEAR 0 BRAKING. *AK

NHTSA ID

758822