2002 Subaru Impreza Body & structure Problems

AT OIL CHANGE, I WAS CALLED TO LOOK AT HOLE RUSTED INTO FRONT SUBFRAME--SHOCKING AND FRIGHTENING!!!

NHTSA ID

11000912

Incident

Jun 23, 2017

Mileage

182,653 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A BURNING OIL ODOR. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EMIT A LOUD VIBRATING NOISE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST FROM THE CONVECTOR REAR MUFFLER, GASKET BOLT, AND DRY BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED AND THE HEAD GASKETS WERE FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED AN OIL LEAK. ALL THE PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID

10948493

Incident

Jan 23, 2017

Mileage

75,000 mi

2002 SUBARU WITH ROTTED SUB FRAME WITH ONLY 129,000 MILES. UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

10938704

Incident

Dec 30, 2016

MY CAR HAS A SUB FRAME UNDER THE FRONT END. I HAVE READ THEORIES ABOUT WHY IT IS THERE BUT IT STILL SEEMS TO BE A QUESTION. I BELIEVE THE INFO ABOUT IT BEING AN ADDITIONAL SAFETY FEATURE FOR THE US MARKET. IT CAN BE REMOVED WITHOUT CHANGING ANYTHING ELSE. THEY RUST AND MINE IS A GROUP OF RUSTED FRAME LIKE MATERIAL READY TO FALL AND DAMAGE THE UNDERSIDE OF MY CAR AND ANY ONE BEHIND ME. IF THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED, IF IS NOT THEN THERE SHOULD BE AN ANSWER ABOUT WHY IT IS THERE AND IS IT NEEDED.

NHTSA ID

10839036

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

TOOK MY CAR IN FOR TIRES AND ALONG WITH BAD WHEEL BEARING, I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME WAS ALMOST ROTTED OUT. AS I LIVE IN A COLD SNOWY AREA AND I OFTEN DRIVE MY GRANDCHILDREN AROUND IN THIS VEHICLE, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS? I SEE THAT THERE ARE OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL, YEAR, MAKE THAT HAVE SIMILAR COMPLAINT. I AM ALSO VERY UPSET THAT I WAS SOLD THIS CAR IN 01/12 AND WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FRONT CONTROL ARM RECALL. 5 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THIS CAR, I HAD TO HAVE THIS REPLACED. IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 2 DAYS, THE PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM A SUBARU DEALER, WHY WAS I NOT INFORMED OF THIS PROBLEM AT THAT TIME EITHER? *TR

NHTSA ID

10671308

Incident

Jan 8, 2015

Mileage

165,000 mi

I TOOK MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA FOR ITS YEARLY NEW YORK STATE INSPECTION. AT THIS TIME WE WERE TOLD THE SUBFRAME IS RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR. AND IT IS UN SAFE TO EVEN DRIVE THE CAR. THE CAR IS OTHERWISE IN GREAT SHAPE. IT DOES HAVE 170,000 MILES BUT OTHER THAN THAT THE CAR HAS GIVEN US NO PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10669737

Incident

Jan 2, 2015

Mileage

170,249 mi

2002 IMPREZA WAS TAKEN TO TWO SUBARU DEALERSHIPS, BOTH OF WHICH FOUND THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SERIOUSLY ROTTED, AS WAS THE LOWER SUPPORT FOR THE RADIATOR. BOTH CONDITIONS WERE DEEMED BY THE DEALERSHIPS TO MAKE THE CAR'S SAFETY TO DRIVE QUESTIONABLE. SUBARU OF AMERICA WAS CONTACTED BY THIS WRITER ABOUT THIS, AND ABOUT A FAILING HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS ALSO DISCOVERED BY THE TWO DEALERSHIPS AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, AND A SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE REPLIED THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THE SITUATION DUE TO THE CAR'S AGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558063

Incident

Sep 27, 2013

Mileage

72,300 mi

THE 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA IS SUBJECT TO A RECALL ON ITS CONTROL ARMS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000). OUR CAR'S PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM CORRODED TO THE POINT OF FAILURE ABOUT 1.5 YEARS AGO. NOW WE HAVE DISCOVERED THE SAME LEVEL OF CORROSION ON A NEARBY PART, ALSO ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. WE DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE (AKA K-FRAME, AKA FRONT CROSSMEMBER) IS SHOWING SEVERE CORROSION, SIMILAR TO THAT SHOWN BY THE CONTROL ARM THAT PREVIOUSLY CORRODED THROUGH AND BROKE ON OUR CAR. OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT IS HARD TO PREDICT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN SHOULD THIS PART FAIL, BUT WOULD POSE A SIGNIFICANT DANGER PARTICULARLY IF IT HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED. THE SIMILARITY BETWEEN THE CORROSION OF OUR CONTROL ARMS AND NOW OUR ENGINE CRADLE EXCEEDS THAT OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS WAS THE REASON THAT THE CONTROL ARMS WERE PREVIOUSLY RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557390

Incident

Dec 21, 2013

Mileage

128,000 mi

WHEN I TOOK OUT THE UNDERNEATH PLASTIC COVER BELOW THE ENGINE FOR CLEANING PURPOSES, I SAW SEVERE RUST ON THE" SUB-FRAME" WHERE BOTH LOWER ARMS ARE ATTACH TO IT.I WENT TO THE SUBARU DEALER FOR INSPECTION ON NOV. 9, 2013. THEY TOLD ME THAT, IT IS NOT IN THE RECALL LIST, SO I WILL NEED TO PAY FOR THE COSTLY REPAIRS .WHEN I ASK ONE OF THE ASSOCIATES IF IT SAFE TO DRIVE,HE SAID NO, IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND ALSO IF COLLISION OCCURS. THEY SCHEDULED MY CAR FOR FREE ESTIMATES ON NOV.11,2013. NO ACCIDENT THIS TIME.I JUST WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR SAFE.PLEASE HELP ME,THANKS *TR

NHTSA ID

10551634

Incident

Nov 9, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR WHEN THEY WERE ADVISED THAT THE SUB FRAME EXHIBITED SEVERE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ID

10536923

Incident

Aug 17, 2013

Mileage

94,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHO STATED THAT THE SUB FRAME WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,541.

NHTSA ID

10471292

Incident

Jul 11, 2012

Mileage

115,541 mi

WHILE PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 3-5 MPH IN AUGUST 2011, THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE DUE TO CORROSION. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT BROKE THE SWAY BAR LINKS THAT CONNECT TO THE CONTROL ARM. THE MECHANIC THAT SPECIALIZES IN SUBARUS IN MY AREA FOUND THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS ALSO ROTTED OUT DUE TO CORROSION (THE CONTROL ARMS BOLT TO THE SUB FRAME). HE REPLACED THE SUB FRAME, BOTH LEFT & RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AND BOTH LEFT & RIGHT SWAY BAR LINKS IN ORDER TO GET BACK TO A ROAD SAFE VEHICLE. IN NOVEMBER 2011 I WAS NOTIFIED BY SUBARU THAT THERE WAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN WVX-34 , NHTSA RECALL NO.11V-464 FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. I SUBMITTED ALL NECESSARY INFORMATION UNDER PARAGRAGH TITLED "IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY PAID FOR A REPAIR" AND NEVER HEARD FROM SUBARU (THEY SAID "IT MAY TAKE UP TO 60 DAYS"). AFTER 90+ DAYS I EMAILED THEM ONLY TO FIND OUT ON FEB 21, 2012, "I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW YOUR CLAIM AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT APPEARS THAT YOUR REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS DENIED BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE PART THAT WAS REPLACED IS NOT AN AFFECTED COMPONENT OF THIS RECALL ." I RESPONDED, " PLEASE REVIEW THE REPAIR ORDER AGAIN. BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED ( THE RIGHT ACTUALLY BROKE AND THE LEFT WAS RUSTED THROUGH) THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL IS ABOUT. IT WAS FURTHER FOUND THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS ALSO ROTTED THROUGH. THE CONTROL ARMS BOLT TO THE SUB FRAME, SO JUST REPLACING THE CONTROL ARMS WOULD NOT HAVE MADE THE VEHICLE ROAD WORTHY." I RECEIVED A CHECK FOR $723 WITH NO EXPLANATION WHAT WAS BEING COVERED (IT COST ME $1449.36 FOR REPAIRS). I CALLED SUBARU AND WAS TOLD THAT COVERED BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND $100 TOWING. I AGAIN ASKED FOR THE CLAIM TO BE REVIEWED AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOW PAY FOR THE LINKS BUT NOT THE SUB FRAME. YOU CAN'T SAFELY BOLT NEW CONTROL ARMS TO A ROTTEN SUBFRAME. SUBARU NEEDS TO INSPECT AND REPAIR THIS ALSO AND PAY!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10450582

Incident

Aug 27, 2011

Mileage

120,723 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA TS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR UNRELATED MAINTENANCE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE SUB FRAME WAS CORRODED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE OF $712.18. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,863. UPDATED 02/13/12 *BF UPDATED 04/26/12

NHTSA ID

10445873

Incident

Jan 30, 2012

Mileage

196,863 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL WHEN THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM THAT THE MOUNTING FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE DEALER STATED THAT IN ORDER TO REMEDY THE FAILURE, THE CROSS MEMBERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ID

10444581

Incident

Oct 5, 2011

Mileage

129,000 mi

EXTREME CORROSION OF FRONT SUB-FRAME. FAST ONSET. NO SIGN OF ISSUE AND THEN APPROX. LESS THAN 1 YEAR LATER TOTAL PENETRATING CORROSION WAS VISIBLE IN AN AREA OF IT. WAS NOTICED DURING COMPLETION OF AN EXISTING SAFETY RECALL DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND FAILURE OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. CAN PROVIDE DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE ISSUE UPON REQUEST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10441561

Incident

Dec 28, 2011

Mileage

197,245 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TURNED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE RIGHT SUB FRAME AND CONTROL ARMS WERE CORRODED AND DETACHED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE CABLE HAD SEIZED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

NHTSA ID

10433063

Incident

Oct 11, 2011

Mileage

40,000 mi

2.5 TS WITH 49,093 MILES. WAGON WAS ALWAYS GIVEN BEST OF PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. DRIVING SLOWLY ON CITY STREET. CLUNKING SOUND FROM RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AREA. SOME DIFFICULTY WITH BRAKING AND STEERING. ASSUMED IT WAS ICE BUILDUP ON BRAKES/SUSPENSION. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES INCREASED SPEED ON COUNTRY ROAD AND BECAME MUCH WORSE, ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF STEERING BUT GOT OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD BROKEN AND CAUSED RUST-RIDDLED FRONT SUBFRAME TO COLLAPSE. REPLACED LOWER CONTROL ARM, FRONT STABILIZER LINK AND FRONT SUBFRAME. $1218.02. *TR

NHTSA ID

10379954

Incident

Jan 14, 2011

Mileage

49,093 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER PENETRATED THE RADIATOR CAUSING IT TO FAIL. THE FRONT SUBFRAME, FRONT DRIVER LOWER CONTROL ARM, BUSHINGS, AND BALL JOINT WERE ALL CORRODED DUE TO THE WATER DAMAGE. THE CONTROL ARM BROKE IN MULTIPLE PIECES AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT ALL OF THE PARTS BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 139,000. UPDATED 12/01/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE WATER/PUDDLE SHORTED OUT THE ENGINE FANS WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE ROTTED SUBFRAME. UPDATED 12/08/10

NHTSA ID

10328927

Incident

Mar 15, 2010

Mileage

139,000 mi

I WAS JUST INFORMED THAT THE SUB FRAME ON MY VEHICLE IS ROTTED AND THAT MY CAR IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY A 2002 WITH LESS THEN 94,000 MILES. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, I WOULD NEED TO SPEND AROUND $2000.00 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRONT AND REAR SUBFRAME. IF THIS PROBLEM WASN'T NOTICED AND I HAD CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR, THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THE CAR WOULD CRUMBLE IF IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. OR I COULD JUST BE DRIVING ALONG THE INTERSTATE AND IT COULD BASICALLY FALL APART, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10293149

Incident

Nov 16, 2009

Mileage

94,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN US RT 2 IN BOLTON VT WHEN HAD SUDDEN STEERING WHEEL WOBBLE. CAR THEN VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND OFF THE ROAD. CAR WENT ABOUT 20 FEET OFF THE ROAD. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT A FIELD WAS TO THE RIGHT. AFTER GETTING OUT, I NOTICED THAT THE LEFT SIDE FRONT WHEEL WAS SITTING SEVERAL INCHES TOO FAR TO THE REAR, RUBBING AGAINST THE BODY. MY MECHANIC INDICATED THAT A LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND BROKE OFF OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME. THE SUBFRAME ITSELF IS ALSO CORRODED. THIS IS ONLY ON THE LEFT SIDE; THE RIGHT SIDE IS FINE. THE CAR'S BODY IS GENERALLY IN GOOD SHAPE. I WOULD NOT HAVE EXPECTED THIS PART TO BE AT ALL WEAK OR CORRODED. I HAVE THE OLD CONTROL ARM. MY MECHANIC IS GOING TO REPLACE THE CORRODED PORTION OF THE SUBFRAME. *TRW UPDATED 01/13/11 *BP UPDATED 02/14/11 *BP UPDATED 03/11/11 UPDATED 03/14/11 UPDATED 03/30/11

NHTSA ID

10291836

Incident

Nov 3, 2009

Mileage

86,500 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HATCHBACK/LIFGATE FELL OUT BECAUSE THE SCREWS HOLDING THE LIFTGATE IN PLACE STRIPPED DUE TO WEARING. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED IT WAS ASSEMBLED IMPROPERLY, AND TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE HAVING THE REPAIRS DONE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002, SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. *AK

NHTSA ID

10146813

Incident

Dec 20, 2005

Mileage

51,000 mi