2004 Subaru Impreza Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH and hard braking, the vehicle started shuddering violently and the steering wheel was not operating as needed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence at 20 MPH. The contact then inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the front driver's side control arm had fractured. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 235,000.

NHTSA ID

11652517

Incident

Mar 19, 2025

Mileage

235,000 mi

I have had this airbag recall repaired 8 years ago, yet the dealership (Autonation Subaru Arapahoe 9955 E Arapahoe Rd Centennial, CO 80112) REFUSES to submit the paperwork to complete the recall. I have contacted the dealership numerous times, I have had Subaru of America representatives come out to my house to verify this airbag recall has been completed, yet I cannot get the recall status of my vehicle to be updated to show that the recall has been completed.

NHTSA ID

11622784

Incident

Sep 6, 2024

The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with an unknown code for the throttle body. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000.

NHTSA ID

11512789

Incident

Mar 13, 2023

Mileage

162,000 mi

There is a recall for fuel lines for MY2002-2003 Imprezas and the issue was resolved or a fix was implemented on late MY2004 vehicles. Unfortunately this means early MY2004 vehicles are still impacted by the issue with no recall in place. During cold weather or during cold engine startup fuel lines are prone to leaking onto cylinder head. Raw fuel can be observed dripping, and can be smelled in the engine bay and inside of the vehicle. This poses a fire risk during vehicle operation and the MY2002-2003 recall should be extended to MY2004 vehicles built prior to August 2003.

NHTSA ID

11490317

Incident

Oct 21, 2022

The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 15V323000 (Air Bags) and 11V464000 (Suspension) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The dealer informed the contact that NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension) could not be completed due to excessive corrosion. The approximate failure mileage was 191,000. Parts distributions disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11476389

Incident

Sep 6, 2011

Mileage

191,000 mi

I have already visited my local Subaru dealer to remedy this recall. I have a physical invoice as proof that my vehicle was inspected & already has the correct air bag installed. I have called the recall line (855-371-5406) MANY times & no matter who I speak to the recall does not clear despite me informing them I have already completed the repair. All representatives say the same thing claiming they will "take care of it or speak to a manager" & telling me to wait so it clears on its own over time. It has now been almost 2 years since my visit & I am still receiving an excessive amount of notices. The vehicle works as it should 100% with no issues.

NHTSA ID

11463274

Incident

May 3, 2022

Rubber fuel lines under the intake manifold leak fuel when the temperature falls below 40 degrees F. The smell permeates the cabin and fuel can be seen wetting nearby surfaces under the intake. An inspection can be performed. This represents a fire safety hazard that could occur while the vehicle is in motion, jeopardizing all surrounding traffic. The problem is widely noted on Subaru internet forums, but only a recall for 2002-2003 models has been reported. My car is a very early 2004, so it shares traits of the 2003 engines. There are no warning lamps or notifications, only the smell of raw gas when the car starts and is in motion in winter temperatures. This has happened repeatedly since the issue first occurred, so I avoid driving this vehicle if at all possible.

NHTSA ID

11448310

Incident

Dec 1, 2017

The passenger side lower control arm failed due to corrosion. There was a previous recall to address this issue with an anti corrosion coating, but it did not prevent the control arm from corroding and failing. I had this addressed at the dealer, and they mentioned the issue was addressed. Recall NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000

NHTSA ID

11424929

Incident

Jul 13, 2021

THERE IS A STRONG FUEL/GASOLINE SMELL COMING THRU THE AIR VENTS FROM THE ENGINE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GOES UNDER 30-25 DEGREES FARENHEIT. I'VE CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND THERE IS TWO FUEL HOSES THAT START LEAKING WHEN IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVERY WINTER SINCE I GOT MY CAR BACK IN 2016. I HAD THE CLAMPS ON THE HOSES RETIGHTENED BY A SUBARU DEALERSHIP BUT THAT DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I'M WRITING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THERE IS AN OPEN RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ON THE 2002 AND 2003 WRX, BUT NOT ON THE LATER MODELS. THERE'S MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO OTHER YEARS OF WRX AND EVEN OTHER MODELS OF SUBARU. IT'S REALLY STRESSFUL AND ANNOYING HAVING THE STRONG SMELL OF FUEL COMING IN TO YOUR CAR. ALSO IT'S A FIRE HAZARD HAVING GASOLINE POOLING UP ON THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO SUBARU OF AMERICA BUT THEY ONLY TOOK CARE OF THE 2002 AND 2003 WRX MODELS. I'M HOPING THIS CAN SOMEHOW HELP OTHER SUBARU OWNERS GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED AS IT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT COULD END UP GETTING WORST.

NHTSA ID

11396362

Incident

Dec 3, 2016

SIMILAR TO RECALL CAMPAIGN #WQK-47 THE HARD BRAKE LINE NEAR MY GAS TANK HAS CORRODED AND LEAKED ALL OF MY BRAKE FLUID. HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, I NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS TRAVELING FARTHER THAN NORMAL. WHEN I GOT HOME, THERE WAS ALMOST NO BRAKING ABILITY LEFT IN THE CAR, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CHECKED MASTER CYLINDER, IT WAS EMPTY, ADDED FLUID, PRESSED ON BRAKES, COULD HEAR THE FLUID LEAKING OUT. CHECKED AROUND CAR TO FIND FLUID. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON SUBARU'S AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR NEWER WRX'S FOR THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11322968

Incident

Apr 30, 2020

Mileage

165,000 mi

I ARRIVED AT A GAS STATION WHERE I FILLED UP MY SUBARU IMPREZA RS 2.5L WITH 87 UNLEADED MID GRADE FUEL AND FROM THAT POINT ON STILL TILL TODAY MY VEHICLE HAS HAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS TURNED ON AND I'M GOING 55 MPH OR HIGHER GASOLINE CAN BE SMELLED WITHIN THE VEHICLE. WHEN REFUELING THE GAS PUMP CONTINOUSLY STOPS AS IF THE FUEL CHAMBER IS FULL. AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE FAILS TO TURN OVER OR STAGGERS WEAKLY TO START.

NHTSA ID

11242199

Incident

May 22, 2019

Mileage

198,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHEN THE CONTACT FILLED UP THE FUEL TANK, THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO LOCATED FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PAUL MILLER SUBARU (3469 US-46, PARSIPANNY, NJ) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM ALL THE FUEL LINES UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

11174865

Incident

Feb 6, 2019

Mileage

110,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE FUEL LINE THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE FUEL RAIL UNDERNEATH THE TURBO INLET HOSE LEAKS GAS. THE SMELL IS VERY NOTICEABLE AND I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S DANGEROUS SINCE IT COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE.

NHTSA ID

11089793

Incident

Mar 10, 2018

Mileage

79,000 mi

DURING COLD WEATHER A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL CAN BE DETECTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY WHILE BOTH MOVING AND STATIONARY. THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS DURING COLDER WEATHER.

NHTSA ID

11061357

Incident

Jan 7, 2018

Mileage

151,598 mi

DURING THE PAST 8+ WINTERS, THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL. I'VE CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY SAID THAT ONLY THE TWO PREVIOUS MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO MY RESARCH, IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS WITH MANY SUBARU MODELS. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO CLOSE THE AIR VENTS TO KEEP THE SMELL OUT IN PREVIOUS YEARS. TODAY, WHITE SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF MY HOOD WHILE DRIVING AND STATIONARY. THE TEMPERATURE IS IN THE SINGLE NEGATIVE DIGITS.I BELIEVE THERE IS NOW ENOUGH FUEL LEAKAGE ONTO THE MANIFOLD THAT IT IS STARTING THE SMOKE.

NHTSA ID

11056931

Incident

Dec 27, 2017

Mileage

215,000 mi

IT RECENTLY BEEN COLD IN COLORADO AND NOW I HAVE THIS RAW FUEL SMELL IN CABIN DURING COLD WEATHER. FUEL LINE LEAKING COMING FROM THE RUBBER HOSE CONNECTOR LOCATED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, BETWEEN TWO DIRECT FEED LINE TO THE INJECTOR.

NHTSA ID

11031970

Incident

Sep 15, 2017

UNDER COLD CONDITIONS (40F OR LESS) THE RUBBER FUEL RAILS WILL CONTRACT UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND WILL SLOWLY LEAK GASOLINE CAUSING AN OVERWHELMING SMELL AND POSSIBILITY FOR A FIRE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS BOTH STATIONARY AND UNDER MOTION. THIS PROBLEM WAS ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE YEAR 2009 FOR THE 2002-2003 YEAR MODELS FOR THE SUBARU IMPREZA WRX AND A RECALL WAS ENACTED. HOWEVER, THIS RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE 2004-2005 MODELS EVEN THOUGH THE SAME ENGINE WITH THE SAME FUEL RAILS WERE USED. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AND PREDICTABLE FOR THE 3 WINTERS THAT I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. I HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM OTHERS WITH THE SAME YEAR CAR THAT THEY ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE PICTURES I INCLUDED SHOW THE SCREW THAT CLAMPS THE RUBBER HOSES. THE GAS LEAKS AT THIS CONNECTING POINT BUT IT WAS HARD TO GET A PICTURE OF THE ACTUAL HOSES. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY DIRECTED ME TO BRING THIS UP WITH NHTSA. THANK YOU!

NHTSA ID

11016137

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

140,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 30 MPH, THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. UPON INSPECTION OF THE FRONT END I SAW THAT THE LOWER SUSPENSION ARM HAD CRACKED.

NHTSA ID

10981318

Incident

Apr 26, 2017

Mileage

1 mi

DEALER CLAIMS TO HAVE PROPERLY PERFORMED A RECALL REPAIR, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS I OWN A 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION FOR A SEVERE CORROSION ISSUE. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO HADDAD SUBARU FOR THE RECALL SERVICE IN 2011 I WAS RECENTLY INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC (NOT DEALER MECHANIC) THAT THE SUSPENSION IS DANGEROUSLY CORRODED AND IT "DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THIS CAR." I HAD THIS OPINION CONFIRMED A SECOND MECHANIC. I RAISED THIS ISSUE WITH HADDAD SUBARU. THEY CONFIRM THE SUSPENSION IS DANGEROUSLY CORRODED, BUT WILL NOT REPLACE IT WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION FROM SUBARU I RAISED THIS ISSUE WITH SUBARU AMERICA AND THEY STATE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED PREVIOUSLY BY HADAD SUBARU AND THEY HAVE NO FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. I AM DUBIOUS THE RECALL REPAIR WAS CORRECTLY PERFORMED BY HADAD SUBARU IN 2011 AND THAT IS WHY THERE IS A PROBLEM NOW. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, SO I HAVE FIXED IT MYSELF FOR NEARLY $1,000

NHTSA ID

10949831

Incident

Feb 1, 2017

Mileage

145,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10916577

Incident

Oct 17, 2016

LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING DUE TO RUST.CAR WAS STARTING OUT JUST AFTER TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN SO A VERY SLOW SPEED.THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF I WAS TRAVELING AT A FASTER SPEED. CAR WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE AND THE REPAIR WAS TO INSPECT AND SPRAY RUST PROOFING ON LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THIS WAS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE REPAIR AS IT FAILED ANYWAY. I HAVE A 2006 SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE SAME RECALL AND IT WAS SPRAYED WITH RUST PROOFING. I EXPECT IT WILL FAIL ALSO IF SOMETHING MORE IS NOT DONE LIKE REPLACING THEM. SO FAR DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE THEM.

NHTSA ID

10903274

Incident

Mar 8, 2016

Mileage

127,842 mi

SUBARU RECALL CAMPAIGN WQR-53 NHTSA RECALL NO. 15V-323 CALLED THE DEALER THREE TIMES TO HAVE IT REPLACE. NO CALLED BACK WHAT OR WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE.

NHTSA ID

10887970

Incident

Apr 15, 2016

Mileage

148,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V32300 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10863934

Incident

Jul 3, 2015

Mileage

182,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL - I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER DATED JULY 2015. HAVING RECEIVED NO UPDATE I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, DUTEAU SUBARU, IN LINCOLN, NE THIS FALL. THEY SAID THEY HAD NO PARTS. ON SUBARU'S WEBSITE TODAY I READ INSTRUCTIONS TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIR. CALLING THE DEALERSHIP I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. THEY DID OFFER TO PUT MY NAME ON A WAITING LIST SHOULD PARTS ARRIVE.

NHTSA ID

10840316

Incident

Mar 7, 2016

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10839017

Incident

Jul 10, 2015