AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
2005 Subaru Impreza
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 75 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Subaru Impreza, most frequently naming the fuel system, suspension and airbags categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 181 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2005 | 1 | 1 |
| Mar 2005 | 3 | 4 |
| Apr 2005 | 2 | 6 |
| Aug 2005 | 1 | 7 |
| Sep 2005 | 3 | 10 |
| Nov 2005 | 1 | 11 |
| Jan 2006 | 1 | 12 |
| Feb 2006 | 1 | 13 |
| Mar 2006 | 1 | 14 |
| Jun 2006 | 2 | 16 |
| Nov 2006 | 1 | 17 |
| Dec 2006 | 1 | 18 |
| Jul 2007 | 1 | 19 |
| Sep 2007 | 1 | 20 |
| Oct 2007 | 1 | 21 |
| Mar 2009 | 1 | 22 |
| Aug 2009 | 1 | 23 |
| Feb 2010 | 1 | 24 |
| Apr 2010 | 1 | 25 |
| Dec 2010 | 1 | 26 |
| Jan 2011 | 1 | 27 |
| May 2011 | 1 | 28 |
| Oct 2011 | 1 | 29 |
| Dec 2011 | 1 | 30 |
| Jan 2012 | 1 | 31 |
| Feb 2012 | 1 | 32 |
| Jan 2013 | 1 | 33 |
| Feb 2013 | 1 | 34 |
| Mar 2013 | 2 | 36 |
| Sep 2013 | 1 | 37 |
| Oct 2013 | 1 | 38 |
| Feb 2014 | 1 | 39 |
| Jul 2014 | 1 | 40 |
| Aug 2014 | 2 | 42 |
| Oct 2014 | 1 | 43 |
| Nov 2014 | 1 | 44 |
| Dec 2014 | 1 | 45 |
| Jan 2015 | 4 | 49 |
| Apr 2015 | 1 | 50 |
| Jul 2015 | 1 | 51 |
| Aug 2015 | 3 | 54 |
| Sep 2015 | 2 | 56 |
| Oct 2015 | 1 | 57 |
| Nov 2015 | 1 | 58 |
| Apr 2016 | 1 | 59 |
| Jun 2016 | 1 | 60 |
| Jul 2016 | 1 | 61 |
| Sep 2016 | 1 | 62 |
| Jun 2017 | 2 | 64 |
| Dec 2017 | 1 | 65 |
| Oct 2018 | 1 | 66 |
| Oct 2019 | 1 | 67 |
| Dec 2019 | 2 | 69 |
| Aug 2020 | 1 | 70 |
| Apr 2021 | 1 | 71 |
| Nov 2021 | 1 | 72 |
| Apr 2022 | 1 | 73 |
| Sep 2022 | 1 | 74 |
| Jan 2025 | 1 | 75 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Fuel system1921.3%
- Suspension1719.1%
- Airbags1213.5%
- Engine89.0%
- Body & structure66.7%
- Brakes66.7%
- Driver assistance44.5%
- Visibility33.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
6 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govAIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures.As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.Takata's initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida.Accordingly ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas.Takata's testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions.During PE14-016 four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.Also during PE14-016 four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina.Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls.Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity.Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing.All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.The investigation now includes all manufacturers and vehicles known to be affected at this time.ODI's investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with consistently high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures.As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.Takata's initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida.Accordingly, ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas.Takata's testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions.During PE14-016, four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.Also during PE14-016, four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina.Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls.Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity.Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing.All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.The PE is now closed/upgraded to an Engineering Evaluation (EA15-001) to include all manufacturersand vehicles known to be affected at this time.ODI's EA investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.The recalls related to this PE are: 14V343, 14V344, 14V348, 14V351, 14V353, 14V655, 14V700, 14V701, 14V752, 14V763, 14V770, 14V773, 14V787, 14V802 and 14V817.The number of vehicles affected are an estimate since some vehicles may have both the driver and passenger side inflators recalled. The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492
Front suspension control arm failure
On September 6, 2011, Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc, on behalf of Subaru of America, Inc notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (MY) 2002 through 2007 Subaru Impreza, MY 2003 through 2008 Subaru Forester, and MY 2005 through 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the salt belt states including the District of Columbia (DC). For the purpose of this investigation, salt belt states include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and DC.ODI's analysis of consumer complaint data identified 11 reports alleging failure of either the right or left lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these complaints were associated with vehicles currently registered or originally sold in a salt belt state. Through a similar analysis of complaint and warranty data submitted to ODI by Subaru, ODI identified 18 consumer complaints and 6 warranty claims associated with failure of the left or right front lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these consumer complaints associated with vehicles either currently registered of originally sold in a salt belt state.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
The dealership is refusing to fix my car free of charge on a recall they confirmed would be able to do and now they are refusing to do it due to price and have made me wait two months for this to be the answer while also not giving me any sort of pay for the inconvenience of waiting for so long, while also having already ordering the parts and they have decided to decline my recall repair
- NHTSA ID
- 11638183
- Incident
- Jan 24, 2025
In April 2022 hood latch malfunctioned and caused hood to open while driving on interstate. Caused damage to Hood, Fenders, Windshield and Roof. I was able to get stopped safely without injury.
- NHTSA ID
- 11483177
- Incident
- Apr 27, 2022
goodyear all season f1 p225/45 ZR 17 psgr right sidewall looks like a few chunks are missing and some tread from tire to sidewall is peeling
- NHTSA ID
- 11462656
- Incident
- Apr 28, 2022
The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while her son was driving and approaching a stop sign, he heard an abnormal noise which caused him to lose control of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to park on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to her residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and was informed the recall was completed by the previous owner on 12/10/2011. The failure mileage was approximately 199,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11439156
- Incident
- Nov 2, 2021
- Mileage
- 199,000 mi
THE KEY INTERMITTENTLY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE GEARSTICK IS SET IN THE 'PARK' POSITION. THE CAR CAN BE TURNED OFF, BUT THE KEY CANNOT BE MOVED FORWARD INTO THE #1 POSITION (LOCK/OFF) AND CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION IN THE #2 POSITION (ACCESSORY). THIS SCENARIO RETAINS THE ELECTRICAL IN THE 'ON' POSITION WHICH POTENTIALLY DRAINS THE BATTERY AND FORCES THE DRIVER TO INDEFINITELY REMAIN WITH THE VEHICLE TO AVOID A DEAD BATTERY AND/OR VEHICLE THEFT. SUBARU HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS ISSUE IN SERVICE BULLETIN 16-112-18R (NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10155220). THE SUMMARY IS AS FOLLOWS: 'THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES A DESIGN CHANGE TO THE CVT SELECT LEVER (SHIFTER) MECHANISM IN RESPONSE TO ISOLATED CUSTOMER CONCERNS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. THE CAUSE IS CONTAMINATION OF THE PARK-RANGE SWITCH INTERNAL COMPONENTS.' MANY CONSUMERS BELIEVE THAT IF THIS PROBLEM WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO REQUIRE A REDESIGN TO THE CVT (CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION), THEN IT IS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO REQUIRE A RECALL.' PLEASE NOTE THAT EVEN THOUGH YOUR INCIDENT REPORT FORM REQUIRES THE USER TO SELECT "ONE DATE" WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, THAT THIS INCIDENT IS ONLY THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OUT OF MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES. THE PROBLEM IS NOW ONGOING AND UNRESOLVED FROM THE REPORTED DATE FORWARD.
- NHTSA ID
- 11414627
- Incident
- Apr 13, 2021
2005 SUBARU IMPREZA OUTBACK SPORT ON 8/23/2020 THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. UPON RETURNING HOME, THE BRAKE FLUID WAS CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE LOW. NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ON DRIVEWAY UNDER CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT USED UNTIL TAKING IT TO GOODYEAR FOR AN INSPECTION ON 8/27/2020. GOOD YEAR IDENTIFIED THAT THERE IS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE. THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR SUBARU'S FOR THIS ISSUE, ALTHOUGH THEY COULD NOT LOCATE IT FOR THIS VIN#. I CONTACTED SUBARU AND OPENED A CASE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THE CASE NUMBER IS [XXX]. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE (WQK-47). WHEN I QUESTIONED THAT IT APPEARS TO BE THE EXACT SAME PART THAT WAS AFFECTED BY THE RECALL IN OTHER CARS THAT YEAR, I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A SUBARU DEALER FOR EVALUATION. THE DEALER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTACTING SUBARU REGARDING THE ISSUE. THE CAR WILL BE TOWED TO SUBARU IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO FOR EVALUATION. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JS PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- NHTSA ID
- 11351670
- Incident
- Aug 27, 2020
- Mileage
- 130,000 mi
WHILE MY SON WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, HIS PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED IN 2. HE STRUGGLED TO GET IT EVEN BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY. I RAN THE VIN NUMBER AND IT DOES NO SHOW THAT THIS CAR HAS A RECALL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. DOES THIS MEAN IT WAS ALREADY DONE? OR IS THIS CAR NOT COVERED FOR THE RECALL?
- NHTSA ID
- 11291060
- Incident
- Dec 23, 2019
- Mileage
- 115,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, SHE HEARD A SNAP IN THE ENGINE THAT CAUSED HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S FATHER'S HOME WHERE HE DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000(SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH VIC BAILEY MAZDA SUBARU (400 E DANIEL MORGAN AVE, SPARTANBURG, SC 29302, (864) 568-3338) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11289711
- Incident
- Dec 17, 2019
- Mileage
- 158,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood covers from Generation 4 EyeSight cameras.
This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
POWER TRAIN
This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.
This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for vehicles exhibiting DTC B2A20.
POWER TRAIN
This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.
This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 53.2 |
| 2023 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 49.5 |
| 2021 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 43.4 |
| 2020 | 85 | 1 | 0 | 44.8 |
| 2019 | 193 | 5 | 0 | 50.2 |
| 2018 | 149 | 5 | 0 | 50.0 |
| 2017 | 125 | 7 | 0 | 56.3 |
| 2016 | 75 | 1 | 0 | 43.2 |
| 2015 | 77 | 2 | 0 | 46.5 |
| 2014 | 108 | 3 | 0 | 55.2 |
| 2013 | 249 | 4 | 0 | 52.7 |
| 2012 | 242 | 6 | 1 | 54.1 |
| 2011 | 57 | 14 | 0 | 60.7 |
| 2010 | 45 | 15 | 0 | 50.7 |
| 2009 | 103 | 15 | 0 | 50.5 |
| 2008 | 176 | 15 | 0 | 51.6 |
| 2007 | 68 | 9 | 1 | 59.9 |
| 2006 | 56 | 10 | 1 | 52.4 |
| 2005Viewing | 75 | 6 | 3 | 61.5 |
| 2004 | 96 | 8 | 4 | 60.2 |
| 2003 | 62 | 6 | 5 | 64.6 |
| 2002 | 292 | 6 | 4 | 58.8 |
| 2001 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 59.0 |
| 2000 | 41 | 4 | 0 | 52.4 |
| 1999 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 48.4 |
| 1998 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 44.1 |
| 1997 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 57.1 |
| 1996 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 56.7 |
| 1995 | 46 | 4 | 2 | 68.4 |
| 1994 | 8 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 1993 | 33 | 3 | 0 | 59.2 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.