RoadVitals

2005 Subaru Impreza Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
8
Latest Jul 5, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 75 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Subaru Impreza submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Jul 5, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT SOME CODES NEEDED TO BE CLEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH A DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE IDLING FOR SOMETIME IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE RELEARN THE IDLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10882678
Incident
Jun 30, 2015
Mileage
120,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Apr 8, 2015

EVERYTIME I START THE CAR IN EVEN THE MILDEST TO COLDEST TEMPERATURES, THE CAR HAS AN EXTREME GAS SMELL IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY CLAIM THEY DON'T EVEN SMELL IT AND CANNOT SERVICE IT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR MODEL 02 AND 03 OF THIS CAR BUT DOES NOT COVER MY YEAR. IT'S GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR IS NOT DRIVE-ABLE DURING COLD WEATHER. THE RECALLS ALSO DO NOT COVER THE STATE OF MARYLAND, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN GETTING COLD SNAPS PUTTING US BELOW 0. CONSIDERING THE PROBLEM IS DETECTABLE EVEN IN 40 DEGREE WEATHER, THIS DOES NOT SEEM REASONABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10704386
Incident
Nov 3, 2014
Mileage
90,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jan 14, 2015

I OWN A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI, UPON STARTING VEHICLE, IDLE, AND DRIVING THERE'S STRONG FUEL SMELL UNDER THE HOOD AND INSIDE THE CABIN. I HAVE POPPED THE HOOD AND CONFIRMED IS COMING FROM BACK PASSENGER SIDE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD WHERE THE FUEL LINES, RAILS, AND INJECTORS ARE. I HAVE CONFIRMED THIS TO BE RELATING TO SOA'S RECALL FOR THE 02-03 IMPREZA WRX'S HARD FUEL LINE / RUBBER HOSE LEAKING ISSUES. I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SO APPEARS EXTREME COLD WEATHER NOT THE CAUSE. LEAKING FUEL IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! *TR

NHTSA ID
10672422
Incident
Jan 9, 2015
Mileage
91,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 19, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL LINES AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,476. UPDATED 10/02/14*LJ UPDATED 10/23/14 UPDATED 3/30/15 *JS

NHTSA ID
10626371
Incident
Jan 6, 2014
Mileage
139,476 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Mar 20, 2013

IN JANUARY 2008, I NOTICED A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS WHEN I STARTED A THE CAR ON A COLD DAY. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW GAS DRIPPING FROM THE DRIVER LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. BECAUSE OF MY CONCERN OF A FIRE, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT COST $491.30 PLUS TOWING TO HAVE THE FUEL LEAK FIXED. THIS YEAR I STARTED SMELLING RAW GAS AGAIN WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. I HAD IT CHECKED AT THE DEALER ON 1/16/2013 AND THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. I ASKED ABOUT RECALLS AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NONE. THE SMELL OF RAW GAS IS VERY STRONG ON MOST COLD DAYS AND I'M AFRAID THERE WILL BE A FIRE. WHEN I SEARCHED THE WEB FOR SUBARU IMPREZA COLD WEATHER FUEL LEAK IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS A WIDESPREAD CHRONIC PROBLEM. DOES THERE HAVE TO BE FIRES AND INJURES BEFORE SUBARU IS FORCED TO FIX THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10503847
Incident
Jan 2, 2008
Mileage
57,949 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 1, 2013

WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION AND THE HEATER IS ON THE SMELL OF BURNT OIL WHICH BECOMES WORSE WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A FULL STOP, VALVE COVER GASKETS LEAK ON TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING MANY PARTS NEED TO BE REMOVED TO GAIN ACCESS WHICH IN RESULT CAUSES A VERY EXPENSIVE BILL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10496133
Incident
Feb 1, 2013
Mileage
68,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 11, 2009

WHEN IN TO STAR SUBARU FOR A TURBO CHANGE AND MY ENGINE WENT 1 WEEK LATER. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON 2DAYS AFTER GOT CAR BACK FROM STAR SUBURU SERVICE AND LESS THEN A WEEK THE ENGINE WENT. HAD CAR TOWED BACK TO STAR SUBARU AND MY PISTON HAD SHATTERED. NOW THEY ARE SAID THAT IT WAS DO TO THE WAY THE CAR WAS DRIVEN AND SO THE SUBARU WARRANTY NOW DOESN'T WANT TO PAY TO FIX IT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY JUST PUT IN THE NEW TURBO WITHOUT CHECKING THE AIRFUEL WERE IT WAS AT OR THEY MAY HAD FORGOTTEN TO PUT IN THE OIL. I AM FIGHTING THE CASE AND THEY DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT THAT THEY DIDN'T DO WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SUBARU SINCE I GOT IT I BOUGHT IT WITH 32,000 AND NOW IT HAS ABOUT 48,000. I ONLY HAVE THE HAVE 1 1/2 YEAR. IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE WITH THIS CAR AND DEALING WITH STAR SUBARU AND THE SUBARU WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10261523
Incident
Feb 21, 2009
Mileage
46,263 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 5, 2005

EVENTS UP TO FAILURE - NOT RELATED TO FUEL LEVELS IN TANK. APPROACHING LEFT HAND 60-90 DEGREE TURN AT MODERATE SPEED AT NORMAL OPERATING VEHICLE TEMPERATURE. FAILURE - FUEL CUTS OFF LEADING TO NO AVAILABLE POWER VIA THE THROTTLE. COMING OUT OF APEX OF THE TURN THE POWER RETURNS.*JB

NHTSA ID
10141830
Incident
Jun 13, 2005
Mileage
20,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .