RoadVitals

2008 Subaru Impreza Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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 Sep 1, 2023
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.
5%
of 176 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.
4
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 electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 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 electrical

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

Electrical
Filed Sep 1, 2023
Fire reported

I was driving to work and the car was running funny after a few blocks when I saw smoke pouring out of the car I pulled over ad got out and watched the car burn to the ground. I cant get to work and the car contained my personal.belongings.

NHTSA ID
11542030
Incident
Aug 31, 2023
Electrical
Filed Jan 18, 2017
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY RELAY/FUSE BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
10945892
Incident
Oct 1, 2016
Mileage
130,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Oct 5, 2015

VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, STABILITY CONTROL ASSIST, AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT COME ON ALL AT THE SAME TIME RENDERING THOSE SYSTEM USEFUL. ALSO SOMETIMES THE HILL START ASSIST AND ABS LIGHT COME ON RENDERING THOSE UNAVAILABLE AS WELL. MAKING THE VEHICLE NOT AS SECURED AS ADVERTISED. IT STARTED IN 2010 TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY JUST ERASED THE CODES, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, STILL HAPPENING TODAY.

NHTSA ID
10779948
Incident
Jan 21, 2010
Mileage
16,582 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 5, 2014

ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN MY 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA HAS PREMATURELY FAILED. THE VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WENT INTO "LIMP" MODE WHILE DRIVING, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING VERY POOR GAS MILEAGE FOR THE LAST MONTH. THE DEALERSHIP HAS QUOTED ME OVER $2000 FOR THE REPAIR OF MY CAR. IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT SEVERAL OTHER SAME MODEL YEAR SUBARU'S HAVE RECALLS DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NOT PERFORMING TO EMISSION STANDARDS. SOME OF THESE CARS HAVE THE EXACT CATALYTIC CONVERTER PART NUMBER AS MY CAR, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY CAR WOULD NOT BE RECALLED ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10619025
Incident
Jul 1, 2014
Mileage
57,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalInterior & seats
Filed May 23, 2012
Fire reported

I WAS OUT ALL MORNING RUNNING ERRANDS. I CAME HOME FROM ABOUT 4 HOURS OF DOING THE RUN AROUND. AT 12:25 PM I GOT HOME , TOOK MY BABIES OUT OF THE CAR AND PUT THEM DOWN FOR A NAP. I WENT OUT ABOUT 40 MINS LATER TO THE CAR AND THE KEY FOBS WERE NOT WORKING SO I THEN WENT TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER DOOR WITH THE KEY AND WHEN I OPENED IT BLACK SMOKE STARTED ROLLING OUT. I THEN CALLED 911 AND REPORTED THE FIRE. THE FIRE ITSELF WAS OUT BUT THE INSIDE OF THE CAR ALL UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT WAS BURNED UP. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STARTED GOING THREW THE CAR AND SAID THEY ARE CLAIMING IT AS ELECTRICAL. I REPORTED IT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND NOW THEY ARE INVESTIGATED IT AS WELL. THE CAR WAS TOTALED OUT BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY SINCE THERE WAS SO MUCH DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE. *TT

NHTSA ID
10459494
Incident
May 15, 2012
Mileage
51,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine+5 more
Filed Jun 9, 2011

2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE CLUTCH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A SCREECHING/RUBBING NOISE WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS APPLIED AND A LOUD POP NOISE FROM NEUTRAL TO 1ST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WOULD POP OUT OF 6TH GEAR AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD RATTLE NOISE ON COLD STARTS, THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW WASHER WAS INOPERABLE, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OCCASIONALLY DID NOT RECOGNIZE A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE HOOD WAS LOOSE AND RATTLED, THE RIGHT REAR DOOR WAS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL STUDS WOULD NOT SECURE THE LUG NUT, THE BATTERY AND POWER STEERING PUMP WAS PUMPING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10405092
Incident
Jul 8, 2010
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 13, 2010

HIGH BEAMS FAIL, VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. DEALER STATES UNSURE WHAT PROBLEM IS, AFTER 1 HOUR CHARGE OF DIAGNOSTICS,SENT ME ON MY WAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10325521
Incident
Apr 1, 2010
Mileage
40,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 12, 2009
Fire reported

CAR WAS PARKED AND LOCKED IN MY DRIVEWAY .THE HORN STARTED BLARING AND HEADLIGHTS CAME ON. NOT CAR ALARM. INTERIOR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT THEN TRIED TO OPEN CAR WITH REMOTE TO EXTINGUISH FIRE. HAD TO USE KEY TO UNLOCK DOOR. FIRE ORIGIONATED FROM GUAGES/DASH AREA ON DRIVERS SIDE. THERE WERE SEVERAL EXPLOSIONS FROM CAR AS IT BURNED. HORN CONTINUED TO BLARE AFTER FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED FIRE. FIRE FIGHTERS THEN PRIED INTO HOOD AND CUT BATTERY CABLES BEFORE HORN STOPPED BLARING. TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10258424
Incident
Jan 11, 2009
Mileage
35,005 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 .