Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 25 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
SINCE I HAVE OWNER THIS CAR, EVERY TIME IT RAINS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER STOP WORKING AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN OPERATING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF IT IS A BRIEF SHOWER OR A DOWN POUR. *BF THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, IT MAY BE A SHORT CIRCUIT. *JB
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR INTERNAL CAM BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN SUCH THAT THE SUN VISOR HANGS AT THE LOWEST POINT, AND IS NO LONGER ADJUSTABLE. THIS OBSCURES THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AND THUS PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT IN THE SUNVISOR DESIGN/MANUFACTURE BASED UPON IDENTICAL USER FORUM REPORTING. SUBARU AMERICA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT IN DESIGN OR MATERIALS WORKMANSHIP. *TR
THE VISORS JUST DROP DOWN WHILE I DRIVE. I TRIED TO GET IT FIXED BUT THEY TOLD ME KNOW RECALL AND OUT OF WARRANTY. WHAT A HAZARD. I WOULD BE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED LIMIT AND THANK GOSH WHEN IT DROPPED DOWN I DIDN'T LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. *TR
THE VISORS KEEP BREAKING. WHEN THEY BREAK, THEY DROP DOWN, IMPEDING VISION. THERE IS NO TELLING WHEN IT MAY HAPPEN. THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR WAS REPLACED IN 2010. IT IS NOW BROKEN AGAIN AND SO IS THE DRIVERS SIDE. RECENTLY, MY DRIVERS SIDE VISOR BROKE AND DROPPED DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I WAS LUCKY I DIDN'T WRECK. THE VISORS ARE OVER $100.00 EACH. THEY ARE MADE WITH A PLASTIC PIECE THAT IS NOT ABLE TO DO THE JOB. A SERIOUS DRIVING HAZARD! *TR
AT 32,000 MILES MY DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR SPRING MECHANISM BROKE DURING A COLD MORNING(10-15F). IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW AT ABOUT 85,000 MILES IT BROKE AGAIN AND I NEED TO REPLACE IT MYSELF. THE DEALERSHIP SURPRISINGLY HAD SEVERAL IN STOCK WHICH WAS ODD BECAUSE THIS IS NOT SOMETHING A DEALER WOULD NORMALLY STOCK UNLESS THERE IS A TRENDING PROBLEM WITH IT. IT'S NOT ME ABUSING IT AS I AM DON'T TREAT MY THINGS IN A FAST FORCEFUL MANNER, I'VE ALSO NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE IN HUNDRED OF THOUSANDS OF MILES. YET, I HAVE 2 OF THE EXACT SAME ITEM FAILURES IN LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. THE SAFETY ISSUE HERE IS THAT WHEN THE SUN VISOR BREAKS, IT HANGS DOWN PERFECTLY VERTICAL BLOCKING THE DRIVERS VIEW OF THE ROAD. I PRETTY MUCH HAD TO DRIVE TO WORK HOLDING THE VISOR WITH MY LEFT HAND. WHEN I ARRIVED AT WORK I GRABBED A SCREW DRIVER AND REMOVED THE VISOR UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED. *TR
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
THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR FAILED TO REMAIN IN POSITION. AFTER HITTING A SMALL BUMP THE VISOR FLIPPED DOWN FROM IT'S POSITION AGAINST THE ROOF TO A COMPLETELY VERTICAL POSITION BLOCKING MY VIEW OF THE ROAD. I AM ONLY 5 FOOT 7 INCHES, BUT WHEN THE VISOR IS COMPLETELY DOWN MY VISION IS COMPLETELY BLOCKED. THE VISOR WOULD NO LONGER REMAIN UP AGAINST THE ROOF, NOR FULLY FORWARD AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND REMOVE THE SCREWS HOLDING THE VISOR MOUNT TO THE ROOF. WHEN I DID THIS THE SHAFT THAT CONNECTS THE VISOR TO THE ROOF MOUNT CAME OUT OF THE VISOR. THE PLASTIC PORTION HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY INSIDE THE VISOR. THE FORCE HOLDING THE VISOR IN THE UP POSITION HAD BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WEAKER FOR MORE THAN A YEAR BEFORE IT FAILED COMPLETELY. SEARCHING THE WEB IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT. WITHOUT A VISOR IT IS NOW DEFINITELY MORE HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE INTO THE SUN, I KEEP A BASEBALL CAP IN THE CAR FOR THESE SITUATIONS WHILE I ATTEMPT TO FIND AN INEXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT. MY DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $140 FOR A REPLACEMENT VISOR.
DRIVERS SUN VISOR ROTATES DOWN UNPREDICTABLY, BLOCKING VISION FOR AVERAGE OR TALL DRIVERS. A SMALL BUMP CAN TRIGGER THIS.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THERE WAS FROST ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED A WHITE FILM DEVELOPED ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WHEN USING THE HEATER. THE FROST SHOWED UP INTERMITTENTLY DURING COLD WEATHER AND THE WHITE FILM WAS NOTICED WHENEVER THE HEATER WAS OPERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 36,000.
I AM GETTING FROST ON THE INSIDE OF MY FRONT WINDSHIELD SOMETIMES IN COLD WEATHER. BEGINNING ABOUT NOVEMBER, IT IS ALSO COVERED DAILY IN A FILM I CAN'T SEEM TO GET RID OF WITH MY HAND. IT KEEPS RETURNING. *TR
2008 SUBARU IMPREZA THE WINDSHIELD GETS COVERED BY A FILM DURING COOL/COLD WEATHER AND IMPAIRS YOUR VISION WHILE DRIVING AND YOU NEED TO STOP AND REMOVE THE FILM ON THE WINDSHIELD . YES A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. SUBARU DENIES ANY PROBLEMS. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS. *TR
DRIVING IN RAIN WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON. WIPERS CROSSED AND MADE A "X" THEN TWISTED AND MALFUNCTIONED. *TR
WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES STOP WORKING AND GET CAUGHT UP IN EACH OTHER, THE BOLT NEED TO BE TIGHTENED MANY TIMES, HAS ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS. *TR
EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE (NEW), THERE HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE FILM ON THE WINDSHIELD AND INTERIOR WINDOWS. SOMETIMES IT IS SO BAD, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDOWS (ESPECIALLY WITH LIGHT REFLECTIONS AND SUNSETS, ETC.). MY DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT IT HAS HAD MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I HAVE TRIED CLEANING THE WINDOWS WITH CLEANERS AND NOTHING SEEMS TO HELP. THE PROBLEM IS EVEN WORSE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WHEN THE DEFROSTER IS BEING USED MORE OFTEN. TO DATE, MY DEALER (AS WELL AS A DIFFERENT ONE) HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT LIMITS VISIBILITY FROM THE VEHICLE. *TR
A FOG KEEPS DEVELOPING ON THE INTERIOR FRONT WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS WHICH IMPAIRS THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO SEE CLEARLY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR OF THIS FOG WHILE THE DEFROST IS RUNNING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK THAT LIMITS THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. *TR
SERIOUS WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE OF ENTIRE LINKAGE SYSTEM CAUSED BY A HOLD DOWN NUT COMING LOOSE FROM MAIN LINKAGE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING A RAIN STORM WHEN BOTH WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. SHE NARROWLY ESCAPED AN ACCIDENT AS THERE WAS NO PLACE TO SAFELY PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND SHE LOST TOTAL VISIBILITY. THE 2008 IMPREZA OUTBACK SPORT WAS TAKEN TO A NEARBY SUBARU DEALER WHERE THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM BY SIMPLY TIGHTENING THE HOLD DOWN NUT WHICH CAME LOOSE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED BY THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FROM A NEW CAR THAT WAS RATED THIS TOP SAFETY PICK. THE CAR HAD 9800 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED.*TR
MY 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA HAS DEVELOPED A FILM ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHICH CAUSES A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. I AM UNABLE TO SEE AT NIGHT OR WITH ON COMING CARS WITH LIGHTS ON. IT HAS BEEN TO A DEALER TWICE AND THEY HAVE CLEANED IT BUT THE PROBLEM COMES BACK AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS. IT IS DANGEROUS! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL PERIODICALLY STOP WORKING AND FAIL TO MOVE ALTOGETHER, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. HE MUST PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND MANUALLY PULL THE WIPERS DOWN WITH HIS HANDS. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED OVER TEN TIMES WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. MOST OF THE TIME THE WIPERS WORK NORMALLY, BUT DURING RAINY AND SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE FAILURE CAN CAUSE POOR VISIBILITY. THE SUBARU DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IF THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE, THERE WAS NOTHING TO REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,000.
FILM ON WINDSHIELD. BROUGHT IN CAR 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY WASHED IT, PUT IT IN A PAINT BOOTH 3 TIMES TO "CURE" THE PLASTIC , AND LAST WEE THEY REPLACED THE CABIN AIR FILTER. THE FILM IS STILL THERE IT MAY GO AWAY FOR A DAY OR 2 THEN IT COMES BACK. THE FILM IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT NIGHT WHEN ONCOMING CAR LIGHT HIT IT AND AS THE SUN IS SETTING IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH IT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER , WE BOUGHT THE CAR AT THE END OF OCTOBER AND DO NOT DRIVE IT ALL THE TIME. *TR
FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. ALL OF THE WINDOWS IN THE VEHICLE ARE FOGGING AND CREATING A THICK FILM. THE FAILURE PREVENTS THE CONTACT FROM SEEING AND SHE MUST ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE FILMS WORSENS IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF VAPOR COMING FROM THE INTERIOR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A GREASY FILM THAT FORMS ON THE WINDOWS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 1-3 DAYS. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURS ON ALL OF THE WINDOWS, BUT IS THE WORST ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CONTINUE CLEANING THE WINDOWS AND THE FAILURE SHOULD EVENTUALLY CEASE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,900. UPDATED 02-12-08 *BF
A HAZY FILM CONTINUALLY BUILDS UP ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CAUSING REDUCED VISIBILITY. *TR
I CANNOT KEEP THE WINDSHIELD ON MY NEW 2008 IMPREZA FOG FREE. THE DEALER NOTICED A "FILM" ON IT AND CLEANED IT. THE FOGGING RETURNED AFTER A DAY. I'VE USED ANITIFOGGING SOLUTION THAT LASTS ABOUT 3 DAYS AND THE "FILM" AND FOGGING RETURNS. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AFTER DARK SINCE WHEN THE FOGGING IS MOST PRONOUNCED. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING INSIDE THE CAR (POSSIBLY A SILICONE SPRAY) THAT'S CAUSING THIS. WHATEVER IT IS, IT HINDERS THE DRIVERS VISION AND IS DANGEROUS. *TR
FILM BUILD UP ON INSIDE WINDSHIELD IMPEDES DRIVER'S VIEW. EXPLANATION GIVEN, THIS IS A RESULT OF AN OZONE EFFECT COMBINED WITH FUMES AND VAPORS OF NEW CAR PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS. NO SPECIFIC TIME FRAME FOR RESOLUTION BUT ONLY THAT IT SHOULD LESSEN AS CAR IS DRIVEN FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME. SOLUTION GIVEN WAS TO ALLOW OUTSIDE AIR CIRCULATION AND CONTINUE TO CLEAN INSIDE WINDSHIELD FREQUENTLY. IS THERE A HEALTH HAZARD BY INHALATION OF OCCUPANTS? VISIBILITY IS AFFECTED REGARDLESS OF TIME OF DAY. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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