2011 Subaru Impreza Electrical Problems

Smoke starting coming from around the ignition.

NHTSA ID

11714471

Incident

Jan 29, 2026

The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V738000 (Electrical System). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 84,000.

NHTSA ID

11510774

Incident

Aug 10, 2022

Mileage

84,000 mi

Battery won’t hold a charge, randomly leaves driver stranded

NHTSA ID

11446679

Incident

Jan 7, 2022

TAKATA RECALL, BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILURE. WE LIVE IN A SMALL ALASKAN BUSH TOWN CALLED DILLINGHAM THAT'S NOT ON THE ROAD SYSTEM. WE (MYSELF AND AROUND 30+ OTHER RESIDENTS) HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET SUBARU TO SEND A TECHNICIAN OUT FOR 2 YEARS NOW TO FIX OUR DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS. JUST TODAY WE RECEIVED A RECALL FOR OUR BRAKE LAMP SWITCH. WE CANNOT SIMPLY 'GO TO A DEALER'S AS THERE IS NONE. WE'D HAVE TO SEND OUR CAR AS FREIGHT TO ANCHORAGE (WHICH COSTS THOUSANDS AND CAN TAKE UPWARDS OF A MONTH) AND MOST OF THE TOWN CANNOT AFFORD TO DO SO. WE EVEN HAVE A FACEBOOK GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO NEED RECALLED CARS FIXED FROM SUBARU, HONDA AND TOYOTA. WE'VE BEEN CALLING AND WRITING FOR 2 YEARS AND NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN DONE. WE'RE JUST TOLD THAT 'THEYLL SEND SOMEONE OUT'. SOMEONE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE KILLED BY A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG OR IN AN ACCIDENT JUST TO GET THESE ISSUES FIXED.

NHTSA ID

11205871

Incident

May 6, 2019

RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH BUT DEALERSHIP (SUBARU WAKEFIELD) HAS SAID THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS AND HAVE NO PLANS. I'VE ASKED FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE UNTIL THIS SAFETY ISSUE CAN BE ADDRESSED AND I WAS DENIED. I WANT MY CAR REPAIRED OR REPLACED WITH A LOANER.

NHTSA ID

11185557

Incident

Mar 9, 2019

WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF STARTING THE VEHICLE ACTIVATING THE SEAT HEATER ASSOCIATED TO THE DRIVER SEAT A BURNING SMELL BEGAN TO BECOME APPARENT IN THE PASSENGER CABIN. EVENTUALLY THE SMELL DEVELOPED INTO PAIN IN THE LEGS AND THERE WAS A HOLE BURNED INTO THE DRIVER SEAT. THE SEAT HEATER WAS STILL OPERATING AT FULL CAPACITY AND SUPPLYING ENERGY TO THE SYSTEM AS IT WAS IGNITING THE DRIVER SEAT. THIS EVENT OCCURED ON 140TH IN RENTON, WASHINGTON. THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE ROADWAY TRAVELING WITH TRAFFIC WHEN IT OCCURED.

NHTSA ID

10945798

Incident

Jan 10, 2017

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID

10871807

Incident

Mar 19, 2016

Mileage

78,000 mi

PURCHASED VEHICLE BRAND NEW NO 9, 2011. WITH IS A FEW WEEKS, SEVERAL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON (CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL, FLASHING CRUISE CONTROL) RENDERING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE TRACTION CONTROL DISABLED. CALLED DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING VEHICLE IN. WHEN I BROUGHT VEHICLE IN THE FIRST TIME, THE LIGHTS WERE OFF AND THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO WITHOUT THE LIGHTS BEING ONE. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND REMAINED ON. BROUGHT VEHICLE FOR OIL CHANGE AND TO HAVE CODES PULLED JAN 12. WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T CONFIRM WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. RESET LIGHTS AND TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK IF THE LIGHTS CAME ON, AND LEAVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS SO THEY COULD FIGURE IT OUT. LIGHTS CAME ON WITH IN A FEW WEEKS AND REMAINED ON. BROUGHT IT IN SATURDAY MARCH 17 - ALL LIGHTS WERE ON. WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A POSSIBLE CONSUMPTION ISSUE AS MY OIL WAS AT LEAST 2 QUARTS LOW. LEFT CAR THERE AND LEFT IN RENTAL CAR. ON TUESDAY MARCH 20, SERVICE MANAGER CALLS ME AND TELLS ME 'SUBARU HAS DETERMINED THERE IS NO CAUSE AND THUS NO RESOLUTION TO THE ISSUE' AND THAT I SHOULD PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND BEGIN DOCUMENTING WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON AGAIN. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. TO INFORM A CONSUMER THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO A MECHANICAL ISSUE IS DEPLORABLE. IF MY CAR IS BURNING OIL AT AN ABNORMALLY FAST RATE, CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IS NOT ONLY POTENTIALLY HARMFUL TO MYSELF, BUT TO MY ENGINE AND VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW, AND THIS ISSUE HAS PRESENTED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, BEGINNING ONLY WEEKS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10452630

Incident

Nov 28, 2011

Mileage

1,000 mi

I RECEIVE MY NEW SWP STI WITH 7 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. RIGHT OF THE BAT NOT A GREAT TASTE IN MY MOUTH. DIDN'T GET A GREAT DEAL, FINANCE ROOM HAD SOME SHADY STUFF GOING ON. WHATEVER THOUGH, I HAVE MY NEW STI I'M HAPPY ENOUGH! AROUND 500 MILES MY CAR, I'M ON THE FREEWAY IN THE LEFT LANE GOING ABOUT 75 AND THE THROTTLE VANISHES. THE CAR GOES IN TO FAILSAFE MODE AND WON'T GO FASTER THAN 40 MILES AN HOUR, IN HOUSTON, IN THE LEFT LANE, WITH NO SHOULDER. I'M TERRIFIED, BUT I MANAGE TO LIMP IT TO A PARKING LOT. THEY CALL ME LATER IN THE WORK DAY TO TELL ME IT WAS A THROTTLE RELAY OR SOMETHING AND THEY'VE FIXED IT. THEY WANT TO DRIVE IT 30 MILES (!!!!!!!!!!!!) TO MAKE SURE IT'S FIXED. I, OF COURSE SAY NO, AND THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DRIVE MY NEW CAR NOT SOME RANDOM STRANGER ALL THE TIME. DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY 2 DAYS LATER, THE SAME [XXX] THING HAPPENS AGAIN. LOSING 35 MPH OF SPEED. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10362210

Incident

Oct 22, 2010

Mileage

550 mi