RoadVitals

2011 Subaru Impreza Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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 4, 2025
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.
14%
of 57 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 windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 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 visibility

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

Visibility
Filed Sep 4, 2025

The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50-55 MPH, the sunroof exploded without impact. The contact was able to pull over safely. There were no reported injuries. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 92,860.

NHTSA ID
11685042
Incident
Sep 4, 2025
Mileage
92,860 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 14, 2016

DURING SLOW DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR HIGHWAY DRIVING OVER BRIDGE GAPS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL SUDDENLY AND SWIFTLY SWING DOWN INTO THE DRIVER'S LINE OF SIGHT. THE VISOR WILL NOT RETAIN ITS PROPERLY STOWED UP POSITION, AND CONTINUALLY DROOPS INTO THE LINE OF SIGHT. ATTEMPTS TO PUT THE SUN VISOR BACK UP FAIL, AS THE VISOR WILL DROP BACK DOWN INTO THE LINE OF SIGHT.

NHTSA ID
10846371
Incident
Mar 13, 2016
Mileage
55,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 13, 2015

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I HIT A BUMP AND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF IT'S ATTACHMENT ON THE WINDSHIELD. REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS DANGLING DOWN FROM WIRE. CHECKED WITH THE DEALER, STATED THERE WAS A "CAMPAIGN" IE. NOT A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE SO IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE. MY CAR BEING OUT OF WARRANTY, I PURCHASED NEW REAR VIEW MIRROR MOUNT ADAPTOR FROM THE DEALER AS CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. NEW ADAPTOPR SHOWS REDUCED CHAMFERS ENSURING SCREWS (TOO SHORT?) ENGAGE PROPERLY. INSTALLED NEW MOUNT WITH BLUE LOCKTITE TO ENSURE THIS THING WILL NOT BE SCARING THE HECK OUT OF ME AGAIN (WHILE DRIVING FREEWAY SPEED) PREVIOUS BLOCK AND NEW PURCHASE ONE DO NOT SHOW EVIDENCE OF BLUE LOCKTITE. REF SUBARU P/N H501SSA041. *TR

NHTSA ID
10705364
Incident
Apr 8, 2015
Mileage
38,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 15, 2014

BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS NO LONGER STAY UP AND FLOP DOWN OBSCURING VISIBILITY. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REMOVE THEM COMPLETELY AND NOW THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE DURING GLARE CONDITIONS WHICH REDUCES VISIBILITY DRASTICALLY. IN NO WAY WERE THE VISORS ABUSED NOR WAS ANY WEIGHT PLACED ON THEM CAUSING THE MALFUNCTION. *JS

NHTSA ID
10598371
Incident
Jun 5, 2013
Mileage
50,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 28, 2014

ADD ME AS WELL TO THE LIST OF SUBARU DRIVERS WHOSE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE AND NO LONGER STAYED IN PLACE. THE CONTROL ARM ON THE VISOR CRACKED, RESULTING IN THE VISOR HANGING DOWN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER AND IMPAIRING VISIBILITY. WE WERE REQUIRED TO REMOVE THE VISOR AND LACK THE USE OF A VISOR DURING GLARE CONDITIONS WHICH WAS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE AS BOTH CONDITIONS IMPAIR THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC, OBSTACLES IN THE ROAD, ETC. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SERIOUS DEFECT WHICH MANY OTHERS HAVE APPARENTLY HAD AN ISSUE WITH AS WELL, AND CLEARLY SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL. WE WERE FORCED TO PURCHASE A NEW VISOR FROM THE DEALERSHIP FOR $100. *JS

NHTSA ID
10585395
Incident
Jan 27, 2014
Visibility
Filed Mar 25, 2014

WHILE DRIVING HOME TO BOULDER, CO FROM GOLDEN, I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT OVERHEAD AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. MY SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED OUTWARD. THERE WAS NO ROAD DEBRIS OR ROCKS OR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT HAVE HIT IT. THE SUNSHADE WAS CLOSED, SO NO GLASS FELL INTO THE CAR. HALF THE GLASS WAS GONE, AND WHAT WAS STILL ATTACHED WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. NOT COOL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10574650
Incident
Mar 24, 2014
Mileage
38,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 6, 2014

ADD OUR NAMES TO THE LIST OF SUBARU DRIVERS WHOSE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE AND NO LONGER STAYED IN PLACE. THE CONTROL ARM ON THE VISOR CRACKED, RESULTING IN THE VISOR HANGING DOWN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER AND IMPAIRING VISIBILITY. WE WERE REQUIRED TO REMOVE THE VISOR AND LACK THE USE OF A VISOR DURING GLARE CONDITIONS WHICH WAS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE AS BOTH CONDITIONS IMPAIR THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC, OBSTACLES IN THE ROAD, ETC. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SERIOUS DEFECT WHICH MANY OTHERS HAVE APPARENTLY HAD AN ISSUE WITH AS WELL, AND CLEARLY SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL. WE WERE FORCED TO PURCHASE A NEW VISOR FROM THE DEALERSHIP FOR $100, AND I WOULD ECHO THE COMMENTS OF ANOTHER COMPLAINANT THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAVING PLENTY OF VISORS IN STOCK SUGGESTS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10567566
Incident
Dec 17, 2013
Mileage
45,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 4, 2013

WHILE DRIVING HOME TO DENVER, CO FROM DURANGO, OUTSIDE OF BAYFIELD, WE HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT OVERHEAD AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. MY SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED OUTWARD. THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. THE SUNSHADE (?) WAS CLOSED, SO NO GLASS FELL INTO THE CAR. HALF THE GLASS WAS GONE, AND WHAT WAS STILL ATTACHED WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10550831
Incident
Oct 9, 2013
Mileage
18,000 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 .