2014 Subaru Impreza Engine Problems

Vehicle Production Date: January 2014 Related Recall: Subaru WTM-73 / NHTSA ID 16V738 (revised July 11, 2017 as WTM-73R) Recall Coverage Production End Date: September 13, 2013 Mileage at First Incident (March 2024): 79,268 Mileage at Second Incident (February 2026): 92,325 The secondary air pump failed in March 2024 (79,268 miles) and again in February 2026 (92,325 miles) just 13,057 miles later. The February 24, 2026 failure produced smoke while parked among other vehicles and trees. A tow truck operator disconnected the pump to prevent a potential fire. Dealer did not replace relay alongside the pump, inconsistent with WTM-73 as revised by WTM-73R (July 11, 2017). The relay subsequently failed, requiring a separate visit. Components are unavailable for inspection. The problems were confirmed and repaired by an authorized Subaru dealership in Sterling, VA. Service records document both failures. For the February 2026 repair, the dealership mistakenly concluded the repair was under warranty and completed it as such - then later tried to backtrack and make me pay. The March 2026 return visit confirmed blown fuses and a failed relay due to incomplete initial repair, which the dealership also made me pay, but later reimbursed me after I referenced the revised recall notice. March 4, 2024: P2444 diagnostic code and a hissing noise. Repair costs not reimbursed as the recall does not cover my vehicle's production date. February 13, 2026: a hissing noise was recorded February 14, 2026. Check Engine light; additional lights may have been present but cannot be confirmed with certainty, distracted by urgency of the situation. March 3, 2026: multiple warning lights illuminated within 2.3 miles after leaving dealership from having air pump repair: Check Engine, Sport Drive, and Cruise Control Recall WTM-73R covers vehicles through September 13, 2013, mine indicates January 2024. I request NHTSA extend coverage to vehicles produced through at least January 2014.

NHTSA ID

11729310

Incident

Feb 13, 2026

I was driving in my car had lost of power n started to make a noise n ALLL that so eather valve spring broke then messed up rod bearings n now to the point I can't drive my vehicle is like to know what to do next

NHTSA ID

11663055

Incident

Feb 10, 2023

While driving on the highway in Denver, the engine stalled - I later learned that a valve spring broke and went through the engine, destroying it. I lost all power - lost braking - but was able to steer the vehicle off to the side of the road. I subsequently learned that about 160,000 Subarus - the same vehicle year, the same model car, the same exact engine - have been recalled by Subaru. However, this car, which suffered the same exact problem was considering "outside the window" of the recall. If I had been on the freeway at a normal rate of speed this could have been a very dangerous accident. My concern is hundreds if not thousands of these cars are still on the road and Subaru is well aware of the problem.

NHTSA ID

11529164

Incident

May 12, 2023

The Vehicle is a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle ; this has now started to cause the vehicle in warm/hot weather to trigger EVAP codes. This is not fixed by checking gas cap or replacing anything else. I have had the vehicle to the dealership where I was told they dont know why , but ignore it. However living in a state that has inspections every year for tags, this is not possible. This is a well know issue and you can find hundreds of examples online of other people that have had the same problem.

NHTSA ID

11520068

Incident

May 2, 2023

While under warranty, took my vehicle to a subaru dealership as I was having problems with the check engine light coming up and having no power. I was told they couldn’t replicate the problem. I drove home and on my way home my motor failed and wouldn’t start.

NHTSA ID

11455786

Incident

Sep 19, 2019

The engine cooling system failed and put myself and my step-daughter at risk while driving on the freeway. When I got off the freeway, the vehicle stalled and I was unable to move the car. I got a tow to move the car. The electrical system was messing up for the windows and the radio, I was unaware of the other parts of the vehicle it was affecting. I just tolerated it for the time being. When my car overheated, The red warning temperature lights came on, the blue warning lamp that tells the temperature, and the tract warning lamp, as well as the check engine lamp. They did not turn on prior to this. I took the vehicle to John Hine Subaru. The car went from being my most reliable, to this unpredictable incident.

NHTSA ID

11432549

Incident

Apr 9, 2021

I own a 2014 Subaru Impreza WRX which was still under warranty(48xxx miles) I’ve been having issues with my vehicle where at times it shuts off on me whenever I come to a complete stop. I’ve taken it to a Subaru dealership multiple times and they always told me “They couldn’t replicate the problem or didn’t find any issue.” I was on my way back home from work when all of a sudden on the freeway the car completely turned off while driving highway speed. I was able to safely pull over on the highway and tried turning the car back on and the check Engine light was on with a flashing cruise control light, I turned it off and had it towed home. I read the code and it came out to be a P0011 and a P0021. I took it to a Subaru dealership that was close to me and was told they couldn’t find any problem and I insisted they check the car again and they said they did an inspection of the car and there wasn’t any problems. I was on my way to work as I began to accelerate the car stalled I turned the car on thinking I stalled the vehicle but a rattling sound became loudly audible. I checked my oil to see if it was low on oil but the dip stick still showed it had lots of oil. But I believe the engine is damaged. I’m tired of taking it to the dealership and being told there isn’t a problem when there’s in fact a major problem. I read through a lot of forums and bulletins and a lot of people have been having the same issues and I don’t know why there was never a recall to fix the faulty issues these vehicles have which is a horrible engine that is a ticking time bomb. This is a major issue and I believe this needs to be looked into.

NHTSA ID

11428911

Incident

Aug 13, 2021

2 differt items not sure if interconnected. Drove out of driveway and 3 blocks away the car was shaking violently and could not go more than 5 miles an hour. Was able to turn around and pull into driveway and the car died and would not start. Subarau dealer said it was the Engine Control Module and replaced it for free. There was a recall done on the 2012 Impreza for same problem and mine is a 2014 with only 35,990 miles. Should be a recall for this model year also. This would have been very dangerous if I was on the freeway and I would hate to have it happen to someone else. A week before the car died I was having problems with my key frequently getting stuck in the ignition when it was in park. Had to pull the car in and out of parking spaces and play with steering wheel constantly to release the key. This was happening a lot. When the car was at the dealer for the ECM, I also told them about the key getting stuck. They said the problem was the release switch and replaced the switch guide plate for $564. I saw on line that this also happened with the 2012 Impreza which were recalled for the keys getting stuck in the ignition but they told me I had to pay since there was no recall. Apparently this problem is still continuing with the newer models.

NHTSA ID

11420972

Incident

Jun 8, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR PUMP INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATED AND DEACTIVATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CODE P0410 (SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM OR FUEL PUMP SYSTEM) THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A YEAR AGO, BLOOMINGTON SUBARU, 7801 LYNDALE AVE S, BLOOMINGTON, MN 55420, INFORMED HIM THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REPLACED THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR BY HIMSELF. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V738000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11377543

Incident

Dec 2, 2019

Mileage

100,000 mi

A LOS 50.000 KM CAMBIO DE AROS Y RECALENTAMIENTO DE CAJA ...2016 A LOS 150.000 CAMBIO DE AROS , RADIADOR, ETC , 2019 A LOS 170.000 CAMBIO JUNTA MULTIPLE ESCAPE 2020

NHTSA ID

11341566

Incident

Jul 15, 2020

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UP EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO (CIOCCA SUBARU 4611 HAMILTON BLVD, ALLENTOWN, PA 18103 (610) 395-3745) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE CEASED. THE ENGINE WAS DIS ASSEMBLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FAULKNER SUBARU HARRISBURG 3233 PAXTON ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17111 (717) 564-4545), WHERE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF A FRACTURED VALVE SPRING IN CYLINDER NUMBER 3 WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO CEASE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER AND PISTON. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE CYLINDER WITH AN UPDATED CAM CARRIER, VALVE SPRINGS, FRONT COVER WITH UPDATED CAM SHAFT SENSORS DUE TO OIL CONTAMINATION, AND THE SHORT BLOCK ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER INITIALLY OFFERED TO PAY $5,000 THEN AFTER NEGOTIATIONS STATED THEY OFFERED TO PAY EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR $600. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,794.

NHTSA ID

11302850

Incident

Dec 31, 2019

Mileage

77,794 mi

I ADUJSTED STEERING WHEEL AND TRIED TO START THE IGNITION AND NO CRANK, NO LIGHTS ON DASH AND CAR WINDOWS WONT WORK. THIS CAR IS WELL TAKING CARE OF AT SUBARU DEALERSHIP ONLY. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID

11252607

Incident

Aug 31, 2019

Mileage

42,500 mi

FOR THE THIRD TIME, WHILE DRIVING THE SUBARU THE ENGINE DIED AND ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. CAR CONTROL WAS DIFFICULT. THE FIRST TWO TIMES WAS ON A FREEWAY AND THE THIRD TIME WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. CAR WAS TOWED TO A SUBARU DEALER WHO DETERMINED, THAT THE ELECTRICAL BULKHEAD HARNESS WAS DAMAGED DUE TO RODENTS CHEWING ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT RESULTING IN A BLOWN FUSE. AFTER THREE WEEKS OF REPAIR AND AT A COST OF $7173.65 THE CAR WAS REPAIRED, HOPEFULLY. HAVING THE ENGINE SIMPLY FAIL, TWICE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, WAS AN EXTRAORDINARILY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE. I HAVE A DETAILED REPAIR INVOICE BUT NO ABILITY TO SCAN IT. MY INSURANCE CLAIM WAS DONE BY PHONE AND ELECTRONICALLY.

NHTSA ID

11123894

Incident

Aug 7, 1918

Mileage

56,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (55MPH IN CALIFORNIA) I HEARD A LOUD SLAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE HIGHWAY WAS RELATIVELY STRAIGHT. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW. I COULD NOT GIVE THE ENGINE MORE POWER BY STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO THE FAR RIGHT SHOULDER.

NHTSA ID

11123317

Incident

Aug 25, 2018

Mileage

30,000 mi

HAD JUST PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY AND WAS PUTTING CAR INTO PARK WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED--REVVED--AND CRASHED THROUGH THE WOODEN GARAGE DOOR AND INTO THE POURED CONCRETE WALL AT END OF GARAGE, CRACKING IT AND MOVING WALL BEHIND IT.

NHTSA ID

11012269

Incident

Jul 31, 2017

Mileage

50,000 mi

I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN EXTREME ACCELERATION JUST AFTER I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR SUDDENLY--VERY RAPIDLY--ACCELERATED AND CRASHED THROUGH WOODEN GARAGE DOOR AND INTO THE POURED CONCRETE WALL AT BACK OF GARAGE, CRACKING THE WALL AND OF COURSE TOTALING THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11012263

Incident

Jul 31, 2017

Mileage

50,000 mi

ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS AGO AS I WAS MAKING A TURN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN THE ENGINE THROTTLED UP. AND AFTER A FEW MOMENTS WENT BACK TO NORMAL. TWO WEEKS AGO AS I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE COMING TO A STOP SIGN THE ENGINE THROTTLED UP AND I HAD DIFFICULTY COMING TO A STOP. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I STARTED IT AGAIN THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO HIGH THROTTLE TO THE POINT THAT THE FRONT OF THE CAR STARTED VIBRATING. I TURNED IT OFF AGAIN AND RESTARTED IT AND THIS TIME IT WAS OK. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP. THEIR MECHANIC RAN THE DIAGNOSTICS AND WAS UNABLE TO PIN POINT THE PROBLEM. THEY DECIDED TO CALL THE SUBARU TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT AND WERE TOLD TO NOT LET ME DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THEIR ENGINEER TOOK A LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. THIS WAS A WEEK AGO AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY HAVE FOUND.

NHTSA ID

10794753

Incident

Nov 5, 2015

Mileage

4,900 mi

CHECK OIL LIGHT FIRST CAME ON AT 5000 MILES. AFTER CHECKING THE OIL, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT I WAS DOWN TWO QUARTS OF OIL. I GOT A COMPLETE OIL CHANGE WITH SYNTHETIC OIL WHICH IS NOT CHEAP. OIL LIGHT AGAIN CAME BACK ON AFTER ANOTHER 2500 MILES. HAD TO ADD ANOTHER QUART OF OIL. DEALERSHIP SAID THIS RATE OF OIL CONSUMPTION WAS NORMAL, HOWEVER I INSISTED ON AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. HAVING TO ADD OIL THREE TIMES IN 9000 MILES FOR A BRAND NEW CAR IS NOT NORMAL NO MATTER WHAT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS. I HAD A 2011 SUBARU IMPREZA SPORT AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I ACTUALLY RAN MYSELF OUT OF OIL AND THE CAR STALLED GOING 45 MILES AN HOUR DOWN THE FREEWAY. I LIMPED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I MUST HAVE HAD A MAJOR OIL LEAK. MY GARAGE WAS AND IS CLEAN OF ANY SIGNS OF AN OIL LEAK. I WAS NOT EVEN DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE WHEN THE CAR STALLED AND WAS OUT OF OIL. I TRADED THE 2011 IMPREZA SPORT FOR A 2014 IMPREZA SPORT BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE 2011 MUST HAVE BEEN A LEMON. IT IS EXPENSIVE TO KEEP HAVING TO ADD SYNTHETIC OIL TO A BRAND NEW CAR BETWEEN OIL CHANGES TO KEEP IT RUNNING, AND I TRADED IN A CAR WITH NO CAR PAYMENT TO GET ANOTHER CAR WITH THE SAME ISSUE. YET, I SEE THERE IS STILL NO RECALL FOR EITHER THE 2011 OR 2014. SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO HAVE TO STALL AT HIGH SPEEDS AND CRASH BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE BY SUBARU TO ADDRESS AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM, APPARENTLY.

NHTSA ID

10717269

Incident

Apr 1, 2015

Mileage

15,000 mi

CHECK OIL LIGHT FIRST CAME ON AT 2500 MILES, HAD TO ADD A QUART OF OIL AND ALSO GOT A COMPLETE OIL CHANGE. HAD TO ADD ANOTHER 1/2 QUART OF OIL AT 6000 AND ANOTHER ONE AGAIN AT 9000 DUE TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. AT 2500, DEALERSHIP SAID THIS OIL CONSUMPTION RATE WAS NORMAL. AT 9000, DURING ANOTHER MINOR SERVICE, WAS AGAIN TOLD MY CURRENT RATE OF OIL CONSUMPTION WAS NORMAL. HOWEVER, HAVING TO ADD OIL THREE TIMES IN 9000 MILES FOR A BRAND NEW CAR DOESN'T SEEM SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652902

Incident

Mar 25, 2014

Mileage

2,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY AND RESUMED IN NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 424. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10588015

Incident

May 9, 2014

Mileage

424 mi