Total Complaints
64 filings
SUBARU IMPREZA · model year
64 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports, and 6 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003SUBARUIMPREZA carries 64 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 crashes, 1 fire, 15 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 IMPREZA is fuel/propulsion system with 12 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (9) and fuel system, gasoline (7). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 6 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2003 IMPREZA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
64 filings
Crashes Reported
9 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 12 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 9 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 7 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 6 |
| AIR BAGS | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
| SUSPENSION | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "P" (PARK) POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM, THAT IS INTENDED TO HOLD YOUR VEHI
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
SUBARU IS RECALLING 36,791 MY 2002-2003 IMPREZA WAGONS. THE STUD BOLT(S) OF REAR GATE STAY MAY HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED WITH INSUFFICIENT TIGHTENING TORQUE AND A GAP MAY HAVE RESULTED BETWEEN THE REAR GATE PANEL AND STUD BOLT BASE. AFTER REPEATED REAR GATE OPERATIONS (OPENING AND CLOSING), THE REAR GAT
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER SEDANS, WAGONS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE COULD COME OUT OF ITS TRACK ON THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER AND LODGE ON THE CONTROL LEVER TAB WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE THROTTLE WILL NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION AN
SEATS
ON CERTAIN SEDAN AND WAGON MODEL VEHICLES, THE LEFT FRONT BOLT THAT RETAINS THE FORWARD PART OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE SEAT SLIDE RAIL MAY LOOSEN. IF THE SEAT SLIDE RAIL BOLT LOOSENS, IT WILL EVENTUALLY FALL OUT, AND THE SEAT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE SEAT SLIDE.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2007 IMPREZA, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 FORESTER, AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 SAAB 9-2X VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 THROUGH NOVEMBER 26, 2007 ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK,
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 IMPREZA WRX VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF SOUTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, MINNESOTA, IDAHO, IOWA, MONTANA, COLORADO, WISCONSIN, NEW YORK, WYOMING, MICHIGAN, ALASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, AND MAINE. D
My 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX has a very strong fuel odor that is coming into the cabin when I start my car up on cold days. It's been unusually cold here in Washington state this winter with temperatures in Seattle dipping well below freezing. I see that there is a recall for this exact problem for my exact car (https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2009/RCONL-09V468-4248.pdf). But when I called the dealer (Michael's Bellevue Subaru), and then subsequently called Subaru (1-800-SUBARU3), they told me that they will not fix this issue, since this recall does not apply to my state (Washington). I think that's not right. It is the exact same problem of cold weather causing this fuel line to leak, and they should honor this recall.
I NOTICED FRESH SMELL OF GASOLINE EVERYTIME I START THE CAR. I LOOK AT THE FUEL LINE AND ITS SIPPING FUEL.
Mileage: 130,000
SUBARU OF AMERICA RECALL WVK-21 OCCURED WHILE DRIVING AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE, CAUSING SMOKE TO RISE FROM ENGINE BAY. SUBARU OF AMERICA REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE AS MY VIN DID NOT COME UP IN THEIR SYSTEM WITH THE RECALL.
Mileage: 180,000
ON THE NIGHT OF 12/6/2020 I WAS BACKING OUT OF A FRIENDS DRIVEWAY TO DRIVE HOME, WHEN I REACHED THE STREET, I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND A GRINDING NOISE. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR TO INVESTIGATE WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED AND THE FRONT PORTION OF MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD COMPLETELY LOST ALL STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. FORTUNATELY MY CAR WAS AT A LOW SPEED AND I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL (PICTURES ATTACHED). HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE THE EVENTS ON 12/6/2020 INDICATES THE REMEDIATION STEPS PROPOSED BY SUBARU ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE AS THIS PART FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY AFTER THESE STEPS HAD BEEN PERFORMED. THE SAFETY RECALL REMEDIATION STEPS IN QUESTION ARE THAT OF: "TYPE: SAFETY | SAFETY RECALL: WVX34 | NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 11V464000" ACCORDING TO SUBARU'S WEBSITE FOR THIS VEHICLE, THE SAFETY RECALL WAS COMPLETED: HTTPS://WWW.SUBARU.COM/VEHICLE-RECALLS.HTML/VIN=[XXX] ACCORDIN
Mileage: 205,000
HEAD GASKET ISSUE. WEEPING OIL BETWEEN THE HEADS AND THE BLOCK. NO LONGER OWN VEHICLE.
Mileage: 170,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE ENGINE BAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V468000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). KEARNY MESA SUBARU (4797 CONVOY ST, SAN DIEGO, CA 92111, (858) 278-7100) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 159,800.
Mileage: 159,800
LOWER PASSENGER CONTROL ARM TORE OFF. AS A RESULT, LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY.
Mileage: 115,000
FUEL LINE LEAKING GAS IN COLD WEATHER. I REALLY DON'T THINK IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE WITH QUITE A BIT OF GAS LEAKING ALL OVER THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE THAT GETS VERY HOT AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE.
Mileage: 148,000
TAKATA AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SIDE IMPACT SENSOR DID NOT WORK. THE CAR TRAVELED SIDEWAYS INTO A LARGE OAK TREE IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH . THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS WHERE THE SIDE IMPACT SENSOR WAS LOCATED . NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED . SUBARU HAS BEEN VERY UNCOOPERATIVE WITH ANSWERS AS TO WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY . THIS HAPPENED UPON A RURAL ROAD IN THE FOG . NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED .
Mileage: 140,000
TAKATA AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SIDE IMPACT SENSOR DID NOT WORK. THE CAR TRAVELED SIDEWAYS INTO A LARGE OAK TREE IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH . THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS WHERE THE SIDE IMPACT SENSOR WAS LOCATED . NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED . SUBARU HAS BEEN VERY UNCOOPERATIVE WITH ANSWERS AS TO WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY . THIS HAPPENED UPON A RURAL ROAD IN THE FOG . NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED .
Mileage: 140,000
HTTPS://SERVICES.NEFRAMEWORK.COM/IMAGERETRIEVAL.ASPX?ID=974F272D-0461-4FF2-97A8-B175C14EC539 THAT DESCRIBES HOW THE CRASH HAPPENED. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUFFERED BROKEN LEFT ELBOW, FRACTURE IN MY SKULL,RIBS AND SHOULDER. ALSO SEVERE BRAIN TRAUMA. I HAVE A LOT OF PICTURES, BUT IT WILL ONLY LET ME ATTACH ONE. THERE IS FRONTAL DAMAGE FROM A SMALLER TREE, BUT THE MAJORITY IS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE(MY SIDE) FROM SLAMMING INTO A LARGE TREE.
Mileage: 160,000
MY CAR IS LEAKING FUEL. I SMELL THE POISONOUS FUEL INSIDE MY VEHICLE EVERY TIME I AM INSIDE IT. I AM LOSING 50 MILES PER FULL TANK. CAN THIS LEAK CAUSE MY CAR TO BLOW-UP AND KILL ME OR OTHERS? I AM SCARED. MY NAME IS [XXX] FROM CLIFTON NEW JERSEY. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED IN NOVEMBER. ISN'T SAFETY MORE IMPORTANT THAN A 3 MONTH EXPIRED WARRANTY? I WORK FOR NJ TRANSIT, I KNOW THE DOT WOULD BE CONCERNED! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 183,000
EXTREMELY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN CABIN IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW 32 DEGREES F.). *TR
Mileage: 103,000
TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. AS A RESULT, SOME OF THE FUEL LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. RK
Mileage: 160,000
IT HAS RECENTLY BEEN EXTREMELY COLD IN CHICAGO AND UPON INITIAL STARTUP OF THE VEHICLE THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE CABIN. THE SMELL DOES NOT GO AWAY UNTIL THE CAR IS COMPLETELY WARMED UP. I NOTICED THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. IT WAS SUBARU RECALL NO. WVK-21. I BELIEVE MY CAR SHOULD FALL UNDER THIS RECALL. I CALLED SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR DID NOT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN. BUT THE PROBLEMS I'VE BEEN HAVING FIT THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. *TR
Mileage: 101,800
ONLY ON COLD DAYS I SMELL FUEL WHILE DRIVING, UPON INVESTAGATION I FOUND THAT THE LITTLE RUBBER LINES UNDER THE INTAKE WERE LEAKING FUEL ON TO THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. I CALLED SUBARU AND THEY SAID THE THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT MY CAR IS NOT IN THE RECALL BECAUASE I DON;T LIVE IN THE AFFECTED STATES SO IF I MOVE TO NEWYORK OR MICHIGAN I WOULD BE COVERED WELL I LIKE OHIO SO IF THIS COULD GET EXPANDED THAT WOULD BE GREAT. *TR
Mileage: 88,000
FOLLOWING INITIAL STARTUP IN COLD WEATHER, FUEL LEAK OCCURS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. LEAK CAUSES GASOLINE ODOR IN VEHICLE CABIN AND POSES FIRE HAZARD. ONCE ENGINE IS WARM, AFTER A FEW MINUTES, LEAK AND ODOR DISSIPATE. INITIAL OCCURRENCE WAS IN 2008 AT HIGH ALTITUDE. PROBLEM DID NOT RESURFACE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHERE NIGHT TIME TEMPERATURES ARE NOW LOW ENOUGH FOR ISSUE TO MANIFEST. SINCE RELOCATING TO SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, WHERE OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER, PROBLEM OCCURS ON EVERY MORNING START IN COLD WEATHER. *TR
Mileage: 45,000
OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS MODERATE(75F), BUT ENGINE WAS COLD. UPON ENGINE START STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN CABIN AND IN ENGINE BAY AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TR
Mileage: 142,800
CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH AT ABOUT 45 MPH INTO A FIRE HYDRANT IN THE CITY OF BELL. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS EXPANDED AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Mileage: 126,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS SMELLED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE SIGN OF A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FUEL LINE AND CLAMPS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V468000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
Mileage: 61,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.