Home · 2011 Subaru Impreza · Complaints

What 57 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Subaru Impreza

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (57)Crash / fire / injury (8)Airbags (17)Electrical system (9)Visibility & wipers (8)Brakes (6)Fuel system (6)Transmission & drivetrain (6)Engine (3)Engine & cooling (3)Body & structure (2)Seats (2)

8 of 57 complaints match · Visibility & wipers · clear filters

Sep 4, 2025Visibility & wipers

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 ODI 11685042

Mar 14, 2016Visibility & wipers

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 ODI 10846371

Apr 13, 2015Visibility & wipers

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 ODI 10705364

Jun 15, 2014Visibility & wipers

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 ODI 10598371

Apr 28, 2014Visibility & wipers

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 ODI 10585395

Mar 25, 2014Visibility & wipers

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 ODI 10574650

Mar 6, 2014Visibility & wipers

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 ODI 10567566

Nov 4, 2013Visibility & wipers

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 ODI 10550831

Working with the data? Download all 57 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 12, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Subaru Impreza verdict →