What 248 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Subaru Impreza

Air bags did not go off after a car accident with a commercial box truck, car seems to be totaled. Insurance is going to inspect vehicle to confirm it being totaled. No warning lights were on at the time. Just passed inspection a month a month ago.

NHTSA ODI 11701791

Vehicle Fire Summary – Arvada, CO On [XXX] at approximately [XXX], the Arvada Fire Department responded to a report of a vehicle fire on [XXX] . The vehicle involved was a 2013 gray Subaru Impreza WRX. The driver reported noticing smoke coming from the engine compartment before pulling over to the shoulder. Within minutes, flames became visible. Fire crews arrived promptly and extinguished the fire. Both the driver and one passenger were able to evacuate the vehicle safely, and no injuries were reported. The vehicle sustained a total loss due to fire damage. Preliminary findings suggest a possible mechanical or electrical malfunction, though the exact cause remains under investigation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11684703

The wires that connect to the climate control have started an electrical fire and burned out my climate control twice. Upon reporting this to Subaru they advised the climate control randomly not working is a very common problem as it can melt due to high heat outside (90-100+ temperature). Now upon replacing the climate control unit, the wire connected was burned as there was an active electrical fire that was the cause of the climate control not working because it could not connect to the wire pack properly due to the fire. Fire started and went out on its own but without my knowledge as it’s internal behind the radio portion of the car. I would not have known about the fire unless I replaced the part, which is what I did.

NHTSA ODI 11538195

The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph when the check engine illuminated and a loud rattling noise emitted from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle then suddenly stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer had replaced the engine. Approximately after the repair while they were driving approximately 40 mph when the same failure occurred. The vehicle was towed to the same dealer who replaced the engine again. After the second replacement while driving the vehicle was part the vehicle had caught on fire. The fire department was called and put out the fire. No injuries, medical attention needed. The contact's insurance had replaced the engine a third time. Again, while driving at the same speeds the check engine light suddenly illuminated and the vehicle began rattling underneath the hood. The contact also smelled a fuel burning odor coming into the vehicle. The contact had pulled over and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case regarding the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11497752

******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE IT IS AN INADVERTENT DUPLICATE OF ODI# 11497752*DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******

NHTSA ODI 11497758

The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while reversing she depressed the accelerator pedal, the engine revved and the vehicle accelerated in reverse crashing into the rear of the garage. None the air bags deployed. The contact attempted to depress the brakes however the brakes failed. The contact attempted to drive forward when the vehicle revved up again and accelerated independently. The contact attempted to depress the brake pedal however they failed to respond. The vehicle came to a stop at the opposite of the road blocking traffic. The contact managed to park the vehicle and activate the emergency brakes. The contact sustained injuries to their knee and chest area. No medical attention was not needed. There was damage to their home. There was no police report filed. The contact's insurance had the vehicle towed to a repair shop who was not able to find a cause for the failure. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer who was unable to identify the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage 95,000.

NHTSA ODI 11456985

Slowing down to pull into a parking space when I put my foot on the brake to shift into park, the car lurched forward and accelerated over a parking barrier and into a brick wall. Unexplained acceleration. This was not driver error. I felt a few unexplained accelerations previously but thought it was a mistake on my end. In this instance, my foot was nowhere near the acceleration pedal. It was very very frightening. I am now waiting for the insurance adjusters. My car was damaged. I damaged the building and another car tat was parked inside the building. This is a significant safety issue. Consumer stated insurance provider stated it is a total loss and wants to take possession of the car.

NHTSA ODI 11422728

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AT A LOCAL MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN THE FAN MOTOR AND CLIMATE CONTROL FAN SPEED SWITCH BURNED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 107,000.*DT

NHTSA ODI 11414459

CAR WAS PARKED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF RESIDENTIAL GARAGE. I STARTED THE CAR TO PULL IT INTO THE GARAGE. AS SOON AS I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE, IT SHOT FORWARD AT FULL SPEED AND CRASHED INTO A TRAILER AT THE BACK OF THE GARAGE. THE IMPACT FROM THE TRAILER BROKE A HOLE IN THE GARAGE WALL. TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELED WAS ABOUT 25'.

NHTSA ODI 11388673

I STARTED MY VEHICLE AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT. AFTER BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND DRIVING MAYBE 20 SECONDS THE PASSENGER WINDOW SWITCH BEGAN SMOKING, AFTER MAYBE 10 SECONDS THE WINDOW SWITCH BEGAN MELTING INTO ITSELF VERY QUICKLY. LESS THAN 1 MINUTE LATER MY ENTIRE CAR MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN MY DRIVEWAY (THANK GOD I MADE IT BACK). THIS ALL HAPPENED WITHIN 2 MINUTES OF ME STARTING THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11375458

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON I-10 ON 11/27/2019 AT 2 PM. I WAS TRAVELING AT 60- TO 65 MPH AND HIT A SUV THAT HAD STOPPED IN THE LEFT HAND LANE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ( PASSENGER OR DRIVER SIDE) I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO SUBARU AND SO FAR THEY HAVE NOT BEEN HELPFUL. I RECEIVED CONTUSIONS FROM MY RIGHT HIP TO MY LEFT CLAVICLE BUT NO BROKEN BONES.

NHTSA ODI 11297758

FACTORY RECALL FOR A VALVE SPRING AND BRAKE LAMP SWITCH REPLACEMENT WAS COMPLETED ON SEPT.25, 2019. THE CAR ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON OCTOBER 18, 2019. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A CITY STREET. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. THE FIRE MARSHAL WAS PRESENT TO DOCUMENT AND TAKE PHOTOS. MY CAR WAS TOWED. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO CARS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11269739

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN TWO CRASHES IN 2013. FOR BOTH CRASHES, WHILE THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC, IT UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED IN BOTH CASES. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN EITHER CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING 35 MPH AND TOWED AFTER THE FIRST CRASH. THE CONTACT SUSPECTED THAT SHE WAS SOLD A VEHICLE WITH MULTIPLE FAILURES IN 2013. THE CONTACT FOUND OUT THAT SOMEONE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND RETURNED IT PRIOR TO IT BEING PURCHASED BY THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM AUTONATION SUBARU WEST (16351 W COLFAX AVE, GOLDEN, CO 80401, (303) 578-6120). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

NHTSA ODI 11182394

TO START OFF I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE FELT MY CLUTCH STARTING TO SHIFT THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH FLYWHEEL AND THROTTLE BEARING. TOOK IT TO A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BEARING WHICH WAS COMPLETELY WARPED CLUTCH WAS GOOD BUT REPLACED ANYWAY BECAUSE AT THAT POINT WHY NOT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT. CALLED SUBARU NOTHING WAS DONE. ALSO JUST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT INFLATE.

NHTSA ODI 11144822

DRIVING UP A SLIGHT GRADE INTO HOME GARAGE I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR VERY SLIGHTLY . THE CAR SHOT SUDDENLY FORWARD AND FOOTBRAKE DID NOT RESPOND. CAR SIDESWIPED OTHER CAR AND BROKE THRU REAR PANEL OF GARAGE BEFORE I COULD STOP IT WITH HANDBRAKE. MAJOR DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11056599

THE BRAKE SENSOR SWITCH FAILS TO REPORT POSITION OF THE BRAKE AND TURNS OFF ANTI LOCKING BREAKING SYSTEM. IF FAILS YOU CAR TURNING THE CAR APPLY BRAKE AND THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS TURN ON. HILL ASSIST,ABS,SKID CONTROL. WHEN THIS COMES ON ABS DOES NOT WORK. IT SOMETIMES LOCKS THE CAR IN PARK. THIS HAPPEN THEN TRIED TO STOP QUICKLY IN THE RAIN AND BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY. REAR-ENDED A CAR. REPORTED THIS TO A DEALER YEAR AGO THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT. I FOUND IT QUICKLY WHEN SEARCHING THE WEB. COMMON ISSUE THAT COULD BE DEADLY.

NHTSA ODI 11042830

ON TWO OCCASIONS OF A REAR END COLLISION ON DRY PAVEMENT, WHILE TRYING TO AVOID COLLISION AND APPLYING THE BRAKES EXTREMELY HARD, I FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. INSTEAD THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP BUT SLID INTO VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME. I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE I'M BLAMING THE CAR FOR MY ACCIDENT BUT I HAVE HAD CARS STOP ON A DIME. THIS CAR DID NOT STOP ON A DIME. I HAD THE BRAKES APPLIED HARD ENOUGH THAT IT SHOULD HAVE STOPPED INSTEAD IT CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. BOTH INCIDENCES OCCURRED DURING STOP AND GO TRAFFIC UNDER THE SPEED OF 10-15MPH. I FELT LIKE THE CAR JUST CONTINUED TO MOVE SLIDING INTO THE OTHER CAR WHILE ON DRY PAVEMENT.

NHTSA ODI 10934581

WHILE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS; BOTH WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I WAS ON MY BRAKE AT A RED LIGHT (STATIONARY) AND THE SECOND TIME, AFTER I WENT OVER A SMALL "LIP" ON THE ASPHALT, I WAS BRAKING TO PARK IN FRONT OF A HOUSE WHEN IT ACCELERATED SUBSTANTIALLY, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE AND CAR, WHILE ALMOST KILLING ME.

NHTSA ODI 10783058

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 4 MPH IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, AS IT PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A BOULDER FOLLOWED BY A TREE. THE REAR BUMPER WAS DAMAGED HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE, INITIALLY IN NOVEMBER 2013 AND AGAIN IN FEBRUARY 2014 WHILE IN REVERSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

NHTSA ODI 10573058

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING MY RECENTLY ACQUIRED 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA, WHERE ANOTHER DRIVER HIT MY VEHICLE IN A SIDE IMPACT ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL AND DRIVER DOOR (I CAN SEND THE PICTURES VIA EMAIL). THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THIS WAS ALSO NOTED BY THE EMERGENCY CREW WHO ARRIVED ON THE SCENE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY BE A DESIGN FLAW OR DEFECT THAT SUBARU ENGINEERS NEED TO HAVE A CLOSER LOOK AT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10512512