2010 Subaru IMPREZA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2010 Subaru IMPREZA has 61 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: engine failure due to complete loss of oil pressure in 2006 subaru impreza wrx limited sportwagon. *tr. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 2 crash reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

10 complaints

16%

• ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO COMPLETE LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE IN 2006 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX LIMITED SPORTWAGON. *TR
• BEFORE THE FAILURE WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT THE TAILPIPE AND THE ENGINE WAS HESITATING. PISTON #4 HAD A FAILED RINGLAND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. TO CORRECT THE FAILURE THE ENGINE HAD TO BE TAKEN APART AT THE DEALER AND HAVE NEW PARTS INSTALLED. THE CAR WAS OUT OF MY POSSESSION FOR TWO WEEKS. THE
• FIRST FAILURE WAS MY CLUTCH DUE TO THE PRESSURE PLATE BEING INSTALLED INCORRECTLY FROM THE FACTORY AND WAS WARRANTED. SECOND FAILURE WAS AN AIR FUEL SENSOR WHICH ALSO WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIRD FAILURE WAS MY 4TH CYLINDER CRACKED PISTON. THE DEALERSHIP WHICH HAS BEEN THE SAME THAT I HAVE GONE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO COMPLETE LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE IN 2006 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX LIMITED SPORTWAGON. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

8 complaints

13%

• THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR NO LONGER STAYS UP. THE INTERNAL PLASTIC TENSION TUBING HAS BROKEN AND VISOR CAN SEPARATE FROM MOUNT ATTACHING TO THE CAR. PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND MOVING. PROBLEM WAS NOT EXACERBATED BY ANY ACTION OR ABUSE, IT SIMPLY STARTED.
• VEHICLE HESITATES THEN SURGES FORWARD VIOLENTLY WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED WHEN ENGINE IS COLD OR IN COLD WEATHER. CONDITION IMPROVES WHEN ENGINE IS WARMED UP. DEALERSHIP AND SUBARU HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE ISSUE. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO DRIVE VEHICLE AS THEY SAY IT'S UNSAFE, BUT ARE NOT WORK
• INSTALLATION OF INFERIOR PARTS IN THE ENGINE, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE CRAINKSHAFT AND BOTTOM END.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR NO LONGER STAYS UP. THE INTERNAL PLASTIC TENSION TUBING HAS BROKEN AND VISOR CAN SEPARATE FROM MOUNT ATTACHING TO THE CAR. PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND MOVING. PROBLEM WAS NOT EXACERBATED BY ANY ACTION OR ABUSE, IT SIMPLY STARTED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

7 complaints

11%

• SUBARU HAS AN INHERENT BRAKE DEFECT IN THEIR 2010-2011 SUBARU WRX AND WRX STI MODEL CARS. THE BRAKE SENSOR IN NEW CARS IS FAULTY CAUSING SYSTEM FAILURE WITH REGARDS TO ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. WHEN BRAKES ARE USED IN A PANIC SITUATION THEY LOCK UP CAUSING DRIVERS TO LOSE CONTROL WITH THE ROAD AND DO NOT
• PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR ON REAR BRAKES. BOTH METAL ON METAL. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS AND PADS AT NO COST. BUT I DO NOT THINK THIS ADDRESSED THE REAL PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WEAR OUT THE REAR BRAKE PADS IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME NOT EVEN THE FRONT BRAKES. *TR
• THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2010 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX MAKES A LOUD CREAKING NOISE EVERY TIME IT'S DEPRESSED. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THE NOISE, I NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY (ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL) SHIFTS APPROX 1/4 INCH EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. I FOUND THA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“SUBARU HAS AN INHERENT BRAKE DEFECT IN THEIR 2010-2011 SUBARU WRX AND WRX STI MODEL CARS. THE BRAKE SENSOR IN NEW CARS IS FAULTY CAUSING SYSTEM FAILURE WITH REGARDS TO ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. WHEN BRAKES ARE USED IN A PANIC SITUATION THEY LOCK UP CAUSING DRIVERS TO LOSE CONTROL WITH THE ROAD AND DO NOT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

7 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG OFF INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHETHER THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS OCCUPIED OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE FRONT
• THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ON MY 2010 SUBARU IMPREZA IS INTERMITTENTLY DISABLED, EVEN WITH A 125 POUND ADULT OCCUPYING THE SEAT. SHIFTING YOUR WEIGHT IN THE SEAT MAY ENABLE THE AIRBAG, BUT IT WILL USUALLY BECOME DISABLED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. THIS SEEMS LIKE A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD AND IS VERY CON
• I WAS GOING ON 60 AND CRASHED ON MEDIAN BY FRONT PART, AND FLIPPED OVER BY SIDE FROM REACTION OF CRASH. I WEIGHT 115 POUND AND 5'4''. I BROKE MY BONE EVEN THOUGH I WAS WEARING SEAT BELT. I HAD TO BE AT HOSPITAL ALL DAY TO GET MY BRAIN DAMAGE CHECK AND BUNCH OF XRAYS AND CT SCANS BECAUSE ACCIDENT W

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG OFF INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHETHER THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS OCCUPIED OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE FRONT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

6 complaints

10%

• DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR HAS BEEN DROPPING DOWN FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. TODAY AS I WAS PUSHING IT UP IT CAME OFF ENTIRELY. THE PIECE IT SLID OFF FROM LOOKS BROKEN. *TR
• DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT 65-70MPH THE SUN VISOR JUST DROPPED DOWN BLOCKING MY VISION. THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE FIX AS BEING ON THE ROAD YOU CAN'T PULL OVER AND JUST DO SOMETHING WITH IT. I THEREFORE HAD TO HOLD THE VISOR IN PLACE FOR SEVERAL MILES. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER THERE WAS STILL NO FI
• WHILE DRIVING ALONG,DRIVERS SIDE SUNVISOR JUST SNAPPED. IT MOMENTARLY BLOCKED VISION. NOW IT HANGS IN THE DOWN POSITION. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH IMPREZZA SUNVISORS .COULD CAUSE OPERATOR TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR HAS BEEN DROPPING DOWN FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. TODAY AS I WAS PUSHING IT UP IT CAME OFF ENTIRELY. THE PIECE IT SLID OFF FROM LOOKS BROKEN. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 61 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO COMPLETE LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE IN 2006 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX LIMITED SPORTWAGON. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR NO LONGER STAYS UP. THE INTERNAL PLASTIC TENSION TUBING HAS BROKEN AND VISOR CAN SEPARATE FROM MOUNT ATTACHING TO THE CAR. PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND MOVING. PROBLEM WAS NOT EXACERBATED BY ANY ACTION OR ABUSE, IT SIMPLY STARTED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: SUBARU HAS AN INHERENT BRAKE DEFECT IN THEIR 2010-2011 SUBARU WRX AND WRX STI MODEL CARS. THE BRAKE SENSOR IN NEW CARS IS FAULTY CAUSING SYSTEM FAILURE WITH REGARDS TO ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. WHEN BRAKES ARE USED IN A PANIC SITUATION THEY LOCK UP CAUSING DRIVERS TO LOSE CONTROL WITH THE ROAD AND DO NOT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG OFF INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHETHER THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS OCCUPIED OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE FRONT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)