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1995 problems

FaultScore report

1995 Subaru Impreza problems

Owners have filed 69 complaints about the 1995 Subaru Impreza with NHTSA between 1995 and 2015. The largest single group is the airbags. Across this model's run it ranks 22 of 31 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Subaru Impreza All 1995 cars

FaultScore 46/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Subaru Impreza.

How this is worked out

The numbers

Complaints

Crashes reported

Fires reported

Injuries reported

141,125 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.

Complaint volume — 31: Against the median year of the Subaru Impreza. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100: 42% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 0: 0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 1995 compares with every other Subaru Impreza

Click any bar to open that year's report.

2 48 8 69 25 38 55 27 54 13 339 64 113 95 68 84 249 149 60 75 337 344 157 99 108 162 181 224 100 19 15 6 53 10 1

90 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1995 Subaru Impreza

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Airbags 23 33.3%

12 crashes, 0 fires · median 141,125 mi

Fuel & Propulsion 8 11.6%

0 crashes, 2 fires · median 134,000 mi

Engine & Cooling 7 10.1%

Electrical System 5 7.2%

Median failure at 180,000 miles

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 4 5.8%

Median failure at 180,000 miles

Equipment & Accessories 3 4.3%

Acceleration & Cruise Control 3 4.3%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Brakes 3 4.3%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Seat Belts 2 2.9%

Wheels 2 2.9%

Lights 2 2.9%

Suspension 2 2.9%

Median failure at 66,060 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 2 2.9%

Other & Unspecified 1 1.4%

Seats 1 1.4%

Body & Structure 1 1.4%

Exactly what failed

NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.

Frontal 21 60.0%

Emission Control 3 8.6%

HUB 2 5.7%

AIR Conditioner 2 5.7%

Gasoline 2 5.7%

Rear 2 5.7%

Horn 2 5.7%

Wrecker AND Wheel Lift Devices 1 2.9%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

50,000 – 74,999 miles 1 14.3%

75,000 – 99,999 miles 1 14.3%

100,000 – 149,999 miles 3 42.9%

150,000+ miles 2 28.6%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Feb 1995 peak 11 Jan 2015

NHTSA investigations into the 1995 Subaru Impreza

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

EA97010 Opened 30 Apr 1997 Closed 23 Dec 1998 AIR BAGS

OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT

IN ITS LETTER DATED DECEMBER 21, 1998, SUBARU STATED THAT THE VEHICLES IDENTIFIED ABOVE WILL BE RECALLED.SUBARU DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FRONT TOWING/TIE-DOWN HOOKS.REFER TO NHTSA RECALL NO. 98V-315 FOR DETAILS.

PE96075 Opened 18 Dec 1996 Closed 30 Apr 1997 AIR BAGS

OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT

ODI HAS REVIEWED 33 COMPLAINTS OF OVERSENSITIVE' AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT (I.E., ANY NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENT) RECEIVED BY ODI AND SUBARU INVOLVING MODEL YEAR 1995 SUBARU IMPREZA & LEGACY VEHICLES AND ALL OTHER IMPREZA & LEGACY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR BAG SYSTEMS IDENTICAL OR SIMILAR TO THOSE IN THE 1995 IMPREZA & LEGACY; THEY ARE LATE 1994-1996 IMPREZA AND ALL1995 & 1996 LEGACY (33 COMPLAINTS OUT OF 165,385 VEHICLES).ODI'S ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT CERTAIN IMPREZA & LEGACY VEHICLES - - LATE 1994 & EARLY 1995 IMPREZA AND ALL 1995 & EARLY 1996 LEGACY (29 COMPLAINTS OUT OF 95,678 VEHICLES) -- HAVE MUCH H...

Recalls on the 1995 Subaru Impreza

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

09E025000 11 May 2009

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

09E012000 7 Apr 2009

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

08E050000 11 Aug 2008

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

98V315000 11 Dec 1998

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN OCCUR AFTER UNDERCARRIAGE CONTACT OF THE TOW HOOKS WITH CURBS, DIPS, SPEEDBUMPS, POTHOLES, ETC.

Risk: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 1999020 15 Feb 1999 3,442 units in Canada

Seats And Restraints

On certain vehicles, the front tow hook may contact curbing, dips, speedbumps, potholes etc. and cause inadvertent air bag deployment. Correction: Front tow hooks will be removed on affected vehicles.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Filed 16 Sep 2002 Denver, CO 2 injured

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

WHILE DRIVING BOTH SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING, CAUSING INJURIES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #8018752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 3 Apr 2001 Schenectady, NY Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE SWIPE ACCIDENT, THE OTHER VEHICLE HIT ME IN THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL AND BOTH AIR BAGS IMMEDIATLEY DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO BREAK AND CAUSING ME TO RUN INTO A SIGN, RATHER THAN BEING ABLE TO CORRECT MYSELF. DUE TO THE AIRBAGS BEING DEPLOYED THE CAR WAS TOTALLED VS. BEING FIXABLE HAD THEY NOT GONE OFF AS THERE IS NO FRONT END DAMAGE OR ENGINE DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint #742954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 27 Mar 2001 Beallsvill, OH 3 injured

SEATS

WHILE DRIVING THE SHOULDER HARNESS LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED DURING VEHICLE COLLISION RESULTING IN SEVERAL INJURIES, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO SUBARU FOR INSPECTION, THEY CLAIM IT IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, HOWEVER NOTHING HAS BEEN ISSUED IN WRITING STATING THIS. NLM

NHTSA complaint #560250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 20 Sep 2000 Cumberland, MD 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT A COLLISION OCCURRING DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #871006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 30 May 2000 Laurel, MD Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT, AND DRIVER'S/ PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN THIS CRASH. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #862652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 19 Jan 2000 PGH, PA Fire

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

WHILE UNSCREWING GAS CAP, VEHICLE TURNED OFF AT THE TIME, BALL OF FIRE CAME OUT OF THE TANK AROUND GAS CAP OPENING, DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE DEFECT/PROBLEM. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #549625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Filed 5 Jan 2015 at 180,000 miles Boulder, CO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

REAR WIRES IN HATCH BOOT COMPLETELY SEVERED. NO THIRD BRAKE LIGHT, WIPER, OR DEFOGGER BECAUSE OF ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10670306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 5 Jan 2015 at 180,000 miles Boulder, CO

VISIBILITY/WIPER

REAR WIRES IN HATCH BOOT COMPLETELY SEVERED. NO THIRD BRAKE LIGHT, WIPER, OR DEFOGGER BECAUSE OF ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10670306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 1 Mar 2010 at 145,000 miles Blackey, KY

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

GAS TANK FILLER TUBE HAS RUST THROUGH. CAN NOT FILL TANK OVER HALF FULL OR GAS WILL LEAK OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10315272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 1 Apr 2005 at 123,000 miles North Royalton, OH

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

FUEL LEAK IN FILL TUBE. (RUST THROUGH).

NHTSA complaint #10116212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 17 Mar 2005 at 141,125 miles Mohegan Lake, NY

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE HIT A CURB ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO INJURY REPORTED. ALSO, NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, EXCEPT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY DAMAGES, AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #10115334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 24 Sep 2003 at 53,743 miles Springfield, VT

SUSPENSION:REAR

RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING WENT AT 53,743 MILES ON MY 1995 SUBARU IMPREZA. SUBARU HAD A TSB AND USED LEGACY BEARINGS FOR THE FIX. IF NOT FIXED TIRE CAN SEPARATE FROM CAR AND LOSE CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #10039431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 24 Sep 2003 at 78,378 miles Springfield, VT

SUSPENSION:REAR

AT 53743 MILES RIGHT WHEEL BEARING WENT, FIXED BY DEALER. I NOTICED THE SAME NOISE AGAIN AT 78378, ONLY 24,635 LATER THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I CALLED SUBARU AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A WEAR ITEM. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TWICE AND FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, I COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10039432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 25 Nov 2002 Fayetteville, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA complaint #8023312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 16 Sep 2002 Denver, CO 2 injured

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

WHILE DRIVING BOTH SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING, CAUSING INJURIES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #8018752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 3 Apr 2001 Schenectady, NY Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

NHTSA complaint #742954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 27 Mar 2001 Beallsvill, OH 3 injured

SEATS

NHTSA complaint #560250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 20 Sep 2000 Cumberland, MD 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT A COLLISION OCCURRING DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #871006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 24 Aug 2000 Norwich, NY

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

GAS GUAGE READ FULL UPON FILLING TANK OF GAS, WHEN GUAGE READ 1/2 FULL, SUDDENLY DROPPED TO 'E', AND REMAINED FOR MANY MILES THEREAFTER.

NHTSA complaint #727713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 17 Jul 2000 Lawrence, KS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

NEW THROTTLE BODY, NEW CLUTCH, NEW FUEL SENDING UNIT INSTALLED. *MJS