FaultScore

2013 Subaru Impreza acceleration problems

13 of the 344 complaints about the 2013 Subaru Impreza are about the throttle and cruise control — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 44,260 miles.

F

13

Complaints

7

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 13 100.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 95,000 miles Baden, PA Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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 complaint #11456985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nanticoke, MD Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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 complaint #11422728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 61,521 miles Glen Mills, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON (3) SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED WHILE I WAS DRIVING (IN MOTION). EACH TIME (SHORTLY AFTER), I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN GLEN MILLS, PA FOR INSPECTION. THOSE DATES ARE: 6/25/16, 1/16/20, 2/27/21. EACH TIME THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST INCIDENT (2016), I WAS DRIVING TO WORK (WITHIN 3 MINUTES OF HOME). THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 25 MILES AN HOUR. I PANICKED (HIT THE ACCELERATOR HARDER), BUT WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE SECOND INCIDENT (2020) , I HAD JUST LEFT WORK, WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MILES AN HOUR, AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AS BEFORE. AGAIN, I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR BY BRAKING LIKE NORMAL. THE THIRD TIME (2021), I WAS ABOUT HALFWAY HOME (FROM WORK) TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MILES AN HOUR AND THE CAR ACCELERATED. I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE LIKE NORMAL AND REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. EACH INCIDENT WAS SIMILAR IN THE SENSE THAT IT "FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS POSSESSED". IT REMINDED ME OF A CAR WASH WHEN THE CAR FIRST MOVES ON ITS OWN. IT FELT DIFFERENT FROM SIMPLY "TRAVELING FASTER". I ALSO MENTIONED TO THE MECHANIC THAT MY CAR SOMETIMES "LUNGES" AT A RED LIGHT. THIS OCCASIONALLY OCCURS WHEN I FIRST START THE CAR. A FEW TIMES I NEEDED TO PUSH HARD ON THE BRAKE SO IT DIDN'T ADVANCE FORWARD AND HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR. AS A RESULT, I TRY TO "WARM UP" MY CAR A SHORT WHILE BEFORE DRIVING. I DON'T KNOW IF THE "LUNGING" RELATES TO THE OTHER INCIDENTS. I AM ATTACHING THE PAPERWORK FROM THE DEALERSHIP. ALL (3) REPORTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE SINGLE PDF. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED MORE DETAIL OR HAVE QUESTIONS.

NHTSA complaint #11399638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 71,747 miles Northampton, MA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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 complaint #11388673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Willow Park, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CAR THROWS A P2138 CODE AND CAR GOES IN LIMP MODE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NON-RESPONSIVE. HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESET ECU TO GET BACK ON ROAD. HAVE REPLACED ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THROTTLE BODY, RELAY, AND ECM AT SUBARU DEALERSHIP. HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES. CAR HAS BEEN COMPLETELY STOCK AND COBB ACCESSPORT TUNED TO STAGE 1. HAPPENS TUNED AND STOCK. HAPPENS SOMETIMES IMMEDIATELY UPON STARTUP AND OTHER TIMES WHILE MAINTAINING 70MPH LM THE HIGHWAY. HAPPENED WHEN I WAS OUT OF GEAR COASTING TO A STOP SIGN. RANDOM OCCURRENCE. SUBARU HAS NO SOLUTION.

NHTSA complaint #11289191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 78,095 miles Phoenix, AZ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON 07/08/2019 I TOOK MY SUBARU IMPREZA TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO HAVE RECALLS WUE90 AND WTY84 COMPETED. IT NOW SEEMS THAT WHATEVER WORK WAS DONE TO SATISFY THE RECALLS HAS BEEN CAUSING THE CAR TO MALFUNCTION. THE RECALL SERVICE WAS COMPLETED ON 07/09, AND I PICKED IT UP THAT DAY. BEGINNING ON 07/10, HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE AND VEHICLE DYNAMICS CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. SO FAR, THESE WARNING LIGHTS HAVE DISPLAYED FOR A PORTION, OR FOR THE ENTIRETY, OF 22 OF THE PAST 32 DAYS. BOTH LIGHTS (CHECK ENGINE AND VDC) HAVE DISPLAYED TOGETHER EVERY TIME, AND ARE USUALLY ON OR OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT FUNCTION AND I HAVE NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT (-21.6%) DECREASE FROM MY AVERAGE GAS MILEAGE. ON FOUR OCCASIONS THAT I AM ABLE TO RECALL, THE WARNING LIGHTS ALSO CAME ON UNDER BRAKING (I.E. THEY WERE OFF WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND THEN TURNED ON AT SOME POINT DURING MY TRIP WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES). WHETHER THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON OR OFF, I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHAT ISN'T WORKING (OTHER THAN THE CRUISE CONTROL AS I MENTIONED). I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO SUBARU TWICE TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE: FIRST ON 07/10 AND THEN ON 08/07. THEY SCANNED THE CODES, DID SOME WORK ON IT, AND GAVE THE CAR BACK TO ME, CLAIMING THAT IT WAS FIXED. THE ONE THING THEY ARE FAILING TO CONSIDER IS THAT THE PROBLEM MAY ACTUALLY BE RELATED TO THE SERVICE PERFORMED TO COMPLETE THE RECALLS BECAUSE I'VE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE VDC SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR ALMOST SIX YEARS AGO, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON DURING THAT PERIOD EITHER. AT THIS POINT, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. ATTACHMENT: PHOTO OF WARNING LIGHTS AFTER LEAVING THE CAMELBACK SUBARU (PHOENIX, AZ) SERVICE SHOP ON 08/07/2019.

NHTSA complaint #11242937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 73,723 miles Reynoldsburg, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS DRIVING AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT STARTED BLINKING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/ZUJIGGDQQ5E

NHTSA complaint #11203294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,000 miles Denver, CO Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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 complaint #11182394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10 miles Bridgeport, CT

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING IN THE 95 NORTH SUDDENLY THE CAR LOCK OUT! MY SON BROUGHT THE CAR TO GARAVEL SUBARU GARAGE IN NORWALK CT. WHERE DIEGO WHO IS THE SERVICE MANAGER AT GARAVEL SUBARU TOOK CARE OF IT, THAT WAS ON NOVEMBER 18/2017 UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 11/28 OR 29 2017! WHEN HE PICK UP THE CAR AT GRAVEL SUBARU, THE CAR THE THE SAME THING WITH THE CLUTCH AGAIN! MY SOME BROUGHT AGAIN THE CAR TO THE GARAGE ON DECEMBER 23/2017- UNTIL JANUARY 4/2018,WHO WAS CHECK AGAIN AND THE COME UP THAT THE CAR DOESN'T HAVE ANY THING WRONG. MY SON CAME BACK WITH THE CAR, WITH THE MIND SET THE EVERYTHING WAS OK. AN HE WAS RISK HE LIFE AND OTHER LIFE WITH THE DEFECTIVE CAR.! STILL. AND THE CLUTCH DID AGAIN, LOCK OUT!!! HE BROUGHT THE CAR AGAIN ON JANUARY 28 ON OR ABOUT 2018 AND CURRENTLY THERE! PLEASE INVESTIGATE!

NHTSA complaint #11073499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 27,000 miles Newburyport, MA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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 complaint #11056599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,000 miles Wayne, NJ Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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 complaint #10783058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 7,000 miles Croton-On-Hudson, NY Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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 complaint #10573058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 800 miles Bronxville, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WE WERE PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE, TURNING THE WHEEL AND THE CAR UNEXPECTED LEAPED FORWARD. THIS HAS OCCURRED NOW 5 TIMES--ALL TIMES MOVING SLOWLY FORWARD, TURNING THE WHEEL AS WE TRIED TO PARK. THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH BOTH MY PARTNER DRIVING, AND WITH MYSELF DRIVING. SO FAR WE HAVE MANAGED TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES IN TIME--AND THEY STOPPED THE CAR. BUT WE FEAR CRASHING OR ACCIDENTALLY HURTING SOMEONE.

NHTSA complaint #10546915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2013 Subaru Impreza problems

← Full 2013 Subaru Impreza report