FaultScore

2018 Subaru Impreza engine problems

11 of the 181 complaints about the 2018 Subaru Impreza are about the engine — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 26,000 miles.

F

11

Complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 11 100.0%

Engine & Cooling across every Subaru Impreza year

2002 23 7.8%
2006 12 4.1%
2007 13 4.4%
2008 28 9.5%
2009 20 6.8%
2010 10 3.4%
2012 56 19.0%
2013 76 25.9%
2014 20 6.8%
2015 11 3.7%
2017 14 4.8%
2018 11 3.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 106,000 miles Winchester, CA

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated and the high-temperature warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and determined that an engine reseal had failed and needed to be redone. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.

NHTSA complaint #11719120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lafayette, CO

ENGINE

Engine oil leak. An engine oil leak could potentially cause a fire hazard by igniting when leaking into hot components. It could cause engine damage due to inadequate lubrication leading to overheating and severe engine damage. The leak can contaminate the environment including soil and water, and it can create slippery surfaces which would be a risk to people walking in the area with leaked oil. I took my vehicle to a Subaru dealership for service, and they indicated that it was leaking oil everywhere. I looked it up and found numerous reports in online forums of others having the exact same issue. I was quoted over $5000 to repair and forums also indicate that others have been quoted multiple thousands of dollars to repair as well. I have noticed that the vehicle would always give me a low oil light approximately 3000 miles after an oil change, so I would top it off. It has been doing this since I originally purchased the vehicle with approximately 16000 miles. I took it to a Subaru dealership back then and was told by the service providers that it's normal for engines under 60,000 miles to consume more oil and dismissed it. Now it no longer falls under warranty and am expected to pony up $5000 to fix it.

NHTSA complaint #11663693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

ENGINE

Knocking sound in engine confirmed by dealership service center to be a spark knock in the engine. No fix available and the service center stated "is a common problem in Impreza."

NHTSA complaint #11563245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bakersfield, CA

ENGINE

Engine began failing at 68k miles. The vehicle spews blue smoke from the tailpipe and under the hood and loses power when accelerating intermittently. It also consumes large amounts of oil. I've had the car worked on by an independent mechanic and will have to have the engine rebuilt at a cost of $6500 or more. Local dealership claims car is out of warranty an nothing can be done. The car didn't have a light on despite these symptoms. At 83k miles, the car became completely unsafe to operate.

NHTSA complaint #11558681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elmhurst, IL Crash

ENGINE

it is a case of sudden acceleration when parking the car in battery , goin forward very slowly, the subaru impreza accelerate , jump the curve and crash agaings a tree 5 ft away from the curve, the results extensive damage in the left front , airbags did not deploy

NHTSA complaint #11536081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Portland, OR Fire 1 killed

ENGINE

Driver / owner of vehicle was found deceased from a fire that originated in the engine compartment of the vehicle. This is being reported by Portland Fire and Rescue Fire Investigator [XXX]. NO apparent body damage to the metal parts of the vehicle. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #11503708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hermiston, OR

ENGINE

After the coil pack recall was done, our car began shuddering, hesitating and stalling. Went to the dealership 4-5 times. ECM and Prindle valve were replaced but still doing it. then engine exploded going up a hill, stranding us for 2.5 hours on the freeway. Engine replaced under warranty (which expired while in shop for two months). No warranty on new motor. Same issues still going on and shop now charges us to "look at it." It stalled last week in heavy traffic, so it definitely is dangerous. We don't want to sell the car and pass the problem on to someone else.

NHTSA complaint #11502411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 32,000 miles LOS Angeles, CA

ENGINE

WHEN STARTING THE SUBARU RELEASES DARK GREY SMOKE IN HIGH QUANTITIES, AND HAS BEEN LOOSING POWER WHEN SPEEDING UP.

NHTSA complaint #11376898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 26,000 miles Wildomar, CA

ENGINE

INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER AT 2000 TO 3000 RPM IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. I'VE TAKEN IT TO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER 8 TIMES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND THEY HAVE DENIED ANYTHING I'VE REPORTED. THEY'VE HAD TECHNICIANS ON RIDES WITH ME BUT I CAN'T RECREATE SOMETHING THAT IS SO INTERMITTENT. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE IN HOT WEATHER BUT I CAN SAFELY SAY AC ISN'T THE CAUSE. ALTHOUGH MY CAR ISN'T A CROSSTREK, THE MOTOR IN ONE IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS MINE. I SUSPECTED IT WAS DUE TO A RECALL REPAIR THAT HADN'T BEEN PERFORMED BUT IVE HAD BOTH OF MY RECALLS DONE BUT MY DEALER NEVER REPORTED IT TO SUBARU OF AMERICA. THE NAME OF MY MAIN DEALERSHIP IS HINE SUBARU OF TEMECULA. HTTPS://WWW.SUBARUXVFORUM.COM/THREADS/HESITATION-BOG-ON-ACCELERATION-6MT.175290/PAGE-2 THIS FORUM AND COUNTLESS OTHERS HAVE DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE AND CONTINUE TO CLAIM IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY. WHEN THE ISSUE IS PRESENT, THE CAR HAS ABSOLUTELY NO THROTTLE INPUT. THE ONLY WAY TO ACCELERATE OUT OF DANGER WHEN MERGING IS TO DOWNSHIFT TO KEEP THE RPMS ABOVE 3000 TO AVOID THE LOSS OF POWER. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I'VE HAD TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY WHEN TRYING TO MERGE BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AFTER IT HAPPENED AND THEY TURNED ME AWAY BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE AN APPOINTMENT. I IMPLORE ANYONE READING THIS TO DELVE INTO THE FORUMS DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE DOZENS OF OTHERS WHO REPORT THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. SOME WERE LUCKY AND TRADED THEIR VEHICLE IN. I WAS REFERRED BY A USER TO FILE A COMPLAINT IN FACT. PLEASE, THIS IS A REAL HAZARD AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR.

NHTSA complaint #11299666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 250 miles SAN Jose, CA

ENGINE

THE ENGINE DIED WHILE COMING TO A RAPID STOP FROM ABOUT 35-40 MPH. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TURNED YELLOW. AFTER PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION PARK THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, REMOVING AND REPLACING THE KEY, AND ABOUT 2 TO 3 MINUTES THE ENGINE DID START. I WAS UNABLE, AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS, TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS PROBLEM. THEY DID, HOWEVER, PERFORM A SOFTWARE UPDATE IN THE HOPE THAT IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11130767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 567 miles Nashville, TN

ENGINE

THE CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. AT A STOP SIGN, RED LIGHT AND AT A STOP SIGN. THE INCIDENT AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO START ROLLING BACKWARDS AND ALMOST HIT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. SUBARU CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM BUT ACKNOWLEDGES THE INCIDENTS OF STALLING. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS PURCHASED IN THE LATER HALF OF APRIL 2018.

NHTSA complaint #11101252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2018 Subaru Impreza problems

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