161 of the
3,451 complaints filed about the Subaru Impreza
are about the suspension —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
I contacted Subaru in Mentor Oh at adventure subaru under TSB 19V065000 and was told to take it in to get looked at, my issue when I purchased the car at 67k miles i found that the car had a loud clunky sound while steering and going over bumps. After seeing the dealer and the stated the issue was from the steer rack and was exactly what was described exactly in the TSB but the only thing was they did not see a visible crack, the repair was denied. I then took the car to another dealer near Beavercreek oh after calling Subaru of America Case # [XXX]. Subaru of America was very certain that the repair was going to get performed. After going to the dealer it was yet again denied again, now it is outside the TSB warranty window. The car has had the entire suspension repaired and the noise is so bad and the steering doesn’t feel right. The car literally is unsafe to drive, i owe money to my loan company for 540 a month, the car just sits in the garage. I am sick of getting put through this nightmare. I want the part replaced or to get out of the loan completely and return the car to Subaru or the bank. Please help i have ran out of ideas. I do lots of driving and dying in a car accident scares me to death. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11730470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Part 1 Today is January, 28, 2026 How it all started. My appointment was Tuesday, June 10th, 2025 at 10:15 am. During my last oil change, I was informed by Chris that an alignment would be needed to correct the rear passenger wheel showing -2.4 camber. I asked Chris could I go ahead and schedule the service repair now. Chris replied, you will have to schedule the appointment after you leave. Isn’t it strange that I’m already at the dealership and being told a repair is needed, but I can’t schedule the appointment while I’m there, I have to leave to schedule an appointment. So I brought the vehicle back in for the service at a later date, and the wheel in question was not even corrected. When I mentioned this to the lady handling the paperwork, she went and asked someone about it. She came back and pointed to a front wheel that was never in question or out of tolerance and said see they did fix something. My other concern is the fact that when I got a text at 11:23 am like my vehicle was finished, and I saw it in the finished area, I sat a little longer before I went to see if it was ready. When I asked the young lady that checked me in about my car being ready, she said, I was getting your paperwork ready, you just kinda came over here. Well I got a text saying thank you, and my car was parked in the finished area. Then she asks me to sign paperwork that had my name on it, but had a completely different service done, and it was for a Subaru Accent, my car is an Impreza. When I asked about that, she said don’t worry I’m going to reprint everything out, but she was still trying to get me to sign incorrect paperwork. She never reprinted the paperwork, and she just came back and said I just need a signature to release your vehicle back to you. So you want me to sign paperwork that releases a vehicle back to me that doesn’t even have my vehicle on it. The vehicle is out of camber tolerance, which requires an alignment and maybe parts.
NHTSA complaint #11713916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUBARU STRUT ISSUE PART 2 Today is January, 28, 2026 To Whom this may concern, and all parties involved at Peltier Subaru, location 3200 S Southwest Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701 I regret to inform you that you failed to address my many concerns regarding my vehicle. This caused me to be out of pocket on multiple occasions, with regards to my safety, and my family’s safety when in the vehicle with me. I even drove up there regarding a premature worn tire, to show you the tire and a receipt. I asked about being reimbursed for the tire, and was told I would be reimbursed as soon as finance or human resources was in you guys would take care of it. You haven’t taken care of it, and for that, you now owe more than just one tire. Also, because you never fixed the initial problem, and we agreed that if you fixed the problem I would rescind my negative review. So now my initial review will stand for good, along with all this new information. On Saturday November 22nd, 2025 I had a flat on the way home, but was not far from my house. I was able to use my portable air compressor to put air in the tire, but had to repeat this process about 5 times before making it home because the air was escaping so fast. It also rained that weekend so I didn’t even take the tire until that Tuesday the 25th of November 2025. After taking the tire off and inspecting everything, the evidence was clear that this was caused by the car being out of tolerance and being overlooked by the service department on multiple occasions, even after bringing it to their attention with their own documentation of it. The tire shop in Tatum did not have the tire size I needed, so I drove to henderson and got one for $100 from M AND R ECONOMY TIRES LLC, located at 1000 US HIGHWAY 79 N, HENDERSON, TX 75652, PHONE: [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11713919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Part 3 SUBARU STRUT ISSUE I called the service department at Peltier Subaru and told them what happened and that I should be reimbursed for the tire. I was told that I needed to bring the tire in so that it could be inspected, along with the car to make there wasn’t something else going on. I talked with the service manager and he talked with his manager, who okayed a reimbursement verbally to me which was witnessed by the service manager. They said a check would be mailed from the finance department, which never happened. Supposedly they inspected the vehicle while I was in the lobby, and they found nothing, nothing at all. Basically this was another waste of time and money on my part. I live an hour away, they don’t give you a gas card, or even wash your car, just you have a good day sir, that they really don’t mean. Next I’m due for an oil change, which I scheduled over the phone and I mentioned noise coming from the same area that was fixed, or they never found anything wrong with. I took everything out of my car to pinpoint the noise and make sure it wasn’t a tool or something else moving around in the car. On Friday, December 12th, 2025 I go in for the oil change and for diagnosis of the noise coming from the same area that they strut was already replaced. Turns out it’s the strut again, and they have to order the part, and I’m told my car is fine to drive home till the part comes in and that I don’t need a loner. Now I have to come back on Thursday, December 18th, 2025 to get the strut replaced again.
NHTSA complaint #11713923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PART 4 SUBARU STRUT ISSUE How come no one can tell me what’s actually wrong. Was this a faulty part or was it not installed correctly, who knows, no one can tell me. The strut was loose and I could hear it rattling or jolting on many occasions before I knew that’s what it was. Was it not torqued to specs, installed in hurry, or defective part. They had my car for atleast a week the first time, so why not take the time to fix it right. The fact remains though, the problem was never initially fixed. You again let me drive an unsafe vehicle which caused premature wear on the tire, and god knows what else. On multiple occasions of inspections you said you found nothing or the vehicle was fine, when it wasn’t. This has created anxiety for me when driving my car, and visiting your facility. I don’t feel comfortable or trust this dealership, service department, or any staff there. I can feel the awkwardness with every visit and the bias that has now been created, but I did not create it, all I did was document and report my experience. Let my complaint serve as record and as a reference for any future complaints, investigations, or similar concerns that others may report.
NHTSA complaint #11713925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On 12/12/2025, Subaru Orange Coast (Santa Ana, CA) service advisor stated via text: "Breaks feel fine, no issues there," "Tires no issues there," "Struts no leaks or issues," and "Car is ready for pick up." On 12/16/2025, Service Director confirmed: brake rotor defects, weak struts causing tire wear, and replaced both rear struts, tires, and "the other 2" components under warranty/customer satisfaction. CRITICAL SAFETY CONCERN: During a prior service visit, dealership performed tire rotation moving a compromised tire from rear axle to FRONT STEERING AXLE — where failure would cause loss of steering control. On 12/12/2025, technicians REFUSED to rotate tires because "wire was showing" — confirming visual identification of exposed steel cord as safety hazard. Dealership then attempted to SELL me replacement tires (profiting from condition their service created). Despite actual knowledge of exposed steel cord on steering-axle tire, service advisor texted "no issues" and attempted to release vehicle for highway operation. SEQUENCE OF DEALER CONDUCT: Rotated compromised tire to front steering axle (prior visit) Identified exposed steel cord on 12/12/2025 Refused rotation due to safety hazard Attempted to sell replacement tires Represented "no issues" via text Attempted release for public road operation DOCUMENTATION: Demand letter delivered to Subaru of America (tracking: [XXX] , received 12/16/2025). Text messages from service advisor preserved. Service Director's 12/16 acknowledgment of defects preserved. VEHICLE LOCATION: Subaru Orange Coast, Santa Ana, CA (not operated due to safety concerns) CONSUMER: [XXX] | [XXX] | [XXX] is AI and can make mistakes. Please double-check responses. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11705353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hello, I just purchase this vehicle from a dealership, 615 auto sales. After purchasing the vehicle I decided to go and get the recall done that was never done to the vehicle at the repair shop they did the recall but then ask me where did I purchase this vehicle from then I told them. The repair shop told me the grim news that the car was very rusted and should have not been sold like it was. There was nothing on the CARFAX about anything else and the shop told me that the car was a safety hazard. When I purchase the vehicle AS IS all I have seen was a TPM light on and a recall and getting some tires they were also bad but did not have any knowledge of how bad the frame was even there were rust in the engine bay area like it been sitting in water or something but nothing was reported on the CARFAX.
NHTSA complaint #11703624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The front suspension has been broken since I purchased the vehicle with 50,000 miles on it. This has always been a safety concern for this vehicle yet I see no recalls for it. This puts my safety at risk as there is a metal clunking sound when turning the wheel and the tire rod can break from the faulty parts used for the vehicle. The vehicle’s front suspension was checked by a car repair company that was changing my brake pads at the time and saw that there was a dire issue with the vehicle that could put my life at risk. I have not had any car accidents or any other issues that could have caused this, meaning it is faulty manufacturing on Subaru’s part. There are no warning lights for the suspension, there is no way to know if you have a suspension issue unless you get the vehicle checked, or in my case can hear metal clunking sounds as the wheel is moved left or right while turning. This issue has been seen by many other owners of the same vehicle make, model and year but there has been no effort to fix this safety issue.
NHTSA complaint #11684641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH and hard braking, the vehicle started shuddering violently and the steering wheel was not operating as needed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence at 20 MPH. The contact then inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the front driver's side control arm had fractured. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 235,000.
NHTSA complaint #11652517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The vehicle failed to stop immediately. The brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the control arms and brake lines were severely corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V311000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.
NHTSA complaint #11648309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The dealership is refusing to fix my car free of charge on a recall they confirmed would be able to do and now they are refusing to do it due to price and have made me wait two months for this to be the answer while also not giving me any sort of pay for the inconvenience of waiting for so long, while also having already ordering the parts and they have decided to decline my recall repair
NHTSA complaint #11638183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
To whom this may concern, My name is [XXX] . I purchased my 2014 Subaru on December 13th, 2013. My car has 57,000 miles on it. It has loss of acceleration when entering a freeway. I push on the gas pedal harder and harder to try to get my car to obtain 60 mph. The car does not respond until minutes go by. The CVT transmission was replaced in June 2022. The car has not performed any better after the transmission replacement. I am the original owner of my car. Initially, my car performed very well, quick response to acceleration for the first 35-40 thousand miles. Then, it began to have lack of acceleration. The transmission was replaced by Subaru of America in June 2022 at around 48,000 miles. I brought my car to Elk Grove Subaru approximately 4 times since the transmission was replaced, each time I paid for their hourly diagnostic fee; between $165.00 to $195.00. Each time the service advisor said they found nothing wrong with my car. I took my car to two independent mechanics (One of them is a transmission repair shop) they each stated in writing that my transmission is slipping and has loss of power. I feel unsafe driving my car on the street as if shakes, shudders and jerks. I do not want to be a statistic in an accident on the freeway due to the lack of power trying to obtain speed while entering freeway and trying to keep my vehicle speed at a speed of barely 60 mph. My vehicle is still within the extended CVT warranty. I feel that the Subaru dealership is purposely avoiding acknowledgement of the failing transmission. Subaru is a big corporation. Many Subaru owners believe there needs to be an actual recall on their Subaru CVT transmissions. I do not feel safe driving my car. With 57,000 miles on a vehicle that's a potential safety hazard, Subaru needs to take more responsibility for their vehicles as people's lives are much more precious than their profit margins. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11549940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Car passed inspection in May of 2022 and just last month (September) the passenger side control arm completely rotted out. I had to make emergency repairs but then discovered there is a recall.
NHTSA complaint #11489088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 15V323000 (Air Bags) and 11V464000 (Suspension) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The dealer informed the contact that NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension) could not be completed due to excessive corrosion. The approximate failure mileage was 191,000. Parts distributions disconnect.
NHTSA complaint #11476389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2002 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while reversing, the vehicle felt as if there was a flat tire on the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the front driver's side tire was about to detach. Additionally, the driver’s side front lower control arm was fractured. Prior to the failure, the contact had driven over a railroad track and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle had previously been serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
NHTSA complaint #11443990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while her son was driving and approaching a stop sign, he heard an abnormal noise which caused him to lose control of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to park on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to her residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and was informed the recall was completed by the previous owner on 12/10/2011. The failure mileage was approximately 199,000.
NHTSA complaint #11439156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The passenger side lower control arm failed due to corrosion. There was a previous recall to address this issue with an anti corrosion coating, but it did not prevent the control arm from corroding and failing. I had this addressed at the dealer, and they mentioned the issue was addressed. Recall NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000
NHTSA complaint #11424929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The passenger side lower control arm was rusting out without my knowledge and while driving, a part of it broke in half which caused my front passenger side while to turn the wrong way and ripped apart the CV Axle causing me to swerve to the left and promptly stopping the vehicle causing cars behind me to swerve out of the way. Thankfully, I was in the far left lane which avoided me smashing into another car. After research, I found a recall that included my car's make, model, year, and VIN range but was not applied to my car due to it not being registered in a "salt state". Had this car been treated in the first place like other same model cars were, it would not have had this issue. The car was purchased and has been in the Northern Virginia area for its whole life. Virginia is not a salt state, however, this car has been in and out of WV, MD, PA & DC which are all salt states. This car was originally purchased in Alexandria, VA which borders Washington DC. The NHTSA Campaign Number is: 11V464000 (SUBARU’S SAFETY RECALL NUMBER WVX-34). I reached out to Subaru Dealerships in my area which helped me open a case with Subaru of America. My case representative said that Subaru of America is not authorized to add vehicles to a recall and that only the NHTSA can do that. I emailed the NHTSA who then recommended that I submit a formal complaint with the NHTSA.
NHTSA complaint #11420171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FOR A NEW CAR THAT IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD,5000 MILE,THE CHASSIS PARTS FALL OFF DURING DRIVING,WHICH IS TOO DANGEROUS IN MOTION - ON A CITY STREET -TURNING
NHTSA complaint #11384263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.