1997 SUBARU IMPREZA Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH DOWN AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED ON A PATCH OF ICE AND CRASHED INTO A CREEK. UPON IMPACT, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND EXPLODED WITH DEBRIS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJ...
Mileage: 150,000
FAILURE OF REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. *NM
FAILURE OF REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. *NM
REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED 4 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY AND ADDITIONAL 4 TIMES OUT OF WARRANTY. BEARING WERE REPLACED DURING EACH REPAIR, SOMETIMES AXELS AND HOUSINGS AS WELL. SUBARU REFUSED TO CONTINUE REPAIRS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY PERIOD. 8 FAILUES TOTAL AT REGULAR INTERVALS . *AK
REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED 4 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY AND ADDITIONAL 4 TIMES OUT OF WARRANTY. BEARING WERE REPLACED DURING EACH REPAIR, SOMETIMES AXELS AND HOUSINGS AS WELL. SUBARU REFUSED TO CONTINUE REPAIRS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY PERIOD. 8 FAILUES TOTAL AT REGULAR INTERVALS . *AK
BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED WHEN IGNITION OF CAR WAS STARTED. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS NOT RUNNING PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS STATIONARY. THERE WAS NO IMPACT.*AK
Mileage: 80,000
THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK CORRECTLY. THE RECLINING LEVER FOR THE BACK OF THE SEAT FAILED, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THEIR WAS NOTHING THEY COULD'VE DONE. *JB
THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK CORRECTLY. THE RECLINING LEVER FOR THE BACK OF THE SEAT FAILED, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THEIR WAS NOTHING THEY COULD'VE DONE. *JB
WHEEL HUB KEEPS COMING OFF AFTER REPLACEMENT OF TIRE. ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF CAR DUE TO A WHEEL HUB COMING OFF AND HITTING WINDSHIELD. WINDSHIELD DID NOT BREAK.
Mileage: 99,550
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A "FAULTY AXLE" CONSUMER WILL SEND MORE INFORMATION WHY THIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DIAGNOSIS PROVIDED TECHNICIAN OF THE INSURANCE COMPANY. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT AND WITHOUT WARNING THE DRIVER SEAT WILL FULLY RECLINE BACK CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH
WIRING BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE HUTCH PASSES THROUGH RUBBER BOOT. REPEATED OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE HUTCH BREAKS THE WIRING. REAR TOP BRAKE LIGHT, REAR WIPER POWER LOCKS ARE AFFECTED. ALSO IN ANOTHER BOOT THE TUBE FOR A REAR WASHER IS SIMILARLY SEVERED, WASHER FLUID ENTERS THE CAR.*AK
WIRING BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE HUTCH PASSES THROUGH RUBBER BOOT. REPEATED OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE HUTCH BREAKS THE WIRING. REAR TOP BRAKE LIGHT, REAR WIPER POWER LOCKS ARE AFFECTED. ALSO IN ANOTHER BOOT THE TUBE FOR A REAR WASHER IS SIMILARLY SEVERED, WASHER FLUID ENTERS THE CAR.*AK
WIRING BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE HUTCH PASSES THROUGH RUBBER BOOT. REPEATED OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE HUTCH BREAKS THE WIRING. REAR TOP BRAKE LIGHT, REAR WIPER POWER LOCKS ARE AFFECTED. ALSO IN ANOTHER BOOT THE TUBE FOR A REAR WASHER IS SIMILARLY SEVERED, WASHER FLUID ENTERS THE CAR.*AK
VEHICLES IDLE WILL NOT GO DOWN, IT REVS FROM 1500 TO 2000 RPMS. WHEN IT SHOULD BE AT 800. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER AND THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED WHEN GOING DOWN HILLS, THE SPEED CONTINUES TO INCREASE, IN A NORMAL SITUATION SPEEDING DOWN HILL 50 MPH USING ENGINE AS B...
6 LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENTS IN 3 YEARS, ALONG WITH SPINDLE AND HUB.1ST WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AT 41,000 MILES. LAST WHEEL BEARING LASTED LESS THAN 5 MONTHS.
LEFT REAR WHEEL WENT BAD AT 43000 MILES, AND HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES, LAST REPLACMENT WAS NEEDED AFTER ONLY 3000 MILES. BEFORE REPLACEMENT A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM REAR OF VEHICLE.*AK
REAR AXLE FAILED. *AK
I'VE HAD THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED 3 TIMES IT HAS BEEN A TOTAL OF 6 OF BOTH SIDES. *AK
CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM WHEELS. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE WHEEL BEARINGS. WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED IN OCTOBER 1999/ OCTOBER 2000, AND AT THIS TIME. *AK
WHEEL WELLS ARE BUILDING UP EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF SNOW AND ICE CAUSING VEHICLE TIRES TO HAVE DIFFICULTY ROTATING AND TURNING DUE TO ICE BLOCKING TIRES IN WHEEL WELLS, CAUSING CAR TO UNEXPECTEDLY SLIDE OR SKID ON ICEY ROADS. ALSO CAUSING EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AND MISALIGNMENT OF FRONT SUSPENSION. *AK
WHEEL WELLS ARE BUILDING UP EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF SNOW AND ICE CAUSING VEHICLE TIRES TO HAVE DIFFICULTY ROTATING AND TURNING DUE TO ICE BLOCKING TIRES IN WHEEL WELLS, CAUSING CAR TO UNEXPECTEDLY SLIDE OR SKID ON ICEY ROADS. ALSO CAUSING EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AND MISALIGNMENT OF FRONT SUSPENSION. *AK
ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AT HIGHWAY AND CITY SPEEDS UNEXPECTEDLY. OFTEN DIFFICULT TO RESTART. CAR HAS BEEN TOWED ON THREE OCCASSIONS TO SUBARU DEALERS. ...
WHEEL HUBS DO NOT STAY ON WHILE DRIVING. THEY WILL JUST POP RIGHT OFF, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK REAR WHEEL COVER CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THE DEALER STATES THAT THE WHEEL COVER WAS NOT OUT ON CORRECTLY. *YH
CONSUMER TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. ATTENDANT WENT TO STEAM THE MOTOR AND TO START MOTOR SO HE COULD WAX AND BUFF VEHICLE. BUT, BOTH AIRBAGS WENT OFF. CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW WHY THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF. *AK
SEAT BELT FAILED TO TIGHTEN, SEAT FELL BACK INTO THE BACKSEAT AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. YH
SEAT BELT FAILED TO TIGHTEN, SEAT FELL BACK INTO THE BACKSEAT AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. YH
SEAT BELT FAILED TO TIGHTEN, SEAT FELL BACK INTO THE BACKSEAT AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. YH
HUBS KEEP COMING OFF VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED, AND IS IN PROCESS OF REPLACING HUBS. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
STEERING WHEEL CRACKED, ABOUT A 6 INCH GAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STEERING WHEEL, WHERE THE AIRBAG IS SUPPOSE TO DEPLOY. CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED IT TO CRACK.*AK
HAD STARTED VEHICLE AND IT LURCHED FORWARD. HIT GARAGE WALL & WENT THROUGH IT. HAD FOOT ON BRAKES & VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. TOOK TO MECHANIC TO CHECK. WAS INFORMED HARD TO LOCATE PROBLEM DUE TO WIRING & COMPUTER PROBLEMS.
THE ORIGINAL HUBCAPS ARE A SAFETY VIOLATION. SUBARU MADE A VERY BAD ENGINEERING DESIGN. THEY FASTENED A PLASTIC RING WITH HOLES TO EACH RIM THAT THE HUBCAPS ARE SUPPOSED TO FIT IN WITH A TWIST. THE PROBLEM IS THE AMOUNT OF FORCE OR POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH THAT'S REQUIRED TO REMOVE THE HUBCAP SO ON...
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DETAILED THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE PERSON DETAILING THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. WHEN THE BAGS DEPLOYED THE WINDSHIELD AND DASHBOARD WERE DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUALLY GOING OUT. CONSUMER REPLACING FUSES TO PREVENT IT FROM BECOMING A NORMAL CONDITION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS; WHEN STOPPING IN A PANIC SITUATION, STOPPING DISTANCE WAS GREATER THAN EXPECTED. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN, AND THE SYSTEM KICKED IN. BUT IT SEEMED LIKE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING A VERY HUGE VEHICLE, WITH THE WEIGHT PUSHING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED T...
DESIGN OF MULTIFUNCTION LEVER CAUSES HEADLIGHTS TO ACCIDENTALLY BE TURNED OFF WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATE TURN SIGNAL.
CONTACTED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER BOTH SENT CONSUMER A TOOL TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WILL BE A REACCURRING PROBLEM. WHEN EVER USINGWINDSHIELD WIPERS AND TURNING MOTOR TO HIGH MODE, THE WIPERS WILL THEN STOP AT RANDOM UNTILL CONSUMER TIGHTENS THE WIPERSWITH THE TOO...
DUAL AIRBAGS DIPLOYED DURING FRONTAL CRASH, DRIVER RECEIVED BURNS ON ARMS FROM A BROWN LIQUID, VEHICE BROADSIDED ANOTHER MOVING VEHICLE, TOTALED.