1998 Subaru Impreza

30 complaints on file, page 1 of 2.

1. Filed Sep 6, 2017Failure Sep 1, 2016Fort Collins, COAir bags

   AIR BAG RECALL AND IMPENDING SUIT AGAINST AIR BAG COMPANY

   NHTSA complaint 11021833
2. Filed Sep 14, 2006Failure Sep 12, 200672,000 milesUpper St.clair, PAEngine

   98 SUBARU IMPREZA 2.5RS. I HAD THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST TIME . AROUND A YEAR AFTER THAT,THE CAR OVER HEATED AGAIN. I HAD IT TOWED TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT I WORKED AT AND HAD THEM TEST THE CAR TO SEE THE PROBLEM. IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AGAIN. THEY DETERMINED THIS BY TESTING FOR ANY EMISSIONS IN THE COOLANT. THERE WAS ALSO A LARGE AMOUNT OF SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR(OIL)AS WELL. SUBARU WOULD NOT WARRANTY THERE ORIGINAL WORK SO THE CAR SAT FOR A BIT BEFORE I COULD AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED. WHEN I SAVED UP SOME MONEY FOR THE REPAIR, I BROUGHT IT TO THE SUBARU DEALER TO HAVE THEM DO THE WORK ON IT. I WAS EXTREMELY UPSET WITH THE WORK THEY DID BUT GOT THE CAR BACK WITH A FUNCTIONAL ENGINE. NOT MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPEN(OVERHEAT). AGAIN, I PULLED OVER RIGHT AWAY TO LIMIT ANY FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. AT THAT POINT, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME AND IT SAT FOR ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE THE BAD CHOICE TO REPAIR IT AGAIN. THIS TIME I SENT IT TO BOFFO AUTO REPAIR. THEY RECOMMENDED A NEW MOTOR BECAUSE THE LAST TIME THE "HEADS" HAD BEEN DONE, THEY MILLED THE HEADS SMOOTH AND NEW "HEADS" WERE NOT TO FAR OF THE PRICE OF A USED ENGINE. BOFFO FINALLY FOUND A USED ENGINE FOR MY CAR THAT APPARENTLY IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND. THE ENGINE HAD 32K ON IT AND WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN CHECKED OVER AS A SAFE,RELIABLE MOTOR. AFTER SPENDING OVER $4000 THIS TIME AROUND, I HAD A WORKING CAR AGAIN. THE CAR CAME BACK TO ME NOT EVEN 3 MONTHS AGO. THE ENGINE OVER HEATED "AGAIN" THE OTHER DAY AND AGAIN I HAVE A HEAD GASKET LEAK(OIL INTO THE COOLANT). I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO BE A BIG ONE ON THE 98 VEHICLE. I FOUND OUT THAT THEY ONLY MADE THAT MOTOR FOR THE MODEL YEAR 98 ONLY. WHY IS THIS? I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY A SUBARU EMPLOYEE BECAUSE OF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I NEED YOUR HELP. I HAVE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY THIS MORNING AND WILL HAVE HIM GET IN TOUCH WITH SUBARU. *NM

   NHTSA complaint 10168246
3. Filed Feb 13, 2005Failure Mar 15, 200129,000 milesFT. Collins, COEngine

   HEAD GASKET FAILURE ENGINE OVERHEATED ON 16 HOUR TRIP.. TOOK TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP, THEY PUT IN A NEW "STARTER BOLT" STATED IT WAS A BAD GROUND?? ON RETURN HOME CAR OVER HEATED AGAIN.. WAS REPAIRED BY SUBARU, TECH SAID IT WAS COMMON. 2ND HEAD GASKET FAILURE, TWO MONTHS LATER, OIL IN ANTIFREEZE... DRIVING 55-65 MPH FOR 10 MIN IN 75-80F WEATHER, NOT UNDER HARD ACCELERATION. FEAR THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. CURRENT RECALL ON 99-01 MODELS FOR "COOLANT ADDITIVE". POOR HEAD GASKET DESIGN IS LEADING TO FAILURE... SEEMS TO BE COMMON PROBLEM ON 98'S (2.5RS DOHC EJ25 PHASE 1) *JB

   NHTSA complaint 10110468
4. Filed Aug 10, 2004Failure Jun 4, 2004120,000 milesPoint Ricmond, CAIgnition

   INTERMITTENT FAILURE/SHORT OF POWER TO THE MAIN COMPUTER (ECU) AT APPOX. 120K MILES. CAR WOULD NOT START, NO CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT. AFTER WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK, IT STARTS AND RUNS FINE. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND HE SAYS NOTHING WRONG. TWO WEEKS LATER, SAME THING. HOOK UP OBD II MONITOR AND IT SAYS ECU RECIEVING "NO PWR." TOWED TO SHOP. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS FAILED ECU AND REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER, SAME SYMPTOMS (NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, "NO PWR" ON OBD II MONITOR), BUT AN HOUR LATER CAR STARTED FINE AND OBD II SHOWED NO PROBLEMS. TOOK TO MECHANIC WHO FOUND NOTHING WRONG. HAPPENED AGAIN A WEEK LATER, MECHANIC FINDS NOTHING. TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT, FAILED AGAIN, WOULD NOT START AFTER MANY DAYS AND STILL SAYS "NO PWR." TOWED TO MECHANIC, AND ONCE IT GOT TO SHOP, STARTED FINE -- MOVEMENT DURING TOWING CAUSED POWER TO BE RESTORED TO ECU. THUS, IT'S A SHORT IN THE POWER PATH THAT RUNS THE ECU. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. MECHANIC DISMANTLED FUSEBOXES AND FINDS NO APPARENT SIGNS OF SHORT ANYWHERE. SAYS IT'S A "SUBARU BUG." COST TO DATE: APPOX. $2000, AND NOT YET FIXED.

   NHTSA complaint 10086572
5. Filed Jul 16, 2004Failure Dec 15, 200398,000 milesPittsburgh, PAEngine

   THE ENGINE KEPT OVERHEATING AND AIR WOULD APPEAR IN THE RADIATOR. ANTIFREEZE WOULD BE PUSHED OUT OF RADIATOR AND THE HEATER WOULD BLOW COLD AIR. THE CAR HAD TO BE SHUT OFF REPEATEDLY AND ALLOWED TO COOL DOWN AND THE ANTIFREEZE REPLACED. A CHECK OF THE COOLING SYSTEM DETECTED NO LEAKS. WE WERE TOOK THE CAR TO A NUMBER OF GARAGES UNTIL FINALLY ONE GARAGE TOLD US THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS MOST LIKELY CRACKED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3600. ACCORDING TO THE GARAGE, THEY HAVE REPLACED A NUMBER OF ENGINES FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, SPECIFICALLY ONE WITH THE DOHC.*AK

   NHTSA complaint 10081183
6. Filed Jun 17, 2004Failure Jun 17, 2004Clearwater, MNEngine

   1998 SUBARU IMPREZA 53,000 MILES AND THE AUTO TECH AT SUBARU SAYS I HAVE A PISTON SLAP, $2500.00 TO PULL ENGINE AND CHECK THIS OUT. I HAVE CHANGED OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE 30,000 MILEAGE OVER ALL CHECK UP - WHAT IS UP WITH THIS MOTOR? *JB

   NHTSA complaint 10078362
7. Filed Jan 15, 2004Failure Sep 15, 200367,000 milesNewington, CTUnknown or other, Wheels

   THIS CAR NEEDED REPLACEMENT OF BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS AT SLIGHTLY OVER 67,000 MILES. NO OTHER SUBARU I HAVE OWNED OR HEARD OF NEEDED SUCH REPAIRS. MY PREVIOUS SUBARU HAD OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT WITH NO DEFECTS. THE SHOP PERSONEL AT THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOME OTHER IMPREZAS, AS WELL AS FORESTERS. I WROTE A LETTER TO SUBARU AMERICA, AFTER SIX DAYS I HAVEN'T RECIEVED ANY RESPONSE. I INCLUDED A COPY OF MY REPAIR BILL AS WELL AS MY RENTAL CAR FEES.

   NHTSA complaint 10070799
8. Filed May 18, 2003Failure Jan 4, 2003Waterford, MEEngine

   ENGINE STALLS WHEN TRYING TO TAKE OFF AFTER STOPPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. THERE IS ALSO A RAPPING NOISE IN ENGINE UNTIL ITS BEEN RUNNING AWHILE. *JB

   NHTSA complaint 10018895
9. Filed Feb 28, 2003Failure Feb 26, 2003Skaneateles, NYWheel bearing

   THE WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED PREMATURELY.*JB

   NHTSA complaint 10009580
10. Filed Jan 15, 2003Failure Jan 21, 200051,478 milesKalamazoo, MITransfer case (4-wheel drive)

    TRANSFER CLUTCH ON THE POWERTRAIN OF MY 1998 SUBARU IMPREZA BUCKS AND BINDS IN TURNS, APPARENTLY DUE TO THE TRANSFER CLUTCH HANGING UP AND STAYING APPLIED. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST SINCE THE 50,000 MILE MARK AND CONTINUES TO DATE. DESPITE THIS PROBLEM FALLING UNDER SUBARU'S POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, TWO SEPARATE SUBARU DEALERS HAVE REFUSED TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY, AND INSTEAD HAVE "ADDED LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL ADDITIVE" TO THE DIFFERENTIAL-A FIX I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ANOTHER SUBARU DEALER IS NOT AN AUTHORIZED FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. I AM NOW FACED WITH $900 IN REPAIR BILLS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPORTED FOR 1997 SUBARU IMPREZAS (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER SB053575).

    NHTSA complaint 10002761
11. Filed Oct 16, 2002Failure Nov 28, 2001Sunnyvale, CAMultiple axle

    BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR BEARINGS ON THIS CAR FAILED BEFORE IT REACHED 60,000 MILES. NO INJURIES -- I'M CAREFUL AND HEARD THEM FAILING -- BUT REPAIRS WERE VERY EXPENSIVE. MR

    NHTSA complaint 768536
12. Filed Sep 4, 2002Failure Sep 7, 2000Waterville, MEWheel bearing

    THE WHEEL BEARING HAS FAILED THREE TIMES. NLM

    NHTSA complaint 786444
13. Filed Mar 20, 2002Cleaveland, VAMultiple axle

    WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. MECHANIC STATED THAT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM CONSTANTLY, AND HAD DEALER SERVICE VEHICLE ON SAME MALFUNCTION 9 TIMES.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 8006041
14. Filed Nov 29, 2001Failure Apr 15, 2001Fairless Hills, PAMultiple axle

    REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED TWICE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS A POTENTIALLY A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY QUIETLY SUPERSEEDED THE OLD BALL BEARING USED IN IMPREZAS AND FORESTERS WITH A NEW ROLLER BEARING FROM THE LEGACY. PLEASE SEE THIS URL FOR MORE INFO: HTTP://WWW.I-CLUB.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=110396&PERPAGE=25&PAGENUMBER=1. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 755084
15. Filed Oct 16, 2001Failure Oct 3, 2001Pencil Bluff, ARGasoline, Engine, Column shift

    CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER DUE TO A STRONG FUEL SMELL AND BURNING OIL COMING FROM ENGINE. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE/ REPAIRED AN OIL LEAK, AND REPLACED PISTON GASKETS.SOMETIMES CONSUMER HAD TRIED TO START ENGINE, BUT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AT ALL. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 897813
16. Filed Sep 27, 2001Failure May 1, 1998Seattle, WAStarter assembly, Engine, Clutch assembly, Power train

    THE FLYWHEEL IS INOPERATIVE.*JB

    NHTSA complaint 785695
17. Filed Jul 15, 2001Seattle, WAClutch assembly

    THE FIRST CLUTCH WENT BAD AT ABOUT 6500 MILES, DEALER SAID IT WAS DRIVER ERROR, REPLACED FOR 1300.00, 2ND CLUTCH WENT BAD ABOUT 14,000 MILES DEALER SAID WAS DRIVER FAILURE BUT HONORED WARRANTY AND REPLACED, DRIVER MODIFIES DRIVING HABITS THAT MAY BE CAUSING FAILURE, 3RD CLUTCH WENT BAD ABOUT 22,000 MILES WENT TO A PRIVATE SUBARU GARAGE AND THEY RPLACED IT WITH A OLDER MODEL CLUTCH , STATED THAT MANY LATE 90'S SUBAURUS ARE COMING IN FOR CLUTCH FAILURE, 4TH CLUTCH FAILED AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES,WHEEL BEARINGS IN REAR REPLACED AFTER A MINOR ACCIDENT INVOLVING A COLLISION WITH TIRE AND POLE, 2ND REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACED AFTER MECHANINC NOTICED REAR WHEEL NOISE ABOUT A YEAR 10,000 LATER, HUBCAPS FELL OFF REPEATEDLY, FINALLLY GAVE UP REPLACEING, STARTER WENT BAD, IT MADE A NOISE TOOK INTO GARAGE IMMEDIATELY, IT ALREADY HAD DAMAGED THE FLY WHEEL, BOTH REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, SPEEDOMTER FAILED REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 748498
18. Filed May 15, 2001Failure Dec 1, 1998Green Wood Lake, NYAxle shaft, Differential unit

    RIGHT WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CAN'T FIX PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL IS INOPERATIVE.*JB

    NHTSA complaint 888301
19. Filed Apr 6, 2001Failure Mar 30, 2001Enfield, CTAxle shaft

    THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING WENT BAD AT APPROX 51K MILES. THE REASON THE REPORT IS BEING FILED IS THE LARGE NUMBER OF LATE MODEL SUBARU WHEEL BEARING FAILURES I FOUND ON THE INTERNET. I READ MANY REPORTS OF FAILED REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON 1998 AND LATER SUBARU VEHICLES WHICH INCLUDED THE OUTBACK, FORESTER AND IMPREZA. SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS REPORTED HAVING THE SAME BEARING REPLACED TWO AND THREE TIMES. THE ALARMING PART IS MANY WERE REPLACED AT MILEAGES BELOW TWENTY THOUSAND MILES. I'M AFRAID I'M GOING TO HAVE OTHER BEARINGS GO OR THE SAME BEARING GO AGAIN.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 743644
20. Filed Apr 1, 2001Failure Jun 11, 1999Fayetteville, NYMultiple axle

    CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS FAILURES OF LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING, CONSUMER STATES VERY NOISY AND JUST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED THE CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE QUITE VIOLENTLY, CAUSING SOME DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND MOVE TO EMERGENCY LANE. *JB

    NHTSA complaint 560626