Rear struts on my 2005 Subaru impreza have blown tree times since vehicle purchase in june 2005. Subaru has changed the pn# to an updated part number but refuse to replace again stating my vehicle mileage has surpassed their warranty limitation. This is known defect with many documented cases. Subaru is aware of the issue and has issued an updated part to remedy the situation. Defective struts…
2005 Subaru Impreza suspension problems
critical 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
2crashes
2injuries
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 16 suspension complaints filed for the 2005 Subaru Impreza, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 4 model years of Subaru Impreza we track for suspension problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 16.
Suspension accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 9 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2005 Impreza suspension troubles come in three serious flavors. First, front lower control arms separate at the ball joint or fracture from corrosion—without warning, at speeds from highway to parking-lot slow, with catastrophic results: one death, multiple near-death crashes. Owners report a snap or clunk, then immediate loss of steering. Mileages range from 3,000 to 199,000, though corrosion failures cluster in the 70,000–160,000 range. Subaru's NHTSA Campaign 11V464000 applied anti-rust spray as a fix, but at least one owner watched their already-serviced arm rust through anyway and snap at 99,260 miles. A salvage dealer told one family he'd pulled five Impreza models with separated ball joints.
Second, rear struts blow out prematurely. Owners got three failures in 15 months on a brand-new car, and two failures inside 13,000 miles on another. The noise is obvious—clunking, rattling from the back—but repair doesn't stick; the problem returns. Subaru issued a revised part number but wouldn't warranty struts once mileage hit their limit, even on cars failing before 3,000 miles.
Third, two owners lost all control on dry, smooth pavement at highway speeds. Causes unclear, but both collided hard and got hurt.
Failure modes owners describe
Lower Control Arm Separation/Fracture
Ball joint separates from A-arm, or lower control arm fractures due to corrosion or thread wear; occurs at relatively low mileages and without warning. One incident resulted in fatal loss of control at highway speed; others caused loss of control requiring emergency avoidance. Corrosion-related failures continue even after recall remedy (anti-rust spray application) attempted.
When: 72,000–199,000 miles; one documented at approximately 3,000 miles in early ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noise (snap, clunk) prior to failure; Sudden loss of vehicle control without warning; Vehicle unable to be driven after failure; Uncontrollable vibration at speed
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of lower control arm(s) required. One owner reported corrosion-driven failure despite prior recall service with anti-rust spray; spray was ineffective.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 11V464000 (suspension, front lower control arm corrosion recall). Remedy involved anti-rust spray application, but failed to prevent subsequent corrosion and fracture in at least one case. Subaru told multiple owners the vehicle was not included in the recall or stated it is 'not a known problem.' Salvage dealer reported seeing five Impreza models with separated ball joints.
Rear Strut Failure/Degradation
Rear struts fail prematurely or degrade, causing loss of ride height, rattling noise, and clunking from rear suspension. Multiple failures documented within 13,000 miles of ownership on brand-new vehicles. Failures recur even after dealer repair attempts. Subaru issued updated part number to address the defect but refused warranty coverage once vehicle exceeded their mileage limit.
When: As early as 3,000 miles; one case documented two failures by 12,600 miles; another three failures within approximately 15 months from June 2005 purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Loud clunking noise from rear suspension at low speeds; Rattling noise from rear while driving; Rear end of vehicle sitting noticeably lower than front; Noise reappears after dealer repair
Repairs/costs cited: Strut replacement or realignment attempted; misaligned spring also cited. Subaru updated part number for rear strut but refused further replacement on warranty grounds due to mileage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru acknowledged the defect and issued an updated part number as remedy. However, manufacturer refused to replace struts beyond their stated warranty limitation once mileage threshold exceeded, despite the repeated failures occurring in early ownership.
Suspension Loss of Control (General/Multi-Component)
Two incidents report sudden loss of control on smooth, dry pavement at highway speeds without obvious external cause. One involved erratic tail-out sliding followed by loss of steering authority; the other involved loss of control on a rough road patch after S-curve. Both resulted in collisions and injuries. Primary suspected cause in one case is ball joint thread wear; in the other, cause unclear but safety systems failed to prevent injury.
When: No specific mileage stated for the two general loss-of-control incidents
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of vehicle control at highway speed (40–70 mph); Tail-end sliding to the side without driver input; Loss of steering authority; Vehicle spinning or rotating uncontrollably
Repairs/costs cited: Not applicable; vehicles involved in collisions, not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru told one complainant 'there was no defects in the car' and stated they 'waited till the government told them to fix something before they would fix any problems.' No recall or service bulletin issued for the general loss-of-control pattern.
Recall Administration Issues
Confusion and inconsistency surrounding NHTSA Campaign 11V464000 application. Dealerships and Subaru provided conflicting information about whether specific vehicles were included in or excluded from the recall. One dealership refused to perform approved recall work citing cost and after holding customer vehicle parts for two months.
When: Recall campaign 11V464000 issued; specific timeframe not stated in narratives
Symptoms owners cite: Dealership refusal to perform recall repair; Inconsistent information from Subaru about recall eligibility; Parts ordered but repair declined
Repairs/costs cited: Anti-rust spray application was the remedy for the corrosion recall; however, effectiveness was questionable in at least one documented case.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 11V464000 (suspension, front lower control arm corrosion). Inconsistent application: some vehicles reported as 'not included' despite corrosion-related failures; one owner had recall completed 12/10/2011 but subsequent failure still occurred. Dealership refused to honor recall work.
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
While my son was backing out of the driveway, his passenger side lower control arm snapped in 2. He struggled to get it even back into the driveway. I ran the VIN number and it does no show that this car has a recall that needs to be done. Does this mean it was already done? Or is this car not covered for the recall?
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Subaru impreza. While the contact's wife was driving 40 MPH, she heard a snap in the engine that caused her to lose control of the vehicle without warning. The vehicle was towed to the contact's father's home where he discovered that the front lower control arm was fractured. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in…
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.…
While turning to back into driveway control arm broke. It is rusted
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Subaru impreza. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, he noticed a loud clunking noise. He later inspected the vehicle and discovered that the driver side front lower control arm was fractured due to corrosion. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they advised him that the vehicle was not included…
My brother was driving his 2005 wrx sti on a clear morning on dry pavement and lost control. The car slid off the shoulder of the road and then crossed back over the road where it collided sideways with a tree. The vehicle made contact with the tree on the driver's door post, killing him instantly and injuring the passenger. Upon inspection of the car, we found that the driver's side ball…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Subaru impreza. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle vibrated uncontrollably. As a result, the contact almost lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front lower driver side control arm failed and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was previously serviced per NHTSA campaign…
Had suspension trouble with your 2005 Subaru Impreza?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2005 Subaru Impreza?
It's a serious issue. 16 complaints have been filed, including 2 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 10,000 and 115,000 miles, with the median around 72,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,000; a quarter make it past 115,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Subaru/Impreza.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.