The vvl pressure switch housing unit chipped causing oil to spill all over the engine and makes the oil I put back in the car jus tleak right back out the next day. The car is no undrivable I have no way to or from work the bus runs no wear near my house im losing money daily I searched up this problem and this happens to most people.
2007 Subaru Impreza engine problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 10 engine complaints filed for the 2007 Subaru Impreza, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ 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
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Head gasket failure is the dominant complaint across these 10 reports. Owners describe gaskets blowing out at or below 120,000 miles, with one vehicle requiring two replacements within 2 years and another needing five complete engine swaps. Repairs run $1,500–$2,000 at Subaru dealers; one owner received only $200 reimbursement despite $1,500 in actual costs. A warranty company told one owner they receive high call volume on this issue.
Engine oil leaks are widespread. One owner reports a heli-coil stripped during assembly due to over-torquing, creating catastrophic oil loss and fire risk. Another describes a chipped VVL pressure switch housing causing daily oil loss. A third had oil pooling on the engine and smoking.
One owner's vehicle developed cam timing codes (P0011, P0021) just days after purchase, requiring new cam sprockets and timing belt (~$1,500). A recurring misfire code followed, leading to complete engine failure and a $5,000–$7,000 repair estimate.
Low-speed bucking and surging is reported in multiple narratives. One dealer acknowledged this is "inherent" to 2.5L Subarus, mentioning an ECU upgrade exists for 2006 Foresters but claimed none was available for Impreza. Another owner's vehicle bucks uncontrollably at stops after head gasket repair.
Additional issues include a clogged air valve at 110,000 miles and an ECU failure at 113,000 miles, both denied warranty coverage.
Same Subaru Impreza engine reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Head Gasket Failure
Head gaskets fail prematurely, causing loss of compression, oil leaks, rough idle, and engine stalling. Owners report multiple failures on the same vehicle and widespread complaints to warranty companies.
When: Reported as early as under 120,000 miles; one owner replaced head gaskets twice within 2 years.
Symptoms owners cite: White smoke from engine; Rough idle and bucking at low speeds; Check engine light illumination; Oil pooling on top of engine; Engine stalling during acceleration; Loss of power steering (cascade failure after gasket failure); Smell in cabin after heat or rain/snow; Uncontrolled bucking when coming to a stop
Codes mentioned: P0011, P0021, P0301
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement cost $1,500–$2,000 at dealer; one owner received only $200 reimbursement from manufacturer despite $1,500 repair. Multiple replacements indicate recurring defect. One owner had 5 engine replacements due to this issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru of America acknowledged complaints but offered minimal warranty support. One owner reported Subaru stated head gasket failure is 'not a lot of people's complaint.' Warranty company cited high call volume for this problem.
Cam Position Timing Over-Advance (P0011/P0021)
Cam sprockets wear or fail, triggering camshaft timing fault codes. Repair requires new cam sprockets, timing belt, and tensioner.
When: 4 days after purchase; failure at unknown base mileage.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Rough idle; Power loss; Engine knock noise followed by stall
Repairs/costs cited: New cam sprockets, timing belt, and timing belt tensioner required. Initial repair ~$1,500 after negotiation. Misfire code (P0301) recurred shortly after, leading to catastrophic engine failure requiring $5,000–$7,000 diagnostic and repair estimate.
Cylinder 1 Misfire (P0301)
Recurring misfire code in cylinder 1 after cam sprocket and timing belt repair. Code returns after reset, indicating unresolved root cause.
When: September 2013, days after cam sprocket/timing belt repair.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Rough idle; Power loss; Engine knock and stall
Codes mentioned: P0301
Repairs/costs cited: Code reset; recurred within 5 days. Led to complete engine failure requiring $5,000–$7,000 repair.
Heli-Coil Over-Torque and Oil Leak
Oil drain plug heli-coil stripped during installation due to over-torquing, causing catastrophic oil loss and risk of fire or catalytic converter damage.
When: Unknown; discovered during head gasket repair.
Symptoms owners cite: Oil pooling on top of engine; Catastrophic oil leak rate; Potential fire risk
Repairs/costs cited: Old coil removed with threads stripped; new coil installed. Indicates assembly quality issue at factory.
Surging and Bucking at Low Speed
Vehicle surges and bucks uncontrollably in all gears at low speeds, forcing accidental acceleration and creating accident risk. Dealer acknowledged this is an inherent condition in 2.5L Subaru engines; mentioned ECU upgrade exists for 2006 Forester model but no fix available for Impreza at time of complaint.
When: Ongoing; condition present throughout ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Uncontrolled surging and bucking in all gears at low speeds; Violent bucking in slow traffic forcing accidental pedal depression; Check engine light and cruise control triggering at low and high RPM in stop-and-go traffic
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer stated no current fix; promised to contact owner if ECU upgrade becomes available. Subaru of America acknowledged complaint but took no action.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru of America acknowledged; Subaru confirmed ECU upgrade exists for 2006 Forester but none available for Impreza at time of complaint. Dealer agreed to contact owner if upgrade released.
VVL Pressure Switch Housing Chip
Variable Valve Lift (VVL) pressure switch housing unit chipped, causing complete oil loss and rendering vehicle undrivable.
When: Unknown mileage.
Symptoms owners cite: Oil spilling from chipped housing; Oil leaking out daily; Vehicle undrivable
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports this is widespread; unable to continue work commute due to loss of transportation.
Clogged Air Valve
Air valve clogging causes check engine light and engine stall during acceleration in higher gears.
When: At 110,000 miles; failure reported at 114,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Engine stall when accelerating in fourth or fifth gear
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer recommended cleaning or replacement; owner awaiting repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware but did not offer assistance.
ECU Failure
Engine control unit fails, requiring replacement. Dealer refused warranty coverage at 113,000 miles despite vehicle being subject to fuel tank safety recall.
When: At 113,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Unspecified malfunction requiring ECU replacement
Repairs/costs cited: ECU replacement cost $1,100 at Subaru dealer. Mileage-based warranty denial despite fuel tank recall letter received.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru refused to pay for ECU replacement, citing high mileage despite fuel tank recall being active.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had engine trouble with your 2007 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 engine problem on the 2007 Subaru Impreza?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 67,000 and 119,244 miles, with the median around 74,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 67,000; a quarter make it past 119,244. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2007/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.