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ProblemsByVin Index / 2011-SUBARU-IMPREZA / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2011 Subaru Impreza owner complaints

57 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle , including 3 reporting a crash, fire, injury, or fatality. Showing the 300 most recent — grouped by category for scanning.

airbags 9 complaints shown

16 total in this category · severe · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags cluster analysis →
12/18/2016 ODI #10936034.0

"takata recall" I received this mailing in june 2016 and have not heard anymore about this recall.west herr Subaru in orchard park ny said they have ordered the parts for my car months ago. I have not heard back from west herr Subaru or Subaru themselfes. I am not suppost to have anybody in the front seat but this has become a problem since I have 5 people to transfer sometimes. Do I have any other options to me?

11/06/2017 ODI #11043950.0

"takata recall" need to know if my airbag will harm me if ever inflated.

10/27/2017 75,000 mi Crash ODI #11040385.0

Airbag deployed and caused laceration on my face- plastic or airbag cut my face open

09/29/2016 ODI #10910580.0

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Subaru impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v358000 (air bags) and stated that the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms part not available. Updated 01/10/17*lj

09/20/2017 ODI #11024719.0

Takata recall. After informing me in july 2016 that the airbag has been recalled, Subaru has still not repaired the defect and will not give a timeline on when the parts will be available. I know that other people with subarus have been able to get theirs repaired in a timely manner, but I have now gone over 14 months without the use of my front, passenger side seat. Putnam Subaru in san francisco sent me an email in april 2017 telling me to make a service appointment to get it fixed, but after three attempts at setting a time, they have called me to cancel saying that they still do not have the parts and that I'm on a waitlist. They insist that they cannot provide a timeline for when parts will be available even though they say they have been able to make some repairs.

08/31/2012 10,900 mi Crash ODI #10473221.0

The vehicle hit a concrete barrier on an exit ramp from the interstate. The hit was front right of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt failed to lock causing the driver head injury. *tr

08/26/2016 55,000 mi ODI #10898732.0

Takata recall - recall status: recall incomplete. Remedy not yet available this is completely ridiculous, looks like I am putting myself and anyone in my car in harms way if I drive this car. What can I do ? What should I do ?

08/12/2016 ODI #10895474.0

"takata recall" it is imperative that I receive my car in a timely manner. As a veteran with no job, it is difficult for me to get from location to location with no vehicle. Not having a vehicle has a negative effect on my life; which is causing undue stress and hardship. I believe that halting my vehicle from shipment without a sufficient amount of time to resolve the issue is unfair to myself and my family. In addition, I was never contacted, via phone, email, or postal, to ensure that I was a breast of the situation. Please help me get my vehicle in a timely manner. I have been expecting my vehicle to be delivered on the 6th of september.

08/01/2016 ODI #10892039.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Subaru impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v358000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. ...updated 09/12/16 *bf updated 09/26/16.*jb

other 3 complaints shown

12/13/2016 44,000 mi ODI #10935053.0

Beginning last winter, a strange and dangerous problem started with my Subaru. Whenever the outside temperature is cold (below freezing) and the gas tank is three quarters full or more, the gas tank leaks. If the car is parked for a few hours or more, the gas appears as a puddle on the ground (about 8 inches in diameter) and the fumes fill the interior of the car. If the car is parked in our attached garage, the fumes make their way into our home overnight. The odor is strong! This, in my opinion, is extremely dangerous. My laundry room is next to the garage and obviously, if I small gas, I don't use my clothes dryer. I have taken the car to my local Subaru dealer and they claim they cannot find any leak in the tank or fill portion. The only thing I can do -- is never fill the car

10/14/2017 40,000 mi ODI #11033344.0

The heat shields on the exhaust pipes and the catalytic converter rattle at times very loud, any re-calls?

09/21/2019 70,000 mi ODI #11257127.0

The gas tank is slowly leaking near the seam due to corrosion from salt and moisture being caught up in there from the same plastic gas tank cover with holes in it that caused the brake line corrosion recall. Leaks when it is over half full.

engine 3 complaints shown

5 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $3,100 · see engine cluster analysis →
08/11/2016 7,000 mi ODI #10888367.0

2011 Subaru impreza. Consumer writes in regards to a faulty transmission clutch. *smd the consumer noticed on cold starts and especially if it was cold and/or rainy the throw out bearing would have a consistent squeal. Once the vehicle was warmed up and operating temperature was reached, the noise would subside. At 50,000 miles, the consumer went to another dealership and an inspection revealed the clutch was worn. The consumer was informed it was normal. At the same time, the consumer had an issue with the 5th gear grinding and not being able to put the vehicle into gear without it grinding. A faulty transmission part was replaced under warranty, also, the power steering rack failed and had to be replaced. Seven thousand miles later, the same noise in the throw out bearing had return

08/10/2011 4,600 mi ODI #10418364.0

The car is a 2011 Subaru wrx sti. As far as I can tell nothing LED up to the failure. It was fine one day, then failed the next. The failure was broken piston ring lands on the #2 and #4 pistons in the engine. The consequences were that I needed to replace the short block of the engine along with all associated parts like new pistons. Subaru replaced the short block and all associated parts under warranty, including new pistons and rings. *tr

08/09/2011 5,000 mi ODI #10418166.0

1. Was driving the car and it started to smoke like crazy, and lost power while in the middle of traffic. 2. I had an engine failure, almost 75% of these cars are having the same issue 3. Brought it in for work and the dealer made me pay for it because Subaru didn't want to warranty the car! *tr

visibility 2 complaints shown

7 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $350 · see visibility cluster analysis →
11/04/2013 18,000 mi ODI #10550831.0

While driving home to denver, co from durango, outside of bayfield, we heard what sounded like a gunshot overhead and immediately pulled over. My sunroof had exploded outward. There was no other traffic on the road. The sunshade (?) was closed, so no glass fell into the car. Half the glass was gone, and what was still attached was completely shattered. *tr

09/04/2025 92,860 mi ODI #11685042.0

The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50-55 MPH, the sunroof exploded without impact. The contact was able to pull over safely. There were no reported injuries. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 92,860.

powertrain 1 complaint shown

5 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain cluster analysis →
12/30/2015 92,000 mi ODI #10816933.0

2011 Subaru impreza wrx hatch- master clutch cylinder failure-pressed clutch to the floor and put in first gear. Clutch did not return and stayed to floor. Hydraulic fluid leaked out of the bottom of the master clutch cylinder. Car was moving and could not get out of gear. Clutch was unusable to get out of gear due to fluid loss. Had to stall car to shut off-very dangerous...luckily I was in my driveway during occurrence-shifted from reverse to 1st gear that's when the clutch failed. After forum research found out there is a internal plate in the master clutch cylinder that fails...the plate cracks or bends causing mass fluid loss, and immediate loss of clutch causing the vehicle to remain in what ever gear you are in until you stall or wreck. After research I removed the master cyl

brakes 1 complaint shown

12/19/2011 4,100 mi Crash ODI #10440403.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Subaru impreza outback. The contact was driving with the cruise control set to approximately 55-60 MPH. After trying to decelerate and continuously depressing brake pedal, the vehicle would not stop. The contact was unable to stop the vehicle and crashed into four other vehicles. The contact sustained severe head injuries. One other passenger in another vehicle was reported injured and both were transported to the hospital via ambulance. The police were contacted and a report was filed and available. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where an investigation was pending. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and the current mileages were approximately 4,100. The VIN was unavailable.

electrical 1 complaint shown

9 total in this category · severe · avg repair $850 · see electrical cluster analysis →
10/25/2010 ODI #10362210.0

I receive my new swp sti with 7 miles on the odometer. Right of the bat not a great taste in my mouth. Didn't get a great deal, finance room had some shady stuff going on. Whatever though, I have my new sti I'm happy enough! Around 500 miles my car, I'm on the freeway in the left lane going about 75 and the throttle vanishes. The car goes in to failsafe mode and won't go faster than 40 miles an hour, in houston, in the left lane, with no shoulder. I'm terrified, but I manage to limp it to a parking lot. They call me later in the work day to tell me it was a throttle relay or something and they've fixed it. They want to drive it 30 miles (!!!!!!!!!!!!) to make sure it's fixed. I, of course say no, and that I would like to drive my new car not some random stranger all the time. Dri

Showing 300 of 57 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Subaru/Impreza#complaints.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-06-14. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.
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