5.0

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,074 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Subaru Impreza windows / windshield problems

windows / windshield problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Subaru Impreza:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2008 Subaru Impreza Owner Comments

problem #18

Oct 022013

Impreza

  • 73,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The visors just drop down while I drive. I tried to get it fixed but they told me know recall and out of warranty. What a hazard. I would be driving on the highway at speed limit and thank gosh when it dropped down I didn't lose control of the car.

- New Milford, CT, USA

problem #17

Jun 012010

Impreza 4-cyl

  • 20,000 miles
The visors keep breaking. When they break, they drop down, impeding vision. There is no telling when it may happen. The passenger side visor was replaced in 2010. It is now broken again and so is the drivers side. Recently, my drivers side visor broke and dropped down while driving on a busy highway. I was lucky I didn't wreck. The visors are over $100 each. They are made with a plastic piece that is not able to do the job. A serious driving hazard!

- Centennial, CO, USA

problem #16

Dec 182012

Impreza 4-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
At 32,000 miles my drivers side sun visor spring mechanism broke during a cold morning(10-15F). It was replaced under warranty. Now at about 85,000 miles it broke again and I need to replace it myself. The dealership surprisingly had several in stock which was odd because this is not something a dealer would normally stock unless there is a trending problem with it. It's not me abusing it as I am don't treat my things in a fast forceful manner, I've also never had a problem with any other vehicle in hundred of thousands of miles. Yet, I have 2 of the exact same item failures in less than 100,000 miles. The safety issue here is that when the sun visor breaks, it hangs down perfectly vertical blocking the drivers view of the road. I pretty much had to drive to work holding the visor with my left hand. When I arrived at work I grabbed a screw driver and removed the visor until it was replaced.

- Lancaster, PA, USA

problem #15

Jul 082010

Impreza 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2008 Subaru Impreza. Consumer states problem with vehicle clutch the consumer stated there was a screeching/rubbing noise when the clutch was applied and a loud pop noise from neutral to 1st gear. The vehicle would pop out of 6th gear at high speeds. The engine made a loud rattle noise on cold starts, the right rear window washer was inoperable, the passenger air bag occasionally did not recognize a passenger in the seat. The hood was loose and rattled, the right rear door was difficult to close, the left rear wheel studs would not secure the lug nut, the battery and power steering pump was pumping.

- Lake Zurich, IL, USA

problem #14

May 242011

Impreza

  • 60,000 miles
The driver side visor failed to remain in position. After hitting a small bump the visor flipped down from it's position against the roof to a completely vertical position blocking my view of the road. I am only 5 foot 7 inches, but when the visor is completely down my vision is completely blocked. The visor would no longer remain up against the roof, nor fully forward against the windshield. I had to pull over and remove the screws holding the visor mount to the roof. When I did this the shaft that connects the visor to the roof mount came out of the visor. The plastic portion had broken completely inside the visor. The force holding the visor in the up position had been getting progressively weaker for more than a year before it failed completely. Searching the web it appears this is a common complaint. Without a visor it is now definitely more hazardous to drive into the sun, I keep a baseball cap in the car for these situations while I attempt to find an inexpensive replacement. My dealer wants to charge me $140 for a replacement visor.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #13

Jan 012010

Impreza

  • 30,000 miles
Drivers sun visor rotates down unpredictably, blocking vision for average or tall drivers. A small bump can trigger this.

- Fort Washington, MD, USA

problem #12

Nov 012010

Impreza

  • 33,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am getting frost on the inside of my front windshield sometimes in cold weather. Beginning about November, it is also covered daily in a film I can't seem to get rid of with my hand. It keeps returning.

- Braintree, VT, USA

problem #11

Sep 012008

Impreza

  • miles
2008 Subaru Impreza the windshield gets covered by a film during cool/cold weather and impairs your vision while driving and you need to stop and remove the film on the windshield. Yes a definite safety hazard. Subaru denies any problems. There are several other complaints.

- Hunlock Creek, PA, USA

problem #10

Nov 262009

Impreza

  • 28,400 miles
Driving in rain with windshield wipers on. Wipers crossed and made a "X" then twisted and malfunctioned.

- Eugene, OR, USA

problem #9

Aug 112009

Impreza

  • 1,500 miles
Windshield wipers sometimes stop working and get caught up in each other, the bolt need to be tightened many times, has almost caused multiple accidents.

- Butte, MT, USA

problem #8

Feb 092009

Impreza

  • 1 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Ever since I purchased my vehicle (new), there has been a terrible film on the windshield and interior windows. Sometimes it is so bad, it is almost impossible to see out of the windows (especially with light reflections and sunsets, etc.). my dealer has informed me that it has had many similar complaints. I have tried cleaning the windows with cleaners and nothing seems to help. The problem is even worse during the winter months when the defroster is being used more often. To date, my dealer (as well as a different one) has been unable to find a solution to the problem. This is a serious safety issue that limits visibility from the vehicle.

- East Greenbush, NY, USA

problem #7

Jan 062009

Impreza

  • 5,982 miles
A fog keeps developing on the interior front windshield and side windows which impairs the driver's ability to see clearly through the windshield. It is impossible to keep the windshield clear of this fog while the defrost is running. This is a serious safety risk that limits the driver's visibility.

- St. Louis Park , MN, USA

problem #6

Feb 112009

Impreza

  • 9,800 miles
Serious windshield wiper failure of entire linkage system caused by a hold down nut coming loose from main linkage. My wife was driving on the highway during a rain storm when both windshield wipers failed. She narrowly escaped an accident as there was no place to safely pull the vehicle over and she lost total visibility. The 2008 Impreza outback sport was taken to a nearby Subaru dealer where they fixed the problem by simply tightening the hold down nut which came loose. Needless to say, I was very disappointed by this serious safety issue from a new car that was rated this top safety pick. The car had 9800 miles on it when this incident occurred.

- Canton, OH, USA

problem #5

Jan 142009

Impreza

  • miles
My 2008 Subaru Impreza has developed a film on the inside of the windshield which causes a very unsafe situation. I am unable to see at night or with on coming cars with lights on. It has been to a dealer twice and they have cleaned it but the problem comes back after about two weeks. It is dangerous!

- Barnet, VT, USA

problem #4

Nov 162008

Impreza

  • 10,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that the windshield wipers will periodically stop working and fail to move altogether, even when they are in the upright position. He must pull the vehicle over and manually pull the wipers down with his hands. The failure has occurred over ten times while driving 20 mph. Most of the time the wipers work normally, but during rainy and snowy conditions, the failure can cause poor visibility. The Subaru dealer could not determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer stated that if the dealer could not find a failure, there was nothing to repair. The current and failure mileages were 10,000.

- Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #3

Dec 132007

Impreza 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 1,500 miles
Film on windshield. Brought in car 6 times for the same problem. They washed it, put it in a paint booth 3 times to "cure" the plastic, and last wee they replaced the cabin air filter. The film is still there it may go away for a day or 2 then it comes back. The film is most noticeable at night when oncoming car light hit it and as the sun is setting it is difficult to see through it. This has been going on since the beginning of December, we bought the car at the end of October and do not drive it all the time.

- Sturgeon Bay, WI, USA

problem #2

Nov 282007

Impreza 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 250 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Impreza. All of the windows in the vehicle are fogging and creating a thick film. The failure prevents the contact from seeing and she must roll down the windows to make a left or right turn. The films worsens in cold weather. The vehicle was taken to the dealer three times and they stated that there was some type of vapor coming from the interior. The current mileage was 3,000 and failure mileage was 250.

- Brattleboro, VT, USA

problem #1

Jan 252008

Impreza 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,900 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that there is a greasy film that forms on the windows approximately every 1-3 days. The failure was noticed while driving 40 mph. The failure occurs on all of the windows, but is the worst on the windshield. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer called the manufacturer and they stated that the cause of the failure was unknown. However, the contact was advised to continue cleaning the windows and the failure should eventually cease. The current and failure mileages were 2,900. Updated 02-12-08

- Byron, MN, USA

Not what you are looking for?