10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,209 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.

2009 Subaru Impreza electrical problems

electrical problem

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2009 Subaru Impreza Owner Comments

problem #7

Dec 062022

Impreza

  • miles

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

There was a brake light switch failure which was under recall. The failure caused a short in my electrical system and wires in my bulk head wiring harness melted and fused together causing a ultimate failure of the vehicle being able to start. The vehicle was towed to subaru, the brake light switch was fixed per the recall but the wiring harness is no longer made by subaru so my vehicle could not be repaired. Ultimately my vehicle was ruined. The brake switch failure is the cause of the short that ruined this vehicle valued at 4800$ and subaru wont fix it because they cant find the parts needed

- Middletown, CT, USA

problem #6

Oct 012019

Impreza 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
Compressing clutch pedal clicks 3 times loudly when car is on or off. Sounds like under drivers dashboard. The consumer stated air bag light on, horn isnt working, and steering wheel is off center.

- Parker, CO, USA

problem #5

Feb 262019

Impreza

  • 128,060 miles
When I brought my 2009 Subaru Impreza into colonial Subaru (in va) 2 weeks ago, there were many issues, but I didn't know the cause or if they were related. The strangest thing was all the issues started occurring out of nowhere over the past 4 months. My uncle is a certified Subaru mechanic in NJ and has been servicing my car since I bought it in 2013. I also took meticulous care of it for the past 5 years, and it was running perfectly until now. There was nothing wrong with it when he looked at it in Sept. And it passed NJ inspection in Oct. Then between Oct and Feb (only 4 months), it's falling apart and needs a new engine and catalytic converter? I also didn't know until researching the issues (right before I took it into colonial) that there were still 2 open recalls on it ' brake line and air bags (I wasn't driving my car a lot at the time of the recalls because I was unemployed, and never even heard about them, so I had no idea). When I took the car to colonial, I asked for the free diagnostic and recall repairs, but also told them everything that was wrong. The full list I gave to them is in the attached doc. They lied about the real problems, my car was towed to hyman brothers Subaru, they found the cause of the catalytic converter damage (head gasket leak), but then refused to diagnose the other critical problems that are proven links to the new brake light switch recall...which causes an electricity flow interruption (clearly spelled out in the new recall), that is documented and proven to cause electrolysis (mutating the chemical elements in the coolant making it highly corrosive, eat through the heater core connectors, leak out and damage the head gaskets (then leak coolant/oil into the catalytic converter). All needed repairs should be free of charge because they are a direct result of the faulty brake light switch interrupting the flow of electricity.

- Mechanicsville, VA, USA

problem #4

Feb 102017

Impreza

  • 145,000 miles

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

Wtm-73 recall. The recall was performed at webster grove Subaru in St. Louis on Jan 12, 2017. On February 10, 2017 the car was traveling at highway speeds along I-74 near champaign urbana il. The traction control, engine light and oil light came on, then the and smoke began to bellow from under the hood. The car was guided to the side of the road and the drive and occupant exited the vehicle. The vehicle was shortly engulfed in flames after that. I took photos of the remains on Feb 13, 2017 at reynolds tow service in champaign il. The area of of the fuse and relay box under the hood appear to be the starting area of the fire. I believe the recall did not repair the problem with the secondary air pump electrical circuit.

- Belleville, IL, USA

problem #3

Aug 072013

Impreza

  • 39,000 miles
Wiring in fuse box under high beam relay corrodes creating an electrical fire hazard and stop high beam headlights from functioning correctly. This is cause for concern due to exposed wires in fuse box and lighting issues at night. After speaking to several other 2008 to 2010 Subaru Impreza owners I have found this is a common issue that the dealer refuses to correct.

- Spokane Valley, WA, USA

problem #2

Nov 192012

Impreza

  • 38,400 miles
As I was pulling into a parking space at work the hill assist light, vdc light, and ABS light all illuminated. I turned the vehicle off and later turned it on and the lights were off. I drove the vehicle home and as I got off the highway the lights illumintated again.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #1

Jun 222010

Impreza

  • 11,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked with the engine shut off, an electrical fire started from the center console. The fire department discovered the fire originated from the electrical outlet. The manufacturer was contacted but would not provide any assistance. The contact was concerned with the safety of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 11,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

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