Subaru Impreza Problems

In extreme situations, owners have been warned their vehicles may catch fire.Mitsubishi was hit with the biggest safety recall for the three month period. It has written to owners of Pajeros built between 2000 and 2003 to warn them of a potential brake problem. As many as 13,400 vehicles may need to be checked.The company also recalled 4400 of its now-defunct 380 sedan, built between 2006 and 2007, which may have a faulty fuel tank retaining strap. In a severe collision the tank may be dislodged and spill fuel.Mitsubishi is also checking more than 8300 Colts built this year which may have a problem with door windows which may drop and unlock or open the door while the car is being driven.Honda has recalled 11,800 of its 2004-05 Jazz to check whether they have a faulty handbrake, while Mazda needs to look at 1770 of its B4000 utes built between 2005-2006 because the bonnet may open unexpectedly.Subaru has recalled 5380 of its Imprezas, built between 2001 and 2003 because of a faulty rear tailgate which may suddenly drop.Subaru Australia spokesman, Dave Rowley, said many of the recalls were to check for "minor or niggling" faults."We have had no incidents of anyone being injured in Australia and we found only six cars which had the faulty (tailgate strut) connection."Many recalls are done as a pre-emptive measure to avoid possible problems further down the track, " he said.Other potential faults include electrical short circuits, which in extreme circumstances, may start a cabin fire in Landrover Freelander diesels built since 2007. Landrover warns the fault may occur when the vehicle is parked and unattended.Other recalls were to check for short circuits in Fiat's Grande Punto; and a chance that the panoramic glass roof in a small number of Citroen's Picasso could be dislodged.Suzuki has warned of potential fire risk in its 3-door Suzuki Grand Vitara (2006-07) because of a possible cracked fuel pipe, while the 2005-08 Vitara diesel has a remote fire risk in a filter because of a problem with the intercooler outlet pipe insulator.Other problems include faulty rear seat belt D-loop attachments in the current Jaguar XF, and the potential for a loss of steering in Chrysler's 300C built last year because of a problem with rear axle hub nuts which could see the half shaft disengage from the wheel hub.Mercedes Benz wants to look at axles, springs and the park brake in its Sprinter or Vito vans.Jayco has recalled some of its motor homes to check and fix awning and exhaust pipe problems.Of the 1500 motorcycles recalled, safety issues to be fixed include a faulty fuel filler on Kawasaki models, a windshield which may come off Buell bikes if ridden at high speed and a rear view mirror which may fall off on certain Yamaha models.An ACCC spokeswoman said this year's figures were actually less than last year but the number has been steadily rising over the past 20 years.The ACCC says there have been 52 individual recalls this year compared to 171 last year.Full details of the recalls can be found at www.recalls.gov.au 

You only have to mention the Subaru Impreza and images of the hot rod WRX come flooding to mind. The WRX rally rocket has come to define   the small Subaru, but to forget the rest of the range would be unfair.The Impreza has long been a well-built, reliable and popular small car and the new model introduced in 2007 was even better than those cars it replaced.There was a sense of change about the new Impreza, a fresh approach that spelt a change in direction for the Japanese carmaker that had built a solid reputation for quality, drivability and reliability.MODEL WATCHThere was always something off-putting about the way Impreza doors closed, a feeling of flimsiness that suggested a lack of quality.  That was before the new model in 2007, which for the first time had frames around the windows in the doors. Now, with the windows supported by frames, the doors closed with a solid feel that made the Impreza experience much more satisfying.You might think that adding doorframes is a small change, but in terms of the impact it had on the Impreza it was a major revision.  While it was a most welcome change it also seemed to signal a major change in thinking at Subaru.It was as if Subaru had decided to come in from the cold; it was the final step from being a somewhat quirky outsider to being a solid mainstream carmaker.Subaru only offered a five-door hatch at the Impreza's launch, but there were three models, plus the WRX, which we'll hold over for another story. The R provided the entry point to the range, with the RX and RS as you climbed the tree.With a look reminiscent of Europe the new Impreza was more attractive. It was also shorter, taller, wider, and lighter, with more cabin and boot space.Inside the cabin, there was a fresh new dash, upgraded seats and trim, better insulation and isolation, and a height and reach adjustable steering column.Under the bonnet was the familiar 2.0-litre flat-four, but with 20 per cent more power and seven per cent more torque. That meant that at its best it was putting out 110kW at 6400 revs and 196Nm at 3200 revs.On the road that translated into more urge and better drivability, and motor-noters reckoned it was also smoother.  Bolted to the back of the engine was either a five-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed auto, while drive was directed through all four wheels.IN THE SHOPCarsguide has received few complaints about the Impreza, and those that have landed here have been of a minor nature and not to be too concerned about.Check around the engine for oil leaks and make sure the required servicing has been done. There is nothing more damaging to an engine than missing services. Oil can quickly clog an engine's vital internal passages, and blockages quickly wreck an engine. Brake and tyre wear doesn't appear to be an issue for owners, as it can be with some other makes and models.IN A CRASHANCAP handed the Impreza a five-star rating on the back of its array of airbags, which provided front, side and curtain protection, along with its impressive active safety package. In addition to anti-lock brakes the Impreza also boasted electronic stability control.AT THE PUMPSubaru claimed the Impreza would do 8.9-10.7 L/100 km and owners back that claim up, reporting that their cars are quite economical to run.OWNER'S SAYPam Baker loves her 2008 Subaru Impreza RS. She says it handles well on all terrain, particularly on wet dirt roads, it looks good, the fuel economy is good, and the bucket seats are comfortable. On the other hand she says the auto transmission is sluggish on takeoff, the body sheetmetal feels very thin and flimsy, and dents easily, and there's too much plastic on the interior. All in all she says it's about an eight out of 10.LOOK FORFresh Euro lookSolid feelMore powerful engineLarger cabinUncomfortable seatsTHE BOTTOM LINEThe popular small car got even better with new looks, an improved cabin and a more solid feel.

Think Impreza and you’ll most likely think of WRX, the red-hot rally-bred car that redefined affordable performance in the 1990s, but the Impreza is much more than that. The Impreza, on which the WRX is based, is a range of well-built small family cars including sedans and hatches made to serve much more ordinary motorists than performance-minded WRX owners.But the WRX has done wonders for the once invisible brand, to which it has brought a level of credibility that was once unimaginable. From a brand that was mired in the front-wheel drive mix Subaru, with the help of the WRX and a daring switch to all-wheel drive only, has become an icon brand that stands apart from the regular crowd.MODEL WATCH Once Subaru made the commitment to all-wheel drive across the range it had a unique point of difference that brought people to showrooms who might previously have simply dismissed it as just another front-wheel driver. Add to that the exploits of WRX on the world rally stage and there were lots of reasons to consider the Impreza when looking for a small car.Subaru offered the Impreza in four-door sedan or five-door hatch body styles; the latter looking more like a wagon than a hatch. Both looked a little frumpy, with rounded lines and dumpy proportions that gave them a rather plain appearance. As a result they tended to fade into the background, until 2000 that is, when the company unleashed the new model that everyone thought was ugly with odd-looking round headlights. So apparently did Subaru themselves as they rushed out a facelift that addressed the odd-looking front and made the Impreza much more attractive.Inside, it was a little snug for taller adults, but it had reasonable head and legroom for the class, and would swallow five at a pinch with three squeezed in the back seat.Apart from all-wheel drive Subaru also followed a different path with its engines, choosing to stick with a ‘boxer’ layout instead of following the more normal in-line engine layout.The bulk of the range had a single overhead camshaft 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 92 kW and 184 Nm, to which buyers could couple either a five-speed manual ‘box or a four-speed auto. The RS joined the fleet in 2001 and brought with it a 2.5-litre motor that bumped the performance up to 112 kW and 223 Nm.Drive was directed to all four wheels as needed ensuring the Impreza had impressive grip in all conditions. A finely tuned chassis and powerful brakes gave the Impreza a solid road feel that inspired confidence in the driver.At the head of the Impreza pack sat the WRX, a high performance car by any measure. With a 2.0-litre turbocharged double overhead camshaft engine thumping out 160 kW and 290 Nm it had plenty of zip to keep most drivers on their toes. By 2005 the output of the engine had grown to 169 kW and 300 Nm, which kept it at the head of the performance pack.With a good-looking body kit, and big wheels, the WRX looked tough and was the benchmark for performance cars from the moment it hit the roads in the mid-1990s.IN THE SHOP Closely inspect the Impreza as many have been given a hard time by owners who would like to be driving a WRX, but can’t afford it.Cars used by families as regular transport generally stand up well and are rarely modified, but models like the RS often attract owners looking for a WRX look-alike and they often modify them. Check any modification for quality of workmanship and legality as some modifications can contravene the law and you end up sidelined by the police if checked.If well treated and properly serviced the Impreza will stand up well in service, so look for a service record.Be extra cautious when buying a WRX. Many of them have been driven hard, on the road and the track, so look for signs of competition use. Such things like holes drilled in the body for a roll cage and sports harnesses, fire extinguishers etc, and modifications to the engine and electronics are clues to a fast past.Also be wary of ‘grey’ imports, which have come into the country as a result of the popularity of the WRX. Most have little or no history on which to make a sound decision.IN A CRASH The Subaru had good active safety with all-wheel drive, but it didn’t get ABS anti-skid brakes across the range until 2001. Prior to that it was only the RX and WRX that had the safer braking system. Airbags for the driver and front passenger came in with the 1999 model RX, and followed on the other models in 2001. ANCAP rated the Impreza at three stars.AT THE PUMP Those models with the 2.0-litre engine will return 10-11 L/100 km in average round town driving, the RS will take around half a litre more. The WRX requires fuel even higher than PULP, even the 98 octane isn’t high enough to stop it pinging in some cases. Be prepared to pay for the best fuel possible.OWNERS SAY Adrian Nicolescu reckons his 2002 Impreza RS is a great all-round car. It's been slightly lowered, with an all-round body kit, 18-inch rims, low profile tyres (225/35), a Magnaflow exhaust with 2.5-inch drop down pipe and a JVC aftermarket CD/MP3 stereo with remote. Since purchasing the car he has upgraded to a Kenwood seven-inch DVD screen with a custom boot install to fit a subwoofer and amp, an IPod adapter to play and control music from the IPod, a high performance dry cycle battery to cope with power demands, K&N panel filter, front end stabilizer bar, and last but not least clear side indicators with bulbs and a light up Impreza badge mounted on the front of the grille. It has been a pleasure to drive he says. It handles nicely, performs well, and has great fuel economy. For a medium-sized bloke he feels snug inside the compact cabin, but well supported in the bucket seats.Nick Tan has owned his 2004 Impreza for a year and has found it a real treat to drive in all conditions. The AWD makes for great handling, it’s powerful enough and is comfortable for both long and short trips. The interior is well laid-out and the bucket seats are a nice bonus. He has not had any problems at all, but says it can be a little thirsty and expensive if you're using the recommended premium unleaded.Ken Lynch bought a 2002 Impreza RX Sedan new. During the time he owned it he had a trouble free run. He replaced the battery after five years and fitted new tyres at 69,000 km. The styling of the 2002 model was a matter of debate, but it was a joy to drive.LOOK FOR • Good reliability• Solid build quality• snug interior• Good drivability• Boxer engine a little harsh• Good resale• ModificationsTHE BOTTOM LINE Solid, well-built small car with a performance edge, but beware those abused.VERDICT 75/100