2003 Subaru Impreza problems
The 2003 Subaru Impreza has 64 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (41%) concerns fuel system. After that come brakes (22%) and engine (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 64 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Fuel system 41% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 9 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 15 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 69,000 miles 54 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 15 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 6 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 4 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 3 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 6 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 6 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 54 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 69,000 miles. For fuel system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 102,000 miles (22 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 9 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 15 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 90% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 19th most-complained-about out of 27 model years of the Subaru Impreza with enough data (37 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
[link removed] that describes how the crash happened. Airbags did not deploy. I suffered broken left elbow, fracture in my skull,ribs and shoulder. Also severe brain trauma. I have a lot of pictures, but it will only let me attach one. There is frontal damage from a smaller tree, but the majority is on the drivers side(my side) from slamming into a large tree.
Tl* - the contact owns a 2003 subaru impreza wrx. The contact's vehicle was in an accident in which it was hit on the front right side while driving at 10 MPH and crossing a stop light. The contact stated that the weather was nice that day. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy. The current and failure mileage were both 50,000.
Takata air bag did not deploy. Side impact sensor did not work. The car traveled sideways into a large oak tree in excess of 35 MPH . The point of impact was where the side impact sensor was located . None of the airbags deployed . Subaru has been very uncooperative with answers as to why the airbags did not deploy . This happened upon a rural road in the fog . No other vehicles were involved .
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 subaru impreza. The contact purchased an aftermarket carbon fiber hood from a company called vic racing sports. Due to the design of the hood, it retains water and there is no where for the water to drain. Due to the cold weather in his state, the water froze and caused the hood to crack. The failure could also cause the hood latch to fail. The company stated that the failure was not covered under warranty and nothing could be done. The failure and current mileages were 37,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 subaru impreza. The contact was driving 60 MPH and noticed an abnormal vibration from the front end of the vehicle. The contact discovered the front driver side of the vehicle had collapsed. The front driver side wheel has also collapsed inward. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where the contact was advised that the lower control arm on the left had rotted away. The lower control arm on both sides was repaired. The manufacturer would not provide any assistance.