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2003 Subaru Impreza Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 62 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Subaru Impreza, most often about the fuel system (42% of complaints, typically around 102,500 miles). It is 16th of 27 Impreza model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2003 Subaru Impreza problems
Fuel system
26 complaints · 42%Half of these problems showed up before 102,500 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
It has recently been extremely cold in chicago and upon initial startup of the vehicle there is a strong smell of gasoline inside the cabin. The smell does not go away until the car is completely warmed up. I noticed that there has been a recall for this type of problem. It was Subaru recall no. Wvk-21. I believe my…
Fuel leaking from lines in engine compartment of 2003 (man. Date july 2002) Subaru wrx sedan. Leak appears to be triggered by cold temperatures. Fuel pools in the engine compartment. Very strong smell of fuel in the passenger compartment. Contacted local dealer, who did not think it was a serious issue.
Brakes
14 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 11,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, antilock.
Approaching stop light on surface street; dry conditions, flat road; approx 30 MPH; anticipating stopping. Lift foot off accelerator and apply brakes to slow down; car does not slow; feels out of control & unable to stop; turn car to right to get off road to avoid hitting cars ahead; turn into a tree; airbag deployed…
Abs activates when driving over a semi-bumpy surface. Does not seem normal. Almost rear ended a car due to this incident. This happens regularly as the exit of the parking lot seems to cause this to happen.
Engine
5 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 115,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
At 15,000km past warranty, I submitted my car for service and was told the engine was leaking fluids, required new head gaskets, new transmission mounts and sway bar bushings. Barrie Subaru did not show much interest in the amount of work required on a vehicle that had been on the road for less than 3 years.
Outside air temperature was moderate(75f), but engine was cold. Upon engine start strong smell of gasoline in cabin and in engine bay around the passenger side intake manifold.
Air bags
4 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: frontal.
- 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…
Car was involved in a head on crash at about 45 MPH into a fire hydrant in the city of bell. None of the airbags expanded at the time of the crash. Safety issue.
Body and structure
3 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: body.
Tl 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…
Https://services.neframework.com/imageretrieval.aspx?id=974f272d-0461-4ff2-97a8-[VIN] 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…
Suspension
3 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: front.
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…
On the night of 12/6/2020 I was backing out of a friends driveway to drive home, when I reached the street, I heard a loud clunk and a grinding noise. I got out of my car to investigate what had just happened and the front portion of my passenger side front lower control arm had completely lost all structural…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Subaru Impreza recalls
Suspension: lower arm
Risk: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will handle their vehicles and saab will handle theirs. Dealers will inspect the degree of corrosion of the front lower control arms, and will either rustproof or replace them. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during december 2011. Owners may contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Full defect summary
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 impreza, model year 2003-2008 forester, and model year 2005-2006 saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured from september 5, 2000 through november 26, 2007 originally sold, or currently registered in, massachusetts, maryland, michigan, new hampshire, new york, pennsylvania, vermont, wisconsin, connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, maine, minnesota, missouri, new jersey, ohio, rhode island, west virginia and the district of columbia. The front lower control arms may break at the hanger brackets due to corrosion if the hanger bracket is exposed to salty and humid environments such as roads containing snow melting agent.
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: Fuel leaks, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel line free of charge. The recall began on december 31, 2009. Owners may contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Full defect summary
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2002 and 2003 impreza wrx vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of south dakota, nebraska, north dakota, minnesota, idaho, iowa, montana, colorado, wisconsin, new york, wyoming, michigan, alaska, new hampshire, vermont, and maine. During cold starts, typically under extremely cold temperatures, fuel leaks in the fuel delivery line could occur where the line connects with a rubber hose.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: In case someone is underneath or near the rear gate, there is a possibility that a dropping rear gate panel may hit them increasing the risk of injuries.
Fix: Dealers will inspect to see if there is any gap at the stud bolt of the rear gate stay installation. If a gap is found, the stud bolt will be removed to check for damage to the welding nut. If the weld nut is cracked, the rear gate stay will be replaced free of charge. The recall began on june 2, 2008. Owners may contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Full defect summary
Subaru is recalling 36,791 my 2002-2003 impreza wagons. The stud bolt(s) of rear gate stay may have been tightened with insufficient tightening torque and a gap may have resulted between the rear gate panel and stud bolt base. After repeated rear gate operations (opening and closing), the rear gate inner panel at the welding nut may break, which will lead to detachment of the rear gate stay, and the rear gate dropping down.
Seats
Risk: In the event of a crash, the driver may sustain more severe injuries due to the seat movement.
Fix: Dealers will install a new left hand driver's seat rail mounting bolt. The recall began on august 20, 2004. Owners should contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Full defect summary
On certain sedan and wagon model vehicles, the left front bolt that retains the forward part of the driver's seat to the seat slide rail may loosen. If the seat slide rail bolt loosens, it will eventually fall out, and the seat may separate from the seat slide.
Speed control: cables
Risk: If this occurs during vehicle operation, the driver could lose control of the vehicle, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a cruise control cable retaining clip to the cruise control lever tab on the throttle shaft in order to prevent the cruise control cable from coming out of its track. Owner notification began on april 12, 2004. Owners should contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger sedans, wagons, and sport utility vehicles, the cruise control cable could come out of its track on the cruise control lever and lodge on the control lever tab when the accelerator pedal is released. If this condition occurs, the throttle will not return to the idle position and will remain in an open position.
Transmission: automatic transmission
Risk: The vehicle could then move/roll without prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission parking rod assembly. Owner notification january 8, 2003. An interim owner notification will be sent during november 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Full defect summary
Certain sport utility and passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions were produced with an improperly manufactured transmission parking rod. When the transmission selector lever is placed in the "p" (park) position, the transmission park mechanism, that is intended to hold your vehicle, may not engage.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe14-016 in june 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.all six vehicles were operated in florida or puerto rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.during the course of pe14-016, odi determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.nonetheless, at odi's in
Front suspension control arm failure
Summary
On september 6, 2011, fuji heavy industries USA, inc, on behalf of subaru of america, inc notified the office of defects investigation (odi) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (my) 2002 through 2007 subaru impreza, my 2003 through 2008 subaru forester, and my 2005 through 2006 saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the salt belt states including the district of columbia (dc). For the purpose of this investigation, salt belt states include connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia
Fuel line leak
Summary
The design of the fuel line (metal rail/rubber hose interface) is susceptible to fuel odor and/or seepage in extreme cold temperature conditions.owners most often noticed fuel odor in the occupant compartment area during initial cold engine start-up.once the engine is warmed, the odor/seepage issue dissipates.from subaru's data, odi notes that the incident rates are higher in states with colder temperatures.there was one allegation of a fire incident in which the owner had reported that he noticed fuel odor a few days earlier, but odi could not confirm the origin of the fire. To address this issue, subaru will replace the fuel line with a longer rubber hose segment version/design on 5,724 my
Fuel line leak
Summary
Complainants report fuel leakage most frequently in winter during initial cold engine startup.owners will either notice a fuel odor inside the occupant compartment or fuel odor/leakage at the fuel lines on the right side atop the engine. Once the engine has warmed, the odor/leakage may cease.subaru revised the fuel pipe/hose design for model year (my) 2003-04 wrx vehicles produced after august 2003.subaru also introduced a my 2004 impreza sti vehicle with a different engine and fuel pipe/hose layout.out of the total of 994 complaints, 944 concern my 2002-03 wrx vehicles built through august 2003.subaru also reports one fire on a my 2002 wrx vehicle that occurred in february 2006.in march 200
Fuel line leakage in engine compartment
Summary
Subaru reports that the fuel odor is caused by fuel seepage during cold start of the engine under extremely cold temperatures. The leak occurs in a fuel line in the engine compartment.it reports that the failure is due to the misaligned angle between two fuel delivery lines which resulted in such fuel seepage during the first few seconds of cold engine start during these cold temperatures.subaru reports that the two fuel lines are connected with a hose that becomes too stiff in very cold temperatures to conform to the misalignment. Subaru has issued a technical service bulletin (subaru service bulletin number 09-36-03) to replace the fuel lines with new lines that are properly aligned and th
Questions about the 2003 Subaru Impreza
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Subaru Impreza?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (26 complaints, typically around 102,500 miles); brakes (14 complaints, typically around 11,000 miles); engine (5 complaints, typically around 115,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Subaru Impreza have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 6, 2011 (suspension). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Subaru Impreza?
- It is 16th of 27 Impreza model years by number of complaints, with 62 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.