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2004 Subaru Impreza Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 96 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Subaru Impreza, most often about the fuel system (39% of complaints, typically around 89,000 miles). It is 10th of 27 Impreza model years by number of complaints and has 8 recalls.
Most common 2004 Subaru Impreza problems
Fuel system
37 complaints · 39%Half of these problems showed up before 89,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery, fuel injection system.
Today's date is december 06, 2008. I started to smell a foul gas smell inside my cabin a few days ago. The smell has occurred since then. What seems to trigger the smell of gas is the cold start ups in temperature degrees of low 20's and below. The smell is extreme. It's enough to make sitting driving almost…
Upon cold starting the car there is a prominent raw fuel smell. It only seems to happen when temperatures outside are sub-freezing. The lower the temperature the worse the fuel smell becomes. After the car has warmed up the fuel smell goes away. It is very similar to the problem Subaru had with it's 02-03 imprezas…
Suspension
17 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 45,500 miles. Parts named most often: rear.
Rear struts (and possibly front) are making a clunking noise when car is driven at slow speeds. The noise is quite apparent and would not be items inside the trunk and/ or car.
I was driving on i190 in worchester ma merging into i290 when the lower control arm broke and the front end collapsed causing loss of control of the vehicle. At the Subaru dealer's the control arm and sub frame were found to be rusted clear through. There was a factory recall issued in 2011, which we were not informed…
Air bags
14 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 145,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
Subaru recall campaign wqr-53 NHTSA recall no. 15v-323 called the dealer three times to have it replace. No called back what or where do I go from here.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Impreza. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 15v32300 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would…
Transmission
9 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 12,000 miles. Parts named most often: manual transmission, clutch assembly, driveline, transfer case (4-wheel drive).
When the front wheels would slip, the sensor sent power to the rear wheels. This condition caused the rear wheels to spin out of control. The dealer was notified at this time.
Unable or difficult to place car in gear while driving on multiple occasions. First total failure occurred in roadway during rush hour traffic and left me stranded roadside. Second total failure occurred while exiting freeway and was able to eventually put car in gear after several minutes. Original dealer, regional…
Speed control
5 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: cables, cruise control.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Subaru Impreza. When the consumer sat in the vehicle with the emergency brake on, the vehicle took off on its own. In addition, the cruise control light illuminated intermittently. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in the recall for the cruise control. While the brake…
Engine
5 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
I was driving down a main road in boston when my engine caught on fire. As a result I ended up crashing into a snow bank. When I reported this to the dealership they said that they would look at the problem and fix it. When the car was inspected it was found to have aftermarket parts that are not d.o.t. Legal and no…
Brakes
5 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 21,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, supply.
2004 Subaru Impreza wrx - during braking, if a bump or rough piece of road is encountered, the brake pedal goes limp, drops to the floor, and brakes cease to function until pedal is released and brakes reapplied. Re-application of the brakes resume full functionality.
Hello, I've been having extreme problems with the antilock brake system in my 2004 Subaru Impreza wrx. It'll kick in at unneeded times, where I will lose control of the car and the car will continue to lurch forward. This can be a frightening experience, especially if there's a car in front of me. In the winter, I…
Visibility and wipers
4 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: windshield, sun/moon roof assembly.
Windshield started to crack from bottom (below the wipers) and travlled all the way to the right side when ever used fan to defog the windshield. Talked to dealer but refused warrenty coverage, stating impact below the windsheild wipers. I cannot see the so called impact but I have to fix the windsheild. This is a…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Subaru Impreza recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the passenger inflator and if necessary, install a new inflator kit, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed april 14, 2023. Owners may contact subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is wrf-23.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain 2004-2005 impreza and wrx vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General motors will notify saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began january 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the saab customer assistance center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is tkb-20.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 forester, 2003-2006 baja, 2004-2011 impreza, 2004-2014 wrx (including sti), 2003-2014 legacy and outback, and 2006 saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, and west virginia or "zone b." these vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General motors will notify saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began january 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the saab customer assistance center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is tka-20.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 forester, 2003-2006 baja, 2004-2011 impreza, 2004-2014 wrx (sti included), 2003-2014 legacy and outback, and 2005-2006 saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands or "zone a." these vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General motors will notify saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began january 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the saab customer assistance center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is tkc-20.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 forester, 2003-2006 baja, 2004-2011 impreza, 2004-2014 wrx (including sti), 2003-2014 legacy and outback, and 2005-2006 saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of alaska, colorado, connecticut, idaho, iowa, maine, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, montana, new hampshire, new york, north dakota, oregon, rhode island, south dakota, utah, vermont, washington, wisconsin, and wyoming or "zone c." these vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners and general motors will notify saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The subaru recall began on june 17, 2015. Owners may contact subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. The saab recall began on july 27, 2015. Owners of saab vehicles may call 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is wqr-53. Note: the recall completely supersedes recall 14v-399 (wql-48) and partially supersedes recall 14v-763 (wqp-51) in that model year 2004 through 2005 subaru impreza and model year 2005 saab 9-2x vehicles are now only par
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 subaru baja vehicles manufactured january 22, 2003, to july 21, 2004, 2004-2005 impreza vehicles manufactured january 28, 2003, to may 31, 2005, 2003-2008 subaru legacy vehicles manufactured january 22, 2003, to may 2, 2008, 2003-2008 subaru outback vehicles manufactured february 18, 2003, to may 5, 2008, and 2005 saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured february 11, 2004, to march 17, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.
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.
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: If leaking oil contacts components operating at high temperatures, a fire could result in the engine compartment.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and retighten the oil-flow control valve cover bolts. The recall began on october 8, 2004. Owners should contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, the cover bolts for the engine oil control valve may not be sufficiently tightened, allowing oil to leak from around the cover gasket.
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.
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
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
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
Questions about the 2004 Subaru Impreza
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Subaru Impreza?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (37 complaints, typically around 89,000 miles); suspension (17 complaints, typically around 45,500 miles); air bags (14 complaints, typically around 145,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Subaru Impreza have?
- 8 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 13, 2023 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Subaru Impreza?
- It is 10th of 27 Impreza model years by number of complaints, with 96 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.