KnownCarProblems2003 Subaru Wrx Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 60 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Subaru Wrx, most often about the brakes (33% of complaints, typically around 9,500 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Wrx model year since 2000 and has 1 recall.
Most common 2003 Subaru Wrx problems
Brakes
20 complaints · 33%Half of these problems showed up before 9,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
Early ABS activation on rough or uneven surfaces (man hole covers, etc.) and following this a huge loss of braking force. Almost like the brakes completely failed until the pedal is released an reapplied which can take several seconds. This is not good when the car in front of me just stopped.
Loss of braking at low speeds on rough surfaces. When braking on an uneven patch on the roadway at approx 15mph ABS seemed to be activated hence reducing braking effectiveness. Also noticed the problem after running over a gentle speed bump at similar speed. This second instance caused what felt like a total loss of…
Fuel system
20 complaints · 33%Half of these problems showed up before 76,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
Raw fuel smell in passenger compartment of 2003 Subaru impreza Wrx, a known problem on 2002 Subaru impreza Wrx with fuel pipes/hoses/clamps. Dealers deny there is a problem for 2003 models.
1. Fuel leaks from the fuel rail when driving in cold weather. 2. Fuel leaks from fuel rail and rubber fuel line that is positioned under the intake manifold while operating in cold climate. This condition causes fuel to leak on to the hot engine causing smoke to rise from under the hood and possibly ignite raw fuel…
Engine
4 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: engine.
As I pulled into a parking space, the engine died and flames about 2' tall shot out from between the hood and cowl and out of the intercooler inlet in the center of the hood. The flames were followed by about 10 seconds of a huge smoke cloud. It took me about 90 seconds to get a fire extinguisher and get the fire put…
Took my vehicle in for routine maintenance when it was found to have a significant gas leak. Specifically the fuel rail had something like 16 leaks. While I never had an engine fire the possibility for that happening was very real. This is my family car, which I transport my children in. From reading other experiences…
Transmission
4 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: manual transmission, automatic transmission.
I have a 2003 Subaru impreza Wrx station wagon with an automatic transmission. The incident on january 19, 2004 is only one of at least five examples of the problem detailed below. Here is the recurring problem: whenever I brake at relatively low speeds (under 30mph as far as I remember) over even mildly bumpy…
I own a 2003 Subaru Wrx sedan with a manual transmission and quite often when shifting gears 2nd,3rd,4th and especialy in 5th gear it tends to not shift in gear(gets stuck) and grinds from time to time. This scares me when I get on the expressway and I have to shift gears to get in the flow of traffic I'm affraid that…
Visibility and wipers
3 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: windshield, windshield wiper/washer.
When using windshield wipers in the rain, driver side windshield wiper arm slides past area of windshield and gets stuck on side pillar. This has happened five times on the same trip while driving at speeds over 50 m.p.h. On freeway. Windshield wipers then become inoperable until wiper arm is freed from side pillar.…
Speed control
3 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: cruise control.
The cruise control unit on my car will cause the throttle to remain open, even if the cruise is turned off. This can result in anything from higher than normal idle to random instances of wide open, uncontrolled acceleration. The car has been to 2 different Subaru dealers for a total of 7 times over the course of 5…
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 Wrx recalls
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.
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
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
Extended stopping distances
Summary
During the ea, odi and vrtc performed the following activities:1.conducted a mail survey of 246 subject vehicle owners todetermine the roadway surface that caused owners' concern;2.interviewed complaining owners;3.conducted field inspections of seven (7) complaint vehicles;4.instrumented testing at vrtc of complaint and peer vehicles;5.reviewed subaru's response to our information request;6.met with subaru for technical review of testingas a result of the work conducted by vrtc and odi during this investigaiton, a consistent or chronic pattern of poor brake performance has not been identified.vrtc conducted over 11,500 brake tests.they did not observe any long-duration, low deceleration even
Braking system/ABS
Summary
Subaru's supplemental response of september 29, 2003, identified that the 2002, 2003 subaru wrx models areequipped with the bosch 5.3 ABS system, and identified that other model subaru vehicles are also equipped with the bosch 5.3 ABS system, but have different calibrations than the wrx model vehicles.subaru identified that changes were made in the ABS ecu to address a calibration logic issue when driving the vehicle with the spare tire mounted.subaru reported that both the ABS hydraulic unit and the ABS ecu were modified, and gave VIN numbers to identify the implementation of the modified units in production. Testing is underway to gain an understanding of the wrx vehicle performance during
Questions about the 2003 Subaru Wrx
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Subaru Wrx?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (20 complaints, typically around 9,500 miles); fuel system (20 complaints, typically around 76,000 miles); engine (4 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Subaru Wrx have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 4, 2009 (fuel system). 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 Wrx?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Wrx model year since 2000, with 60 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.