Subaru Impreza Fuel System, Gasoline Problems
Owners have filed 149 complaints with NHTSA about fuel system, gasoline problems on the Subaru Impreza across 15 model years. The 2002 model year has the most (88). The words owners use most often: “fuel smell” (23% of reports).
- 149fuel system, gasoline complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- 28%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Fuel smell: mentioned in 35 of 149 complaints (23%)
- Cold weather: mentioned in 33 of 149 complaints (22%)
- Service bulletin: mentioned in 16 of 149 complaints (11%)
- Passenger compartment: mentioned in 11 of 149 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do fuel system, gasoline problems happen?
Based on 121 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 149 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 4 an injury.
Subaru Impreza fuel system, gasoline complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel System, Gasoline complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Impreza | 3 | 2% | 11,000 |
| 2013 Impreza | 1 | 0% | 3,200 |
| 2012 Impreza | 5 | 2% | 22,406 |
| 2009 Impreza | 3 | 3% | 14,000 |
| 2008 Impreza | 2 | 1% | 59,500 |
| 2007 Impreza | 1 | 1% | 43,213 |
| 2006 Impreza | 3 | 5% | 64,000 |
| 2005 Impreza | 8 | 11% | 92,715 |
| 2004 Impreza | 13 | 14% | 55,500 |
| 2003 Impreza | 13 | 21% | 74,000 |
| 2002 Impreza | 88 | 30% | 60,000 |
| 2000 Impreza | 2 | 5% | 93,000 |
| 1999 Impreza | 1 | 5% | 80,000 |
| 1996 Impreza | 1 | 5% | — |
| 1995 Impreza | 5 | 11% | 134,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Model years: 2019
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.
Risk: If the low pressure fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-20.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Model years: 2017
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017 Impreza vehicles. Winter fuels may vaporize prematurely in the fuel line, resulting in a reduction in fuel pressure, possibly causing the engine to stall.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the engine control unit to turn the radiator cooling fan on at a lower temperature, free of charge. The recall began on April 20, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2738. Subaru's number for this recall is WTP-75.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Model years: 2002, 2003
Problem: 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.
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH, the vehicle began to hesitate without warning. The contact then stated that while at a stop light, the vehicle stalled upon the depression of the accelerator pedal with the traction control symbol flashing on the…
The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with an unknown code for the throttle body. The vehicle was not…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT METRO WEST SUBARU (948 WORCESTER ST, NATICK, MA 01760, [redacted]) PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V216000 (FUEL SYSTEM GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,304. *BF. *TR
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 subaru impreza. When starting the vehicle, it idled strangely. There were no warning indicators illuminated during the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (ocean subaru of fullerton, 1100 euclid st, fullerton, ca 92832), but the failure could not be diagnosed…
Driving home on 12/11/16, the check engine, vehicle dynamics control, and cruise control indicators came on simultaneously. Check engine and vdc indicators were steady, but cruise control was blinking. The next morning when i started the car, the problem was still there so i immediately went to…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Subaru Imprezas have fuel system, gasoline problems?
No. NHTSA has 149 owner complaints about fuel system, gasoline for the Subaru Impreza. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Subaru Impreza fuel system, gasoline?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list fuel system, gasoline. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about fuel system, gasoline problems on the Subaru Impreza?
The most frequent phrase is “fuel smell”, in 35 of 149 complaints, followed by “cold weather” (33).
Other Subaru Impreza problems
- Air Bags problems (449)
- Power Train problems (288)
- Engine problems (263)
- Electrical System problems (231)
- Exterior Lighting problems (202)
- Visibility/wiper problems (201)
- Suspension problems (156)
- Service Brakes problems (132)
See all Subaru Impreza problems.