2011 SUBARU IMPREZA Complaints

National Highway Traffic Safety Admin March 9, 2026 I am submitted a vehicle safety complaint regarding a 2011 Subaru that I recently purchased on [XXX]. I purchased a used 2011 Subaru Impreza from Clear Cut Auto {241 S Dupont Hghwy – New Castle, DE 1920 (302-322-2050) on [XXX] for $5,147.04. The dealership person name was Erika Fernandez which reported the car was recently dropped of by a female owner a few days ago. The dealership issued temporary tags on the vehicle with the registration. The vehicle was sold as “as is”. Within three (3) days of purchase the vehicle On Sunday [XXX] while my [XXX] son was driving on a major highway, the vehicle suddenly showed a engine light which blink on and immediately went out. Thereafter, the car started smoking and was engulfed in flames ie: caught on fire. I am grateful that my [XXX] son was able to exit the vehicle safely and quickly to avoid injury. The car was completely destroyed by the result of the fire internally and externally. This created a serious life-threatening safety situation for my [XXX] son, which had to exit the vehicle quickly to avoid injury. Multiple people on the highway witnessed the fire. I am concerned that the vehicle sold to me by Clean Cut Auto (owner Lonnie and dealer Erika Fernandez) may have had a serious pre-existing defect involving the engine, electrical system or fuel system that caused the fire while the vehicle was being driven. I am submitting this complaint so that the incident can be investigated as a potential safety defect involving this vehicle model. 2011 Subaru Impreza VIN# [XXX] Fire Date: [XXX] Registration: [XXX] Location: [XXX] – [XXX] from [XXX] 3.04 miles from New Castle Municipality Police Report [XXX] Cpl Diprima -Troop 2 State Police 302-834-2620 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50-55 MPH, the sunroof exploded without impact. The contact was able to pull over safely. There were no reported injuries. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 92,860.

The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V738000 (Electrical System). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 84,000.

2011 Subaru WRX STI would not start, the fuel pump connector power pin on the fuel pump melted also burned the connector. Gas now is entering the fuel pump connecter. This is a fire hazard.

I experienced a sudden acceleration issue when parking my car in January 2020. As I was pulling into my parking spot and removed my foot from the gas pedal to the brake the gas pedal quickly went all the way to the floor and the car sped forward despite the fact that my foot was on the brake. The car was stopped by a large pile of snow. There was some damage to the bumper. Took the car to the dealership and was told they couldn't find any issue with the car. The problem only happened once to mee but I read of similar things happening with other makes and models of Subarus so I wanted to report it.

THE GAS TANK IS SLOWLY LEAKING NEAR THE SEAM DUE TO CORROSION FROM SALT AND MOISTURE BEING CAUGHT UP IN THERE FROM THE SAME PLASTIC GAS TANK COVER WITH HOLES IN IT THAT CAUSED THE BRAKE LINE CORROSION RECALL. LEAKS WHEN IT IS OVER HALF FULL.

TAKATA RECALL, BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILURE. WE LIVE IN A SMALL ALASKAN BUSH TOWN CALLED DILLINGHAM THAT'S NOT ON THE ROAD SYSTEM. WE (MYSELF AND AROUND 30+ OTHER RESIDENTS) HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET SUBARU TO SEND A TECHNICIAN OUT FOR 2 YEARS NOW TO FIX OUR DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS. JUST TODAY WE RECEIVED A RECALL FOR OUR BRAKE LAMP SWITCH. WE CANNOT SIMPLY 'GO TO A DEALER'S AS THERE IS NONE. WE'D HAVE TO SEND OUR CAR AS FREIGHT TO ANCHORAGE (WHICH COSTS THOUSANDS AND CAN TAKE UPWARDS OF A MONTH) AND MOST OF THE TOWN CANNOT AFFORD TO DO SO. WE EVEN HAVE A FACEBOOK GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO NEED RECALLED CARS FIXED FROM SUBARU, HONDA AND TOYOTA. WE'VE BEEN CALLING AND WRITING FOR 2 YEARS AND NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN DONE. WE'RE JUST TOLD THAT 'THEYLL SEND SOMEONE OUT'. SOMEONE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE KILLED BY A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG OR IN AN ACCIDENT JUST TO GET THESE ISSUES FIXED.

3 TIMES MY ENGINE HAS NEEDED A SHORT BLOCK REPLACEMENT. I HAVE BROUGHT CAR IN FOR ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND HAVE CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3500-4000 MILES. THE FIRST ENGINE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 26,250 MI. I NOTICED A KNOCKING SOUND AND BROUGHT TO SUBARU DEALER. DIAGNOSIS: "BEARING DAMAGE TO CONNECTING ROD BEARING FOR CYLINDER 2." SHORT BLOCK REPLACED, UNDER WARRANTY. (SEE DOCS) 2ND INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 51,232 MILES. THIS TIME THERE WAS NO WARNING AND I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. TOWED TO A SUBARU DEALER. NO DIAGNOSIS WAS GIVEN AT THAT TIME BUT SHORT BLOCK WAS AGAIN REPLACED. THIS TIME I HAD TO PAY FOR THE TEARDOWN ($222) BUT SUBARU, AFTER NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS AGREED TO DO THE WORK AS A "GOOD WILL GESTURE." (SEE DOCS) THE 3RD & LAST MALFUNCTION OCCURRED AT 58,700 MILES, A MERE 7,000 MILES SINCE THE LAST ENGINE WAS REPLACED. AGAIN, I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND WITH A MOMENTS NOTICE (REDUCTION IN POWER) THE ENGINE SEIZED. IT WAS SHEER LUCK THAT I WAS NOT KILLED TRYING TO MOVE OVER 6 LANES WITH NO POWER OR STEERING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. TOWED TO A SUBARU DEALER. I DO NOT HAVE ANY PAPERWORK FROM THIS LAST INCIDENT. SUBARU SAID THEY WOULD PAY FOR ENTIRE REPAIR. BUT BEFORE I COULD MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION, I ASKED FOR WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION OF THE PROBLEM, CAUSE AND A DETAILED REPAIR DESCRIPTION. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION & DID NOT GIVE CONSENT TO REPAIR CAR. JUST GOT A CALL FROM THE DEALER SAYING CAR WAS REPAIRED AND READY FOR PICKUP. THE ONLY INFORMATION I HAVE REGARDING THIS LAST SEIZURE WAS FROM A SUBARU OF AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICES REP WHO VERBALLY TOLD ME THAT "THE CYLINDER 4 ROD WAS THROWN." THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WHEN A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 58000 MILES NEEDS 3 ENGINES. I REFUSE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. I WILL NOT JEOPARDIZE MY LIFE AND OF THOSE AROUND ME.

TAKATA RECALL: PER THE NOTIFICATION I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL, I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO HAVE THE NECESSARY WORK PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS FARRISH SUBARU IN FAIRFAX, VA. I SCHEDULED MY APPOINTMENT LAST NIGHT FOR MARCH 25. I RECEIVED TWO EMAILS TODAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THE FIRST ADVISED ME THAT THEY HAD CANCELED MY APPOINTMENT. THE SECOND STATED THAT THEY PLANNED ON SCHEDULING ALL RECALL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY, ALMOST TWO MONTHS FROM NOW, WHICH SEEMS LIKE AN UNACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO WAIT. I DO NOT HAVE ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION READILY AVAILABLE AND I FREQUENTLY HAVE PASSENGERS RIDING IN MY CAR. I HAVE ATTACHED SCREENSHOTS OF THE EMAILS I RECEIVED FROM FARRISH SUBARU.

RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH BUT DEALERSHIP (SUBARU WAKEFIELD) HAS SAID THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS AND HAVE NO PLANS. I'VE ASKED FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE UNTIL THIS SAFETY ISSUE CAN BE ADDRESSED AND I WAS DENIED. I WANT MY CAR REPAIRED OR REPLACED WITH A LOANER.