Menu

2003 Subaru ImprezaProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 62 owner complaints about the 2003 Subaru Impreza, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. It is covered by 6 safety recalls.

2003 Subaru Impreza
52
CarFlaw IndexSolid year7% below the Impreza median · #15 of 30 years by complaints
Safety recalls6Free fix at dealersOwner complaints6217 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage74kFuel system, gasoline, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 25, 2022. Updated daily. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2003 Subaru Impreza has problems

62 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Fuel system, gasoline133
Service brakes, hydraulic132
Fuel/propulsion system120
Engine and engine cooling40
Air bags43
Suspension30
Structure32
Visibility20
Power train10
9 other systems92

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

6 recalls

2003 Subaru Impreza recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Control arm: lower arm

Recall 11V-464 · Sep 6, 2011 · 318,215 vehicles

Risk. A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Tailgate: latch

Recall 08V-135 · Mar 24, 2008 · 36,791 vehicles

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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 2 more recalls
–no report yet

Vehicle speed control: cables

Recall 04V-128 · Mar 16, 2004 · 127,580 vehicles

Risk. IF THIS OCCURS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Power train: automatic transmission

Recall 02V-282 · Oct 30, 2002 · 172,564 vehicles

Risk. THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Subaru.

Best & worst years

2003 vs. every other Impreza year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Impreza median. How we score

'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2003 Subaru Impreza safety ratings

2003 Subaru Impreza Wagon 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2003 Subaru Impreza frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2003 Subaru Impreza side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Rollover: 4 stars (0.0% risk)
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
5 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2003 Subaru Impreza, and the recalls they led to.

  1. FUEL LINE LEAKEA09011 · closed Dec 14, 2009
    Led to recall 09V-468
  2. FUEL LINE LEAKAGE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENTPE04002 · closed May 27, 2004
    No recall
  3. FUEL LINE LEAKPE09017 · closed Jul 2, 2009
    No recall
  4. Front suspension control arm failurePE11011 · closed Sep 23, 2011
    Led to recall 11V-464
  5. Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · closed Mar 2, 2015
    Led to recall 14V-770
In owners' words

What Impreza owners report

Recent fuel system, gasoline complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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.…
Complaint 10564399 · Feb 14, 2014 · 101,800 miles
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…
Complaint 10294580 · Dec 5, 2009 · 99,850 miles
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA. IN FREEZING WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT COULD SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. THE ODOR WAS SO STRONG AS IF SOMEONE DOUSED THE VEHICLE IN GASOLINE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ORIGIN OF THE ODOR, BUT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE…
Complaint 10255327 · Jan 16, 2009 · 37,654 miles

Own a 2003 Impreza?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.