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KLUNK
KLUNK

2001 Subaru Impreza

The Verdict

98 Smooth Ride

The 2001 Subaru Impreza has 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (4 complaints) and brakes (3 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 98/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Subaru Impreza, consider the 2023 model year which has 63% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2023 has 63% fewer complaints

View the 2023 Subaru Impreza dashboard →

98

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20001843610
200143310
20028659812124
200312146320
200429614398
200530611235
20066621185
200711630147
2008459494659
2009217203528
20101358154
201114424114
201235121136121
20134018917918
201427448218
2015333201211
201632620512
201744651184
201861365110
201987771124
2020705730
2021101111
202261113
202330010
2024164432
202510111

By Category

Body
4
Brakes
3
Electrical
3
Engine
1

By Severity

1
4
2
2
4
5

Worst Problems

Compare Against

See how the 2001 Subaru Impreza stacks up against rivals.

Complaints

Engine 2

THE CAR HAS A GAS ODOR IN CABIN WHEN STARTED IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THE SMELL WILL GO AWAY AFTER A LITTLE WHILE. JUDGING UPON HOW MANY ARTICLES I HAVE READ , THIS IS A PROBLEM. WHY HAVE THEY NOT EXPANDED THEIR RECALL?

128mo ago
Electrical 4

TL* - THE CONSUMER BLACKED OUT AND DOESN'T REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER HIT A GUARD RAIL POST AND THEN TWO TREES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE OF FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG FAILED NOT TO DEPLOY. UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

237mo ago
Electrical 4

I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHEN A WOMAN FELL ASLEEP AND HIT ME HEAD ON. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

245mo ago
Body 2

DRIVING ALONG THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH, THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS THE INTERIOR SIDEWALL WHERE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. I NOTICED THAT IN THE SPECIFIC LOCATION OF THE FAILURE, THE SIDEWALL WAS EXTREMELY SOFT; UNLIKE THE REST OF THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN BACK TO COSTCO; BUT THEY REFUSED TO ACCEPT THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE. THE TIRE HAD 25,000 MILES ON IT; DRIVEN CONSERVATIVELY. I DO STILL HAVE THE FAILED TIRE, AND TWO OTHER TIRES JUST LIKE IT ARE STILL ON THE CAR. THE TIRE IS A BRIDGESTONE POTENZA 205/55R16 91W, ULTRA HIGH PERFORMANCE. *NM

246mo ago
Brakes 1

AFTER READING ABOUT INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE SUBARU WRX ABS PROBLEMS, I NOW FEEL LIKE THE ISSUE IS BROADER THAN THE NHTSA RECALL SUGGESTS. I DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A SITE TO FILE THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT.*AK I DRIVE A 2001 SUBARU IMPREZA 2.5RS. THE ABS SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE INCREDIBLY SENSITIVE TO SMALL BUMPS AND UNDULATIONS IN THE ROAD. IF THE CAR HITS A BUMP WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED, THE ABS SYSTEM BEGINS PUMPING THE BRAKE WHICH CAUSES, IN MY OPINION, LENGTHENED STOPPING DISTANCES AND A FEELING OF LACK OF CONTROL OVER THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM IS EASILY DUPLICATED.

276mo ago
Electrical 1

FOR SOME REASON, THE FACTORY ANTI-THEFT DEVICE HAS CUT OFF THE STARTER AND IT WOULD NOT LET ME START THE CAR. WHEN I TURN THE KEY TO "START", THE ENGINE DOES NOT TRY TO TURN OVER AT ALL. WHEN I OPEN THE HOOD, I CAN HEAR A QUIET HIGH-PITCH NOISE WHEN KEY IS TURNED TO "START", AND THAT'S ALL. ALL THE ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS STEREO, RADAR DETECTOR, WORK FINE WHEN KEY IS IN "ON" POSITION. I HAVE TO HOLD DOWN THE OVERRIDE SWITCH TO START MY CAR. FURTHERMORE, THE REMOTE ENTRY/ANTI-THEFT DEVICE HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DISABLED. TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE "BRAIN" OF THE ALARM SYSTEM, OR THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT'S SIMPLY DEAD. *LA

276mo ago
Body 4

THE REAR WHEEL BEARING REPEATIDLY FAILED. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED TEN TIMES. THE VEHOICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT RELATED TO THE FAULT BEARING. *AK *CB *NLM

280mo ago
Brakes 4

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM OVER REACTS. HAD TO AVOID ACCIDENTS MANY TIMES WHEN CRUISING TO STOP AND HITTING EITHER A DIP,SMALL OR LARGE POTHOLE,SLIGHT IMPERFECTION IN ROAD SERVICE WILL CAUSE ABS TO ENGAGE (BRAKE PETAL DOPS AND ABS STARTS) ESPECIALLY ON DOWNHILL BREAKING. I WILL INCLUDE 1 INCIDENT DATE BECAUSE THAT IS ALL YOU WILL ALLOW ME TO DO ON THE FORM. PROBLEM IS REPEATABLE AND HAPPENS OFTEN (2-3 TIMES A WEEK) I KNOW THIS IS NOT JUST MY CAR OR A PROBLEM RELATED TO ONLY MY CAR IT IS ALREADY KNOWN, SUBARU KNOWS OF PROBLEM. YET DOES NOT OFFER A SAFE SOLUTION. I ACTUALLY FOUND THIS OUT THE HARD WAY 2 MONTHS AFTER GETTING MY NEW CAR THE RS MODEL.NO INJURIES LUCKILY. FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM SUBARU CLUBS THIS HAPPENS WITH OTHER MODEL YEARS AS WELL. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS BEEN VERY STUBBORN TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. *NLM

281mo ago
Body 1

TIRE FAILURE. *AK

301mo ago
Brakes 1

THE BRAKE ROTORS HAVE SURFACE IMPERFECTIONS WHICH CAUSES INCOMPLETE BRAKE SHOE CONTACT TO THE ROTOR AND CONCENTRIC GROOVES IN THE ROTOR. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM WRX OWNERS OF THE SAME PROBLEM, AS WELL AS REPORTS OF BRAKE SHOES WEARING OUT BEFORE 5000 MILES AND GRINDING NOISES. SUBARU HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND CHOOSES TO USE THE EXCUSE "IT IS ONLY A PROBLEM OF APPEARANCE" WHEN IN FACT THE ROTORS, A VITAL PIECE OF A MAJOR SAFETY COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE. WE DEMAND A RECALL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE ROTORS. SUBARU'S FLIPPANT AND RIDICULOUS ATTITUDE IS IRRESPONSIBLE. PLEASE FORCE THEM TO FIX THIS OBVIOUS MECHANICAL DEFECT.*AK

302mo ago
Body 4

FIRST OFF THE ROADS WERE WET FROM A PREVIOUS RAIN AND THERE WAS NO STANDING WATER. I WAS TURNING A LEFT HAND CORNER FROM 3040 ONTO SERVICE ROAD OF I-35E SOUTH. WHILE IN THE TURN I HYDRO PLANED INTO THE CURB. I CALLED FOR A WRECKER AND WHILE LOADING THE CAR I'VE FOUND THAT 2 OF THE 4 TIRES WERE PUT ON BACKWARDS. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND THE LEFT REAR. THERE IS A ROTATION ARROW ON THEM. I CALLED B.F GOODRICH AND THEY SAID THAT THE TIRE BEING PUT ON BACKWARDS COULD HINDER THE RAIN SHEDDING OF THE TIRE. HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRES ON BACKWARDS AND A ESTIMATE OF THE DAMAGE.*AK (TIRESIZE: 235/50ZR16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/50ZR16 )

308mo ago
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