2005 Subaru Impreza
The Verdict
The 2005 Subaru Impreza has 75 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (30 complaints) and engine (23 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 80/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Subaru Impreza, consider the 2023 model year which has 94% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2023 has 94% fewer complaints
View the 2023 Subaru Impreza dashboard →
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.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 10 |
| 2001 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | 86 | 59 | 8 | 121 | 24 |
| 2003 | 12 | 14 | 6 | 32 | 0 |
| 2004 | 29 | 6 | 14 | 39 | 8 |
| 2005 | 30 | 6 | 11 | 23 | 5 |
| 2006 | 6 | 6 | 21 | 18 | 5 |
| 2007 | 11 | 6 | 30 | 14 | 7 |
| 2008 | 45 | 9 | 49 | 46 | 59 |
| 2009 | 21 | 7 | 20 | 35 | 28 |
| 2010 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 15 | 4 |
| 2011 | 14 | 4 | 24 | 11 | 4 |
| 2012 | 35 | 12 | 113 | 61 | 21 |
| 2013 | 40 | 18 | 91 | 79 | 18 |
| 2014 | 27 | 4 | 48 | 21 | 8 |
| 2015 | 33 | 3 | 20 | 12 | 11 |
| 2016 | 32 | 6 | 20 | 5 | 12 |
| 2017 | 44 | 6 | 51 | 18 | 4 |
| 2018 | 61 | 3 | 65 | 11 | 0 |
| 2019 | 87 | 7 | 71 | 12 | 4 |
| 2020 | 70 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| 2021 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Compare Against
See how the 2005 Subaru Impreza stacks up against rivals.
Complaints
The dealership is refusing to fix my car free of charge on a recall they confirmed would be able to do and now they are refusing to do it due to price and have made me wait two months for this to be the answer while also not giving me any sort of pay for the inconvenience of waiting for so long, while also having already ordering the parts and they have decided to decline my recall repair
In April 2022 hood latch malfunctioned and caused hood to open while driving on interstate. Caused damage to Hood, Fenders, Windshield and Roof. I was able to get stopped safely without injury.
goodyear all season f1 p225/45 ZR 17 psgr right sidewall looks like a few chunks are missing and some tread from tire to sidewall is peeling
The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while her son was driving and approaching a stop sign, he heard an abnormal noise which caused him to lose control of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to park on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to her residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and was informed the recall was completed by the previous owner on 12/10/2011. The failure mileage was approximately 199,000.
THE KEY INTERMITTENTLY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE GEARSTICK IS SET IN THE 'PARK' POSITION. THE CAR CAN BE TURNED OFF, BUT THE KEY CANNOT BE MOVED FORWARD INTO THE #1 POSITION (LOCK/OFF) AND CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION IN THE #2 POSITION (ACCESSORY). THIS SCENARIO RETAINS THE ELECTRICAL IN THE 'ON' POSITION WHICH POTENTIALLY DRAINS THE BATTERY AND FORCES THE DRIVER TO INDEFINITELY REMAIN WITH THE VEHICLE TO AVOID A DEAD BATTERY AND/OR VEHICLE THEFT. SUBARU HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS ISSUE IN SERVICE BULLETIN 16-112-18R (NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10155220). THE SUMMARY IS AS FOLLOWS: 'THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES A DESIGN CHANGE TO THE CVT SELECT LEVER (SHIFTER) MECHANISM IN RESPONSE TO ISOLATED CUSTOMER CONCERNS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. THE CAUSE IS CONTAMINATION OF THE PARK-RANGE SWITCH INTERNAL COMPONENTS.' MANY CONSUMERS BELIEVE THAT IF THIS PROBLEM WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO REQUIRE A REDESIGN TO THE CVT (CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION), THEN IT IS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO REQUIRE A RECALL.' PLEASE NOTE THAT EVEN THOUGH YOUR INCIDENT REPORT FORM REQUIRES THE USER TO SELECT "ONE DATE" WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, THAT THIS INCIDENT IS ONLY THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OUT OF MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES. THE PROBLEM IS NOW ONGOING AND UNRESOLVED FROM THE REPORTED DATE FORWARD.
2005 SUBARU IMPREZA OUTBACK SPORT ON 8/23/2020 THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. UPON RETURNING HOME, THE BRAKE FLUID WAS CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE LOW. NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ON DRIVEWAY UNDER CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT USED UNTIL TAKING IT TO GOODYEAR FOR AN INSPECTION ON 8/27/2020. GOOD YEAR IDENTIFIED THAT THERE IS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE. THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR SUBARU'S FOR THIS ISSUE, ALTHOUGH THEY COULD NOT LOCATE IT FOR THIS VIN#. I CONTACTED SUBARU AND OPENED A CASE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THE CASE NUMBER IS [XXX]. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE (WQK-47). WHEN I QUESTIONED THAT IT APPEARS TO BE THE EXACT SAME PART THAT WAS AFFECTED BY THE RECALL IN OTHER CARS THAT YEAR, I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A SUBARU DEALER FOR EVALUATION. THE DEALER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTACTING SUBARU REGARDING THE ISSUE. THE CAR WILL BE TOWED TO SUBARU IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO FOR EVALUATION. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JS PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
WHILE MY SON WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, HIS PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED IN 2. HE STRUGGLED TO GET IT EVEN BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY. I RAN THE VIN NUMBER AND IT DOES NO SHOW THAT THIS CAR HAS A RECALL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. DOES THIS MEAN IT WAS ALREADY DONE? OR IS THIS CAR NOT COVERED FOR THE RECALL?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, SHE HEARD A SNAP IN THE ENGINE THAT CAUSED HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S FATHER'S HOME WHERE HE DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000(SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH VIC BAILEY MAZDA SUBARU (400 E DANIEL MORGAN AVE, SPARTANBURG, SC 29302, (864) 568-3338) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE NEEDS ADDED TO THE SAFETY RECALL: WQK47. NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 14V311000. I OWN A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA RS. DRIVING DOWN RESIDENTIAL STREET I LOST ALL BRAKE PRESSURE COMING TO A STOP. PROBLEM WAS FROM BRAKE LINE HAD LEAK FROM CORROSION. IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM AND EXACT SPOT DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL FOR WQK47. YES, I LIVE IN THE SALT BELT. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO MORE AND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU.
WHILE TURNING TO BACK INTO DRIVEWAY CONTROL ARM BROKE. IT IS RUSTED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARK MILLER SUBARU MIDTOWN AT (801) 268-3734 (3535 STATE ST, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84115) WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS REPLACED. SOON AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE CHARGED A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A YEARLY INSPECTION, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF TO THE SIDE, AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED HOME. THE CONTROL ARM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS RUSTED AND SNAPPED SNAPPED WHILE MY CAR WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT. MY CAR IS AFFECTED BY THE WVX34 FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM (TRANSVERSE LINK) CORROSION RECALL, WHICH WAS PERFORMED BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE CONTROL ARMS HAD ANTI-RUST SPRAY APPLIED AT THAT TIME, AND WERE NOT REPLACED. THE SPRAY WAS NOT EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING FURTHER DAMAGE. FORTUNATELY I WAS UNHARMED BECAUSE THE HIGHWAY WAS NOT VERY BUSY AND TRAFFIC WAS MINIMAL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT LOWER DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,260. ...UPDATED 12/06/16 *BF *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT SOME CODES NEEDED TO BE CLEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH A DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE IDLING FOR SOMETIME IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE RELEARN THE IDLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 10/28/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON JULY 31, 2016. UPDATED 11/02/16.*JB
TAKATA RECALL : I HAVE A 2005 SUBARU WRX WHICH HAS NOT BEEN SCHEDULE FOR THE RECALL, FOR OVER A YEAR. I HAVE BEEN USING THE CAR WITHOUT ALLOWING ANYONE TO SIT IN THE FRONT SEAT FOR A YEAR NOW, WAITING FOR THE RECALL TO BE SCHEDULE. I AM TIRED OF BEING INCONVENIENCED DUE TO THIS RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO VERIFIED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN JUNE OF 2015. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
MY CONCERN IS THE UNREASONABLE LENGTH OF TIME IT IS TAKING TO REMEDY THE JULY SAFETY RECALL. FOUR MONTHS NOW AND THE DEALER SIMPLY TELLS ME THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND MORE CARS ARE BEING RECALLED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM! UNTIL THE REPAIR IS PERFORMED, WE ARE ADVISED TO NOT ALLOW PASSENGERS TO RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. A FEW WEEKS OF NOT ALLOWING PASSENGERS IS ONE MATTER, FOUR MONTHS IS RIDICULOUS. AND THERE IS NO PROMISE OF REPAIR ANY TIME SOON. AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE FOR THE REPAIR ON 8/17 AND AFTER WAITING 2 1/2 HOURS I WAS ADVISED THEY HAD RUN OUT OF THE PARTS. THEY WERE EXPECTING MORE AND I WOULD BE CALLED BY WEDNESDAY OF THAT WEEK. HAVING NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY THE DEALER ON 9/3 I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA. GRANT NOBLE WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA CONTACTED THE DEALER AND ADVISED ME THE PART WAS EXPECTED IN VERY SOON. NOW, TWO MONTHS LATER, NO REMEDY!!! PERHAPS, YOU CAN ALLOW THE AIRBAG TO BE DISABLED SINCE NO PASSENGERS ARE ALLOWED AS IT IS. CAN SUBARU PROVIDE ANOTHER VEHICLE OR COMPENSATE ME FOR THE INCONVENIENCE AND EXTRA EXPENSE OF DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE DURING THIS TIME? I WILL NEED THE AWD SUBARU WITH WINTER WEATHER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS), HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 12/03/15*LJ; UPDATED 4/9/18*JB THE CONSUMER STATED REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE ON OCTOBER 28, 2015. *TR
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