2011 Subaru Impreza Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2011 Impreza most often describe airbag recall repairs that took a long time because parts were unavailable or appointments were scheduled far out. Other frequent themes are clutch wear and clutch pedal movement, sudden loss of engine power or internal engine failure, airbags that did not deploy in some crashes, and fuel leaks or fumes. Clutch complaints mostly come between about 25,000 and 50,000 miles, while engine complaints are more often reported at low mileage.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag recall repairs delayed by parts or scheduling

   • 15 complaints (26%)
   • median 32,387 mi at 4.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2014–2023

   Owners describe receiving an airbag inflator recall notice but being told the replacement parts were unavailable, or that the repair date was weeks or months away. Some say an appointment was cancelled and moved to a much later date, and others say the dealer gave no timeline. A report says the front passenger seat could not be used for a long time while waiting, and another says the car was held from shipment while the recall remedy was pending. Most of these complaints do not list mileage; the one that does reports about 55,000 miles.

   Recall 16V358000Recall 17V014000Recall 18V012000Recall 19V007000Recall 19V008000Recall 19V009000Recall 20V001000Recall 20V002000Recall 20V003000

   What to check: Ask the seller for proof that the recall repair was done. A recall lookup by vehicle identification number shows whether any recall remains open.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall - recall status: recall incomplete. Remedy not yet available this is completely ridiculous, looks like I am putting myself and anyone in my car in harms way if I drive this car. What can I do ? What should I do ?”

   NHTSA complaint #10898732, filed 2016-08, 55,000 miles

   “Takata recall. After informing me in july 2016 that the airbag has been recalled, Subaru has still not repaired the defect and will not give a timeline on when the parts will be available. I know that other people with subarus have been able to get theirs repaired in a timely manner, but I have now gone over 14 months without the use of my front, passenger side seat. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11024719, filed 2017-09
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Clutch wear, slipping, or pedal bracket movement

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • median 32,193 mi at 4.1 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2013–2016

   Owners describe a clutch that slips, wears out, or does not engage or disengage properly, along with a clutch pedal that creaks or moves when pressed. Some say the spot welds holding the pedal bracket to the firewall broke or pulled loose. A report describes a clutch master cylinder that leaked fluid and left the clutch unusable. Some say a shop offered to re-weld the firewall mount, which they describe as expensive. Most reported between about 25,000 and 50,000 miles, with a few at about 7,000 and 92,000 miles.

   What to check: Press the clutch pedal and check for creaks or movement at the firewall mount, and ask whether the clutch has been replaced. On a test drive, check for slipping under load such as on a hill, and ask for records of any clutch or master cylinder repair.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2011 Subaru Impreza wrx hatch- master clutch cylinder failure-pressed clutch to the floor and put in first gear. Clutch did not return and stayed to floor. Hydraulic fluid leaked out of the bottom of the master clutch cylinder. Car was moving and could not get out of gear. Clutch was unusable to get out of gear due to fluid loss. Had to stall car to shut off-very dangerous...luckily I was in my driveway during occurrence-shifted from reverse to 1st gear that's when the clutch failed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10816933, filed 2015-12, 92,000 miles

   “The clutch pedal on my 2011 sti makes a loud creaking noise every time it's depressed. When I investigated the noise, I noticed that the entire clutch pedal bracket assembly (attached to the forward firewall) shifts approx 1/4 inch every time the clutch pedal is depressed. I found that the three spot welds securing the clutch pedal bracket to the forward firewall were broken. From the outside of the firewall, just under the windshield wipers, I saw the spot welds pulling away from the firewall every time the clutch pedal was depressed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10562557, filed 2014-02, 26,900 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Sudden power loss or internal engine failure

   • 10 complaints (17%)
   • median 26,250 mi at 3.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2026

   Owners describe the engine suddenly losing power, in some cases after smoke or a knocking noise. Some report internal damage, including bearing or piston ring problems that led to a short block replacement, and another describes the engine seizing on the highway. According to the complaints, some short block repairs were done under warranty, while another owner says the dealer charged for the work, and a separate report says the dealer could not duplicate the power loss. Often reported at low mileage, mostly under about 30,000 miles, though another report is near 78,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the engine has had a short block or other internal repair, and request the records. During a test drive, watch for smoke, knocking, or sudden loss of power at highway speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1. Was driving the car and it started to smoke like crazy, and lost power while in the middle of traffic. 2. I had an engine failure, almost 75% of these cars are having the same issue 3. Brought it in for work and the dealer made me pay for it because Subaru didn't want to warranty the car!”

   NHTSA complaint #10418166, filed 2011-08, 5,000 miles

   “The car is a 2011 Subaru wrx sti. As far as I can tell nothing LED up to the failure. It was fine one day, then failed the next. The failure was broken piston ring lands on the #2 and #4 pistons in the engine. The consequences were that I needed to replace the short block of the engine along with all associated parts like new pistons. Subaru replaced the short block and all associated parts under warranty, including new pistons and rings.”

   NHTSA complaint #10418364, filed 2011-08, 4,600 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying; passenger sensing faults

   • 10 complaints (17%)
   • median 43,500 mi at 4.7 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2019

   Owners describe crashes in which the airbags did not deploy, including a front impact into a concrete barrier where a seat belt also did not lock. Other reports describe the passenger airbag status light showing the airbag as off with someone seated, or a passenger sensor that did not detect an adult until the passenger bounced in the seat. According to the complaints, the status light problem was intermittent. Crash reports range from about 10,900 to 110,000 miles, and the passenger sensor reports give no mileage.

   What to check: With the engine running, check whether the passenger airbag status light changes correctly when an adult sits in the passenger seat, and ask whether any airbag warning has been diagnosed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Wearing my seat belt, I was driving up a hill going 50 MPH and rear ended an SUV in front of me and side swiped another car on the drivers side. Both front tires busted, hood smashed in, both head light broken out, windshield wiper fluid container completely on ground, motor pushed back into the transmission, bent frame, everything under the hood of my car was pushed back, doors jammed shut and not a single air bag deployed. No air bags deployed, no powder came out, nothing. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11075801, filed 2018-03, 110,000 miles

   “The driver was the only occupant in my vehicle. My vehicle was traveling straight through a controlled intersection. A vehicle approaching from the opposite direction attempted to turn left directly in front of me, causing the collision. My vehicle struck the other vehicle at almost a perfect 90 degree angle, causing extensive damage to the front of my vehicle, including destroying the bumper/bumper cover, front grill, headlights, radiator/AC condenser, both front fenders, hood, etc. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10502123, filed 2013-03, 12,000 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Fuel leaks, fumes, and fill-up spray-back

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 46,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe fuel leaking from the tank near a seam, which the complaint attributes to corrosion from salt and moisture. Another report describes leaks in freezing weather when the tank is mostly full, with a puddle under the car and strong fumes inside it. A report says fuel squirted back during refuelling and mentions eye burns from the spray. A further report says the car would not start after a fuel pump connector melted and fuel reached it. Where mileage is given, reports fall between about 44,000 and 70,000 miles, and the leak descriptions mention cold weather or a fuller tank.

   What to check: Look for fuel odor, wet spots, or staining under the tank and near the filler, especially after cold weather. Ask whether any fuel tank or fuel pump connector repair has been done, and request the records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “3 times this month had to take my Subaru to dealer because my car was not accepting gas in the tank. It would squirt every gallon back at me each incident that this occurred. I had to suffer severe eye burns twice due too the gasoline hitting me directly in the face. Thank god a fire did not start. Now I have to take to the dealer again because problem still not solved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10615880, filed 2014-07, 46,000 miles

   “Beginning last winter, a strange and dangerous problem started with my Subaru. Whenever the outside temperature is cold (below freezing) and the gas tank is three quarters full or more, the gas tank leaks. If the car is parked for a few hours or more, the gas appears as a puddle on the ground (about 8 inches in diameter) and the fumes fill the interior of the car. If the car is parked in our attached garage, the fumes make their way into our home overnight. The odor is strong! This, in my opinion, is extremely dangerous. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10935053, filed 2016-12, 44,000 miles

Buying note. Before buying, ask whether the airbag recall repair has been completed and request service records for the clutch and engine. A pre-purchase inspection can also check for fuel odor around the tank and filler.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 50 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.