RecallMyCar

2003 Subaru Impreza Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 2003 Subaru Impreza, and owners have filed 62 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

6
safety recalls
62
owner complaints to NHTSA
8 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire
20–21
MPG combined (EPA)

6 safety recalls for the 2003 Subaru Impreza

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Suspension: lower arm

    NHTSA 11V464000 Reported 318,215 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    Subaru is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 impreza, model year 2003-2008 forester, and model year 2005-2006 saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured from september 5, 2000 through november 26, 2007 originally sold, or currently registered in, massachusetts, maryland, michigan, new hampshire, new york, pennsylvania, vermont, wisconsin,…

    Remedy: Subaru will handle their vehicles and saab will handle theirs. Dealers will inspect the degree of corrosion of the front lower control arms, and will either rustproof or replace them. This service will be performed…

  2. Fuel pump (fuel system)

    NHTSA 09V468000 Reported 5,724 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    Subaru is recalling certain model year 2002 and 2003 impreza wrx vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of south dakota, nebraska, north dakota, minnesota, idaho, iowa, montana, colorado, wisconsin, new york, wyoming, michigan, alaska, new hampshire, vermont, and maine. During cold starts, typically under…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel line free of charge. The recall began on december 31, 2009. Owners may contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.

  3. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

    NHTSA 08V135000 Reported 36,791 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    Subaru is recalling 36,791 my 2002-2003 impreza wagons. The stud bolt(s) of rear gate stay may have been tightened with insufficient tightening torque and a gap may have resulted between the rear gate panel and stud bolt base. After repeated rear gate operations (opening and closing), the rear gate inner panel at the welding nut may…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect to see if there is any gap at the stud bolt of the rear gate stay installation. If a gap is found, the stud bolt will be removed to check for damage to the welding nut. If the weld nut is cracked,…

  4. Seats

    NHTSA 04V342000 Reported 84,574 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    On certain sedan and wagon model vehicles, the left front bolt that retains the forward part of the driver's seat to the seat slide rail may loosen. If the seat slide rail bolt loosens, it will eventually fall out, and the seat may separate from the seat slide.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new left hand driver's seat rail mounting bolt. The recall began on august 20, 2004. Owners should contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.

  5. Cables (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 04V128000 Reported 127,580 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    On certain passenger sedans, wagons, and sport utility vehicles, the cruise control cable could come out of its track on the cruise control lever and lodge on the control lever tab when the accelerator pedal is released. If this condition occurs, the throttle will not return to the idle position and will remain in an open position.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a cruise control cable retaining clip to the cruise control lever tab on the throttle shaft in order to prevent the cruise control cable from coming out of its track. Owner notification began on…

  6. Automatic transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 02V282000 Reported 172,564 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    Certain sport utility and passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions were produced with an improperly manufactured transmission parking rod. When the transmission selector lever is placed in the "p" (park) position, the transmission park mechanism, that is intended to hold your vehicle, may not engage.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission parking rod assembly. Owner notification january 8, 2003. An interim owner notification will be sent during november 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized…

62 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2003 Subaru Impreza have filed 62 complaints with NHTSA; 8 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 13 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 75,455 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 10 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“My 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX has a very strong fuel odor that is coming into the cabin when I start my car up on cold days. It's been unusually cold here in Washington state this winter with temperature”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 25, 2022 · Fuel/propulsion system

“I noticed fresh smell of gasoline everytime i start the car. I look at the fuel line and its sipping fuel.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 26, 2021 · Fuel/propulsion system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2003 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport (Impreza AWD, Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined20–21 mpg
City / Highway17–19 / 24–25
FuelPremium, Regular
EPA classSmall Station Wagons, Subcompact Cars
Engine4 cyl, 2/2.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Subaru Impreza model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Subaru Impreza model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1990 Subaru Impreza01
1993 Subaru Impreza133
1994 Subaru Impreza18
1995 Subaru Impreza146
1996 Subaru Impreza020
1997 Subaru Impreza030
1998 Subaru Impreza030
1999 Subaru Impreza022
2000 Subaru Impreza041
2001 Subaru Impreza011
2002 Subaru Impreza6292
2003 Subaru Impreza662
2004 Subaru Impreza896
2005 Subaru Impreza675
2006 Subaru Impreza1056
2007 Subaru Impreza968
2008 Subaru Impreza14176
2009 Subaru Impreza14104
2010 Subaru Impreza1546
2011 Subaru Impreza1458
2012 Subaru Impreza6243
2013 Subaru Impreza4249
2014 Subaru Impreza3108
2015 Subaru Impreza277
2016 Subaru Impreza175
2017 Subaru Impreza7125
2018 Subaru Impreza5151
2019 Subaru Impreza5194
2020 Subaru Impreza185
2021 Subaru Impreza214
2022 Subaru Impreza113
2023 Subaru Impreza24
2024 Subaru Impreza232
2025 Subaru Impreza05
2026 Subaru Impreza01

Checking a specific 2003 Subaru Impreza

How do I know if my 2003 Subaru Impreza has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 2003 Subaru Impreza; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Subaru dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V282000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Subaru models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.