9.2

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$4,010
Average Mileage:
40,500 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (5 reports)
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problem #5

Mar 052019

Impreza Sport Limited 2.0L

  • CVT transmission
  • 53,000 miles

This is the 3 of my 3 complaints for SURGING AT STOP OR SLOW SPEEDS with 2012 Subaru Impreza.

This time could have been tragic. I was picking up my grandson from after school care. The parking lot is up on a large hill, which looks down on the classroom that the after school program is in. I pulled up slowly to park and was not quite close enough to the curb. I GENTLY stepped on the gas pedal and it SURGED BIG TIME! If the curb had not been big enough, I would have went down the hill into the side of the class room full of children. SHAME ON YOU SUBARU. DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS.

I now always park facing the mountain, so no children will be injured if this piece of junk car does this again.

As soon as this car is paid off, it's gone. However I do not feel right selling it, so we will have to trade in and the dealer can deal with it, since they say there is no problem.

- Debbie S., El Cajon, CA, US

problem #4

Jan 112018

Impreza Sport Limited 2.0L

  • CVT transmission
  • 51,283 miles

This was the 2nd crash with the 2102 Impreza, they should have totaled the car. State Farm said the interior of the car was in great shape, so they wanted to fix it. I wish we had screamed, TOTAL the car! As the surge at a stoplight that caused this crash happened again, and it could have been tragic. I will report separate.

Subaru needs to immediate RECALL all of the CVT transmission cars with this issue before someone is killed.

I was again at a stop light and barely touched the gas pedal to up and the car surge ahead at great force. Just under $10k in damage, women in other car complained of back/neck pain, I believe it. I was sore too.

This is a major problem, how do we get the NTSB and Subaru to listen? And FIX it!

- Debbie S., El Cajon, CA, US

problem #3

May 122017

Impreza Sport Limited 2.0L

  • CVT transmission
  • 47,070 miles

We purchased the 2012 Impreza on 2/7/15 based on safety ratings, as our young grandson would be riding in the car. We noticed it had a touchy throttle, thought we just had to get used to it.

I had several close calls, once when pulling in our driveway, I wanted to pull in a bit closer and the car surged and almost ran into the side of the house. The hard part is that is random, sometimes is accelerates at a normal rate of speed and the next time it surges big time!

This was the 1st actual contact crash due to the surge. I was stopped at a stop light and when the light turned green and the car in front of me started to move, I gently stepped on the gas and the car surged into the back of her car. I was fortunate, she and her dog were shaken up but not hurt. We had damage to our car in the amount of $1,554. I will report the other times separately. (side note: I have never had an accident before owning this Subaru.)

We were told there is nothing wrong, we just need to pay attention. Bull! But no one will listen. I am so happy to find this website to see that others have the same issue. NO ONE SHOULD BY A SUBARU until they fix this MAJOR problem.

- Debbie S., El Cajon, CA, US

problem #2

Jun 162016

Impreza LX Jfigpag

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,400 miles

I reported this incident to you and to Subaru in July 2016. This is a follow-up. The car took off on me; couldn 't stop it. Subaru inspected car and reported that I had hit accelerator; not brakes, repeatedly. I question that; however, no way to prove. BUT I was interested to see recently in an email from you about another Impreza; same year, same model, whose description of accident duplicated mine. It was like reading Deja-Vu, except I stopped when I couldn't make a 45 degree turn in road and crashed into several things. He was from Attleboro Mass, I am from Holden,Mass- car bought in Shrewsbury, new, in July 2012. Same "batch??" Also, I almost turned it in as a lemon as there were problems with ignition which it took several returns to dealer before getting resolved. Car was totaled. JUst for your information,to add to your history on this car.

- Mary J., Holden, US

problem #1

Aug 042014

Impreza Limited 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,544 miles

I drove into a parking garage, came around the bend at a slow speed and was already within the lines of the parking space, probably going less than 5 miles an hour (a few more feet to go. Approx. 6 feet) when the car made this very loud revving noise (as if people were drag racing) and then sped/flew forward into the concrete wall of the parking garage. I reversed the car out of the wall.

Once the car stopped, I checked to see if gears had an issue or if anything was near the pedals. Nothing was out of the ordinary. Nothing interfering with either. I was so close to being parked that I would have just needed to lightly touch the brake in order to come to a complete stop. I felt like the car was possessed and that it just took over. The revving was so loud and the acceleration so intense. It was as if the car was acting on its own. Conditions were dry inside and outside of the public parking garage.

I have burns across my shoulder from the impact of the seat belt and have had a sore chest from the force of the impact and the seat belt. I have been on Advil the whole week. I cannot bend forward easily and have not been able to sleep on my side since. It is sore to turn around as well. Have whiplash as well. Sore neck and shoulders.

Due to this incident, I have lost all confidence in driving, and the trust, of any car and its ability to stop. I am still dumbfounded and in disbelief.

We reported this incident to Subaru immediately and they seemed supportive and mentioned it would be investigated. Subaru dealership pulled the codes from the "black box" and saw an acceleration and impact. Well, this information doesn't tell what caused this acceleration. They said we have to contact our insurance company investigate it. We asked and thought they would investigate, but rather they chose not to. We have reported this to the NHTSA about the defect.

- Jeffrey M., Attleboro, MA, US