2005 Subaru Impreza Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
30/100
#15 most-complained of 21 Impreza years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2005 Subaru Impreza has 75 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 30 out of 100 — #15 highest of 21 Impreza model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is fuel system (19 complaints, 25% of the total). Complaints report 10 crashes, 1 fire, 3 injuries, and 1 death.
- Complaints
- 75
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes / fires
- 10 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 1
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 18 city / 25 hwy
Top 2005 Subaru Impreza problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System19 (25%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires19 (25%)
- Airbags12 (16%)
- Engine12 (16%)
- Structure & Body7 (9%)
- Brakes6 (8%)
- Other5 (7%)
- Transmission & Powertrain5 (7%)
- Steering3 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (4%)
2005 Subaru Impreza recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 23V076000Feb 13, 2023Airbags130 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2004-2005 Impreza and WRX vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.
Risk: An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the passenger inflator and if necessary, install a new inflator kit, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 14, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRF-23.
- NHTSA 20V001000Jan 2, 2020Airbags258,813 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
- NHTSA 20V003000Jan 2, 2020Airbags111,562 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
2005 Subaru Impreza fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 25 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,000
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2005 compared with other Impreza years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Subaru Impreza a reliable year?
- Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Subaru Impreza ranks #15 of 21 among Impreza model years (Complaint Index 30/100, verdict: Good). It has 75 complaints and 6 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Subaru Impreza?
- The most reported problem areas are fuel system (19 complaints), suspension, wheels & tires (19 complaints), and airbags (12 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 72,073 miles.
- Does the 2005 Subaru Impreza have any recalls?
- Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2005 Subaru Impreza, most recently reported 2023, covering airbags and suspension, wheels & tires.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Subaru Impreza?
- EPA rates the 2005 Subaru Impreza at 20 MPG combined (18 city / 25 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,000. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.