2005 Subaru Impreza Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2005 Subaru Impreza has a complaint index of 30, ranking 15th of 21 model years, and carries a Good verdict relative to other Impreza years. It has 75 complaints, 6 recalls, and the top problem area is the Fuel System.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 30/100
- #15 of 21 Impreza years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 75
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 10
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 3
- Top issue
- Fuel System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 18 city / 25 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 1
Top 2005 Subaru Impreza problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA 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%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe the rear end sliding out over rough pavement, sending the car into a ditch or embankment.
- Some report the transmission shifting into reverse or moving without the accelerator being pressed.
- Drivers say the ABS brakes failed to work properly, contributing to a crash.
- Owners describe the parking brake failing to hold the car on an incline, letting it roll and strike objects.
- Some report a raw fuel smell entering the cabin with fuel visibly leaking onto the hot engine block.
- A few say the airbags did not deploy during a low-speed collision.
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 reliable?
- Compared with other Impreza model years, the 2005 has a complaint index of 30 and ranks 15th of 21 years, earning a Good verdict based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
- What problems does the 2005 Subaru Impreza have?
- NHTSA complaints point to the Fuel System and Suspension, Wheels & Tires as the top problem areas, each accounting for 25% of complaints, followed by Airbags and Engine issues at 16% each.
- Does the 2005 Subaru Impreza have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2005 Impreza, most involving airbags, plus one covering suspension corrosion.
- What year Subaru Impreza should I avoid?
- Among the years with data, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, and 2019 carry Avoid verdicts with complaint indexes of 85, 95, 90, 80, 75, and 100 respectively, making them worse than the 2005.
- At what mileage do 2005 Impreza problems typically show up?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 72,072.5 miles overall, with Fuel System complaints occurring at a median of 90,000 miles and Airbag complaints at a median of 39,500 miles.