2005 Subaru Impreza: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2005 Subaru Impreza: 6 recalls, 75 owner complaints and up to 23 mpg combined.
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Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Suspension Vehicle recall #11V464000 · 2011 · 318,215 vehicles
What's wrong: The front lower control arms May break at the hanger brackets due to corrosion if the hanger bracket is exposed to salty and humid environments such as roads containing snow melting agent.
Why it matters: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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 free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during December 2011.
Airbags Vehicle recall #15V323000 · 2015 · 432,016 vehicles
What's wrong: Subaru of america, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru baja vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru legacy vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to May 2, 2008, 2003-2008 Subaru outback vehicles manufactured February 18, 2003, to May 5, 2008, and 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles…
Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Subaru will notify their owners and general motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The Subaru recall began on June 17, 2015.
Airbags Vehicle recall #20V002000 · 2020 · 127,547 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 2006 Saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina,…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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
Airbags Vehicle recall #20V001000 · 2020 · 258,813 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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
Airbags Vehicle recall #20V003000 · 2020 · 111,562 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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
Airbags Vehicle recall #23V076000 · 2023 · 130 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: An incorrectly installed inflator May not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 3 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Suspension (17): the most common themes are noise or vibration (6), rust / corrosion (4).
- Airbags (12): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Fuel & propulsion (9): the most common themes are leaks (4), fire / smoke (2).
- Fuel system (8): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2005 Subaru Impreza has 75 owner complaints, ranking #13 of 35 Impreza model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 76). Complaints peaked in 2015 (13 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 8 years old, at a median of 72,072 miles. Neighboring years: 2004 (96 complaints, 8 recalls), 2006 (56 complaints, 10 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 27 | 23 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 26 | 22 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Premium |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 20 | Premium |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2005 Subaru Impreza.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2005 Subaru Impreza have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2005 Subaru Impreza. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2005 Subaru Impreza problems?
Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are suspension (17), airbags (12), fuel & propulsion (9).
What gas mileage does the 2005 Subaru Impreza get?
EPA ratings run up to 23 mpg combined (2.5 L, Manual 5-spd), across 5 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2005 Subaru Impreza repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.