Recalls: Subaru GP/GJ Impreza
Overview
Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the recalls below (if any) are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.
Recalls: Subaru GP/GJ Impreza
2012 Subaru GP/GJ Impreza: rough idling, engine may stall and not restart
In April 2013, a recall was issued for Subaru Impreza vehicles manufactured between 20 January 2012 and 9 April 2012. In these vehicles, possible misrouting of the engine wiring harness may interfere with the intake manifold retaining bolt or tumble generator valve. As a result, the driver may experience rough idling and/or indicator lamp malfunction. At worst, the engine may stall and not restart, though steering and braking capacity would exist until the vehicle came to a stop (PRA 2013/13531).
2012-14 model year Subaru GP/GJ Impreza: short circuit
In August 2015, a recall was issued for model year 2012 to 2014 Subaru Impreza vehicles. In these vehicles, contact between the wiring harness and a metal plate could cause a short circuit within the vehicle’s electrical systems, creating a hazard to the driver and other road users. As part of the recall, the wiring harness was to be inspected and replaced if damaged, while insulating urethane foam was to be installed to prevent further contact between the wiring harness and the metal plate (PRA 2015/14858).
2015 model year Subaru GP/GJ Impreza: engine may not start
In March 2016, a recall was issued for 2015 ‘model year’ Subaru Impreza vehicles because the starter motor pinion gear may be damaged due to an unusual start-up procedure. This damage may lead to pinion gear failure which may cause the engine not to start (or re-start when in Automatic Stop Start mode) and may pose a potential hazard to the driver and other road users (PRA 2016/15227).
2012-13 Subaru GP/GJ Impreza: defective engine valve springs
In November 2018, recall campaign SI0491 was issued for Subaru GP/GJ Impreza vehicles that had 2.0-litre petrol engines and were manufactured from 16 January 2012 to 14 May 2013. In the 2.0-litre engines of these vehicles, defective valve spring could fracture – this could cause the engine to stall and not restart. If the engine were to stall and not restart, the vehicle would pose a safety hazard to vehicle occupants and other road users. To fix, the engine valve springs were to be replaced. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2018/17142.
2009-16 model year Subaru GP/GJ Impreza: brake lights may stop working
In March 2019, recall campaign SRT270 was issued for 2009-16 model year Subaru GP/GJ Impreza vehicles. In these vehicles, the Stop Light Switch may have been affected by contaminants from outside the vehicle would could cause electrical contact points to malfunction. If the Stop Light Switch failed, the brake lights would not illuminate if the brake pedal was depressed – this posed a safety risk to vehicle occupants and other road users. Furthermore, the vehicle may not restart after the ignition had been turned off. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2019/17375.
Problems and faults: Subaru GP/GJ Impreza
Overview
This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.
To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.
Subaru GP/GJ Impreza 2.0i: FB20 engine and high oil consumption
Due to high oil consumption by Subaru vehicles – including the 2012-2013MY Subaru GP/GJ Impreza – with FB20 and FB25 engines, Subaru USA issued a series of technical bulletins (02-143-13R, 02-144-13R and 02-145-13R) which attributed the oil consumption to unanticipated wear of the oil control piston rings. Bulletins 02-143-13R, 02-144-13R and 02-145-13R, however, were subsequently replaced by technical bulletin 02-157-14R which stated that the engine short block assembly (i.e. the middle section of the engine) would be replaced to remedy high oil consumption, not the oil control piston rings. It has been suggested that the short block assembly required replacement because of defects in the honing process of the cylinders.
Subaru GP/GJ Impreza: ‘Lineartronic’ CVT slow to engage drive/reverse
Subaru’s ‘Lineartronic’ continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) are slower to shift to/from reverse or drive than conventional automatic transmissions – this occurs because significant pressure must be generated before the sheaves (i.e. the sides of the pulley that contact the metal belt) can clamp the belt such that it will not slip. According to Subaru service manuals, the normal delay or lag when switching into reverse or drive from park is 1.5 seconds or less.
Some Subaru owners, however, have reported delays of around three (3) or four (4) seconds when switching between reverse and drive. While re-flashing the transmission control module (TCM) and replacing the CVT fluid have reduced the delay to within Subaru’s normal range, the delay has subsequently increased over time.
2012-16 Subaru GP/GJ Impreza 2.0i CVT: extended warranty in USA
In March 2018, Subaru of America issued service bulletin 16-107-17R which extended the powertrain warranty for the continuously variable transmissions (Subaru’s ‘Lineartronic’ CVT) in 2012-16 Subaru GP/GJ Impreza 2.0i CVT vehicles from five years or 60,000 miles (whichever came first) to ten years and 100,000 miles (whichever came first).
Subaru of America claimed that the change was not in response to any specific condition, but ‘to provide customers with added reassurance regarding the function and overall performance of their CVT’. After expiration of the original warranty period, however, owners have reported that the transmission may shudders (or shake), particularly when slowing down. Other symptoms include hesitations and occasional stalling.
2012 Subaru GP/GJ Impreza 2.0i: AVCS Response and AVCS System Failure
In August 2012, Subaru issued Service Bulletin 02-132-12 for Subaru GP/GJ Impreza vehicles that had 2.0-litre FB20 engines. According to the bulletin, these vehicles may exhibit the following diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs):
- P000A, P00B, P00C and P00D (‘AVCS Slow Response’); and,
- P0011, P0014, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021 and P0024 (‘AVCS System Failure’).
Depending on the diagnosis, rectification of these symptoms could involve:
- Replacing the oil control valve (OCV);
- Replacing the cam sprocket assembly; or,
- Replacing the Engine Control Module (ECM).
2012-13 Subaru GP/GJ Impreza: rough idle, extended cranking times or won’t start
In June 2013, Subaru issued Service Bulletin 11-130-13R for 2012-13 Subaru GP/GJ Impreza vehicles with 2.0-litre FB20 petrol engines. For these vehicles, the driver may notice illumination of the ‘check engine’ light, a rough or uneven idle, extended cranking times or an inability to start the vehicle. Furthermore, the powertrain control module (PCM) may log diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) related to the position of the intake or exhaust camshafts and/or engine misfires – these included P0340, P0341, P0345, P0346, P0365, P0366, P0390, P0391, P0301, P0302, P0303 and P0304.
According to the bulletin, these diagnostic trouble codes may be attributable to camshaft position sensor (CPS) clearance being out of specification. To fix, Subaru issued two camshaft position sensor shim kits and a camshaft position sensor O-ring that were to be used to correct camshaft position sensor clearance.
2012-16 Subaru GP/GJ Impreza: creaking sound when using clutch pedal
In January 2017, Subaru issued Service Bulletin 12-215-17 for 2012-16 Subaru GP/GJ Impreza vehicles which had manual transmission and VINs preceding,
- For Impreza sedans, G*011928; and,
- For Impreza hatchbacks, G*259400.
For these vehicles, a more rigid brake/clutch pedal bracket assembly was developed to prevent a creaking noise that could occur when the clutch pedal was operated. Specifically, the revised pedal bracket design incorporated an extended flange length and additional welding. The creaking noise of the original assembly, however, did not indicate an ‘operational issue with pedal assembly, clutch hydraulic system, clutch assembly or, serve as a precursor to any future concerns.’
