2006 Subaru Impreza recalls & problems

10 recalls 56 complaints 1 investigation

10recalls
56owner complaints
3crashes reported
0fires reported
2 / 0injuries / deaths

NHTSA lists 10 safety recalls for the 2006 Subaru Impreza and 56 owner complaints. The part owners complain about most is air bags (20 reports), followed by engine and engine cooling (7). NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation that include this vehicle. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers – enter your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your car still has an open recall.

2006 Subaru Impreza recalls

Air Bags · NHTSA 20V001000 · Jan 2, 2020

Problem: 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…

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

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 Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the…

258,813 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

Air Bags · NHTSA 20V003000 · Jan 2, 2020

Problem: 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…

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

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 owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance…

111,562 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

Air Bags · NHTSA 20V002000 · Jan 2, 2020

Problem: 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,…

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

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 owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance…

127,547 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

Air Bags · NHTSA 17V026000 · Jan 11, 2017

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2009 Forester, Legacy and Outback and 2006-2009 Impreza (including WRX and STI models) and Tribeca 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, Ohio, Oklahoma,…

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-17.

69,529 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

Air Bags · NHTSA 17V014000 · Jan 10, 2017

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX 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…

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-17.

53,480 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

Air Bags · NHTSA 17V016000 · Jan 10, 2017

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2006-2008 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), Tribeca, and 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,…

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2017. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer…

62,764 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

Air Bags · NHTSA 16V358000 · May 25, 2016

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2009-2011 Legacy, Outback, Forester, 2006-2011 Impreza, Tribeca, 2003-2006 Baja, and 2006 Saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands…

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 26, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Saab owners may contact GM at 1-800-955-9007.…

302,127 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

Air Bags · NHTSA 16V359000 · May 25, 2016

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2006-2008 Impreza, Tribeca, 2006 Saab 9-2x, and 2003-2006 Baja vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania,…

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 24, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-16. Note: This…

146,010 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

Suspension · NHTSA 11V464000 · Sep 6, 2011

Problem: Subaru is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 impreza, model year 2003-2008 forester, and model year 2005-2006 saab 9-2X vehicles manufactured from september 5, 2000 through november 26, 2007 originally sold, or currently registered in, massachusetts, maryland, michigan, new hampshire, new york, pennsylvania, vermont, wisconsin, connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, maine, minnesota, missouri, new…

Risk: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

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. Owners…

318,215 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

Air Bags · NHTSA 07V043000 · Feb 12, 2007

Problem: On certain vehicles, the wiring harness for the air bag occupant detection system in the front passenger seat may have been pinched during production. Pinching of the wiring harness between the floor crossmember and the seat mounting bracket could result in a short circuit.

Risk: The passenger's front air bag could become disabled and may not deploy in the event of a crash increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant. Also an electrical short circuit could cause a fire.

Fix: Dealers will inspect to see if the wiring had been incorrectly routed under the seat bracket. If so, the dealer will repair any damaged wiring, reroute and secure the wiring harness in the correct location, and re-calibrate the occupant detection system as necessary. The recall began on march 9,…

7,004 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

2006 Subaru Impreza problems by component

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags 20
302
Engine and Engine Cooling 7
000
Power Train 7
000
Engine 5
000
Fuel/Propulsion System 4
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 4
000
Fuel System, Gasoline 3
000
Wheels 2
000
Visibility 2
000
Unknown or Other 2
000
Tires 2
000
Suspension 2
000
Structure 2
100
Service Brakes 2
000
Exterior Lighting 2
100
Steering 1
000
Seats 1
000

NHTSA investigations

Latest owner complaints

Air Bags · Jun 27, 2025 · CA

My vehicle contains faulty airbags that can launch shrapnel at the passenger if it goes off, this is a common recall for many vehicles. This airbag system can put everyone in the car at risk if it ever triggers. Subaru has refused multiple times to fix this recall because the vehicle was originally Canadian and the VIN number is not in the US branches data base. Over the past…

Service Brakes · Apr 22, 2025 · CT

I was driving home, and my foot fell to the floor when I hit the brakes. Thankfully, I was coasting to the front of my house, so I was able to stop using the hand brake. Upon inspection and professional opinion from the Subaru dealership, the brake line rusted through just after the rear junction block, identical to the recall NUMBER: WQK-47. However, my VIN was not included…

Fuel/Propulsion System · Jan 13, 2024 · IL

Fuel lines under intake manifold leaking during cold weather. Causing smell to be pungent in cabin and in engine bay. Inspection upon request is allowed. Adds safety risk for potential fire in engine bay. Has not be confirmed or inspected by nobody else at this moment for this car specifically, however it is a common issue for these model Subarus. There were no warning lamps…

Unknown or Other · Oct 13, 2022 · NY

Car passed inspection in May of 2022 and just last month (September) the passenger side control arm completely rotted out. I had to make emergency repairs but then discovered there is a recall.

Steering · Oct 13, 2022 · NY

Car passed inspection in May of 2022 and just last month (September) the passenger side control arm completely rotted out. I had to make emergency repairs but then discovered there is a recall.

Suspension · Oct 13, 2022 · NY

Car passed inspection in May of 2022 and just last month (September) the passenger side control arm completely rotted out. I had to make emergency repairs but then discovered there is a recall.

Service Brakes · Sep 22, 2020 · 142,000 miles · MA

While my 75 year-old mother was driving home from the job she still works to pay her bills, the brakes on her subaru failed. The car was in motion, pulling out of the parking lot of the building where she works. Fortunately, she was able to get to a safe place and stop the vehicle, and thankfully she was not injured. Upon inspection, we discovered the failure was due to…

Engine · Jul 20, 2020 · 200,100 miles · NY

Hard start, rough idle, drove 3 miles, check engine light turns on, code: p0021 bank1/2. Did research. It's a banjo bolt filter/screen mine was cracked in half inside the oil line restricting oil to the turbo. Managed to remove one easily accessible banjo screen which fixed half the problem. The other bolt virtually not accessible by me. Almost all turbo vehicles from subaru…

Air Bags · Aug 19, 2019 · 112,325 miles · AK

Possibly related to takata recall after local dealer serviced the recall, the air bag light came on. Dealer has said it is fault code 26, which is related to a failure of the passenger airbag indicator. This problem is pervasive and wide spread, a simple google search will garnish tens and possibly hundreds of people citing this failure. On top of subaru not being forthcoming…

Fuel/Propulsion System · Dec 4, 2018 · 105,000 miles · CT

In cold temperatures when starting the car there is a smell of raw fuel that fills the cabin to the point where I have to get out of the vehicle and air it out before it would be safe to drive. Subaru has tsb's on this issue for many vehicle models and years but does not seem to think it is worthy of a recall. This issue first started for me about 3 years ago and has been a…

Engine · Mar 10, 2018 · NV

Takata recall I purchased this car six months ago from a small dealeership in vacaville, ca. I paid half the price for the car in cash the day I bought it after they assured me that it cleared the state inspection. Not even 4000 miles after I purchased this vehicle the motor is blown and there is the takata recall from 2016 that has not been handled. I just purchased the car…

Air Bags · Jan 7, 2018 · CA

Takata recall, I received a notification in the mail that there is a recall for my subaru impreza's air bags, I have called the dealer to make an appointment for a repair which the notification said would take 45minutes. The dealer scheduled an appointment, I waited a week without being able to use my vehicle. Then the dealer called me and told me that they have been unable to…

Other Subaru Impreza years

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Frequently asked questions

Does the 2006 Subaru Impreza have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 10 safety recalls covering the 2006 Subaru Impreza, the most recent one (20V001000) for air bags. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Subaru Impreza?

Based on 56 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most reported areas are air bags (20), engine and engine cooling (7), power train (7).

Have there been crashes or injuries linked to the 2006 Subaru Impreza?

Owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries and 0 deaths in complaints to NHTSA. These are unverified owner reports, not findings of fault.

Is NHTSA investigating the 2006 Subaru Impreza?

NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation that include this vehicle, most recently PE11011: Front suspension control arm failure.