The 2005 Impreza with the 2.5L EJ25 is generally reliable but notorious for head gasket failure, a platform-wide weakness that can cascade into catastrophic engine damage if ignored. These cars can run 200,000+ miles if the head gaskets are addressed proactively.
Head Gasket Failure (External Oil/Coolant Leaks)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Oil seepage around cylinder heads, visible on engine block, Coolant smell from engine bay, slow coolant loss without visible external leaks, White residue on oil cap or dipstick (coolant mixing with oil), Overheating if coolant loss progresses unchecked
Fix: Both head gaskets must be replaced; machine shop resurface of heads recommended. Timing belt, water pump, tensioners, and all coolant hoses should be done simultaneously since engine is apart. 12-16 labor hours total.
Estimated cost: $2,000-3,200
Piston Ringland Failure / Spun Rod Bearings
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Sudden loss of power, misfires on one cylinder, Metallic knocking or rattling from engine block, Compression loss on one or more cylinders, Check engine light with misfire codes (P0301-P0304)
Fix: Catastrophic internal engine damage. Most shops recommend short block replacement or used engine swap rather than rebuild due to labor costs. 18-24 labor hours for short block R&R.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Corrosion (Automatic only)
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid leaking from front of vehicle near radiator, Low transmission fluid warning or slipping gears, Pink fluid spots on driveway, Delayed engagement in Drive or Reverse
Fix: Replace corroded steel cooler lines with updated parts (OEM or aftermarket stainless). Flush transmission fluid and inspect for contamination. 2-3 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $300-600
Front Lower Control Arm Bushing Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking noise from front suspension over bumps, Steering wander or poor alignment retention, Uneven front tire wear (inner or outer edge), Steering wheel off-center after alignment
Fix: Replace front lower control arms (bushings are not serviced separately on most aftermarket parts). Alignment required after installation. 2-3 labor hours plus alignment.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Fuel Filter Clogging (High-Mileage Vehicles)
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 120,000+ mi
Symptoms: Hard starting, especially when hot, Loss of power under acceleration or at highway speeds, Engine stumbling or hesitation, Check engine light with fuel trim codes
Fix: In-tank fuel filter (part of fuel pump assembly) requires dropping fuel tank. Many shops replace entire pump assembly due to access difficulty. 2-3 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $400-800
Timing Belt and Water Pump Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 90,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Coolant leak from water pump weep hole, Squealing or grinding noise from timing cover area, Engine will not start if belt breaks (interference engine), Overheating due to failed water pump
Fix: Replace timing belt, tensioners, idlers, and water pump as a kit. EJ25 is interference; belt failure destroys valves and pistons. 4-6 labor hours if caught before failure.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200
Front Oxygen Sensor Failure
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Check engine light with P0420 or P0131/P0137 codes, Rough idle or poor fuel economy, Failed emissions test, Sluggish throttle response
Fix: Replace upstream O2 sensor(s). Subaru OE sensors strongly recommended; aftermarket often cause repeat codes. 0.5-1 labor hour per sensor.
Estimated cost: $200-400
Owner tips
Change head gaskets preemptively at 100,000 mi if no prior service history — it's cheaper than engine replacement
Use Subaru or high-quality synthetic oil; sludge buildup accelerates ringland failure on neglected engines
Timing belt service is mandatory at 105,000 mi or 10 years; this is an interference engine
Inspect transmission cooler lines annually in rust-belt states; corrosion happens fast
Avoid cheap aftermarket O2 sensors — they cause endless check-engine-light chasing
Buy one if head gaskets are documented as done and engine compression tests clean; avoid high-mileage examples with unknown maintenance history — the $3,000 repair lottery isn't worth it.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Be the first to unlock repairs for the 2005 Subaru Impreza
Procedures haven't been generated for this vehicle yet. Become the founding sponsor and we'll generate expert-grade, step-by-step repair walkthroughs for every common job on it — free for every mechanic and DIYer who looks it up after, forever.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 23V076000
2023-02-13
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.
Consequence: 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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 20V001000
2020-01-02 · EA15001
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.
Consequence: 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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 20V002000
2020-01-02 · EA15001
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, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B."
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.
Consequence: 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 TKB-20.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 20V003000
2020-01-02 · EA15001
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.
Consequence: 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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 15V323000
2015-05-28 · EA15001
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 manufactured February 11, 2004, to March 17, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. The Saab recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners of Saab vehicles may call 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is WQR-53. Note: The recall completely supersedes recall 14V-399 (WQL-48) and partially supersedes recall 14V-763 (WQP-51) in that model year 2004 through 2005 Subaru Impreza and model year 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles are now only part of this campaign. Note: On December 18, 2015 Subaru informed NHTSA of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy and 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM · 11V464000
2011-09-06 · PE11011
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 JERSEY, OHIO, RHODE ISLAND, WEST VIRGINIA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
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.
Consequence: A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: 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 MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
Building an app?
Free API access to all this data — 50 requests/day, no card required.