Crosstrek Temp Sensor Failure Disrupts Multiple Systems

Having experienced this exact issue on my 2010 Subaru Impreza, I can confirm this is likely related to the outside temperature sensor. These symptoms match a faulty sensor or damaged wiring harness connection, which affects multiple temperature-dependent systems. The vehicle temperature gauge system in Subarus is interconnected with several comfort features. When the outside temperature sensor fails, it typically causes the exact cascade of issues described, AC malfunction, washer nozzle problems, and mirror heater failure. During sensor diagnostics at the shop, we found the main issue was a corroded connector near the front bumper. The temperature sensor replacement itself was straightforward, but accessing the wiring harness required partial removal of the front bumper cover. This wasnt a serious mechanical issue, but it did affect multiple vehicle systems. The fix involved: Complete temperature sensor replacement, Cleaning connector terminals, Replacing damaged wiring section, Recalibrating the system After repair, all temperature-dependent systems returned to normal operation. This is a known issue in this generation of Subarus, often occurring around 100000 km.

Thanks for sharing that detailed experience. My car started showing those same issues last winter. Really helpful to know about the wiring harness connection being a common culprit, wish I had known that before spending time troubleshooting the AC system separately. Out of curiosity, do you remember what the total cost was for your car temperature sensor repair? Also, has everything stayed working properly since the fix? Im planning to get mine repaired soon and trying to budget appropriately. The sensor calibration and wiring work you mentioned makes sense, just hoping the labor costs wont be too steep.

Great to hear back from you! Just had my car fixed last week actually. The sensor malfunction turned out to be exactly what we suspected, the cable connection was faulty near the front bumper. Total repair cost came to 95€, which included fixing the wiring and testing all systems. Since the vehicle temperature sensor repair, everything works perfectly again. The AC kicks in normally, washer nozzles function as they should in cold weather, and the mirror heaters are back to full operation. The mechanic checked the entire temperature monitoring system during the fix, making sure all components were properly communicating. Much cheaper than initially expected since they didnt need to replace the entire sensor unit. The issue was resolved by repairing the connection, which saved quite a bit on parts costs. Its been three months now with no recurring issues, all temperature-dependent systems continue working reliably. For your upcoming repair, id suggest specifically mentioning the connector issue to your mechanic. Sometimes they jump straight to full sensor replacement when the connection might be the actual problem.

I appreciate all the feedback everyone. Just wanted to share how my repair went since others might face similar problems. Finally got it fixed last week and thought id close out this thread with my experience. Took it to a new shop that specializes in Subarus. They immediately checked the wiring connection near the front bumper and found corrosion in the temperature sensor harness. Total cost ended up being 180€, bit more than expected but they did a thorough job. The car temperature sensor diagnostics showed multiple connection issues, not just the main sensor problem. They cleaned all terminals, replaced two damaged sections of wiring, and recalibrated the system. Took about 3 hours total. Everything works perfectly now, AC runs great, washer nozzles spray without freezing, and mirror heaters function normally. The outside temperature readings are accurate again too. Definitely worth fixing as it affected so many systems. Big thanks to everyone who shared their experience. Having this information helped me avoid unnecessary parts replacement and made sure I knew what to expect during the repair.