Subaru Impreza Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Subaru Impreza options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Subaru Impreza has 614 owner complaints and 25 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is VISIBILITY/WIPER. 2019 drew the most complaints; 2025 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Subaru
- Model
- Impreza
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 614
- Safety recall campaigns
- 25
- Crash-related complaints
- 26
- Fire-related complaints
- 11
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2019 (191 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2025 (4 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Subaru Impreza: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe SUBARU IMPREZA has 614 NHTSA complaints and 25 recalls on record. 26 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 614 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 25 federal recall campaigns
- 26 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
25 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
BACK OVER PREVENTION: CAMERA SYSTEM
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 614 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
614 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while their son was driving approximately 45 MPH, a loud pop sound came from the right side of the engine department, and then the steering wheel seized. The driver attempted to apply the brakes; however, the brakes failed. The vehicle ended up crashing into a nearby pole post. The air bags deployed. The driver received a hematoma on their left arm from embracing for impact of the embrace. When the ambulance arrived, they tended to the injury, but the contact was not taken to receive further medical attention. The police department was contacted, and a police report was made. The vehicle was towed, but had not been deemed totaled as of yet. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,250.
The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving at nighttime, the headlights failed to provide adequate illumination of the roadway ahead, reducing the driver's ability to see the roadway. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the headlights were raised; however, the contact stated that the failure worsened while driving in foggy or rainy weather, requiring the driver to follow another vehicle to drive safely. The traction control warning light was illuminated, and the message that the Eyesight Driver Assist system was disabled was displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was sold brand new without a spare tire. The contact attempted to purchase a spare tire, but the part was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 75.
The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the Transmission Failure Communication warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed; however, the diagnosis was not available. Fault code: P1894 was retrieved. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the same local dealer and another local dealer for a second opinion on several occasions. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2,700.
So far I went to Herb Gordon Auto World in Silver Spring At least three times for the eyesight system that keeps malfunctioning and they said each time there's no codes and no sensor or system error light codes on. I called and talked to Subaru customer service three times and on the fourth time I was told to go to another Subaru dealer and have it looked at as a second opinion on the 16th of aug I went to Fitzgerald Auto Mall after I talked to the service advisor Matt and found out that it had a code in it in the history PO1894 which Herb Gordon Auto World either didn't figure out how to find or was too incompetent to find it. According to Matt at Fitzgerald the code is a communication error from the transmission which is not a good thing to have on a brand new car. I guess Mark was the specialist and kelly is his assistant. I also talked to Erica on the 21st of August. Erica said the floater Dawn was going to call me after she talks to Fitzgerald Subaru about the code. I talked to Kelly on the 21st. and than Mark the same day. When I talk to Matt who is supposed to be the head of this case #[XXX] he told me this places you win said they can't advise a fix so we're just going to wait until you have any more problems with it and then we could fix it then maybe so I said can you not find the source of the transmission communication problem he said well we would have to find a fix to it and we can't right now certificate can't fix it or find out the source where it's coming from we have nothing to do now with it unless you have more problems and I said if I'm on the Beltway and the communication fails again will everything go off and then the car will stop now having an accident and possibly be killed So to that he stated well that's what insurance is for. This is all safety equipment because the lights come on at first that shows the eyesight error and all the red lights come on that say all the Collision avoiding systems are not working INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Impreza equipped with Sailun Tires, Tire Line: Black Hawk Street UHP, Tire Size: 225/40R18, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact had purchased the tires from Amazon. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware of a bubble on the outside of the rear passenger's side tire in December 2025. The vehicle was taken to Mavis Tire, and the tire was replaced. In addition, the contact recently noticed a bubble on the outside of the front driver's side tire. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a complaint was filed; however, the complaint was denied. The vehicle failure mileage was approximately 48,541, and the tire failure mileage was 7,500.
The original equipment (OE) tires (Size: 225/40R18) on a 2023 vehicle exhibited severe, deep concentric cracking on the outer sidewalls and near the bead/rim line of all four tires at approximately 30,000 miles. The safety of the driver and passengers was put at extreme risk as the structural integrity of the tires was compromised, posing an imminent threat of catastrophic high-speed blowouts on the expressway. The failure was confirmed and reproduced by two separate professional facilities: the original vehicle dealership and an authorized tire manufacturer dealer. Both independent inspections concluded the vehicle was unsafe to drive and required immediate replacement of all four tires. The manufacturer's engineering review also inspected photographic evidence and acknowledged a material defect related to a "soft compound" breakdown. There were no warning lamps or symptoms prior to discovery; the defect was only found by a technician during a separate flat tire repair. Despite the manufacturer formally authorizing a 75% "goodwill" credit (Authorization #35936) after acknowledging the defect, they failed to complete the agreement due to internal communication breakdowns with their authorized dealers. This resulted in months of delay, forcing the consumer to pay the full replacement cost out-of-pocket to mitigate the documented safety hazard. The defective tires are available for inspection upon request.
Read 14 more owner reports
This Subaru model and most other models I have researched is having connections issues with the infotainment systems, connecting and keeping a connection with Android auto and apple. It's not like just a small annoyance, this is causing me big issues when it does connect to Android auto then it is intermittent causing the driver to take their attention off of the road to unplug replug in the phone then stopping and turning off the car/ restarting phone to try fixing this issue, this have become very distracting iv almost been in multiple accidents trying to get my cars systems to work properly. This is something I have took to the dealership they assured me there was an update coming and told me they would not service my vehicle for this issue, even tho it's still under manufacturers warranty, it has now been 6 months and still no update or fix for the problem that is a serious distraction, some people might say no big deal drive without it, but when u are counting on directions and your map to work then it continues to jump on and off the completely tanks this is a big issue they are ignoring!
Car does not accelerate from a full stop. Hesitates to react to gas pedal for a few seconds
In 2023 I leased a Subaru Impreza base model for 3 years and found Subaru no longer includes a spare tire, and only has a kit. This means paying to be towed to a service center when I could have a spare tire loaded by AAA. I bought myself a spare Firestone P225/40 R16 in event I needed it. 2025 State inspection found that all four tires had treads worn and I needed to get the tires replaced under warranty which Subaru did for me. 2026, I went to renew my lease and thee base model is no longer sold. A wider R18 trim car is sold, with a minimum $70 higher paying lease, and still no spare included. The dealer will not swap tires for me, despite doing so under warranty when the inspection failed. I'm concerned if I do get a flat, I'll be forced to pay towing and wait for ordering tires just for one flat. As a safety issue, all cars need spare tires, not kits. Subaru has stopped offer that safety feature. Waiting for a tow in the middle of the night makes driving risky with potential running into deer and animals to total my car. If a spare was available, I wouldn't have that risk. I'd just need to replace the tire. Please convince Subaru to replace the tire I bought with one that will fit my renewed lease car as a safety recall issue. They should offer spares for all cars. No accident has happened yet. I want to be ready in case I do get a flat.
The contact owned a 2021 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the vehicle. The force of the impact caused the contact to hit another vehicle which then caused that vehicle to also hit another vehicle; in total, four vehicles were involved in the accident. The contact's air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact was taken to hospital via an ambulance where they were treated for a nasal fracture. The contact also suffered additional bruises to the face, both arms and right upper thigh. During a recent surgery for an appendix removal, the contact's surgeon discovered bruising on the contact's colon; likely caused by the accident. The driver that caused the collision claimed to have suffered from a seizure which caused the accident; that driver did not suffer any physical injuries. The whereabouts of the other two drivers involved in the accident were unknown. A police report was filed. The contact's vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard where it was deemed a total loss. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The Eye Sight front collision warning did a hard brake going 55 mph when a car was well ahead of me slowing down to turn right. I was almost rear ended by the car behind me. This isn't the first time it's happened
Went to my car this morning and the windshield was cracked on the top center from the edge of the windshield to around where the rear view mirror is. This crack was not there last night when I parked my car. And there was no accident/damage to the windshield before this morning.
Plastic parts of side mirror melt easily by heat and sunlight. (Not only side mirror, but also other components with the same plastic parts) It bothers driver visibility and safety when driving highway. The problem was reviewed by subaru service center, and they said it is not their problems. Subaru service center said they saw few cases but they said it is customers fault. Service center said customer needs to park in the shade or safe place.
Vehicle is at 23520 miles, front brake pads are worn to 1mm on passenger side and 2mm on front driver side. Vehicle had been taken on October 04, 2022 for repairs and local Subaru dealer refuses to repair it, even though warranty still applicable for defects until 3 years or 36,000 miles as stated in pages 4 and 5 the Warranty and Maintenance 2021 Book. Also vehicle has oil leak under rear side of motor.
Front windshield spontaneous cracking from defroster area in a "J" shape. This is the second windshield since new to do this (2021 model). Available for inspection. The first windshield was inspected and replaced by Subaru at their cost minus eyesight recalibration (ADAS). First windshield was inspected by insurance and no impact point was found and was notified to contact dealer before filing a claim with insurance. The second cracked windshield is in the same area as the first with exactly the same shape and abruptness. Cracked while car was sitting over night. Temps at 6 am were 37 degress. Temps at time of crack were 60 degrees. Car is equipped with eyesight that is affected by the crack once it grows into the eyesight camera view.
I was using the adaptive cruise control on the highway set to 55 mph. The car suddenly decelerated to ~44 mph so quickly I had whiplash. There was no other vehicle in front of me and the highway was clear of debris. The dealership said this could be caused by a glare.
JULY 09 2021 REPORTED TO SUBARU EL PASO AT TIME OF FIRST MAINTENANCE (6000 MILES) VEHICLE LOSSES POWER AND STALLS WHEN MAKING TURNS, IT IS MORE NOTICEABLE MAKING A LEFT TURN. TECHNICIAN SAID COUDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NO FURTER ACTION WAS NEEDED. HOWEVER A YEAR ;LATER FROM TIME TO TIME VEHICLE DOES STALL WHILE MAKING TURNS MAKING, ODOMETER READS 18081. THE OHER ISSUE IS ITS WINDSHIELD, IT CRACKED WHILE DRIVING IT ON JANUARY 29, 2022, THERE IS NO STRESS MARKS FROM PEBBLES, ROCKS, OR ANY OTHER FLYING FROM THE ROAD OR VEHICLES. WROTE AN INQUIRY TO MANUFACTURER, SENT A PICTURE, BUT WE NEVER GOT A RESPONSE TO THIS INQUIRY, TOOK VEHICLE FOR ITS 18000 SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, LET SUBARU OF EL PASO TO LOOK AT IT, AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS TO CALL OUR AUTO INSURANCE TO HANDLE ITS REPAIR, TECHNICIAN DID NOT BOTHER TO INSPECT THIS ISSUE AND DIDN'T RECORDER ON MAINTENANCE
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Impreza equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: ProContact TX, Tire Size: P205/55/R16, DOT Number: A3T2WC892420. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, she heard a loud abnormal noise and the vehicle started pulling to the right. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road. While inspecting the vehicle, she noticed that the passenger’s side front tire had blown out and that the rim was damaged. The contact called AAA Roadside Assistance who was able to replace faulty tire with spare tire. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the front passenger’s side tire and rim replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The tire manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,700.
New lease beginning in March 2021. The steering column is erratically loose, noticeable at highway speed in April 2021, accompanied by slight swerve. Subaru dealer (cityside) begrudgingly assessed and found it needed alignment Aligned. Steering column now again erratically loose, less so than before, but still disconcerting, and accompanied by slight swerve. Does not feel safe to drive at highway speed.
Tiers are Yokohama P225/40R18 88V This vehicle now has slightly more than 8,000 miles and has only been driven over local roads under normal operating conditions and speeds. A couple of weeks ago, while getting gas, I noticed a knot/bulge developing on front driver's side sidewall. The integrity of the tire was compromised so I contacted the dealership and arranged to have the tire replaced. I can produce the dealership repair bill upon request. Yesterday while taking my wife to an appointment, I noticed a knot/bulge developing on rear driver's side sidewall requiring another trip to the dealership and another tire replacement. I can take a photo of bulge in rear tire or have dealership preserve the tire if you would like it for your investigation of my complaint. Fortunately I have the resources to have the tires repaired. In my case the bulges appeared in the sidewall visible to me. I knew that integrity of the tire was compromised and immediate action was necessary. I am more than 60 years old. I have owned several new cars and this is the first time I have experienced this. It is possible that other motorists encountering the same problem may not have the resources to purchase multiple replacement tires. It is also possible that the bulge might appear on the backside of the sidewall where it would not be noticed. It is possible that another motorist might not recognize the integrity of the tire was compromised and that their life and the lives of others were potentially at risk.
Showing 20 of 614 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Subaru Impreza
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Subaru Impreza, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Subaru Impreza has 614 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Subaru Impreza has 25 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 26 of the Subaru Impreza's 614 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Subaru Impreza vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Subaru Impreza vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Subaru Impreza has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
Check a Subaru Impreza by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Subaru Impreza.
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Subaru Impreza reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Subaru Impreza reliable?
Poor. The Subaru Impreza has 614 NHTSA owner complaints and 25 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is VISIBILITY/WIPER. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Subaru Impreza years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2019 (191 complaints), 2018 (149 complaints), 2017 (125 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Subaru Impreza problems?
Top reported issues: VISIBILITY/WIPER (175 complaints); EXTERIOR LIGHTING (164 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (98 complaints).
Does the Subaru Impreza have recalls?
Yes — 25 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Subaru Impreza. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.