Subaru ImprezaYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 2,655 NHTSA owner complaints across 34 model years, the Subaru Impreza years to avoid are 2002, 2012, 2013 and 2019, and the strongest years are 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2010. The Impreza has 53 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoid'02 '12 '13 '19Use caution: 2008, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2024 Best years'97 '98 '00 '10Fewest complaints for their age Owner complaints2,655Top: Air bags Safety recalls531993–2026 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Subaru Impreza years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Impreza median. Tap a year for its full report.

33 8 46 20 30 30 22 41 11 29262 96 75 56 68 17610446 58 24325110977 75 12515219485 14 14 4 32 5 1

'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26

Avoid
Caution
Solid
Best
Not rated

2026Too new–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls 2025Too new–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls 2024Caution40/10032 complaints · 2 recalls 2023Not rated–/1004 complaints · 2 recalls 2022Not rated–/10014 complaints · 1 recall 2021Not rated–/10014 complaints · 2 recalls 2020Solid43/10085 complaints · 1 recall 2019Avoid28/100194 complaints · 5 recalls 2018Caution36/100152 complaints · 5 recalls 2017Caution38/100125 complaints · 7 recalls 2016Solid53/10075 complaints · 1 recall 2015Solid53/10077 complaints · 2 recalls 2014Caution40/100109 complaints · 3 recalls 2013Avoid26/100251 complaints · 4 recalls 2012Avoid27/100243 complaints · 6 recalls 2011Solid56/10058 complaints · 14 recalls 2010Solid65/10046 complaints · 15 recalls 2009Solid47/100104 complaints · 14 recalls 2008Caution32/100176 complaints · 14 recalls 2007Solid52/10068 complaints · 9 recalls 2006Solid61/10056 complaints · 10 recalls 2005Solid50/10075 complaints · 6 recalls 2004Solid45/10096 complaints · 8 recalls 2003Solid52/10062 complaints · 6 recalls 2002Avoid23/100292 complaints · 6 recalls 2001Not rated–/10011 complaints · 0 recalls 2000Solid64/10041 complaints · 0 recalls 1999Not rated–/10022 complaints · 0 recalls 1998Best75/10030 complaints · 0 recalls 1997Solid66/10030 complaints · 0 recalls 1996Not rated–/10020 complaints · 0 recalls 1995Solid52/10046 complaints · 1 recall 1994Not rated–/1008 complaints · 1 recall 1993Solid61/10033 complaints · 1 recall

Complaints by system

Most common Subaru Impreza problems

All model years combined: 2,655 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

461Air bags105 crash/fire/injury

296Power train9 crash/fire/injury

263Engine18 crash/fire/injury

234Electrical system24 crash/fire/injury

203Exterior lighting6 crash/fire/injury

201Visibility/wiper1 crash/fire/injury

158Suspension

153Fuel system, gasoline

132Service brakes

1,03628 other systems130 crash/fire/injury

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.

Complaints by system
System	Complaints	Crash, fire or injury
Air bags	461	105
Power train	296	9
Engine	263	18
Electrical system	234	24
Exterior lighting	203	6
Visibility/wiper	201	1
Suspension	158	10
Fuel system, gasoline	153	10
Service brakes	132	22
28 other systems	1036	130

53 recalls

Subaru Impreza recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

Driveline: driveshaft23V-754 · 2024 · Nov 9, 2023 · 4,701 vehicles Driveline: driveshaft23V-647 · 2023 · Sep 21, 2023 · 4,311 vehicles Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel23V-551 · 2024 · Aug 4, 2023 · 35,357 vehicles Brake lights: switch23V-292 · 2023 · Apr 25, 2023 · 4,030 vehicles Passenger side: inflator module23V-076 · 2004–2005 · Feb 13, 2023 · 130 vehicles Visibility: windshield22V-712 · 2022 · Sep 22, 2022 · 42 vehicles Exterior lighting: headlights22V-624 · 2017–2019 · Aug 12, 2022 · 188,397 vehicles Control arm: lower arm21V-675 · 2021 · Aug 30, 2021 · 802 vehiclesDo not drive Delivery: fuel pump21V-587 · 2018–2020 · Jul 29, 2021 · 175,968 vehicles Electrical system: ignition21V-264 · 2017–2019 · Apr 15, 2021 · 466,205 vehicles Power train: shift linkage/cable/rod21V-024 · 2021 · Jan 26, 2021 · 383 vehicles Delivery: fuel pump20V-218 · 2019 · Apr 16, 2020 · 188,207 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 53 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

9 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Impreza

Apr 10, 2015
Passenger Front Air Bag SuppressionPE15012 · 2012 · closed Jul 15, 2015
Led to recall 15V-419
Feb 24, 2015
Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · 2004–2005 · still open
Led to recall 14V-668
Jun 11, 2014
Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · 2003–2005 · closed Mar 2, 2015
Led to recall 13V-172
Apr 7, 2011
Front suspension control arm failurePE11011 · 2002–2007 · closed Sep 23, 2011
Led to recall 11V-464
Jul 2, 2009
FUEL LINE LEAKEA09011 · 2002–2003 · closed Dec 14, 2009
Led to recall 09V-468
Mar 10, 2009
FUEL LINE LEAKPE09017 · 2002–2004 · closed Jul 2, 2009
No recall
Jan 7, 2004
FUEL LINE LEAKAGE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENTPE04002 · 2002–2003 · closed May 27, 2004
No recall
Apr 30, 1997
OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTEA97010 · 1994–1995 · closed Dec 23, 1998
Led to recall 98V-315
Dec 18, 1996
OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTPE96075 · 1994–1995 · closed Apr 30, 1997
No recall