Subaru Impreza problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 499 owner complaints and 13 safety recalls for the Subaru Impreza. That averages 8.5 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.21 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Compact cars segment it ranks #3 of 9 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 21.9.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2022 and 2024 models run 48% below the 2018 and 2019 models (12 early complaints per model year versus 27).
The 2019 model year has the highest rate (24.9 complaints per year) and the 2023 model year the lowest (1.1). Model years 2018 and 2019 run at least 50% above this model's average of 8.5 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. Model years 2021, 2022 and 2023 run at least 40% below this model's average of 8.5 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Body & structure (34.3% of complaints), followed by Lighting (24.8%) and Unspecified or other (10.0%). Body & structure complaints are 3.8 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 25 complaints (5.0%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 13 injuries and 1 death.
In the last 12 months owners filed 45 complaints versus 35 in the previous 12 months — up 29%. The 2024 model year generated the most recent reports (15). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 35 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 13 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2021 (4), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Within its segment it has more complaints per year than Mazda Mazda3 and Toyota Prius, but fewer than Kia Forte, Volkswagen Jetta, Nissan Sentra and Toyota Corolla.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 ▲50%+ | 151 | 17.2 | 0.43 | 7 | 5 | Lighting | View › |
| 2019 ▲50%+ | 194 | 24.9 | 0.62 | 9 | 5 | Lighting | View › |
| 2020 | 85 | 12.5 | 0.31 | 4 | 1 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2021 | 14 | 2.4 | 0.06 | 0 | 2 ⚠ | Driver-assist systems | View › |
| 2022 | 13 | 2.7 | 0.07 | 3 | 1 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2023 Fewest complaints | 4 | 1.1 | 0.03 | 2 | 2 | Wheels, tires & suspension | View › |
| 2024 | 32 | 11.5 | 0.28 | 15 | 2 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2025 Too new to rank | 5 | 2.8 | 0.07 | 4 | 0 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 1 | 1.0 | 0.02 | 1 | 0 | Wheels, tires & suspension | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 45 · Previous 12 months: 35 Within ±30% year on year
Problem areas
Body & structure ›
171 · 34.3% · 3.76 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting ›
124 · 24.8% · 16.02 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Unspecified or other ›
50 · 10.0% · 1.12 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Electrical
34 · 6.8% · 0.43 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Engine
30 · 6.0% · 0.27 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Brakes
23 · 4.6% · 0.76 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
16 · 3.2% · 1.28 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
16 · 3.2% · 0.5 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Transmission / powertrain
13 · 2.6% · 0.22 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Airbags & seat belts
10 · 2.0% · 0.53 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems
8 · 1.6% · 0.28 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system
3 · 0.6% · 0.14 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
1 · 0.2% · 0.11 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 35 months
What owners report
The contact owns a 2024 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended.
The contact owned a 2024 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended.
Spontaneous crack in passenger side of windshield 5 times in a row!!
Vehicle Information: 2018 Subaru ImprezaVIN: [XXX] Affected: Steering (Electronic Power Steering / EPS Gear Box Assembly)Description of the Safety Defect:I am reporting a severe safety defect regarding a sudden and total loss of power steering assist while…
total failure of brake booster at 49.5k miles, caused air leak in engine intake system, which caused lean run and burning more fuel and failure of air/fuel ratio sensor.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Compact cars
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mazda Mazda3 | 325 | 6.0 | 0.15 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 15 | Electrical |
| 2 | Toyota Prius | 262 | 7.2 | 0.18 | Stable | Rising | 11 | Electrical |
| 3 | Subaru Impreza | 499 | 8.5 | 0.21 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 13 | Body & structure |
| 4 | Kia Forte | 549 | 12.9 | 0.32 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 10 | Engine |
| 5 | Volkswagen Jetta | 870 | 17.0 | 0.42 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 22 | Engine |
| 6 | Nissan Sentra | 935 | 19.3 | 0.48 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 15 | Electrical |
| 7 | Toyota Corolla | 1,147 | 26.7 | 0.66 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 15 | Engine |
| 8 | Hyundai Elantra | 1,434 | 28.7 | 0.71 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 19 | Engine |
| 9 | Honda Civic | 3,012 | 68.2 | 1.69 | Worsening | Falling | 14 | Steering |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 13
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 1
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (5) · 2019 (5) · 2020 (1) · 2021 (2) · 2022 (1) · 2023 (2) · 2024 (2) · 2025 (0) · 2026 (0)
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.