What Subaru Impreza owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Subaru Impreza safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 132 |
| 2024 | 32 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 208 |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 211 |
| 2022 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 253 |
| 2021 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 315 |
| 2020 | 85 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 399 |
| 2019 | 194 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 522 |
| 2018 | 151 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 521 |
| 2017 | 125 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 562 |
| 2016 | 75 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 354 |
| 2015 | 79 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 415 |
| 2014 | 108 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 388 |
| 2013 | 249 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 504 |
| 2012 | 243 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 517 |
| 2011 | 57 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 247 |
| 2010 | 46 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 225 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Subaru Impreza complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
Spontaneous crack in passenger side of windshield 5 times in a row!!
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 stated that there was no resistance in the brake pedal, and the vehicle was uncontrollable. The vehicle independently accelerated and crashed into a vehicle, which then crashed into another vehicle. The contact stated that the air bags deployed after the first collision and obstructed road visibility; however, bystanders informed the contact that the other vehicle had crashed into another vehicle, and vehicle occupants sustained unknown injuries. The vehicle was towed to a local tow lot. A police report was filed. An…
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 driving my 2018 Subaru Impreza.The Electronic Power Steering (EPS) gear box assembly experienced a catastrophic failure, resulting in an immediate, heavy steering condition that severely impacted my ability to control the vehicle safely. Upon inspection, the EPS gear box housing was found to have suffered structural failure/cracking due to environmental corrosion.This is a well-documented safety hazard for this vehicle generation. Subaru p…
My Chicco Fit360 car seatâs magnetic chest clip is failing to stay clipped and is easily unclipped by the tug of one finger. Children are able to easily unclip it as well. Yes it is available for inspection upon request. My childâs safety was put at risk because the magnetic chest clip would unclip by him pulling on it while my vehicle was in motion. It also failed to stay clipped multiple times which caused me to have to stop using it and request a new one. When I requested a new chest clip through Chiccoâs customer support, they didnât seem bothered or worried that their magnetic chest clip had failed and sent back an email saying they would send a replacement chest clip. The car s…
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.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle was jerking, shaking, and failed to accelerate as needed. The check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The failure nearly caused a crash. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where the oxygen sensor and spark plugs were replaced, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 147,600.
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. The contact stated that the brake pedal went to the floor with no resistance. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle independently accelerated and rear-ended another vehicle, resulting in a multi-vehicle crash. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The contact went to a local medical center and was treated for back pain and body soreness. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was serviced at a dealer on August 24, 2026, for a routine oil change and tire rotation. The m…
The speedometer and the entire dashboard goes haywire when driving. Itâs impossible to know what speed Iâm going, no inspection yet. The cruise control light is on and wonât go off. Iâm not sure if itâs on or not which is unfastened and could cause other issues. The check engine light goes on and off as well as the brake and ABS lights. There is no telling what could be wrong with those lights. It gets hard to brake when the brake light and the ABS light is on. Also the transmission gets stuck and I canât reverse the car or put it in park unless I turn the car off with my foot on the brake and shift in to Park turn the car back on and now Iâm able to reverse. Thatâs dangerous…
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
This bulletin provides a procedure to address customer concerns of surface rust accumulating in the top center retaining nut area of the front strut mounts. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This bulletin announces design changes to the front seat bottom heat unit.
This Announcement provides diagnostic assistance for CVT issues.
This bulletin provides guidance when diagnosing chain slip, judder, shudder, and hesitation concerns on the TR580 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed.
This bulletin announces a design change to the cord assembly that connects the Center Infotainment Display (CID) to the CCU, addressing reports of CID screen flickering.
This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body. The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This Service Information Bulletin announces the release of a new diagnostic assistance application for TR690 and TR580 CVT-equipped vehicles. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts.This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This Bulletin provides updated diagnostic procedures to follow and a brief questionnaire to complete when diagnosing an alleged Chain Slip condition on the TR580 and TR690 model CVT transmissions used in the models listed. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This bulletin announces a reprogramming file availability and provides a software update installation procedure to optimize the new Gen 4.5 Denso CP1.5 Audio and Navigation head units utilized in the models listed. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
Techtips newsletter locator index.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opens these when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Many end in a recall.
The Office of Defects Investigation opened this investigation on April 10, 2015 based on 26 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire reports involving the passenger frontal air bag in MY 2012 Subaru Impreza vehicles.These vehicles use a capacitive type Occupant Detection System (ODS), which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as either full sized, small stature, a child seat, or other object.The reports alleged that the ODS failed to operate properly and incorrectly suppressed (turned
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2026, owners most often name: air bags, engine, visibility/wiper. 1,481 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
