Subaru Impreza
Registered from 1996 to 2027.
About this model
The Subaru Impreza is a compact car that has been manufactured by the Japanese automaker Subaru since 1992. It was introduced as a replacement for the Leone, with the predecessor's EA series engines replaced by the new EJ series. It is now in its sixth generation.
From the Wikipedia article Subaru Impreza, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The manufacturer has told owners of one of these to stop driving until the repair is done.
- A separated control arm may cause the tire to contact the wheel well, resulting in a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- AIR BAGS — 58 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
- ENGINE — 54 owners reported this, 1 involving a fire
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 15 owners reported this, 2 involving a fire
- POWER TRAIN — 13 owners reported this
- STEERING — 13 owners reported this
- SERVICE BRAKES — 10 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — 7 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS — 6 owners reported this
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEATS — 6 owners reported this
- SEAT BELTS — 4 owners reported this
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE — 3 owners reported this
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES — 3 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash
Crash test
| Overall | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover | ★★★★★ |
| Stability control | Standard |
| Forward collision warning | Standard |
| Lane departure warning | Standard |
Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 180 hp · 1507 kg · 2670 mm wheelbase · 8.1 L/100km (EPA) · 9.0 L/100km city · 7.1 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
| 2025 | 152 hp · 1507 kg · 2670 mm wheelbase · 8.1 L/100km (EPA) · 9.0 L/100km city · 7.1 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
| 2024 | 152 hp · 1507 kg · 2670 mm wheelbase · 8.1 L/100km (EPA) · 9.0 L/100km city · 7.1 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
| 2023 | 152 hp · 1382 kg · 2670 mm wheelbase · 7.8 L/100km (EPA) · 8.7 L/100km city · 6.7 motorway · Sedan, 5-door |
| 2022 | 152 hp · 1382 kg · 2670 mm wheelbase · 7.8 L/100km (EPA) · 8.7 L/100km city · 6.7 motorway · Sedan, 5-door |
| 2021 | 152 hp · 1382 kg · 2670 mm wheelbase · 7.8 L/100km (EPA) · 8.7 L/100km city · 6.7 motorway · Sedan, 5-door |
| 2020 | 152 hp · 1382 kg · 2670 mm wheelbase · 9.0 L/100km (EPA) · 9.8 L/100km city · 7.6 motorway · Sedan, 5-door |
| 2019 | 152 hp · 1382 kg · 2670 mm wheelbase · 8.7 L/100km (EPA) · 9.8 L/100km city · 7.4 motorway · Sedan, 5-door |
| 2018 | 152 hp · 1382 kg · 2670 mm wheelbase · 8.7 L/100km (EPA) · 9.8 L/100km city · 7.4 motorway · Sedan, 5-door |
| 2017 | 152 hp · 1382 kg · 2670 mm wheelbase · 8.7 L/100km (EPA) · 9.8 L/100km city · 7.4 motorway · Sedan, 5-door |
| 2016 | 148 hp · 1370 kg · 2650 mm wheelbase · 8.4 L/100km (EPA) · 9.4 L/100km city · 7.1 motorway · Sedan, 5-door |
| 2015 | 148 hp · 1370 kg · 2650 mm wheelbase · 8.4 L/100km (EPA) · 9.4 L/100km city · 7.1 motorway · Sedan, 5-door |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
77% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.
- Do not drive
21V675000
A separated control arm may cause the tire to contact the wheel well, resulting in a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the control arm as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 3, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRI-21.
11V562000
THE DRIVER MIGHT MISJUDGE THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS COULD OCCUR UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
SUBARU WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
13V061000
The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes. The engine may continue to start and stop until the fob battery is depleted, or until the vehicle runs out of fuel. If the vehicle is parked in an enclosed area, there is a risk of carbon monoxide build-up which may cause headaches, dizziness or, in extreme cases, unconsciousness and/or asphyxiation.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RES key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.
15V366000
If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQS-54.
15V419000
If the ODS deactivates, the front passenger air bag will be turned off and the front passenger air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Occupant Control Unit with a modified one, free of charge. The recall began August 21, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQT-55.
16V738000
If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTM-73.
17V132000
A rearview camera display that does not function as designed can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the car, increasing the risk of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the infotainment software, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for the recall is WTN-74.
17V216000
An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the engine control unit to turn the radiator cooling fan on at a lower temperature, free of charge. The recall began on April 20, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2738. Subaru's number for this recall is WTP-75.
11 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.
Regulator investigations
Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.
Passenger Front Air Bag Suppression
Preliminary evaluation, opened April 2015, closed July 2015.
Became recall 15V419000.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Engineering analysis, opened February 2015, still open.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Preliminary evaluation, opened June 2014, closed March 2015.
Front suspension control arm failure
Preliminary evaluation, opened April 2011, closed September 2011.
Fuel line leak
Engineering analysis, opened July 2009, closed December 2009.
Fuel line leak
Preliminary evaluation, opened March 2009, closed July 2009.
Fuel line leakage in engine compartment
Preliminary evaluation, opened January 2004, closed May 2004.
What the maker told its dealers
Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.
Subaru filed 35 bulletins about the 2026 Impreza.
- Electrical system: 14
- Engine: 4
- Power train: 2
- Service brakes: 2
- Forward collision avoidance: 1
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1
- Steering: 1
- Other: 10
- This bulletin announces the diagnostic procedure to be performed before the service manual. · August 2026
- This bulletin provides instruction for use (FOTA) of a new reprogramming procedure to optimize the Denso Gen 4.5 Audio and Navigation system utilized in the models listed. (This is an revised version… · August 2026
- This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g. intake valves and… · July 2026
- This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g. intake valves and… · July 2026
- This bulletin announces a change in the seat belt warning buzzer intervals in the inspection procedure found in the Service Manual. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.) · July 2026
- This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood covers from Generation 4 EyeSight cameras. · July 2026
- This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide removal and installation tips to be followed when working with EyeSight Stereo Cameras. · July 2026
- This bulletin announces the elimination of oil spacers from both left- and right side camshaft carriers on FB2.5 engines. · July 2026
27 more.
Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.