Subaru Impreza
Owners filed 2,647 complaints across 35 model years of the Subaru Impreza. The 2002 drew the most (292); the 2026 the fewest (1).
Model years35
Complaints2,647
Recalls175
Fires46
Deaths3
Every Subaru Impreza model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | — | — | Wheels | Routine | |
| 2025 | 5 | 0 | — | 1 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2024 | 31 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Service Brakes | Routine | |
| 2023 | 4 | 2 | — | — | Tires | Routine | |
| 2022 | 13 | 1 | 2 | — | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2021 | 14 | 2 | — | 1 | Visibility/Wiper | Do not drive | |
| 2020 | 85 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Visibility/Wiper | Routine | |
| 2019 | 194 | 5 | 1 | 6 | Exterior Lighting | Routine | |
| 2018 | 150 | 5 | 1 | 5 | Exterior Lighting | Fatalities reported | |
| 2017 | 125 | 7 | 3 | 10 | Exterior Lighting | Routine | |
| 2016 | 75 | 1 | — | 7 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2015 | 77 | 2 | — | 5 | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2014 | 108 | 3 | — | 16 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2013 | 249 | 4 | 7 | 13 | Air Bags | Above average | |
| 2012 | 243 | 6 | 4 | 10 | Air Bags | Above average | |
| 2011 | 57 | 14 | 2 | 5 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2010 | 46 | 15 | 1 | 3 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2009 | 103 | 15 | 3 | 2 | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2008 | 176 | 15 | 4 | 9 | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2007 | 68 | 9 | 2 | 6 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2006 | 56 | 10 | — | 3 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2005 | 75 | 6 | 1 | 10 | Air Bags | Fatalities reported | |
| 2004 | 96 | 8 | 2 | 7 | Fuel/Propulsion System | Routine | |
| 2003 | 62 | 6 | 1 | 8 | Fuel/Propulsion System | Routine | |
| 2002 | 292 | 6 | 3 | 11 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Above average | |
| 2001 | 11 | 3 | — | 5 | Tires | Routine | |
| 2000 | 41 | 4 | 1 | 6 | Power Train › Clutch Assembly | Fatalities reported | |
| 1999 | 22 | 4 | — | 2 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Routine | |
| 1998 | 30 | 3 | — | 1 | Suspension › Multiple Axle | Routine | |
| 1997 | 30 | 3 | 1 | 6 | Wheels › Hub | Routine | |
| 1996 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 4 | Air Bags › Frontal | Routine | |
| 1995 | 46 | 4 | 2 | 11 | Air Bags › Frontal | Routine | |
| 1994 | 8 | 3 | — | 1 | Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner | Routine | |
| 1993 | 33 | 3 | — | 9 | Visibility › Windshield | Routine | |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 | — | — | Power Train › Manual Transmission | Routine |
Which Subaru Impreza years should you avoid?
On raw complaint volume the 2002 is the weakest year on record, with 292 complaints concentrated in the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It carries 6 recalls.
Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.