2018 Subaru IMPREZA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
149 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
18,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 51 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 149 complaints (43.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 5.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.7% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 2.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.0% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 64 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 33 |
| Unknown Or Other | 25 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 5 |
| Power Train | 4 |
Exterior Lighting: 64; Visibility/Wiper: 33; Unknown Or Other: 25; Electrical System: 12; Engine: 11; Structure:Body: 5; Visibility:Windshield: 5; Power Train: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 30 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 30; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (30). 98 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 23 |
| 2021 | 15 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2023 | 52 |
| 2024 | 23 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2018: 8; 2019: 8; 2020: 23; 2021: 15; 2022: 14; 2023: 52; 2024: 23; 2025: 3; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11243161 · 2019-08-11 (August 11, 2019)
THE SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND 3 SENSORS WHERE ACTIVATED BUT BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IT NEVER WENT OFF. *JS *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 14,444 miles reported. Look up ODI 11243161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11406140 · 2021-04-02 (April 2, 2021)
OEM BATTERY FAILED AND LEFT DRIVER STRANDED IN NOV 2020. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY AT THAT TIME. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY AGAIN TODAY, 04/02/2021 BECAUSE IT WAS ALSO FAILING. DEALER WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ISSUE WAS WITH CAR. SIMPLY STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO REPLACE FAILED BATTERIES IF WITHIN WARRANTY PERIOD. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WHEN BATTERY FAILS, CAR IS UNRESPONSIVE TO ANY/ALL COMMANDS.
Owner-reported narrative. 32,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11406140 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11101252 · 2018-06-11 (June 11, 2018)
THE CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. AT A STOP SIGN, RED LIGHT AND AT A STOP SIGN. THE INCIDENT AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO START ROLLING BACKWARDS AND ALMOST HIT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. SUBARU CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM BUT ACKNOWLEDGES THE INCIDENTS OF STALLING. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS PURCHASED IN THE LATER HALF OF APRIL 2018.
Owner-reported narrative. 567 miles reported. Look up ODI 11101252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11299666 · 2020-01-16 (January 16, 2020)
INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER AT 2000 TO 3000 RPM IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. I'VE TAKEN IT TO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER 8 TIMES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND THEY HAVE DENIED ANYTHING I'VE REPORTED. THEY'VE HAD TECHNICIANS ON RIDES WITH ME BUT I CAN'T RECREATE SOMETHING THAT IS SO INTERMITTENT. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE IN HOT WEATHER BUT I CAN SAFELY SAY AC ISN'T THE CAUSE. ALTHOUGH MY CAR ISN'T A CROSSTREK, THE MOTOR IN ONE IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS MINE. I SUSPECTED IT WAS DUE TO A RECALL REPAIR THAT HADN'T BEEN PERFORMED BUT IVE HAD BOTH OF MY RECAL…
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11299666 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11325865 · 2020-05-25 (May 25, 2020)
THE CAR IS LESS THEN 2 YEARS OLD AND IT HAS A PROBLEM BRAKING, IT MAKES A RUBBING NOISE EVERTING TIME IT TURNS WHILE BRAKING, AT HIGHER SPEEDS IT VIBRATES, AND ALSO HAS PROBLEM SHIFTING DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11325865 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11374136 · 2020-11-11 (November 11, 2020)
I BEGAN THE LEASE OF MY 2018 SUBARU IMPREZA WAGON IN MARCH OF 2018. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2019, I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR BRAKE ISSUES I WAS HAVING. MY BRAKES WERE MAKING A SQUEALING NOISE, AND CONSIDERING THAT MY MILEAGE WAS 20,527, I FOUND THIS TO BE ODD. DEALERSHIP HAD MY CAR UNTIL 10/5/19, AND HAD TO BRING IN A NEW TECH TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MY CAR, AND THAT MY CAR WOULD BE THE "GUINEA PIG" TO FIGURE OUT THE SOLUTION. BROUGHT MY CAR IN AGAIN ON 2/26/20 FOR AN OPEN RECALL FOR THE BRAKE HOSES SWELLIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,527 miles reported. Look up ODI 11374136 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11130767 · 2018-09-22 (September 22, 2018)
THE ENGINE DIED WHILE COMING TO A RAPID STOP FROM ABOUT 35-40 MPH. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TURNED YELLOW. AFTER PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION PARK THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, REMOVING AND REPLACING THE KEY, AND ABOUT 2 TO 3 MINUTES THE ENGINE DID START. I WAS UNABLE, AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS, TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS PROBLEM. THEY DID, HOWEVER, PERFORM A SOFTWARE UPDATE IN THE HOPE THAT IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 11130767 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11484183 · 2022-09-13 (September 13, 2022)
Bought this car 1 year ago at East Hills Subaru. Among other problems such as water leaking inside vehicle due to clogged drains, most recent issue is the steering column not locking firmly. This is causing the steering wheel to shift up or down while driving, even though locking mechanism under steering wheel column is engaged. The car has under 40k miles. The safety of the driver is at risk here as the shifting movement of the steering wheel affect proper steering. Dealer is unable to give me a reasonable appointment to address this and on…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11484183 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11485251 · 2022-09-19 (September 19, 2022)
Suspected defective and/or faulty brake booster or brake hose on the front left tire. Car starts violently shaking/shuddering when easing onto the brakes (once the brakes have warmed up for my daily commute to work). Resulting vibrations travel up the steering column to the steering wheel, and into the cabin. The car will then pitch its nose in various directions; it feels as though the front left brake is being grabbed and not properly released. Taken to a Subaru dealership multiple times. New brakes and rotors installed in July 2022; other co…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11485251 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11700114 · 2025-11-18 (November 18, 2025)
My vehicle has repeatedly displayed a “low tire pressure” warning despite having been serviced twice for this issue. In addition, there is an open case with Subaru of America regarding ongoing performance concerns – fuel tank?! In addition, I have reported both verbally and in writing to the dealership that my car often loses power when driving uphill and, at times, runs unevenly or hesitantly, similar to an engine stutter or sputter. Most recently, multiple problems occurred simultaneously. The low tire pressure warning remained on, my cell p…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11700114 at NHTSA ↗