2019 Subaru IMPREZA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
194 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
11,700 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 66 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 63 of 194 complaints (32.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 6.7% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 4.1% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 3.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 1.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.5% |
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 | 63 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 55 |
| Unknown Or Other | 26 |
| Electrical System | 19 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Steering | 5 |
Exterior Lighting: 63; Visibility/Wiper: 55; Unknown Or Other: 26; Electrical System: 19; Engine: 8; Service Brakes: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Steering: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 46 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 46; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (46). 128 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 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 26 |
| 2021 | 37 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2023 | 53 |
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 9 |
2019: 12; 2020: 26; 2021: 37; 2022: 18; 2023: 53; 2024: 29; 2025: 10; 2026: 9
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 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 11395794 · 2021-02-11 (February 11, 2021)
AFTER HAVING THE CAR 10 MONTHS BATTERY KEPT DYING. SUBARU REPLACED THE FIRST BATTERY WITH A NEW ONE EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO. THAT BATTERY JUST DIED ON FEB 8 AFTER NOT BEING DRIVEN FOR 3 DAYS. I NEEDED TO GET IT JUMP STARTED. SUBARU WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AND TOLD ME TO GET A "SECOND OPINION." THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT A MEDICAL CONDITION.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,680 miles reported. Look up ODI 11395794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11407930 · 2021-04-13 (April 13, 2021)
SINCE PURCHASING MY VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 2019 I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BATTERY REPLACED 4 TIMES, EACH TIME THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN SITTING FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO EXTREME TEMPERATURES, NOT BEEN LEFT WITH A LIGHT ON OR A DOOR OPEN. THE 2ND, 3RD AND 4TH TIMES THIS HAPPENED I REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE EXAMINED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE WAS AN ISSUE OTHER THAN THE BATTERY AT PLAY, SUBARU HAS NEVER TAKEN THAT INQUIRY SERIOUSLY AND SIMPLY REPLACED THE BATTERY ONLY FOR IT TO DIE A FEW MONTHS LATER.
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11407930 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11413458 · 2021-04-22 (April 22, 2021)
MY 2019 SUBARU IMPREZA HATCHBACK SPORT HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM I SAW. THE REAR LEFT DISC BRAKE ROTOR CALIPER IS NOT COMPLETELY ENGAGING. ALSO THE COLOR LOOKS LIKE RUST . ADDITIONALLY THE CAR IS VIBRATING AND MAKING WEIRD SOUNDS.
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 11413458 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11425008 · 2021-07-15 (July 15, 2021)
I was driving in stop and go traffic on the highway for several minutes. Everything worked fine until one moment when I went to press the brake pedal down and the pedal would not move. I used all my strength to push it down for several seconds. It was locked in position. I could not move it all. My car slid into a semi truck in front of me at a very very low speed. After impact, everything worked again and I was able to pull the car to the side of the road. Initially, I believed the truck behind me had pushed my car causing the brake pedal to l…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11425008 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11195959 · 2019-04-13 (April 13, 2019)
CAR WILL NOT TRACK STRAIGHT. AT 60 MPH+ YOU MUST MAKE CONSTANT SMALL STEERING CORRECTIONS TO KEEP THE CAR IN YOUR LANE. IT CONSTANTLY DARTS SIDE TO SIDE. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO WILL NOT SELF CENTER AFTER A TURN. YOU HAVE TO PHYSICALLY PULL THE WHEEL BACK TO CENTER THE LAST 5 DEGREES TO GET THE CAR TO GO STRAIGHT. THERE IS NO ONCENTER FEEL IN THE STEERING. THE DEALER TRIED ALIGNMENT TO NO AVAIL. DEALER DROVE 2 OTHER NEW CARS OFF HIS LOT AND NOTICED THE SAME CONDITION SO HE CONTACTED SUBARU
Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 11195959 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11243254 · 2019-08-12 (August 12, 2019)
AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR A MONTH, I NOTICED THE HOOD HAD BECOME UNEVEN WHERE IT MEETS THE FRONT END. I ALSO BEGAN TO NOTICE A WIDER GAP BETWEEN THE HOOD AND THE RIGHT FENDER THAN ON THE LEFT SIDE. THIS GAP HAS WIDENED. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO ALBANY SUBARU, THE SERVICE MANAGER MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS THAT MADE MINIMAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HOOD WHERE IT MEETS THE FRONT END, THOUGH IT IS STILL UNEVEN. THE RUBBER GASKET STILL DOESN'T FILL THE GAP. THIS MADE THE GAP BETWEEN THE RIGHT FENDER AND HOOD EVEN WIDER. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO ALBANY SUBARU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11243254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11281776 · 2019-11-22 (November 22, 2019)
WHEN SHIFTING QUICKLY INTO 4TH GEAR ON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION AT HIGHER RPM'S (ABOVE 3000), THE GEAR GRINDS. IF YOU SHIFT SLOWLY, IT DOESN'T. IT SEEMS TO BE ONLY THE 4TH GEAR DOING THIS. MY CAR HAS 1300 MILES ON IT. I AM WONDERING IF IT BECAUSE THE RPM'S HANG WAY TOO LONG. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A MANUAL DAILY FOR 28 YEARS. I AM ALSO A PROFESSIONAL TRUCK DRIVER, SO I KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY DRIVE A STICK SHIFT. THE RPM HANG IS VERY ANNOYING AND COULD POTENTIALLY BE THE PROBLEM OF THE 5SPEED TRANSMISSION.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11281776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11445030 · 2021-12-27 (December 27, 2021)
When driving the vehicle the engine was not getting enough power and it was shifting oddly. I took it in and was told there was excessive carbon buildup on the heads, and there is not a good fix for the problem. Without having the engine torn apart this could of caused the car to not speed up properly or the engine to malfunction while driving the vehicle. This could have caused serious injuries to me or others on the road if the problem would not have been addressed. The vehicle was taken to the Subaru dealership, where the engine had to be t…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11445030 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11747595 · 2026-07-01 (July 1, 2026)
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30-40 MPH, the vehicle rolled to a stop and stalled in hot and cold temperatures. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was jump-started by Roadside Assistance. The contact purchased a trickle charger. The local dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was diagnosed, and determined that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired three times, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was opened. The…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11747595 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11255104 · 2019-09-12 (September 12, 2019)
CAR STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. AUTOMOBILE WAS TOWED TO DEALER YESTERDAY (9-11-19). DEALER, CALLED TODAY (9-12-19) SAID PROBLEM IS A BAD FUEL PUMP AND MAY TAKE UP TO A MONTH TO GET THE ORDERED PART DELIVERED AND INSTALLED. NEW VEHICLE PURCHASED APRIL, 2019 A LITTLE LESS THAN 2800 MILES ON ODOMETER.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 11255104 at NHTSA ↗