U.S. public vehicle records

Subaru IMPREZA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2,574 owner complaints analyzed

53 distinct recall campaigns

45,375 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1993 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 1,522 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 393 of 2,574 complaints (15.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	366	14.2%
Transmission and shifting	167	6.5%
Steering behavior	112	4.4%
Electrical and battery issues	110	4.3%
Fuel system concerns	87	3.4%
Engine operation	82	3.2%

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.

Air Bags

393

Engine

262

Unknown Or Other

222

Electrical System

210

Power Train

209

Visibility/Wiper

200

Exterior Lighting

187

Service Brakes

131

Air Bags: 393; Engine: 262; Unknown Or Other: 222; Electrical System: 210; Power Train: 209; Visibility/Wiper: 200; Exterior Lighting: 187; Service Brakes: 131

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

498

25,000 to 49,999

307

50,000 to 74,999

270

75,000 to 99,999

181

100,000 to 149,999

193

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 498; 25,000 to 49,999: 307; 50,000 to 74,999: 270; 75,000 to 99,999: 181; 100,000 to 149,999: 193; 150,000 and above: 73

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (498). 1,052 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.

1995

1996

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

123

2015

126

2016

130

2017

135

2018

127

2019

226

2020

205

2021

163

2022

110

2023

200

2024

2025

2026

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
1995	14
1996	11
2000	27
2001	40
2002	76
2003	55
2004	81
2005	59
2006	46
2007	43
2008	72
2009	43
2010	46
2011	43
2012	64
2013	96
2014	123
2015	126
2016	130
2017	135
2018	127
2019	226
2020	205
2021	163
2022	110
2023	200
2024	98
2025	68
2026	47

1995: 14; 1996: 11; 2000: 27; 2001: 40; 2002: 76; 2003: 55; 2004: 81; 2005: 59; 2006: 46; 2007: 43; 2008: 72; 2009: 43; 2010: 46; 2011: 43; 2012: 64; 2013: 96; 2014: 123; 2015: 126; 2016: 130; 2017: 135; 2018: 127; 2019: 226; 2020: 205; 2021: 163; 2022: 110; 2023: 200; 2024: 98; 2025: 68; 2026: 47

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 366 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 167 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 112 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 10100633 · 2004-11-28 (November 28, 2004)

WE JUST PURCHASED A 1993 SUBARU IMPREZA 4 DOOR SEDAN. YESTERDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2004 WHILE WE WERE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, WE WERE HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30 MPH. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, OUR SUBARU WAS PROPELLED 5-15 FEET. THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. MY WIFE AN I REQUIRED EMERGENCY MEDICAL ATTENTION. I JUST NOTICED THAT NHTSA ISSUED A RECALL ON DEFECTIVE SUBARU AIRBAGS IN 1994, BUT THERE ISN'T EVEN AN OPTION TO SEARCH FOR A SUBARU PROBLEMS IN 1993. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 124,555 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100633 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10670306 · 2015-01-05 (January 5, 2015)

REAR WIRES IN HATCH BOOT COMPLETELY SEVERED. NO THIRD BRAKE LIGHT, WIPER, OR DEFOGGER BECAUSE OF ISSUE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10670306 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 976897 · 1995-12-21 (December 21, 1995)

AUTO-TRAN: TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF DRIVE INTO REVERSE; DRIVER ACCELERATED; VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 976897 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 897813 · 2001-10-16 (October 16, 2001)

CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER DUE TO A STRONG FUEL SMELL AND BURNING OIL COMING FROM ENGINE. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE/ REPAIRED AN OIL LEAK, AND REPLACED PISTON GASKETS.SOMETIMES CONSUMER HAD TRIED TO START ENGINE, BUT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AT ALL. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 897813 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 899449 · 2001-11-26 (November 26, 2001)

VEHICLE WILL STALL AT ANYTIME. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE VEHICLE LOSES POWER BRAKES, AND POWER STEERING. CONSUMER STATES IN TRAFFIC IT BECOMES EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *AK *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 899449 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10178946 · 2007-01-17 (January 17, 2007)

TL* - THE CONSUMER BLACKED OUT AND DOESN'T REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER HIT A GUARD RAIL POST AND THEN TWO TREES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE OF FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG FAILED NOT TO DEPLOY. UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 121,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178946 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 862256 · 2000-05-22 (May 22, 2000)

A MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. FRONT AND REAR WINDOWS REMAINED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITIONS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 862256 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 736196 · 2000-11-12 (November 12, 2000)

ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AT HIGHWAY AND CITY SPEEDS UNEXPECTEDLY. OFTEN DIFFICULT TO RESTART. CAR HAS BEEN TOWED ON THREE OCCASSIONS TO SUBARU DEALERS. NEITHER OF TWO LOCAL AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALERS ( CASEY OF NEWPORT NEWS VA OR ROUGHTON OF NORFOLK VA ) HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ANALYZE OR REPAIR VEHICLE. WAITED 9 WEEKS FOR PARTS WHICH NEVER ARRIVED FROM JAPAN WHICH ONE DEALER…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 736196 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 769236 · 2002-11-03 (November 3, 2002)

FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES FROM THE YEAR 2000-2002.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 769236 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8022113 · 2002-11-04 (November 4, 2002)

FOUR FUEL PUMPS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE OF 2000. THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT WITH NO WARNING PUTTING THE OCCUPANTS AT RISK UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. THE OWNER HAS FOUND A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 93V072000 FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY PIPE FILLER NECK ON THE INTERNET. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. MR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8022113 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10018895 · 2003-05-18 (May 18, 2003)

ENGINE STALLS WHEN TRYING TO TAKE OFF AFTER STOPPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. THERE IS ALSO A RAPPING NOISE IN ENGINE UNTIL ITS BEEN RUNNING AWHILE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018895 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.