2015 Subaru IMPREZA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
77 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
36,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 55 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 77 complaints (23.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 18.2% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 13.0% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 10.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 6.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 18 |
| Unknown Or Other | 14 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
Electrical System: 18; Unknown Or Other: 14; Engine: 10; Power Train: 10; Air Bags: 7; Steering: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Service Brakes: 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 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 22 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2015: 6; 2016: 5; 2017: 4; 2018: 13; 2019: 12; 2020: 12; 2021: 7; 2022: 9; 2023: 5; 2024: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10671093 · 2015-01-08 (January 8, 2015)
IMPREZA WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN THE DEFROSTER WAS TURNED ON IN COLD WEATHER THE CAR WAS PARKED IN HOTEL PARKING LOT IN BOISE ID. IT WAS SNOWING OVERNIGHT AND THERE WAS ABOUT AN INCH OR TWO OF ICE ON THE CAR WINDSHIELD. TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS ABOUT 20F. WE SCRAPED OUT THE ICE ON THE SCREEN AND TURNED ON THE DEFROSTER (BOTH FRONT AND BACK). WHILE DRIVING ONCE ALL THE ICE WAS MELTED, WE NOTICED A CRACK STARTING FROM THE RIGHT BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD (NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE). SUBARU DEALERS WERE NOT HELPFUL AND DIAGNOSED IT DUE TO ROCKS …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10671093 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10712565 · 2015-04-24 (April 24, 2015)
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ICE FROM A SEMI-TRAILER ON 1/27/2015. THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH THE INSURANCE PROCESS, WAS IN THE COLLISION REPAIR SHOP FOR 23 DAYS, AND WAS RETURNED TO ME WITH A HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY THAT WAS EPOXIED TOGETHER. IT IS NOW APPROACHING 90 DAYS SINCE THE INITIAL ACCIDENT. SUBARU OF AMERICA, THE DEALER THAT SOLD THE VEHICLE TO ME, AND THE COLLISION REPAIR CENTER WHICH IS ANOTHER LOCAL SUBARU DEALER ALL INDICATE THAT REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES FOR THE 2015 SUBARU IMPREZA ARE NOT AVAILABLE. I NEED TO FIND…
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10712565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10726850 · 2015-06-23 (June 23, 2015)
SUNDAY MORNING, JUNE 21, 2015. RAINED OVERNIGHT AND WAS STILL RAINING MODERATELY HARD WHEN WE LEFT FOR OUR FIRST OVERNIGHT TRIP IN OUR NEW (1300 MILES) 2015 IMPREZA. ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM OUR HOME, ON A PAVED, WELL TRAVELED STREET, TRAVELING SLIGHTLY UNDER THE POSTED 30 MPH SPEED LIMIT, WE RAN THRU SOME STANDING WATER ON THE ROAD. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF INCHES DEEP. AFTER THE INITIAL WHOOSH, THERE WAS A CONTINUING ROAR, AS IF WATER WAS SPLASHING UP ON THE CAR UNDERSIDE. ALTHOUGH THE ROAD WAS WET THERE WAS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THIS WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10726850 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10762650 · 2015-09-09 (September 9, 2015)
A CRACK APPEARED IN THE MIDDLE OF MY WINDSHIELD, COMING UP FROM THE BOTTOM, AFTER NO IMPACT, WHILE PARKED AT A GAS PUMP. WHEN PARKED IN THE SUN THE NEXT DAY THE CRACK GREW FROM A LINEAR 8 INCHES TO A LINEAR 18 CURVED FROM A VERTICAL CRACK TO A HORIZONTAL CRACK AFTER THE FIRST 9 INCHES. SUBARU APPARENTLY HAS WINDSHIELDS ON BACK-ORDER SO THE CAR IN UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN WITHOUT REDUCED VISIBILITY FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME UNTIL THEY CAN GET A SUBARU WINDSHIELD TO REPLACE MY MYSTERIOUSLY CRACKED ONE, WITHOUT VOIDING THE WARRANTY.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10762650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10806535 · 2015-11-24 (November 24, 2015)
SUBARU EYESIGHT WILL LOCK UP BRAKES WHEN ACTIVELY BEING ENGAGED AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU MAKES 90 DEGREE RIGHT TURN AS IF THE CAR WAS STILL IN FRONT OF YOU AND YOU WERE ABOUT TO CRASH INTO IT. BUT IT ISN'T THERE INSTEAD YOU WILL BE CRASHED INTO FROM THE REAR. IT WILL DO THIS EVERY TIME GUARANTEED. JUST SET FOLLOWING DISTANCE TO 1.1 SEC GET BEHIND A CAR DOING OVER 25 MPH AND ENJOY. DEALERSHIP INSISTS THAT HOW IT SUPPOSE TO WORK. IF THIS WAS SUBARU'S INTEND IN ANY WAY IT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. HITTING GAS PEDAL WON'T HELP IT WILL ONLY REV UP …
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10806535 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10816797 · 2015-12-29 (December 29, 2015)
MOON ROOF EXPLODED. LIKE A GUN SHOT GOING OFF. GLASS CASCADED DOWN ON ME AND MY WIFE. ALMOST KILLED.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10816797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10821010 · 2016-01-19 (January 19, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN SIXTH GEAR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, AFTER TWO WEEKS THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DIAGNOSED THE CLUTCH AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE V…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10821010 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10871184 · 2016-05-27 (May 27, 2016)
CAR WILL HAVE A SLOW OR NON RESPONSIVE START FROM A STOP.. THERE WILL BE A COUPLE SECOND LAG FROM THE TIME I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10871184 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V366000 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Crash Imminent Braking | Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Reported: 2015-06-12 (June 12, 2015)
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufactured October 16, 2014, to April 15, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles manufactured March 23, 2015, and equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V149000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Reported: 2019-02-28 (February 28, 2019)
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.
Consequence: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
NHTSA campaign record ↗