2016 Subaru IMPREZA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
75 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
27,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 41 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 75 complaints (25.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 21.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 13.3% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 12.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 9.3% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 5.3% |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 19 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Power Train | 13 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Steering | 5 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 4 |
Unknown Or Other: 19; Electrical System: 13; Power Train: 13; Air Bags: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Service Brakes: 6; Steering: 5; Visibility/Wiper: 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 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 34 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2016: 7; 2017: 4; 2018: 7; 2019: 16; 2020: 12; 2021: 8; 2022: 7; 2023: 8; 2024: 3; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 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 10824680 · 2016-02-07 (February 7, 2016)
THE SEAT BELTS LOCK OFTEN AND WILL NOT RELEASE UNTIL THEY ARE FULLY RETRACTED AND PUT BACK ON. THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER WILL BE FIRMLY SECURED TO THE SEAT WHEN THIS OCCURS. IT HAS CAUSED US MANY TIMES TO HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO CORRECT THE BELT. THIS CAUSES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN THE DRIVER CANNOT MOVE TO CHECK FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC ETC. THE DEALER CALLS THIS NORMAL OPERATION AND SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG. ALSO, THIS HAPPENS IN MOTION OR STANDING STILL AND EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10824680 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10839197 · 2016-03-01 (March 1, 2016)
WHEN MY WIFE SITS ON A 3 INCH FOAM CUSHION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THE PASSENGER SIDE TO SIT MORE COMFORTABLY (SHE IS 4'11' AND HAS HIP PROBLEMS); THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ONLY GOES INTO ON MODE INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAPPEN WHEN ENTERING THE CAR AND CONTINUES WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IN AN ACCIDENT, IF NOT NOTICE BE THE PASSENGER OR DRIVER. CORRECTIVE ACTION BELIEVE IT OR NOT INVOLVE.S BOUNCING UP AND DOWN ON THE SEAT. A SIDE EFFECT SEEMS TO BE, THAT WHEN THE SIGN IS IN OFF POSITION, THE SEAT BELTS …
Owner-reported narrative. 19 miles reported. Look up ODI 10839197 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10872648 · 2016-06-06 (June 6, 2016)
WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY FROM A STANDING OR SLOW MOVING POSITION THE CAR STALLS OFTEN TIMES LEAVING YOU MOMENTARILY STOPPED IN THE FACE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC.THIS ACTION IS SPORADIC, IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME YOU MASH THE ACCELERATOR FOR TAKE-OFF . THE DEALER MECHANIC SAYS IT HAS BEEN A NORMAL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10872648 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10877160 · 2016-06-28 (June 28, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 34,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10877160 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10908013 · 2016-09-19 (September 19, 2016)
THE 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA STARTED TO GO FORWARD WHEN THE SHIFT KNOB WAS IN THE REVERSE POSITION. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN A ROW AND ON THE THIRD TIME THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BRAKE HARD IN ESSENCE "FIGHTING" THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, TRIED AGAIN, MADE IT HOME. IT WAS A RAINY DAY. MADE APPT. WITH DEALER. AFRAID TO DRIVE IT!
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10908013 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10920499 · 2016-11-01 (November 1, 2016)
TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, I BLACKED OUT. FIRST TIME, RAN OFF EDGE OF ROAD; SECOND TIME, RAN OVER INTO ON-COMING LANE. TWICE, I HAD MAJOR ALLERGIC SYMPTOMS. FIRST, RIGHT AFTER BUYING CAR; SECOND, SIX MONTHS LATER. TWICE, I GREW BREATHLESS AFTER DRIVING CAR FOR SEVERAL HOURS. ONCE, I COULD NOT KEEP MY BALANCE AFTER DRIVING CAR ON A HIGHWAY. ALL OF THESE EPISODES OCCURRED AFTER LONGER THAN USUAL DRIVES. NORMALLY, I DRIVE SHORT DISTANCES AROUND TOWN. TWICE, AN OPAQUE FILM FORMED ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, OBSCURING VISIBILI…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10920499 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10927234 · 2016-11-21 (November 21, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A WHIPLASH AND A BLOODY NOSE, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,047.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,047 miles reported. Look up ODI 10927234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10949640 · 2017-02-05 (February 5, 2017)
I TURNED MY CAR ON ONE AFTERNOON AND FOUND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT STAYED LIT ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE CAR WAS STATIONARY. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE, I DISCOVERED THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY GONE (I.E., VERY HARD TO TURN STEERING WHEEL). HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER, SINCE ONLY 1 YEAR OLD. DEALER INITIALLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BAD POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE. THREE DAYS LATER, AFTER THE PART ARRIVED, THEY INSTALLED IT AND FOUND MORE ERROR CODES INDICATING A POWER SUPPLY ERROR. MORE NEW PARTS WERE ORDERED THAT TOOK ANOTHER THREE DAYS…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10949640 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗