225 of the
3,451 complaints filed about the Subaru Impreza
are about the other systems —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2018.
On three separate occasions between August 2025 and June 2026, my car engine revved continuously and noisily, and acceleration was sluggish at best. During that time frame, I took it to two different dealerships (on four separate occasions) and an independent auto repair shop. None was able to duplicate the problem, but on my third visit to a dealership, the technician found metal shavings in the oil pan and the forward clutch was leaking and unable to hold pressure. The transmission assembly was replaced by the problem recurred: I was going 27 mph, the car's rpm registered close to 5,000, the engine noise was very loud, and there was halting acceleration. Fortunately, none of these incidents has happened while highway driving. I am selling the vehicle to Sheehy Subaru and want these incidents on the record. Subaru Customer Advocacy is aware of the issues I have experienced with the car.
NHTSA complaint #11756782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The electrical system failed and battery then exploded. The vehicle is behind held at a tow yard and has been inspected by allied insurance CPI of tower federal credit union. It is available to be inspected for the time being but will be scrapped soon. Both my safety and the safety of others was at risk- this occurred in a Wendy’s drive through near other vehicles, a building and of course people there in. There’s video footage of the incident taken by Wendy’s staff. The car stopped running as the fire caught- I ( the driver ) had to push the vehicle physically away from the building and cars and got away only one minute before it entirely exploded. Whether or not the problem has been confirmed or reproduced elsewhere is UNKNOWN. The fire was extinguished by firefighters and police did take a report as well. There was absolutely no warning that there was an issue prior - not even a hazard light- the only thing I noticed was my oil temp had begun to increase.
NHTSA complaint #11746233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I bought a new Subaru Impreza and there is a cam carrier leak that was reported last time I took it for service at the dealership two weeks ago. There are only 41k miles on the car, and there were no warning lights/messages. Upon my research, this is a common problem with Subarus due to the sealant that they use with a very high cost to fix (I was quoted $4.5k), not mentioning the time it takes as well. Additionally, fixing the problem does not prevent it from recurrence. Because this puts the safety of the driver at risk and is a known problem in newer Subaru vehicles, it should be covered under the warranty.
NHTSA complaint #11736146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Windshield lower plastic mount or cowl is getting detached creating a large visible gap between the cowl and windshield about 0.5+ inch. The gap runs across the middle of the windshield to its left and right side occupying about 50% in total. Gap is an issue when it rains, when it is snowing or other things since might get embedded on it.
NHTSA complaint #11728298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
National Highway Traffic Safety Admin March 9, 2026 I am submitted a vehicle safety complaint regarding a 2011 Subaru that I recently purchased on [XXX]. I purchased a used 2011 Subaru Impreza from Clear Cut Auto {241 S Dupont Hghwy – New Castle, DE 1920 (302-322-2050) on [XXX] for $5,147.04. The dealership person name was Erika Fernandez which reported the car was recently dropped of by a female owner a few days ago. The dealership issued temporary tags on the vehicle with the registration. The vehicle was sold as “as is”. Within three (3) days of purchase the vehicle On Sunday [XXX] while my [XXX] son was driving on a major highway, the vehicle suddenly showed a engine light which blink on and immediately went out. Thereafter, the car started smoking and was engulfed in flames ie: caught on fire. I am grateful that my [XXX] son was able to exit the vehicle safely and quickly to avoid injury. The car was completely destroyed by the result of the fire internally and externally. This created a serious life-threatening safety situation for my [XXX] son, which had to exit the vehicle quickly to avoid injury. Multiple people on the highway witnessed the fire. I am concerned that the vehicle sold to me by Clean Cut Auto (owner Lonnie and dealer Erika Fernandez) may have had a serious pre-existing defect involving the engine, electrical system or fuel system that caused the fire while the vehicle was being driven. I am submitting this complaint so that the incident can be investigated as a potential safety defect involving this vehicle model. 2011 Subaru Impreza VIN# [XXX] Fire Date: [XXX] Registration: [XXX] Location: [XXX] – [XXX] from [XXX] 3.04 miles from New Castle Municipality Police Report [XXX] Cpl Diprima -Troop 2 State Police 302-834-2620 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11723119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On February 18, 2026, my 2019 Subaru Impreza displayed an “Emergency Service” alert and sent a MySubaru app message stating that Automatic Crash Notification, SOS Call, Stolen Vehicle Locator, and Roadside Assistance may not be available. A red SOS light also illuminated, and STARLINK sent alerts to Subaru each day I first started the car, prompting repeated dealer calls. I tested the SOS button and could hear the operator clearly. On March 6, 2026, a dealer diagnosed a faulty right dash speaker (B2A06 – telematics speaker circuit malfunction). The emergency system shares this speaker, so the system warned that safety services might not work. I paid $191 for diagnostics; the estimated repair is $216.69. I pay a monthly subscription for STARLINK safety services, but the vehicle’s warnings do not clearly indicate the real issue. Other owners of 2019 and similar Subaru models report persistent STARLINK/telematics errors, red SOS lights, and repeated dealer visits, suggesting this may be a broader systemic issue. I believe the warning system should specifically identify a failed speaker or audio circuit to reduce confusion, unnecessary diagnostics, and ensure drivers understand the true status of emergency safety features. My concern is that the vehicle’s warning system may mislead drivers into believing that critical safety systems are malfunctioning, when the actual issue is a non-critical speaker failure. A more specific diagnostic message indicating an audio system fault would be more useful.
NHTSA complaint #11722609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE NOW HAD 4 WINDSHIELDS CRACK AND BREAK AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME ONE LITTLE ROCK HITS THE WINDSHIELD BOOM ANOTHER FULL REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED. EVERY TIME I GO FOR A ROAD TRIP THIS KEEPS HAPPENING THE MUST BE A DEFECT WITH THE DESIGN OR TYPE OF GLASS USED FOR THE SUBARU IMPREZA 2020 MODELS.
NHTSA complaint #11715092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The problem started on towards the end of Dec 2025. The primary latch that holds the hood down failed, and the safety latch kept the hood from flying off. I pulled the car over and shut it, and it seemed okay. Because the hood hadn't been lifted for a few days ( since its last service ), I was at a loss as to what could be causing it. Since then, it's happened several times. I've also examined the latch, and it appears to be fine. When it pops up, the safety latch catches it, and I pull over and close it. My next step is to have a mechanic put in a new latch. The car has 95,000 miles on the ticker,
NHTSA complaint #11711738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Air bags did not go off after a car accident with a commercial box truck, car seems to be totaled. Insurance is going to inspect vehicle to confirm it being totaled. No warning lights were on at the time. Just passed inspection a month a month ago.
NHTSA complaint #11701791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 phone was no longer recognized or paired with the vehicle and would not charge, part of the clock display stopped illuminating, and then the vehicle suddenly began to shake. Within seconds, all dashboard warning lights turned on and the engine shut off entirely. This happened so rapidly that I had no time to react. Fortunately, I had pulled over the car; otherwise, this incident could have resulted in a serious crash with me behind the wheel. Although no prior warning lights had appeared, I was later informed that the vehicle had a cracked ignition coil and a dead battery—despite the car having relatively low mileage and there being two recalls related to this issue. The new manager went above and beyond to assist me during this ordeal and I am beyond grateful for everything – Subaru of America is lucky to have him on staff!! However, as of today, I still have not received a clear explanation of what caused this failure or what risks may remain if I continue driving the vehicle. My understanding is that ignition coils should run for 80K - 100K. I am aware that others have experienced similar problems, and I request that this matter be thoroughly addressed before it results in a potentially preventable, yet serious accident.
NHTSA complaint #11700114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This making model has become known for a parasitic drain of the DCM module. It’s all over the public forums that this module doesn’t shut down properly and causes a drain on the battery system. The remedy is to plug your car into a battery tender system.
NHTSA complaint #11698593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
So far I went to Herb Gordon Auto World in Silver Spring At least three times for the eyesight system that keeps malfunctioning and they said each time there's no codes and no sensor or system error light codes on. I called and talked to Subaru customer service three times and on the fourth time I was told to go to another Subaru dealer and have it looked at as a second opinion on the 16th of aug I went to Fitzgerald Auto Mall after I talked to the service advisor Matt and found out that it had a code in it in the history PO1894 which Herb Gordon Auto World either didn't figure out how to find or was too incompetent to find it. According to Matt at Fitzgerald the code is a communication error from the transmission which is not a good thing to have on a brand new car. I guess Mark was the specialist and kelly is his assistant. I also talked to Erica on the 21st of August. Erica said the floater Dawn was going to call me after she talks to Fitzgerald Subaru about the code. I talked to Kelly on the 21st. and than Mark the same day. When I talk to Matt who is supposed to be the head of this case #[XXX] he told me this places you win said they can't advise a fix so we're just going to wait until you have any more problems with it and then we could fix it then maybe so I said can you not find the source of the transmission communication problem he said well we would have to find a fix to it and we can't right now certificate can't fix it or find out the source where it's coming from we have nothing to do now with it unless you have more problems and I said if I'm on the Beltway and the communication fails again will everything go off and then the car will stop now having an accident and possibly be killed So to that he stated well that's what insurance is for. This is all safety equipment because the lights come on at first that shows the eyesight error and all the red lights come on that say all the Collision avoiding systems are not working INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA),
NHTSA complaint #11684372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
[XXX] 2017 Subaru Impreza VIN [XXX] Cruze control error. Will it make brake lights fail if not repaired? go look in your database and see if Impreza has more than normal rear end collisions? What else is on bus that might be damaged by spike? Braking? Antilock? Lights? Why is this NOT a recall? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11684276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I own a 2024 Subaru Impreza purchased new 7 months ago. While driving under normal conditions, a small rock entered through the factory grille and struck the air conditioning condenser. The condenser was punctured, causing refrigerant (likely R-1234yf) to escape directly into the atmosphere. This refrigerant is regulated under the U.S. EPA Clean Air Act, Section 608, due to its environmental impact and potential health risks when inhaled. The sudden, uncontrolled release of refrigerant from a poorly protected component may constitute a violation of federal environmental regulations regarding the proper containment and handling of refrigerants. This leak also poses a health and safety risk to occupants, as the refrigerant can enter the ventilation system and be inhaled by the driver and passengers, potentially causing dizziness or other symptoms. The repair facility quoted over $2,000 for replacement of a condenser that retails for approximately $300. Subaru refused warranty coverage, claiming “road debris” damage. However, the condenser’s exposed position directly behind an inadequately protected grille makes it highly vulnerable to impact from small rocks under normal driving conditions — a foreseeable and preventable hazard. This is not an isolated incident. Multiple Subaru owners have reported similar issues Subaru has previously acknowledged condenser vulnerabilities in other contexts, issuing Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs 15-222-18 and 15-223-18R) addressing condenser assembly issues and Service Program WRB-21 for condenser corrosion in 2017–2018 Foresters. These actions demonstrate that Subaru is aware of condenser weaknesses and has taken corrective measures in the past. Given the safety risks, potential EPA refrigerant handling violations, and recurring nature of this issue across multiple Subaru models and years, I request that NHTSA investigate the grille/condenser design in the 2024 Impreza constitutes a safety defect and regulation failure
NHTSA complaint #11679319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
After reading forums online and my own experience I’m convinced the Subaru sun visors are improperly installed or fitted and pose a danger to drivers and those on the road. The sun visors on the driver and passenger side are incredibly loose and prone to falling off while I’m driving. I cannot use it to deflect sun because it will fall off while I’m driving - creating incredibly dangerous driving conditions. It has fallen in my lap but I’m afraid it might fall down to where the pedals are and cause further issues. This has been an issue since I purchased the vehicle in 2019 and happens almost weekly It doesn’t appear that Subaru sells the parts separately so replacing it would be costly.
NHTSA complaint #11678597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TPMS safety system failure. Vehicle display of tire pressure readings on the dash has changed from displaying tire pressures for each tire to no pressures displayed (pressures are blank; on the Subaru App which also accesses this data, all tires show red/abnormal with dashes displayed) for several weeks now and TPMS error warning light remains illuminated on dash. Manufacturer has suggested I take car to dealer to diagnose at my upfront cost for their defect as the vehicle is out of warranty. A friend with the same car has experienced the same problem, replaced all TPMS sensors at their expense, still having this same problem despite the attempted fix. This safety defect is not being adequately addressed by the manufacturer despite contacting the advocacy department and corporate executive.
NHTSA complaint #11675308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HVAC plug pigtail Blower motor resistor Heater control harness Is available for inspection HVAC electrical plugin was badly burned and melted causing risk of fire Summer months created dangerous interior temperatures Winter months & inclement weather created physical distress- & created dangerous vision restrictions/blockage because unable to use defroster Dangerous cab temperatures, limited or blocked vision through windshield created physical distress and distraction for me thus others and property were at elevated risk Yes confirmed by garage. No inspection performed. No warnings available. There are 2 separate incidents: July 2023/august 2023 September 2024/april 2025
NHTSA complaint #11661254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.