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Ford Focus vs Subaru Impreza: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2018, owners filed an average of 1,070 complaints per model year about the Ford Focus and 118 about the Subaru Impreza.

Side by side

Ford FocusSubaru Impreza
Model years compared2006-20182006-2018
Owner complaints13,9111,540
Complaints per model year1,070118
Recalls2435
Years to avoid201220132014200820122013
Best years200620082009200620102011
Most common problemTransmissionAirbags
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy22-34 mpg combined (2018)25-32 mpg combined (2018)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Ford Focus: 2052006 Subaru Impreza: 5620062007 Ford Focus: 3912007 Subaru Impreza: 682008 Ford Focus: 2502008 Subaru Impreza: 17620082009 Ford Focus: 2292009 Subaru Impreza: 1042010 Ford Focus: 2872010 Subaru Impreza: 4620102011 Ford Focus: 1132011 Subaru Impreza: 582012 Ford Focus: 3,7722012 Subaru Impreza: 24320122013 Ford Focus: 2,1122013 Subaru Impreza: 2512014 Ford Focus: 2,6062014 Subaru Impreza: 10920142015 Ford Focus: 1,0222015 Subaru Impreza: 772016 Ford Focus: 1,1852016 Subaru Impreza: 7520162017 Ford Focus: 9002017 Subaru Impreza: 1252018 Ford Focus: 8392018 Subaru Impreza: 1522018
Ford FocusSubaru Impreza

Problems compared

FocusImpreza
Transmission6,317207
Engine2,549279
Fuel system1,82757
Steering1,67349
Electrical1,407185
Acceleration74277
Airbags394370
Visibility202131
Brakes245126

Questions about the Ford Focus vs Subaru Impreza

Which is more reliable, the Ford Focus or the Subaru Impreza?

Between 2006 and 2018, the Ford Focus has 3 years to avoid and the Subaru Impreza 3. Both are about equally consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Subaru Impreza drew fewer complaints per model year (118 vs 1,070), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Ford Focus or the Subaru Impreza?

From 2006 to 2018, the Ford Focus was covered by 24 recalls and the Subaru Impreza by 35.

What years of the Ford Focus and Subaru Impreza should you avoid?

Ford Focus: 2012, 2013 and 2014. Subaru Impreza: 2008, 2012 and 2013.

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