Subaru Impreza years to avoid
More than twice the Impreza's typical complaint count for a model year.
Best Subaru Impreza years
Fewest owner complaints among the last 20 model years, counting only those with at least four years on the road.
Subaru Impreza complaints by model year
Owner complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so expect them to grow.
Most common Subaru Impreza problems
All model years combined.
- Airbags460
- Engine357
- Visibility313
- Transmission296
- Fuel system267
- Brakes258
- Electrical234
- Lights203
- Suspension158
- Body132
- Acceleration107
- Steering80
Subaru Impreza problems year by year
Tap a year to see its problems, recalls and what owners say.
| Year | Score | Complaints | Top problem | Typical mileage | Recalls | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | - | 1 | Wheels | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2025 | - | 5 | Transmission | 0 | 1 | ||
| 2024 | - | 32 | Visibility | 2 | 3 | ||
| 2023 | - | 4 | Tires | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2022 | 92 | 14 | Transmission | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2021 | 92 | 14 | Driver assistance | 2 | 1 | ||
| 2020 | 71 | 85 | Visibility | 7,000 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2019 | 39 | 194 | Lights | 12,000 | 5 | 6 | Avoid |
| 2018 | 47 | 152 | Lights | 18,500 | 5 | 5 | |
| 2017 | 51 | 125 | Lights | 14,953 | 7 | 10 | |
| 2016 | 76 | 75 | Electrical | 27,000 | 1 | 7 | |
| 2015 | 75 | 77 | Electrical | 36,000 | 2 | 5 | |
| 2014 | 58 | 108 | Airbags | 50,000 | 3 | 16 | |
| 2013 | 30 | 251 | Airbags | 61,660 | 4 | 13 | Avoid |
| 2012 | 30 | 243 | Airbags | 45,900 | 6 | 10 | Avoid |
| 2011 | 71 | 58 | Airbags | 38,000 | 14 | 5 | Fewest complaints |
| 2010 | 78 | 46 | Engine | 48,250 | 15 | 3 | Fewest complaints |
| 2009 | 58 | 104 | Transmission | 64,000 | 14 | 2 | |
| 2008 | 39 | 176 | Transmission | 48,500 | 14 | 9 | Avoid |
| 2007 | 67 | 68 | Airbags | 50,000 | 9 | 6 | |
| 2006 | 75 | 56 | Airbags | 63,455 | 10 | 3 | Fewest complaints |
| 2005 | 67 | 75 | Fuel system | 72,145 | 6 | 10 | |
| 2004 | 60 | 96 | Fuel system | 65,000 | 8 | 7 | |
| 2003 | 66 | 62 | Fuel system | 68,000 | 6 | 8 | |
| 2002 | 23 | 292 | Fuel system | 63,000 | 6 | 11 | Avoid |
| 2001 | 84 | 10 | Brakes | 42,000 | 0 | 5 | |
| 2000 | - | 41 | Transmission | 64,000 | 0 | 6 | |
| 1999 | - | 22 | Suspension | 68,000 | 0 | 2 | |
| 1998 | - | 30 | Suspension | 72,000 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1997 | - | 30 | Airbags | 0 | 6 | ||
| 1996 | - | 20 | Airbags | 0 | 4 | ||
| 1995 | - | 46 | Airbags | 141,125 | 1 | 11 | |
| 1994 | - | 8 | Transmission | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1993 | - | 33 | Visibility | 1 | 9 | ||
| 1990 | - | 1 | Lights | 0 | 0 |
Recalls 53
Compare the Impreza
Impreza vs Ford FocusImpreza vs Honda CivicImpreza vs Toyota CorollaImpreza vs Volkswagen JettaImpreza vs Hyundai ElantraImpreza vs Nissan SentraImpreza vs Chevrolet CruzeImpreza vs Mazda MAZDA3Impreza vs Kia Forte
Questions about the Subaru Impreza
What years of the Subaru Impreza should you avoid?
2002, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2019. Each has more than twice the Subaru Impreza's typical number of owner complaints for a model year; 2002 alone has 292, mostly about fuel system and brakes.
What is the best year for a used Subaru Impreza?
2010, 2006 and 2011 have the fewest owner complaints among model years that have been on the road for at least four years (46, 56 and 58).
What is the most common problem with the Subaru Impreza?
Airbags, with 460 complaints across all years, followed by engine (357) and visibility (313).
How many recalls does the Subaru Impreza have?
53 recalls between 1990 and 2026. The 2010 model year has the most, with 15.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used Subaru Impreza?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history