SUBARU · vehicle model

SUBARU IMPREZA

3,403 NHTSA complaints and 56 safety recalls across model years 1990–2025.

Complaints
3,403
Recalls
56
Model years
34

The SUBARUIMPREZA appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 3,403 consumer safety complaints and 56 safety recalls across 34 model years (1990–2025). That averages roughly 100 complaints per model year, but the distribution is almost never even, most nameplates concentrate their defect reports in a handful of cohort years tied to specific platform refreshes, supplier changes, or component redesigns.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller will accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model simply because more of them are on the road. What matters is the year-over-year shape and the component concentration, which the table below isolates for the IMPREZA by showing complaint count, crash count, fire count, and NHTSA safety rating side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram below the table shows whether complaints are still being submitted against this nameplate or whether the pattern has plateaued, an important distinction for used-car shoppers weighing older cohort years.

NHTSA has 2 investigation files tied to this model. Investigations precede recalls and signal that the Office of Defects Investigation is actively testing a theory about a specific component cluster. Together with the complaint-by-year breakdown and recall remedy status, they are the primary signals used by insurance actuaries, fleet managers, and used-vehicle appraisers when pricing SUBARUIMPREZA risk. Compare this nameplate against siblings in the same platform family to see whether a given defect pattern is model-specific or shared across the parent architecture.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
20254
202443
20236
202214
202119
202097
2019212
2018180
2017161
2016106
201598
2014155
2013342
2012336
201172
201061
2009149
2008249
200781
200668
200595
2004113
200364
2002339
200113
200054
199927
199855
199738
199625
199569
19948
199348
19902

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

15
95
25
96
38
97
13
98
44
99
47
00
56
01
89
02
59
03
98
04
66
05
50
06
60
07
84
08
47
09
52
10
60
11
91
12
140
13
175
14
170
15
154
16
169
17
194
18
324
19
255
20
215
21
141
22
228
23
116
24
106
25
22
26
View all trending models →

Compare SUBARUIMPREZA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the SUBARU IMPREZA?
The SUBARU IMPREZA has received 3,403 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1990 to 2025, with 56 recalls. That averages about 100 complaints per model year.
What years of SUBARU IMPREZA are available?
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the SUBARU IMPREZA from 1990 to 2025 (34 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the SUBARU IMPREZA have safety ratings?
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many SUBARU IMPREZA model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common SUBARU IMPREZA complaints?
NHTSA complaints for the SUBARU IMPREZA are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my SUBARU IMPREZA has been recalled?
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.