SUBARU IMPREZA · model year

1993 SUBARU IMPREZA

48 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993SUBARUIMPREZA carries 48 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 crashes, 0 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1993 IMPREZA is visibility:windshield with 9 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (6) and air bags (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1993 IMPREZA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

48
Complaints
9
Crashes
0
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

48 filings

Crashes Reported

9 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD9
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL6
AIR BAGS3
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR2
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM2
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW2
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP2
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM1

Recent Complaints

20100106FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 SUBARU IMPREZA WHICH WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2005. HE STATED THAT THE FILLER PIPE WAS LEAKING LARGE QUANTITIES OF FUEL.THERE WAS A RELATED RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 93V072000 INDICATING THE MANUFACTURER WOULD ASSUME LIABILITY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 226,826. THE SYSTEM INDICATED THAT THE VIN # PROVIDED IS AN INVALID NUMBER.

Mileage: 226,826

20080103CrashTIRES

1993 SUBARU IMPREZA EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOW OUT CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO RUN OFF THE ROAD AND HIT THE MEDIAN WALL TWICE. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT# 10-90-0831. *JB

20041128CrashAIR BAGS

WE JUST PURCHASED A 1993 SUBARU IMPREZA 4 DOOR SEDAN. YESTERDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2004 WHILE WE WERE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, WE WERE HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30 MPH. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, OUR SUBARU WAS PROPELLED 5-15 FEET. THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. MY WIFE AN I REQUIRED EMERGENCY MEDICAL ATTENTION. I JUST NOTICED THAT NHTSA ISSUED A RECALL ON DEFECTIVE SUBARU AIRBAGS IN 1994, BUT THERE ISN'T EVEN AN OPTION TO SEARCH FOR A SUBARU PROBLEMS IN 1993. *AK

Mileage: 124,555

20031018FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

FUEL, THROTTLE, AIR CONTROL VALVE. WHILE CAR IS RUNNING, IT HAS SUDDEN REPEATED ACCELERATIONS, WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *LA

Mileage: 158,850

20031018FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FUEL, THROTTLE, AIR CONTROL VALVE. WHILE CAR IS RUNNING, IT HAS SUDDEN REPEATED ACCELERATIONS, WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *LA

Mileage: 158,850

20021106FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES FROM THE YEAR 2000-2002.

20021104FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

FOUR FUEL PUMPS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE OF 2000. THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT WITH NO WARNING PUTTING THE OCCUPANTS AT RISK UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. THE OWNER HAS FOUND A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 93V072000 FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY PIPE FILLER NECK ON THE INTERNET. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. MR

20020812STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

REGARDING THE GAS GAUGE: GAUGE DOES NOT READ ACCURATELY. SHOWS AS BELOW EMPTY WHEN THERE IS STILL OVER 3 GALLONS OF FUEL LEFT. GOES UP AND DOWN FOR NO REASON. I PERSONALLY KNOW 3 OTHER 93 IMPREZA OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. RE: THE POWER LOCKS/CHILDPROOF SWITCH. I CANNOT OPEN THE BACK RIGHT DOOR FROM THE INSIDE BECAUSE I CANNOT DISENGAGE THE CHILDPROOF SWITCH. NO MATTER WHAT POSITION THE SWITCH IS IN THE DOOR STILL DOES NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY 1987 SUBARU GL WHICH I NO LONGER HAVE.*AK

20020812FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

REGARDING THE GAS GAUGE: GAUGE DOES NOT READ ACCURATELY. SHOWS AS BELOW EMPTY WHEN THERE IS STILL OVER 3 GALLONS OF FUEL LEFT. GOES UP AND DOWN FOR NO REASON. I PERSONALLY KNOW 3 OTHER 93 IMPREZA OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. RE: THE POWER LOCKS/CHILDPROOF SWITCH. I CANNOT OPEN THE BACK RIGHT DOOR FROM THE INSIDE BECAUSE I CANNOT DISENGAGE THE CHILDPROOF SWITCH. NO MATTER WHAT POSITION THE SWITCH IS IN THE DOOR STILL DOES NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY 1987 SUBARU GL WHICH I NO LONGER HAVE.*AK

20010116AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHEN VEHICLE WENT UP ON CURVE, AND WHEN COMING DOWN BOTTOM OF CURVE. TOW HOOK CAME DOWN ON CURVE, AND AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER STATED THAT AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. THERES A RECALL ON 1997 VEHICLE FOR SAME PROBLEM, BUT NOT FOR 1996 VEHICLE. *AK

20000607CrashAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS ENTERING THE INTERSECTION WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT IT ON PASSENGER'S SIDE IN REAR. VEHICLE SPUN AROUND & STOPPED. DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. DRIVER TREATED AT EMERGENCY ROOM FOR INJURIES. *AK

20000522ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

A MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. FRONT AND REAR WINDOWS REMAINED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITIONS. *AK

20000522VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

A MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. FRONT AND REAR WINDOWS REMAINED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITIONS. *AK

19990824AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 15MPH TIRE HIT A CURB AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR INADVERTENT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT ON LATER MODELS. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

19990406VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS HAVE DEVELOPED DEEP CUTS AND CRATCHES IN THE GLASS CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

19990406VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS HAVE DEEP CUTS AND SCRATCHES IN THEM CAUSED BY THE GLIDE ROLLER RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY.

19990217POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WENT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK AND THE GEAR SHIFT WAS LOCKED IN PARK. VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE. *AK

19980324SUSPENSION:REAR

RIGHT REAR AXLE BEARING SCORCED, REPLACE BEARING/SEALS/AXLE

19980324VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

REAR DEFROSTER INOPERATIVE, REPLACE RELAY

19970827CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

OWNER HIT A CAR FROM BEHIND AND THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. HE DID APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR STILL HIT THE REAR OF THE OTHER CAR.

Compare 1993SUBARUIMPREZA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 SUBARU IMPREZA have?
The 1993 SUBARU IMPREZA has 48 NHTSA complaints, 9 crashes, 0 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 SUBARU IMPREZA?
The most-complained component for the 1993 SUBARU IMPREZA is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and AIR BAGS.
Is the 1993 SUBARU IMPREZA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.