Total Complaints
25 filings
SUBARU IMPREZA · model year
1996 SUBARU IMPREZA
25 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996SUBARUIMPREZA carries 25 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 1 fire, 5 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 1996 IMPREZA is air bags:frontal with 5 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (3) and seats:front assembly:head restraint (2). 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 1996 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.
25
Complaints
6
Crashes
1
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
6 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 3 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT | 2 |
| WHEELS:HUB | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE | 2 |
| WHEELS:MULTI PIECE | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030609ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIBRATE AND THEN DRASTICALLY LOSES POWER NOT BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN SPEED ABOVE 40MPH. DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER 2, BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT.*AK
20020109SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE
AT 61629 AND 63512 MILES WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AT DEALERSHIP. BEARINGS WERE BEING GREASED WITH WRONG KIND OF GREASE AND THE AMOUNT OF GREASE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR PROPER USE. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. *YH
20001018AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PLEASE NOTE; BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT THE SAME TIME WHILE THE SUBARU IMPREZA WAS IN PARK. *AK
20000906TIRES
ALL FOUR TIRES SPLIT AROUND THE SIDEWALLS AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 185-70 R14 )
20000128VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
THE NUT THAT ATTACHES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO THE MOTOR CAME OFF. WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
19990823SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE
REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *YC
19990802CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
19990802CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
19990707WHEELS:HUB
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH WHEEL COVER: CAPS NOT STAYING ON. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
19990526FireSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
BRAKES FAILED AND STARTED TO SMOKE ON A HILL. I HAVE DRIVEN FOR 20 YEARS, WITH MANY DIFFERENT CARS. IF TRAFFIC HAD BEEN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT MY WIFE AND I COULD BE DEAD. *AK
19990526ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
A STUCK VALVE CAUSED THE CAR TO MISFIRE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO ON. IT TOOK SUBARU 3 MONTHS TO FIGURE IT OUT. *AK
19990526UNKNOWN OR OTHER
A STUCK VALVE CAUSED THE CAR TO MISFIRE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO ON. IT TOOK SUBARU 3 MONTHS TO FIGURE IT OUT. *AK
19990119WHEELS:HUB
HUB CAPS ARE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE AND REINSTALL. THE SERVICE DEALER'S TECH. BROKE ONE TRYING TO REMOVE THE COVER. THE COVERS (4) HAVE NOT STAYED ON AFTER REINSTALLATION. IF THE DEALER CAN NOT INSTALL THEM PROPERLY, HOW IS THE CONSUMER GOING TO INSTALL THEM PROPERLY?
19981014SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI LOCK BRAKES GRINDING WITH NOISE, INTERMITTENT BRAKE LOSS.
19971217CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN DRIVER'S AND PASSANGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
19971106SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED SERVICE.
19971106FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
FUEL INJECTORS FAILED.
19970912SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH WHEN SHE PRESSED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING CAR AHEAD, ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN FISHTAILING. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME VEHICLE FISHTAILED DUE TO ABS FAILURE. WHEN VEHICLE HIT BRIDGE, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK
19970710SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
VEHICLE HAS NO HEAD RESTRAINTS; ALSO, SEATBACK IS SHORT. ONE COULD GET A BROKEN NECK IF IN THE REAR DURING AN ACCIDENT. *AK
19970710SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
VEHICLE HAS NO HEAD RESTRAINTS; ALSO, SEATBACK IS SHORT. ONE COULD GET A BROKEN NECK IF IN THE REAR DURING AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Compare 1996SUBARUIMPREZA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 SUBARU IMPREZA have?▼
The 1996 SUBARU IMPREZA has 25 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 1 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 SUBARU IMPREZA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 SUBARU IMPREZA is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT.
Is the 1996 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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.