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2016 Subaru Impreza Problems & Owner Complaints

75 NHTSA owner complaints
7 crash 2 injury

Age-normalised, this year draws ~6.8 complaints per year on the road — ranking 9 of 15 Subaru Impreza years we track (1 = most complaints per year).

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What owners report

Electrical System is the most-reported problem area on the 2016 Subaru Impreza, cited in 14 of 75 filed complaints (19%).

Power Train is next (13 complaints, 17%), followed by Air Bags (8), Vehicle Speed Control (8), Service Brakes (6).

Across all complaints, 7 report a crash, 2 report injuries.

The most safety-critical cluster is Vehicle Speed Control: 4 crash, 1 injury report(s).

Complaints by vehicle system

Owner complaints filed with the U.S. NHTSA for the 2016 Subaru Impreza, grouped by the vehicle system each cites. A single complaint can name more than one system, so the group totals can add up to more than 75.

Unknown Or Other 19

“Key will not turn past ACC after driving and so will not allow key to be removed from the car. This is a sporadic issue but could be a safety concern if needing to leave the car for an emergency as it runs down the battery and will not allow me to secure the vehicle. Driving around for 5 to 10 minutes more usually solves the problem but I might not have that extra time in an emergency! This has occurred several times, most recently today.”
NHTSA complaint #11564019, 2024

“I was driving on the highway when I experienced a sudden jerking and my car stopped accelerating while going about 67 miles an hour and came to a stop on the highway. It was dark outside and I was left in the road without the ability to turn my car back on. I towed the car to the dealership, and they couldn't diagnose a problem. The same thing happened two weeks later and they told me that because the car was less than a quarter-tank both times, that I shouldn't drive my car with less than a quarter tank of gas or I'd be at risk of this happening again. Being on the highway with cars rushing p…”
NHTSA complaint #11522473, 2022

“Intermittently unable to remove the keys from ignition after placing the car into Park and shutting off the engine. (Instances where keys remain stuck/locked in the ignition requiring someone to 'muscle' them out of there). I believe this is linked to a faulty sensor not allowing the keys to be released. Second complaint: The headset unit on the car, (starlink), has a touchscreen that no longer responds to touch and I believe is slowly draining the battery from the car. Subaru is unwilling to service the vehicle for either problem without a service fee.”
NHTSA complaint #11480189, 2022

Electrical System 14

“Intermittently unable to remove the keys from ignition after placing the car into Park and shutting off the engine. (Instances where keys remain stuck/locked in the ignition requiring someone to 'muscle' them out of there). I believe this is linked to a faulty sensor not allowing the keys to be released. Second complaint: The headset unit on the car, (starlink), has a touchscreen that no longer responds to touch and I believe is slowly draining the battery from the car. Subaru is unwilling to service the vehicle for either problem without a service fee.”
NHTSA complaint #11480189, 2022

“The key will not come out of the ignition when the engine has stopped. It has to be restarted (often multiple times) before the key will come out. Does not happen every time but is frequent. This could lead people to leave the key in place if they are in a hurry and result in the possibility of theft. Roommate has 2017 Outback that does the same thing and was told that it could be fixed but the cost would be approx $1300.There are no warning lights on when this happens and there is nothing that indicates whether or not it will happen.”
NHTSA complaint #11473423, 2022

“After turning off the engine in Park, the keys are not being released from the ACC position of the ignition in my 2016 Subaru Impreza, which has 32,000 miles. I must repeatedly depress the shift lever and/or shift gears back and forth and/or restart and turn off the car in order to get the key out. This has been going on for two months now for at least half the time although not every time I turn off the car. There are no warning messages or diagnostic lights, just the malfunction itself. The issue has been documented in TSB 16-112-18 in numerous models of Subaru. My spouse and I have contacte…”
NHTSA complaint #11435535, 2021

Power Train 13 1 crash

“In November of 2018 and again January 31, 2022. In November 2018, I was backing up in small parking lot tap the gas pedal. and my car speed up going backwards, even when I was pushing the brake. What stopped the momentum was another car, my car crashed into caused extensive damage to that car( it was totaled) . The second time; I turned the wheels to back-in as I had a several times into my driveway. The car was to far over, but because I was not centered enough in the driveway, I moved forward to realign myself. The car seemed to hesitate as I moved forward, before putting it in revers…”
NHTSA complaint #11450687, 2022 · crash

“Hello, I just purchase this vehicle from a dealership, 615 auto sales. After purchasing the vehicle I decided to go and get the recall done that was never done to the vehicle at the repair shop they did the recall but then ask me where did I purchase this vehicle from then I told them. The repair shop told me the grim news that the car was very rusted and should have not been sold like it was. There was nothing on the CARFAX about anything else and the shop told me that the car was a safety hazard. When I purchase the vehicle AS IS all I have seen was a TPM light on and a recall and getting so…”
NHTSA complaint #11703624, 2025

“Engine light came on. Checked it, the failure was the transmission solenoid. It reported that a failure was about to occur. Brought it into the Subaru dealership because the will not sell any transmission parts to repair shops in the Phoenix area. I am not sure if I would have had a bigger problem, or not had I not taken it in right away.”
NHTSA complaint #11542565, 2023

Air Bags 8 3 crash 1 injury

“The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH and while attempting to avoid a collision with a second vehicle, the contact lost control of the steering and crashed into a tree. During the crash, the front end of the vehicle was damaged but no air bags were deployed. The contact sustained facial and dental injuries along with injuries to the left knee, left arm, and chest which required medical treatment. The vehicle was not towed. A police report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was co…”
NHTSA complaint #11495489, 2022 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“WHILE CAR WAS SLOWING IN A PARKING LOT AREA, TURNING AND BRAKING (HAVE WITNESS TO ATTEST TO THIS), IT HAD SUA (SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION) AS I WAS ABOUT TO PARK AND THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CURB AND THROUGH A BUILDING WALL IN LESS THAN 10 SECONDS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS CAR ALSO HAD A RECENT RECALL INVOLVING THE ELECTRICAL BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHTS/SENSORS. THERE WAS NO ALCOHOL, PILLS OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT INVOLVED AND NOR WAS A CELL PHONE IN PLAY AND NO DISTRACTIONS. THE CAR WAS BEING PARKED, AS IS THE CASE EVERYDAY AND THERE WAS A JOLT OF ACCELERATION AS I WAS DOING SO, WHICH…”
NHTSA complaint #11231541, 2019 · crash

“MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH ON A CIITY STREET WHEN A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF HER. SHE SWERVED TO MISS THE DEER, LEAVING THE ROAD AND ENTERING A HEAVELY WOODED LOT. SHE CAME TO A STOP APPROXIMATELY SIX FEET OFF THE ROAD STOPPED BY A TREE DEAD CENTER IN THE FRONT BUMPER. EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, NEVER LOCKED UP THE BRAKES, AND HER REAR PUMPER WAS ONLY SIX FEET OFF THE ROAD, THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.”
NHTSA complaint #11013796, 2017 · crash

Vehicle Speed Control 8 4 crash 1 injury

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A WHIPLASH AND A BLOODY NOSE, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,047.”
NHTSA complaint #10927234, 2016 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“In November of 2018 and again January 31, 2022. In November 2018, I was backing up in small parking lot tap the gas pedal. and my car speed up going backwards, even when I was pushing the brake. What stopped the momentum was another car, my car crashed into caused extensive damage to that car( it was totaled) . The second time; I turned the wheels to back-in as I had a several times into my driveway. The car was to far over, but because I was not centered enough in the driveway, I moved forward to realign myself. The car seemed to hesitate as I moved forward, before putting it in revers…”
NHTSA complaint #11450687, 2022 · crash

“WHILE CAR WAS SLOWING IN A PARKING LOT AREA, TURNING AND BRAKING (HAVE WITNESS TO ATTEST TO THIS), IT HAD SUA (SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION) AS I WAS ABOUT TO PARK AND THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CURB AND THROUGH A BUILDING WALL IN LESS THAN 10 SECONDS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS CAR ALSO HAD A RECENT RECALL INVOLVING THE ELECTRICAL BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHTS/SENSORS. THERE WAS NO ALCOHOL, PILLS OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT INVOLVED AND NOR WAS A CELL PHONE IN PLAY AND NO DISTRACTIONS. THE CAR WAS BEING PARKED, AS IS THE CASE EVERYDAY AND THERE WAS A JOLT OF ACCELERATION AS I WAS DOING SO, WHICH…”
NHTSA complaint #11231541, 2019 · crash

Service Brakes 6 2 crash

“WHILE CAR WAS SLOWING IN A PARKING LOT AREA, TURNING AND BRAKING (HAVE WITNESS TO ATTEST TO THIS), IT HAD SUA (SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION) AS I WAS ABOUT TO PARK AND THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CURB AND THROUGH A BUILDING WALL IN LESS THAN 10 SECONDS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS CAR ALSO HAD A RECENT RECALL INVOLVING THE ELECTRICAL BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHTS/SENSORS. THERE WAS NO ALCOHOL, PILLS OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT INVOLVED AND NOR WAS A CELL PHONE IN PLAY AND NO DISTRACTIONS. THE CAR WAS BEING PARKED, AS IS THE CASE EVERYDAY AND THERE WAS A JOLT OF ACCELERATION AS I WAS DOING SO, WHICH…”
NHTSA complaint #11231541, 2019 · crash

“I WAS DRIVING ON A DECLINE AT 10 TO 15 MILES PER HOUR ON A SNOWY EVENING AND WHEN I TRIED TO BREAK, MY BREAKS LOCKED UP AND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OF MY AUTOMOBILE EXCEPT FOR STEERING AND MADE THE CHOICE TO GO TOWARDS THE GUARD RAIL TO SLOW MY AUTOMOBILE DOWN SINCE I HAD NO BRAKES. I BOUGHT MY AUTOMOBILE 16 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE HAD DIFFICULTIES WITH TIRE LIGHTS COMING ON AND MANY OTHER ISSUES AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS AUTOMOBILE.”
NHTSA complaint #11151546, 2018 · crash

“AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE BY EMAIL FOR NHTSA RECALL ID 19V-149, I CALLED FOX SUBARU OF GRAND RAPIDS, MI (888-658-9163) FOR RECALL REPAIR. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET IN FOR RECALL REPAIRS FOR AT LEAST TWO MONTHS OR LONGER, WHICH IS WELL BEYOND A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR OF AN URGENT SAFETY RECALL.”
NHTSA complaint #11220987, 2019

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Steering 5 1 crash

“I WAS DRIVING ON A DECLINE AT 10 TO 15 MILES PER HOUR ON A SNOWY EVENING AND WHEN I TRIED TO BREAK, MY BREAKS LOCKED UP AND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OF MY AUTOMOBILE EXCEPT FOR STEERING AND MADE THE CHOICE TO GO TOWARDS THE GUARD RAIL TO SLOW MY AUTOMOBILE DOWN SINCE I HAD NO BRAKES. I BOUGHT MY AUTOMOBILE 16 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE HAD DIFFICULTIES WITH TIRE LIGHTS COMING ON AND MANY OTHER ISSUES AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS AUTOMOBILE.”
NHTSA complaint #11151546, 2018 · crash

“Hello, I just purchase this vehicle from a dealership, 615 auto sales. After purchasing the vehicle I decided to go and get the recall done that was never done to the vehicle at the repair shop they did the recall but then ask me where did I purchase this vehicle from then I told them. The repair shop told me the grim news that the car was very rusted and should have not been sold like it was. There was nothing on the CARFAX about anything else and the shop told me that the car was a safety hazard. When I purchase the vehicle AS IS all I have seen was a TPM light on and a recall and getting so…”
NHTSA complaint #11703624, 2025

“I contacted Subaru in Mentor Oh at adventure subaru under TSB 19V065000 and was told to take it in to get looked at, my issue when I purchased the car at 67k miles i found that the car had a loud clunky sound while steering and going over bumps. After seeing the dealer and the stated the issue was from the steer rack and was exactly what was described exactly in the TSB but the only thing was they did not see a visible crack, the repair was denied. I then took the car to another dealer near Beavercreek oh after calling Subaru of America Case # [XXX]. Subaru of America was very certain that the…”
NHTSA complaint #11730470, 2023

Exterior Lighting 4

“We keep on having to replace our headlights. We just got one replaced 5 months ago and it’s out again. This will be the fourth time in three years. No one can figure out why the headlights keep burning out.”
NHTSA complaint #11555767, 2023

“DRIVING AND HIT A SMALL POTHOLE AND THE ENTIRE PASSENGER FRONT HEADLIGHT FELL OUT OF THE CAR. IT WAS NOT DARK OUT. THE CAR WAS FINE PRIOR TO TODAY. I WAS ON A CITY STREET JUST AFTER A SNOWSTORM AND ROADS WERE PLOWED.”
NHTSA complaint #11403410, 2021

“AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE BY EMAIL FOR NHTSA RECALL ID 19V-149, I CALLED FOX SUBARU OF GRAND RAPIDS, MI (888-658-9163) FOR RECALL REPAIR. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET IN FOR RECALL REPAIRS FOR AT LEAST TWO MONTHS OR LONGER, WHICH IS WELL BEYOND A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR OF AN URGENT SAFETY RECALL.”
NHTSA complaint #11220987, 2019

Structure 4

“The hood latch system failed and flew open while driving on the highway smashing the windshield. I was unable to see driving, glass shattered everywhere. The car was serviced three weeks prior and there was no notation of an issue with the hood latch. The hood would not latch after the incident either. Police were on scene and viewed the incident and insurance will be investigating. There have been numerous other reports of this happening with other subaru models including recalls. There are no open recalls on this vehicle and a multi-point inspection was done on the car 3 weeks prior.”
NHTSA complaint #11591962, 2024

“DRIVING AND HIT A SMALL POTHOLE AND THE ENTIRE PASSENGER FRONT HEADLIGHT FELL OUT OF THE CAR. IT WAS NOT DARK OUT. THE CAR WAS FINE PRIOR TO TODAY. I WAS ON A CITY STREET JUST AFTER A SNOWSTORM AND ROADS WERE PLOWED.”
NHTSA complaint #11403410, 2021

“The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while the operating the vehicle, the front driver’s side floor mat detached and slid underneath the brake pedal and accelerator pedal. The contact stated that one of the pegs used to secure the floor mat fractured, allowing the floor mat to become unsecured. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 35,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11519466, 2018

Visibility/Wiper 4

“In June 2020, 3 months after buying my 2016 Impreza used, the windshield randomly cracked from the bottom of the windshield and travelled upwards on the passenger side. Over the couple of weeks it took before getting replaced, the crack continued to spread splitting in multiple directions, including travelling across the bottom of the windshield and coming up the middle. By the time I was able to get the windshield replaced, there was about 3 and half feet cracked in total. When this crack occurred, I realized that it was a PGW windshield and not the original, meaning that it had been replaced…”
NHTSA complaint #11461901, 2022

“Windshield spontaneously cracked. Additionally, windshield wiper reservoir leaks but dealer says it’s fine.”
NHTSA complaint #11431751, 2021

“GOING A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED A SMALL ROCK WAS ABLE TO CRACK MY WINDSHIELD. I WAS MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY WITH A WORK VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE WINDSHIELD APPEARS TO BE VERY WEAK AND BRITTLE. I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD MY FORESTER FOR A YEAR AND IT SEEMS AS IF DINKS AND CRACKS APPEAR VERY EASILY. I HAD SAFELITE COME TO FILL IN THE CRACK AND ONLY 80% WAS ABLE TO BE CORRECTED.. ON A CRACK SMALLER THAN A SAND DOLLAR. THINGS CONSTANTLY SEEM TO BE HEADED TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD. I DON'T KNOW WHO TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH, I FEAR SUBARU WOULDN'T CARE ABOUT WHAT SEEMS LIKE A MINOR COMPLAINT. I AM CO…”
NHTSA complaint #11268130, 2019

Engine 3

“I bought my 2016 Subaru Impreza brand new and take great care of it. The car has 80,300 miles and when I did a sharp U turn the car stalled out and I was almost rear-ended. At a busy intersection a few weeks I was at a red light and my car was noticeably idling rough and when the light went green my car stalled out causing the road to be blocked. After taking my car to a certified mechanic I find out that the head gasket has already failed and has coolant leaking into it. It aslo showed a PO302 code. Subaru years before stated that this problem had been fixed when it clearly has not been. I…”
NHTSA complaint #11521083, 2023

“The vehicle's engine displayed an "check engine" light, the cruise control indicator light flashed on and off continuously when not engaged at a standstill, and the VDC vehicle dynamics control off indicator remained lit. This occurred while the vehicle was parked and these indicators came on when the engine was switched on. When driving a noticeable decrease in engine performance and louder exhaust noise was evident. Took vehicle to dealer and subsequently was informed that there was a complete four valve engine failure that would require a complete overhaul of engine at an extremely h…”
NHTSA complaint #11434109, 2021

“KEY LOCKS INTO IGNITION AND VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RESTARTED AND THE SHIFT MOVED FROM PARK POSITION BACK TO PARK POSITION A FEW TIMES BEFORE THE KEY WILL RELEASE. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THIS ISSUE IE. FAILING LOCK CYLINDER/PARK SENSOR PROBLEMS. WILL THERE BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS AND A POSSIBLE RECALL? MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000M ON IT.”
NHTSA complaint #11353983, 2020

Seats 3

“The seat foam has degraded and exposed the metal frame through the seat cover on the driver side front seat. It is not safe to drive with a metal frame being exposed. A service bulletin (12-232-18 dated 2/6/2018) indicates there is an issue with the seat construction that can lead to this defect/degradation but refuse to acknowledge the issue to customers calling it an "outside forces" problem.”
NHTSA complaint #11573988, 2024

“IF THE TWO FRONT SEATS ARE MILDLY WET, THEN THE FRONT AIR BAGS WILL TURN OFF. THIS MEANS THAT IF YOU SPILLED A DRINK, HAVE BLADDER PROBLEMS, WENT SWIMMING OR SNOWBOARDING, OR HAVE WET VACUUMED YOUR SEATS THEN THE AIRBAGS WILL TURN OFF. THEY ARE OFF UNTIL THE SEAT COMPLETELY DRIES WETHER YOU ARE MOVING OR NOT. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE SEAT GETS WET.”
NHTSA complaint #11220482, 2019

“THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR HAS BEEN GOING OFF WHEN NOTHING IS IN THE SEAT. BECAUSE THE SENSOR THINKS SOMETHING IS IN THE SEAT THE AIRBAG FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE IS TURNED ON. AFTER GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP, QUIRK SUBARU, IN BANGOR MAINE, THEY TOLD ME MY CELL PHONE WAS SETTING OFF THE SENSOR. THEIR RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, "DON'T BRING YOUR CELL PHONE INTO THE CAR." THE CAR CAN BE MOVING OR STATIONARY AND WILL RANDOMLY TURN ON. IT'S GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE LAST YEAR HAPPENING ABOUT 4 TIMES SINCE AUGUST OF 2018. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO HA…”
NHTSA complaint #11161996, 2018

Suspension 3

“Hello, I just purchase this vehicle from a dealership, 615 auto sales. After purchasing the vehicle I decided to go and get the recall done that was never done to the vehicle at the repair shop they did the recall but then ask me where did I purchase this vehicle from then I told them. The repair shop told me the grim news that the car was very rusted and should have not been sold like it was. There was nothing on the CARFAX about anything else and the shop told me that the car was a safety hazard. When I purchase the vehicle AS IS all I have seen was a TPM light on and a recall and getting so…”
NHTSA complaint #11703624, 2025

“I contacted Subaru in Mentor Oh at adventure subaru under TSB 19V065000 and was told to take it in to get looked at, my issue when I purchased the car at 67k miles i found that the car had a loud clunky sound while steering and going over bumps. After seeing the dealer and the stated the issue was from the steer rack and was exactly what was described exactly in the TSB but the only thing was they did not see a visible crack, the repair was denied. I then took the car to another dealer near Beavercreek oh after calling Subaru of America Case # [XXX]. Subaru of America was very certain that the…”
NHTSA complaint #11730470, 2023

“MY CAR SHAKES WHEN I DRIVING THE CAR AND WHEN I AM WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANCE USING THE BRAKES AND AC IT LOOKS LIKE TURN IN OFF .I WENT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IS NORMAL BUT I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW NEVER SHAKE I JUST WORRY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE BRAKES”
NHTSA complaint #11351026, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 2

“KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHICH HAPPENS EVERY DAY SINCE THE FIRST HAPPENING ON 8/22/20. AFTER GOOGLING IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH 2016 IMPREZAS AND OUTBACKS.”
NHTSA complaint #11351771, 2020

“THE BRAKE STOP SWITCH FAILS INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING DASH LIGHTS TO SHOW THE HILL BRAKE ASSIST, STABILITY CONTROL, AND ABS SYSTEMS HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. ANOTHER SIDE-EFFECT OF THIS SITUATION IS THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS CAUSING A RISK OF REAR COLLISION IF THE DRIVER CONTINUES TO DRIVE EVEN WHEN THE DASH LIGHTS GO OFF. AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE DRIVING SITUATION.”
NHTSA complaint #11186615, 2019

Fuel/Propulsion System 2 1 crash

“In November of 2018 and again January 31, 2022. In November 2018, I was backing up in small parking lot tap the gas pedal. and my car speed up going backwards, even when I was pushing the brake. What stopped the momentum was another car, my car crashed into caused extensive damage to that car( it was totaled) . The second time; I turned the wheels to back-in as I had a several times into my driveway. The car was to far over, but because I was not centered enough in the driveway, I moved forward to realign myself. The car seemed to hesitate as I moved forward, before putting it in revers…”
NHTSA complaint #11450687, 2022 · crash

“The component / system that fails is the fuel system / fuel pump. The 2016 subaru impreza has the same fuel pump that later motels have and they where recalled due to the fuel not being delivered correctly from the fuel tank to the engine. it is typically winter fuels that make the fuel pump fail. (there is a handful of information on other websites) The safety issue is that the car will shut off and is difficult to get started again. this happens when the car has about 2 gallons left in the tank or 50 ish miles to empty. this situation has happened to me three (3) times on the highway at abo…”
NHTSA complaint #11427705, 2021

Seat Belts 2

“WHEN MY WIFE SITS ON A 3 INCH FOAM CUSHION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THE PASSENGER SIDE TO SIT MORE COMFORTABLY (SHE IS 4'11' AND HAS HIP PROBLEMS); THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ONLY GOES INTO ON MODE INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAPPEN WHEN ENTERING THE CAR AND CONTINUES WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IN AN ACCIDENT, IF NOT NOTICE BE THE PASSENGER OR DRIVER. CORRECTIVE ACTION BELIEVE IT OR NOT INVOLVE.S BOUNCING UP AND DOWN ON THE SEAT. A SIDE EFFECT SEEMS TO BE, THAT WHEN THE SIGN IS IN OFF POSITION, THE SEAT BELTS LOCKUP AND CONSTRICT THE PASSENGER.”
NHTSA complaint #10839197, 2016

“THE SEAT BELTS LOCK OFTEN AND WILL NOT RELEASE UNTIL THEY ARE FULLY RETRACTED AND PUT BACK ON. THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER WILL BE FIRMLY SECURED TO THE SEAT WHEN THIS OCCURS. IT HAS CAUSED US MANY TIMES TO HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO CORRECT THE BELT. THIS CAUSES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN THE DRIVER CANNOT MOVE TO CHECK FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC ETC. THE DEALER CALLS THIS NORMAL OPERATION AND SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG. ALSO, THIS HAPPENS IN MOTION OR STANDING STILL AND EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF.”
NHTSA complaint #10824680, 2016

Forward Collision Avoidance 1

“While driving a multi lane road with traffic going same direction in front of me, if one or more cars begin to slow for a left or right turn, the auto braking feature begins to slow and will try to stop my car. Problem is that the car in front of me turning isn't in my lane. I have a clear lane ahead and suddenly the system brakes. still locked onto the car in front, but doesn't recognize the clear road ahead and I can easily pass it on by. I've nearly been re ended because the guy behind me wasn't thinking I would suddenly brake for nothing. It happened with adaptive cruise control, and w…”
NHTSA complaint #11633515, 2016

Latches/Locks/Linkages 1

“The hood latch system failed and flew open while driving on the highway smashing the windshield. I was unable to see driving, glass shattered everywhere. The car was serviced three weeks prior and there was no notation of an issue with the hood latch. The hood would not latch after the incident either. Police were on scene and viewed the incident and insurance will be investigating. There have been numerous other reports of this happening with other subaru models including recalls. There are no open recalls on this vehicle and a multi-point inspection was done on the car 3 weeks prior.”
NHTSA complaint #11591962, 2024

Visibility 1

“2016 SUBARU IMPREZA. CONSUMER WRITES WITH CONCERN FOR VERY DIM HEADLIGHTS AND EASILY SCRATCHED/SOFT WINDOW SHIELD. *AS *TR”
NHTSA complaint #11175630, 2019

Wheels 1 1 crash

“I WAS DRIVING ON A DECLINE AT 10 TO 15 MILES PER HOUR ON A SNOWY EVENING AND WHEN I TRIED TO BREAK, MY BREAKS LOCKED UP AND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OF MY AUTOMOBILE EXCEPT FOR STEERING AND MADE THE CHOICE TO GO TOWARDS THE GUARD RAIL TO SLOW MY AUTOMOBILE DOWN SINCE I HAD NO BRAKES. I BOUGHT MY AUTOMOBILE 16 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE HAD DIFFICULTIES WITH TIRE LIGHTS COMING ON AND MANY OTHER ISSUES AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS AUTOMOBILE.”
NHTSA complaint #11151546, 2018 · crash

How we read this (methodology)

How to read this: raw complaint totals are not a clean reliability score — a model year with more cars sold, or simply more years on the road, accumulates more complaints regardless of how good it is. So this page leans on two signals that are not distorted by sales volume: the share of complaints falling on each vehicle system (the breakdown above) and NHTSA's own crash / fire / injury / death flags. When we compare model years of the same model, we normalise by years on the road (complaints ÷ vehicle age) rather than comparing raw totals. Age-normalised, the 2016 Subaru Impreza draws about 6.8 complaints per year on the road, ranking 9 of 15 among the Subaru Impreza model years we have ingested (1 = most complaints per year on road).

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