2015 Subaru IMPREZA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2015 Subaru IMPREZA has 99 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2015 subaru impreza. while driving, the passenger presence sensor malfunctioned constantly. the passenger air bag off light illuminated while a passenger was present. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and repaired, but the failure recurred. the manufactu.

4 crash reports 3 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

20 complaints

20%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER PRESENCE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED CONSTANTLY. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE A PASSENGER WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTU
• THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR FAILS TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY A HUMAN IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. MORE THAN HALF THE TIME SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS NOT ACTIVATED. THIS HAPPENS BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, STATIONARY, AND ON IN STREET TYPES OR STREET CONDITI
• FRONT OVERHEAD INTERIOR LIGHT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. IT WAS AT NIGHT, I WAS VISITING, I CALLED SUBARU FOR HELP. RESPONSE ; CALL BACK TOMORROW. I PRIED THE PLASTIC COVER OFF AND TOOK OUT THE BULB. DEALERSHIP RESPONSE WAS ' LEAVE IT ON, THE NEXT MORNING WHEN THE BATTERY IS DEAD, CALL OUR ROAD SIDE SERV

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER PRESENCE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED CONSTANTLY. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE A PASSENGER WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

14 complaints

14%

• A CRACK APPEARED IN THE MIDDLE OF MY WINDSHIELD, COMING UP FROM THE BOTTOM, AFTER NO IMPACT, WHILE PARKED AT A GAS PUMP. WHEN PARKED IN THE SUN THE NEXT DAY THE CRACK GREW FROM A LINEAR 8 INCHES TO A LINEAR 18 CURVED FROM A VERTICAL CRACK TO A HORIZONTAL CRACK AFTER THE FIRST 9 INCHES. SUBARU AP
• MOON ROOF EXPLODED. LIKE A GUN SHOT GOING OFF. GLASS CASCADED DOWN ON ME AND MY WIFE. ALMOST KILLED.
• THE TRUNK LOCKING SYSTEM FAILS, RESULTING IN THE TRUNK RELEASING. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT COMPLAINT OF THIS ISSUE FROM THE SUBARU COMMUNITY AS WELL.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“A CRACK APPEARED IN THE MIDDLE OF MY WINDSHIELD, COMING UP FROM THE BOTTOM, AFTER NO IMPACT, WHILE PARKED AT A GAS PUMP. WHEN PARKED IN THE SUN THE NEXT DAY THE CRACK GREW FROM A LINEAR 8 INCHES TO A LINEAR 18 CURVED FROM A VERTICAL CRACK TO A HORIZONTAL CRACK AFTER THE FIRST 9 INCHES. SUBARU AP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

11 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN SIXTH GEAR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTOBARN SUBARU OF COUNTRYSIDE IN COUNTRYSIDE, ILLINOIS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION'S WIRING HARNESS MAY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE CO
• WHEN I STOP MY CAR AND PUT IT INTO PARK, I CANNOT TURN THE KEY ALL THE WAY TO THE LOCK POSITION, AND THEREFORE CANNOT REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE CAR IS NOT BELIEVING THAT IT IS ACTUALLY IN PARK. I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR, DRIVE A LITTLE BIT, AND TRY AGAIN. THIS IS HAPPENING WITH INCREASI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN SIXTH GEAR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

11 complaints

11%

• CAR WILL HAVE A SLOW OR NON RESPONSIVE START FROM A STOP.. THERE WILL BE A COUPLE SECOND LAG FROM THE TIME I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR.
• SOON AFTER DELIVERY, THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE LAG ( 2-20 SECONDS) BETWEEN THE TIME THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. AT TIMES THIS LEAD TO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE ACCELERATOR MODULE WAS REPLACED ( NOT AT DEALER) AND THERE WERE NO PROBLE
• VEHICLE STATIONARY, ENGINE AT IDLE, AWAITING LEFT HAND TURN. TURN STEERING WHEEL LEFT, ATTEMPT TO ACCERERATE, ENGINE TEMPORARILY STALLS. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR OTHER DEFECTIVE RELAYS. IS THIS A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP RELAY?

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“CAR WILL HAVE A SLOW OR NON RESPONSIVE START FROM A STOP.. THERE WILL BE A COUPLE SECOND LAG FROM THE TIME I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

9 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER PRESENCE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED CONSTANTLY. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE A PASSENGER WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTU
• THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR FAILS TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY A HUMAN IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. MORE THAN HALF THE TIME SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS NOT ACTIVATED. THIS HAPPENS BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, STATIONARY, AND ON IN STREET TYPES OR STREET CONDITI
• PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG CONSISTENTLY TURNS OFF WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT BOTH HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS - HAVE NOTICED IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN THE PASSENGER HAS DAMP CLOTHING ON. THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD, AND WILL REMAIN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 99 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER PRESENCE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED CONSTANTLY. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE A PASSENGER WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: A CRACK APPEARED IN THE MIDDLE OF MY WINDSHIELD, COMING UP FROM THE BOTTOM, AFTER NO IMPACT, WHILE PARKED AT A GAS PUMP. WHEN PARKED IN THE SUN THE NEXT DAY THE CRACK GREW FROM A LINEAR 8 INCHES TO A LINEAR 18 CURVED FROM A VERTICAL CRACK TO A HORIZONTAL CRACK AFTER THE FIRST 9 INCHES. SUBARU AP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN SIXTH GEAR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: CAR WILL HAVE A SLOW OR NON RESPONSIVE START FROM A STOP.. THERE WILL BE A COUPLE SECOND LAG FROM THE TIME I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)