2016 Subaru IMPREZA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Subaru IMPREZA has 108 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: the bluetooth has a connectivity issue. it happens when i'm driving, when i hit the brakes, when i put the car in gear, when i'm stationary. there is really no telling when it will skip, but it happens one to two times every hour. it is a safety hazard because it causes my heart to race and somet.

11 crash reports 2 injuries

108

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

19 complaints

18%

• THE BLUETOOTH HAS A CONNECTIVITY ISSUE. IT HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING, WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, WHEN I'M STATIONARY. THERE IS REALLY NO TELLING WHEN IT WILL SKIP, BUT IT HAPPENS ONE TO TWO TIMES EVERY HOUR. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT CAUSES MY HEART TO RACE AND SOMET
• INTERMITTENTLY UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION AFTER PLACING CAR IN PARK. UPON RESTARTING VEHICLE AND TURNING IT BACK OFF, KEY IS ABLE TO BE REMOVED.
• THERE IS A COMMON KNOWN ISSUE WITH SUBARU'S THAT WHEN PUT INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF, THE KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO BE TURNED ON AND OFF, WHILE PUTTING INTO DRIVE, MOVING AND THEN BACK INTO PARK. WITH CHILDREN AROUND, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND AN UNNECESSARY RISK. CURRENTY TH

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

“THE BLUETOOTH HAS A CONNECTIVITY ISSUE. IT HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING, WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, WHEN I'M STATIONARY. THERE IS REALLY NO TELLING WHEN IT WILL SKIP, BUT IT HAPPENS ONE TO TWO TIMES EVERY HOUR. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT CAUSES MY HEART TO RACE AND SOMET”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

14 complaints

13%

• I TURNED MY CAR ON ONE AFTERNOON AND FOUND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT STAYED LIT ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE CAR WAS STATIONARY. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE, I DISCOVERED THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY GONE (I.E., VERY HARD TO TURN STEERING WHEEL). HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER, SINCE ONLY 1 YEAR OLD. DEALE
• BRAKE LIGHTS TURN ON AUTONIMOUSLY WITHOUT HAVING TO PULL THE EMERGANCY BRAKE OR DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKE LIGHT WITHIN MY VECHILE WILL TURN ON WHILE DRIVING RANDOMLY OR EVEN WHILE IN A STATIONARY POSITION, THERE IS NOT SET TIME INTERVAL TO THE RANDOM ON AND OFF BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. SOME TIME
• 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 W

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

“I TURNED MY CAR ON ONE AFTERNOON AND FOUND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT STAYED LIT ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE CAR WAS STATIONARY. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE, I DISCOVERED THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY GONE (I.E., VERY HARD TO TURN STEERING WHEEL). HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER, SINCE ONLY 1 YEAR OLD. DEALE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

13 complaints

12%

• THE 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA STARTED TO GO FORWARD WHEN THE SHIFT KNOB WAS IN THE REVERSE POSITION. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN A ROW AND ON THE THIRD TIME THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BRAKE HARD IN ESSENCE "FIGHTING" THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, TRIED AGAIN, MADE IT HOM
• CVT WILL NOT SHIFT IN COLD WEATHER. I TOOK TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE TACH REACHING 2600 RPM'S AT 30 MILES TO 55 MPH AND CVT WAS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR, WOULD NOT SHIFT. I SAY THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM, NOT NORMAL FOR THIS OR ANY CAR. GAS MILEAGE IS BAD, ENGIN
• I WAS DRIVING TO A THANKSGIVING GATHERING, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JULTED. IT WAS VERY ODD FELT ALMOST LIKE A PIN WAS PUT IN THE TRANSMISSION FORCING THE TIRES TO STOP SPINING. BUT WAS VERY BRIEF. AFTER ANOTHER 0.5 MILES OF DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70MPH IT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT CONTINUOUSLY WITH

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

“THE 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA STARTED TO GO FORWARD WHEN THE SHIFT KNOB WAS IN THE REVERSE POSITION. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN A ROW AND ON THE THIRD TIME THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BRAKE HARD IN ESSENCE "FIGHTING" THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, TRIED AGAIN, MADE IT HOM”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

10 complaints

• 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.
• 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 F
• THE AIRBAGS TURN OFF WHEN IT IS RAINING OR HUMID OUTSIDE. PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND WHEN THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. PASSENGER AIRBAG HAS TURNED OFF WHEN THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT; DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG HAS ALSO TURNED OFF DURING RAINING/HUMID CONDITIONS. TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“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. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

9 complaints

• WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY FROM A STANDING OR SLOW MOVING POSITION THE CAR STALLS OFTEN TIMES LEAVING YOU MOMENTARILY STOPPED IN THE FACE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC.THIS ACTION IS SPORADIC, IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME YOU MASH THE ACCELERATOR FOR TAKE-OFF . THE DEALER MECHANIC SAYS IT HAS BEEN A N
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT R
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY FROM A STANDING OR SLOW MOVING POSITION THE CAR STALLS OFTEN TIMES LEAVING YOU MOMENTARILY STOPPED IN THE FACE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC.THIS ACTION IS SPORADIC, IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME YOU MASH THE ACCELERATOR FOR TAKE-OFF . THE DEALER MECHANIC SAYS IT HAS BEEN A N”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 108 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: THE BLUETOOTH HAS A CONNECTIVITY ISSUE. IT HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING, WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, WHEN I'M STATIONARY. THERE IS REALLY NO TELLING WHEN IT WILL SKIP, BUT IT HAPPENS ONE TO TWO TIMES EVERY HOUR. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT CAUSES MY HEART TO RACE AND SOMET
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I TURNED MY CAR ON ONE AFTERNOON AND FOUND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT STAYED LIT ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE CAR WAS STATIONARY. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE, I DISCOVERED THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY GONE (I.E., VERY HARD TO TURN STEERING WHEEL). HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER, SINCE ONLY 1 YEAR OLD. DEALE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: THE 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA STARTED TO GO FORWARD WHEN THE SHIFT KNOB WAS IN THE REVERSE POSITION. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN A ROW AND ON THE THIRD TIME THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BRAKE HARD IN ESSENCE "FIGHTING" THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, TRIED AGAIN, MADE IT HOM
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)