2018 Subaru IMPREZA
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2018 Subaru IMPREZA has 181 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is lighting problems (35% of all complaints), specifically: since january 2021, the screen with the rear camera go to black, many times and you only can see the red and yellow lines, so and other words when activate reverse the screen is black you can see nothing. please help.. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
181
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
2.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
LIGHTING
64 complaints- • SINCE JANUARY 2021, THE SCREEN WITH THE REAR CAMERA GO TO BLACK, MANY TIMES AND YOU ONLY CAN SEE THE RED AND YELLOW LINES, SO AND OTHER WORDS WHEN ACTIVATE REVERSE THE SCREEN IS BLACK YOU CAN SEE NOTHING. PLEASE HELP.
- • This recall was issued Aug 12 2022 and 3 months later still no parts available to fix the lighting issue? I reported this headlight issue at the first scheduled service that I thought the headlights were dim and did not shine far enough. Dealer service sept said they are all like that. Yes they are
- • The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V624000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The ma
“SINCE JANUARY 2021, THE SCREEN WITH THE REAR CAMERA GO TO BLACK, MANY TIMES AND YOU ONLY CAN SEE THE RED AND YELLOW LINES, SO AND OTHER WORDS WHEN ACTIVATE REVERSE THE SCREEN IS BLACK YOU CAN SEE NOTHING. PLEASE HELP.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
VISIBILITY
39 complaints- • PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW ABOUT A MONTH AGO. A LARGE FRACTURE CRACK APPEARED IN THE MIDDLE MY WINDSHIELD, ORIGINATING FROM THE BASE UNDERNEATH THE PLASTIC STRIPPING, EXTENDING UPWARD IN AN INVERTED L SHAPE. HAPPENED FOR NO APPARENT REASON; THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, PARKED INSIDE MY CLOSED GARAGE, S
- • 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR NEW, WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY ABOUT 65 MPH, SOMETHING SMALL (A ROCK LIKELY, BUT IT WAS IMPERCEPTIBLE; ONLY HEARD THE SOUND) HIT THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING A SMALL CHIP, APPROXIMATELY 1 MM IN LENGTH. AFTER PARKING MY VEHICLE AND RETURNING TO IT THE NEXT DAY, I FOUND A
- • 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING A NEW 2018 SUBARU IMPREZA, THE WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED ON THE EVENING BETWEEN 11/8/18 AND 11/9/18. THE WIND SHIELD HAD NOT SUSTAINED ANY IMPACTS DURING THE 3 MONTHS OF USE AND WAS ALWAYS PARKED SO THAT NOTHING COULD FALL ON IT FROM TREES ETC. THE CRACK HAD NO CHIPS
“PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW ABOUT A MONTH AGO. A LARGE FRACTURE CRACK APPEARED IN THE MIDDLE MY WINDSHIELD, ORIGINATING FROM THE BASE UNDERNEATH THE PLASTIC STRIPPING, EXTENDING UPWARD IN AN INVERTED L SHAPE. HAPPENED FOR NO APPARENT REASON; THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, PARKED INSIDE MY CLOSED GARAGE, S”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
27 complaints- • DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR GLASS SHATTERED IN TEMPERATURES OF -5 DEGREES WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND IN MY DRIVEWAY
- • THE VEHICLE IS SWAYING LEFT AND RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS EVEN WITHOUT STRONG WIND.
- • THE CAR WAS DESIGNED SO THAT THE RADIO TURNS ON AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED & THE ENGINE IS STARTED. THAT FEATURE IS DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER. FOR EXAMPLE, THE DRIVER MUST REMEMBER TO TURN THE RADIO VOLUME COMPLETELY DOWN BEFORE TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. OTHERWISE, WHEN THE DRIVER TURNS T
“DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR GLASS SHATTERED IN TEMPERATURES OF -5 DEGREES WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND IN MY DRIVEWAY”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
12 complaints- • THE CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. AT A STOP SIGN, RED LIGHT AND AT A STOP SIGN. THE INCIDENT AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO START ROLLING BACKWARDS AND ALMOST HIT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. SUBARU CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM BUT ACKNOWLEDGES THE INCIDENTS OF STALLING. THE CAR IS NOT
- • PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH NOT WANTING TO ENGAGE, WOULDN'T TURN THE KEY AT ALL. HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHERE I HAD TO PLAY WITH IGNITION TO GET IT TO TURN OVER
- • THE SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND 3 SENSORS WHERE ACTIVATED BUT BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IT NEVER WENT OFF. *JS *JS
“THE CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. AT A STOP SIGN, RED LIGHT AND AT A STOP SIGN. THE INCIDENT AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO START ROLLING BACKWARDS AND ALMOST HIT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. SUBARU CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM BUT ACKNOWLEDGES THE INCIDENTS OF STALLING. THE CAR IS NOT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
11 complaints- • THE CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. AT A STOP SIGN, RED LIGHT AND AT A STOP SIGN. THE INCIDENT AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO START ROLLING BACKWARDS AND ALMOST HIT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. SUBARU CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM BUT ACKNOWLEDGES THE INCIDENTS OF STALLING. THE CAR IS NOT
- • THE ENGINE DIED WHILE COMING TO A RAPID STOP FROM ABOUT 35-40 MPH. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TURNED YELLOW. AFTER PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION PARK THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, REMOVING AND REPLACING THE KEY, AND ABOUT 2 TO 3 MINUTES THE ENGINE DID START. I WAS UN
- • INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER AT 2000 TO 3000 RPM IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. I'VE TAKEN IT TO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER 8 TIMES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND THEY HAVE DENIED ANYTHING I'VE REPORTED. THEY'VE HAD TECHNICIANS ON RIDES WITH ME BUT I CAN'T RECREATE SOMETHING THAT IS SO INTERMITTENT. IT SEEMS TO H
“THE CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. AT A STOP SIGN, RED LIGHT AND AT A STOP SIGN. THE INCIDENT AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO START ROLLING BACKWARDS AND ALMOST HIT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. SUBARU CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM BUT ACKNOWLEDGES THE INCIDENTS OF STALLING. THE CAR IS NOT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 181 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐LIGHTING: SINCE JANUARY 2021, THE SCREEN WITH THE REAR CAMERA GO TO BLACK, MANY TIMES AND YOU ONLY CAN SEE THE RED AND YELLOW LINES, SO AND OTHER WORDS WHEN ACTIVATE REVERSE THE SCREEN IS BLACK YOU CAN SEE NOTHING. PLEASE HELP.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐VISIBILITY: PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW ABOUT A MONTH AGO. A LARGE FRACTURE CRACK APPEARED IN THE MIDDLE MY WINDSHIELD, ORIGINATING FROM THE BASE UNDERNEATH THE PLASTIC STRIPPING, EXTENDING UPWARD IN AN INVERTED L SHAPE. HAPPENED FOR NO APPARENT REASON; THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, PARKED INSIDE MY CLOSED GARAGE, S
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR GLASS SHATTERED IN TEMPERATURES OF -5 DEGREES WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND IN MY DRIVEWAY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: THE CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. AT A STOP SIGN, RED LIGHT AND AT A STOP SIGN. THE INCIDENT AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO START ROLLING BACKWARDS AND ALMOST HIT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. SUBARU CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM BUT ACKNOWLEDGES THE INCIDENTS OF STALLING. THE CAR IS NOT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Subaru IMPREZA — Year Comparison
How does 2018 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 181
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 9
- Injury reports
- 4
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2018 Subaru IMPREZA