2021 Subaru IMPREZA
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2021 Subaru IMPREZA has 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 99. The most common issue is speed control problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: the car accelerated without any input from driver. driver did not apply pressure to gas pedal however the car still moves both forward an backwards. car accelerated enough to drive over a speed bump without stopping, roughly 5 mph. three videos were taken to document the issue. the event happen in a. There are 2 recalls issued for this model year.
19
Total Complaints
2
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.2x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
SPEED CONTROL
4 complaints- • THE CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM DRIVER. DRIVER DID NOT APPLY PRESSURE TO GAS PEDAL HOWEVER THE CAR STILL MOVES BOTH FORWARD AN BACKWARDS. CAR ACCELERATED ENOUGH TO DRIVE OVER A SPEED BUMP WITHOUT STOPPING, ROUGHLY 5 MPH. THREE VIDEOS WERE TAKEN TO DOCUMENT THE ISSUE. THE EVENT HAPPEN IN A
- • I was using the adaptive cruise control on the highway set to 55 mph. The car suddenly decelerated to ~44 mph so quickly I had whiplash. There was no other vehicle in front of me and the highway was clear of debris. The dealership said this could be caused by a glare.
- • I was using the adaptive cruise control on the highway set to 55 mph. The car suddenly decelerated to ~44 mph so quickly I had whiplash. There was no other vehicle in front of me and the highway was clear of debris. The dealership said this could be caused by a glare.
“THE CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM DRIVER. DRIVER DID NOT APPLY PRESSURE TO GAS PEDAL HOWEVER THE CAR STILL MOVES BOTH FORWARD AN BACKWARDS. CAR ACCELERATED ENOUGH TO DRIVE OVER A SPEED BUMP WITHOUT STOPPING, ROUGHLY 5 MPH. THREE VIDEOS WERE TAKEN TO DOCUMENT THE ISSUE. THE EVENT HAPPEN IN A”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Recalls (2)
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2021 Impreza vehicles. The left-front lower control arm weld may fail, allowing the control arm to separate from the crossmember.
Risk: A separated control arm may cause the tire to contact the wheel well, resulting in a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the control arm as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 3, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRI-21.
Fuel Cost Calculator for 2021 Subaru IMPREZA
Live EIA pricesBased on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.
5-Year Gas Price History
EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → todaySource: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2021 Subaru IMPREZA
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Subaru IMPREZA Service Intervals
Boxer engines have specific oil consumption patterns — check oil monthly. CVT service every 30K is critical; skipping shortens life dramatically. AWD requires matched tire wear.
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Subaru New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
These are the terms for a new Subaru. If you're buying a used 2021 IMPREZA, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Subaru dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 19 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐SPEED CONTROL: THE CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM DRIVER. DRIVER DID NOT APPLY PRESSURE TO GAS PEDAL HOWEVER THE CAR STILL MOVES BOTH FORWARD AN BACKWARDS. CAR ACCELERATED ENOUGH TO DRIVE OVER A SPEED BUMP WITHOUT STOPPING, ROUGHLY 5 MPH. THREE VIDEOS WERE TAKEN TO DOCUMENT THE ISSUE. THE EVENT HAPPEN IN A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐VISIBILITY: JULY 09 2021 REPORTED TO SUBARU EL PASO AT TIME OF FIRST MAINTENANCE (6000 MILES) VEHICLE LOSSES POWER AND STALLS WHEN MAKING TURNS, IT IS MORE NOTICEABLE MAKING A LEFT TURN. TECHNICIAN SAID COUDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NO FURTER ACTION WAS NEEDED. HOWEVER A YEAR ;LATER FROM TIME TO TIME VEHICL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐STEERING: THIS CAR WILL NOT TRACK STRAIGHT. NICE FIRM STEERING, BUT SIMPLY WILL NOT TRACK STRAIGHT. THERE IS NO SENSE OF CENTER. IF LEFT ALONE, THE STEERING WILL GO SLIGHTLY LEFT, OR SLIGHTLY RIGHT, BUT NEVER CENTER. THIS IS ANNOYING FAIR WEATHER, BUT OUTRIGHT DANGEROUS IN WEATHER OR WIND. A MAJOR IMPACT ON V
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: CRACKED WINDSHIELD WITHIN 3 WEEKS OF PURCHASING NEW 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA HATCHBACK AWD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 2 recalls have been completed — free at any Subaru dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Subaru IMPREZA — Year Comparison
How does 2021 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 19
- Recalls
- 2
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 99
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2021 Subaru IMPREZA