MODELYEARINDEX

Which Subaru Impreza years to avoid

Across 12 scored model years, the 2012, 2019 and 2017 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Subaru Impreza Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2012 vs model median 2.1×
Model median3× median
Airbags & Restraints 64
Engine 23
Electrical 13
Avoid

2012 · 2019

Best

2015 · 2021

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.37× 22 B
2011
0.57× 33 B
2012
2.15× 152 F
2013
0.93× 71 C
2014
1.14× 52 C
2015
0.72× 46 B
2016
0.98× 60 B
2017
1.59× 95 D
2018
1.27× 78 C
2019
1.77× 147 D
2020
1.02× 87 B
2021
0.26× 19 B
2022 P
0.22× 15 A
2024 P
0.79× 52 B

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2012 F 152 reports · median 20,000 mi

  1. Airbags & Restraints 64

    While driving the vehicle, the passenger air bag indicator was indicating that it was off while a passenger was sitting in the seat. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 23

    I purchased my 2012 subaru impreza sport premium on 12/24/2011. It had less than 100 miles when purchased from the dealer. At 1200 miles, the oil light came on. I checked the oil level and it was very low. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 13

    The airbags in this vehicle turn off while driving (driver and passenger side dashboard icons indicate airbags are turned off). Vehicle must be stopped and restarted for the airbags to turn back on. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

13 crash · 3 fire · 6 injuries

2019 D 147 reports · median 11,700 mi

  1. Lights & Visibility 87

    After owning my car for five months the windshield is cracked again I have had it replaced twice already. There is a serious defect in the windshield that subaru is using on the impreza vehicle owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 11

    After having the car 10 months battery kept dying. Subaru replaced the first battery with a new one exactly one year ago. That battery just died on feb 8 after not being driven for 3 days. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Fuel System 6

    Car stopped running while driving down the street. Automobile was towed to dealer yesterday (9-11-19). Dealer, called today (9-12-19) said problem is a bad fuel pump and may take up to a month to get the ordered part… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

4 crash · 1 fire · 3 injuries

The best year for the Impreza

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2021 is the best-scoring Impreza model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 83.5 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2021 0.26× 19 B
2015 0.72× 46 B
2010 0.37× 22 B

Recalls

34 campaigns on record, 1 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
19V149000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH 2010–2016 1,303,530
21V264000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE 2017–2019 466,205
19V743000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE 2017–2019 466,205
14V311000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS 2010, 2011 461,338
19V009000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010, 2011 452,630
19V008000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010, 2011 330,120
16V358000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010, 2011 302,127
20V001000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010, 2011 258,813
19V744000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV) 2017, 2018 205,000
14V830000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 2010, 2011 200,064
22V624000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS 2017–2019 188,397
20V218000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2019 188,207

+ 22 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2012 were reported at a median of 20,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Subaru Impreza years should you avoid?
2012, 2019, 2017 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Subaru Impreza model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Subaru Impreza?
2021 is the best-scoring Subaru Impreza model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 83.5 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Subaru Impreza have?
34 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Subaru Impreza model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2012 Impreza
Complaints in window
152
Severity-weighted
206
Model median (weighted)
96
vs model median
2.15×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
6
Open investigations
0
Score 31.4 F