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2016 Subaru Impreza
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 75 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2016 Subaru Impreza, most frequently naming the electrical, powertrain (other) and driver assistance categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 349 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2016 | 1 | 1 |
| Mar 2016 | 1 | 2 |
| Jun 2016 | 2 | 4 |
| Sep 2016 | 1 | 5 |
| Nov 2016 | 2 | 7 |
| Feb 2017 | 1 | 8 |
| May 2017 | 1 | 9 |
| Aug 2017 | 1 | 10 |
| Sep 2017 | 1 | 11 |
| Jan 2018 | 1 | 12 |
| Jun 2018 | 1 | 13 |
| Oct 2018 | 1 | 14 |
| Nov 2018 | 3 | 17 |
| Dec 2018 | 1 | 18 |
| Feb 2019 | 2 | 20 |
| Mar 2019 | 3 | 23 |
| May 2019 | 2 | 25 |
| Jun 2019 | 2 | 27 |
| Jul 2019 | 2 | 29 |
| Aug 2019 | 3 | 32 |
| Oct 2019 | 2 | 34 |
| Jan 2020 | 2 | 36 |
| Feb 2020 | 1 | 37 |
| Jul 2020 | 3 | 40 |
| Aug 2020 | 2 | 42 |
| Sep 2020 | 4 | 46 |
| Mar 2021 | 1 | 47 |
| Jul 2021 | 2 | 49 |
| Aug 2021 | 1 | 50 |
| Sep 2021 | 3 | 53 |
| Oct 2021 | 1 | 54 |
| Jan 2022 | 2 | 56 |
| Feb 2022 | 1 | 57 |
| Apr 2022 | 1 | 58 |
| Jul 2022 | 1 | 59 |
| Aug 2022 | 1 | 60 |
| Nov 2022 | 1 | 61 |
| Apr 2023 | 1 | 62 |
| May 2023 | 2 | 64 |
| Jul 2023 | 1 | 65 |
| Aug 2023 | 1 | 66 |
| Sep 2023 | 2 | 68 |
| Nov 2023 | 1 | 69 |
| Jan 2024 | 1 | 70 |
| Feb 2024 | 1 | 71 |
| Jun 2024 | 1 | 72 |
| Jan 2025 | 1 | 73 |
| Dec 2025 | 1 | 74 |
| Apr 2026 | 1 | 75 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical1416.5%
- Powertrain (other)1315.3%
- Driver assistance1112.9%
- Airbags89.4%
- Brakes67.1%
- Visibility55.9%
- Steering55.9%
- Body & structure44.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govRecent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I contacted Subaru in Mentor Oh at adventure subaru under TSB 19V065000 and was told to take it in to get looked at, my issue when I purchased the car at 67k miles i found that the car had a loud clunky sound while steering and going over bumps. After seeing the dealer and the stated the issue was from the steer rack and was exactly what was described exactly in the TSB but the only thing was they did not see a visible crack, the repair was denied. I then took the car to another dealer near Beavercreek oh after calling Subaru of America Case # [XXX]. Subaru of America was very certain that the repair was going to get performed. After going to the dealer it was yet again denied again, now it is outside the TSB warranty window. The car has had the entire suspension repaired and the noise is so bad and the steering doesn’t feel right. The car literally is unsafe to drive, i owe money to my loan company for 540 a month, the car just sits in the garage. I am sick of getting put through this nightmare. I want the part replaced or to get out of the loan completely and return the car to Subaru or the bank. Please help i have ran out of ideas. I do lots of driving and dying in a car accident scares me to death. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- NHTSA ID
- 11730470
- Incident
- Dec 11, 2023
Hello, I just purchase this vehicle from a dealership, 615 auto sales. After purchasing the vehicle I decided to go and get the recall done that was never done to the vehicle at the repair shop they did the recall but then ask me where did I purchase this vehicle from then I told them. The repair shop told me the grim news that the car was very rusted and should have not been sold like it was. There was nothing on the CARFAX about anything else and the shop told me that the car was a safety hazard. When I purchase the vehicle AS IS all I have seen was a TPM light on and a recall and getting some tires they were also bad but did not have any knowledge of how bad the frame was even there were rust in the engine bay area like it been sitting in water or something but nothing was reported on the CARFAX.
- NHTSA ID
- 11703624
- Incident
- Dec 2, 2025
While driving a multi lane road with traffic going same direction in front of me, if one or more cars begin to slow for a left or right turn, the auto braking feature begins to slow and will try to stop my car. Problem is that the car in front of me turning isn't in my lane. I have a clear lane ahead and suddenly the system brakes. still locked onto the car in front, but doesn't recognize the clear road ahead and I can easily pass it on by. I've nearly been re ended because the guy behind me wasn't thinking I would suddenly brake for nothing. It happened with adaptive cruise control, and with that off, the auto braking system, or "accident avoidance" system. I have have more near misses driving this car than with any other car I've had without the system. This system is dangerous, it doesn't work like it was intended.
- NHTSA ID
- 11633515
- Incident
- Jun 8, 2016
The hood latch system failed and flew open while driving on the highway smashing the windshield. I was unable to see driving, glass shattered everywhere. The car was serviced three weeks prior and there was no notation of an issue with the hood latch. The hood would not latch after the incident either. Police were on scene and viewed the incident and insurance will be investigating. There have been numerous other reports of this happening with other subaru models including recalls. There are no open recalls on this vehicle and a multi-point inspection was done on the car 3 weeks prior.
- NHTSA ID
- 11591962
- Incident
- Jun 1, 2024
The seat foam has degraded and exposed the metal frame through the seat cover on the driver side front seat. It is not safe to drive with a metal frame being exposed. A service bulletin (12-232-18 dated 2/6/2018) indicates there is an issue with the seat construction that can lead to this defect/degradation but refuse to acknowledge the issue to customers calling it an "outside forces" problem.
- NHTSA ID
- 11573988
- Incident
- Feb 1, 2024
Key will not turn past ACC after driving and so will not allow key to be removed from the car. This is a sporadic issue but could be a safety concern if needing to leave the car for an emergency as it runs down the battery and will not allow me to secure the vehicle. Driving around for 5 to 10 minutes more usually solves the problem but I might not have that extra time in an emergency! This has occurred several times, most recently today.
- NHTSA ID
- 11564019
- Incident
- Jan 7, 2024
We keep on having to replace our headlights. We just got one replaced 5 months ago and it’s out again. This will be the fourth time in three years. No one can figure out why the headlights keep burning out.
- NHTSA ID
- 11555767
- Incident
- Nov 18, 2023
The variable fan speed control for the cabin air melted. The dial could no longer be moved and the assembly, once removed, had parts that were melted. Subaru was not interested. Cost me $1200 to get it fixed. Unfortunately, I cannot locate any pictures.
- NHTSA ID
- 11542568
- Incident
- Oct 22, 2020
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood covers from Generation 4 EyeSight cameras.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; POWER TRAIN
This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. (This is an revised version of the orignal bulletin.)
This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; POWER TRAIN
This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
POWER TRAIN
This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.
ENGINE
This bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be used when DTCs B1571(REFERENCE CODE INCOMPATIBILITY IMMOBILIZER CM TO ECM) and B1572(IMM CIRCUIT EXCEPT ANTENNA CIRCUIT) are detected by Keyless Access with Push Button Start(KACM).
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 53.2 |
| 2023 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 49.5 |
| 2021 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 43.4 |
| 2020 | 85 | 1 | 0 | 44.8 |
| 2019 | 193 | 5 | 0 | 50.2 |
| 2018 | 149 | 5 | 0 | 50.0 |
| 2017 | 125 | 7 | 0 | 56.3 |
| 2016Viewing | 75 | 1 | 0 | 43.2 |
| 2015 | 77 | 2 | 0 | 46.5 |
| 2014 | 108 | 3 | 0 | 55.2 |
| 2013 | 249 | 4 | 0 | 52.7 |
| 2012 | 242 | 6 | 1 | 54.1 |
| 2011 | 57 | 14 | 0 | 60.7 |
| 2010 | 45 | 15 | 0 | 50.7 |
| 2009 | 103 | 15 | 0 | 50.5 |
| 2008 | 176 | 15 | 0 | 51.6 |
| 2007 | 68 | 9 | 1 | 59.9 |
| 2006 | 56 | 10 | 1 | 52.4 |
| 2005 | 75 | 6 | 3 | 61.5 |
| 2004 | 96 | 8 | 4 | 60.2 |
| 2003 | 62 | 6 | 5 | 64.6 |
| 2002 | 292 | 6 | 4 | 58.8 |
| 2001 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 59.0 |
| 2000 | 41 | 4 | 0 | 52.4 |
| 1999 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 48.4 |
| 1998 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 44.1 |
| 1997 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 57.1 |
| 1996 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 56.7 |
| 1995 | 46 | 4 | 2 | 68.4 |
| 1994 | 8 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 1993 | 33 | 3 | 0 | 59.2 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.