2016 Subaru Impreza problems and recalls

Owners have filed 75 complaints on the 2016 Subaru Impreza, and NHTSA has issued 1 recall. The most cited component is the Unknown Or Other (19 complaints).

75
Complaints
1
Recalls
7
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
2
Injuries
60.0
Severity index

Severity index 60.0 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 60.0p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 77 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 45% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 19 complaints (25.3%)19 25%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 14 complaints (18.7%)14 19%Power TrainPower Train: 13 complaints (17.3%)13 17%Air BagsAir Bags: 8 complaints (10.7%)8 11%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 8 complaints (10.7%)8 11%Service BrakesService Brakes: 7 complaints (9.3%)7 9%SteeringSteering: 5 complaints (6.7%)5 7%StructureStructure: 4 complaints (5.3%)4 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1925.3%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1418.7%
POWER TRAIN1317.3%
AIR BAGS810.7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL810.7%
SERVICE BRAKES79.3%
STEERING56.7%
STRUCTURE45.3%

Complaints filed per year

08162016: 72017: 42018: 72019: 162020: 122021: 82022: 72023: 82024: 32025: 22026: 1 (partial year)161718191620212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20167
20174
20187
201916
202012
20218
20227
20238
20243
20252
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (13 against 27).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V14900028/02/2019EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCHSubaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malf

Other Subaru Impreza model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 12 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.