2018 Subaru Impreza problems and recalls

Owner complaints on the 2018 Subaru Impreza include 1 fatality report, 5 crashes and 1 fires across 149 filings.

149
Complaints
5
Recalls
5
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
2
Injuries
57.4
Severity index

Severity index 57.4 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 57.4p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 56 of 122 by severity index among 2018 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 54% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2018 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 64 complaints (43.0%)64 43%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 33 complaints (22.1%)33 22%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 25 complaints (16.8%)25 17%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 12 complaints (8.1%)12 8%EngineEngine: 11 complaints (7.4%)11 7%StructureStructure: 6 complaints (4.0%)6 4%VisibilityVisibility: 6 complaints (4.0%)6 4%Power TrainPower Train: 4 complaints (2.7%)4 3%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
EXTERIOR LIGHTING6443.0%
VISIBILITY/WIPER3322.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2516.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM128.1%
ENGINE117.4%
STRUCTURE64.0%
VISIBILITY64.0%
POWER TRAIN42.7%

Complaints filed per year

026522018: 82019: 82020: 232021: 152022: 142023: 522024: 232025: 32026: 3 (partial year)18192021222352242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20188
20198
202023
202115
202214
202352
202423
20253
2026 (year to date)3
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 1.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (78 against 52).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V58700029/07/2021FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPSubaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
21V26400015/04/2021ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARESubaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Subaru Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, causing a short circuit.
19V74400017/10/2019ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Impreza and 2018 Crosstrek vehicles equipped with an aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve. The PCV valve may come apart, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, possibly resulting in a
19V74300018/10/2019ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARESubaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, which could result in a short circuit and blown fuse.
22V62400012/08/2022EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTSSubaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Impreza vehicles. The left and right side reflex reflector and left side low beam reflector may inadequately reflect light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safe

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.