2018 Subaru Impreza: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 149 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 5 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
149
Complaints
5
Recalls
5
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
2
Injuries
55.0
Severity index
Severity index 55.0 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 121 2018 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2018 Subaru Impreza ranks 56 of 121 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 54% of its model-year peers. See the full 2018 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 64 | 43.0% |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 33 | 22.1% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 25 | 16.8% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 12 | 8.1% |
| ENGINE | 11 | 7.4% |
| STRUCTURE | 6 | 4.0% |
| VISIBILITY | 6 | 4.0% |
| POWER TRAIN | 4 | 2.7% |
The single most-reported system is EXTERIOR LIGHTING, cited in 64 of 149 complaints (43.0%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 23 |
| 2021 | 15 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2023 | 52 |
| 2024 | 23 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 3 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 1.5x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V587000 | 29/07/2021 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | Subaru 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. |
| 21V264000 | 15/04/2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE | Subaru 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. |
| 19V744000 | 17/10/2019 | ENGINE 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 |
| 19V743000 | 18/10/2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE | Subaru 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. |
| 22V624000 | 12/08/2022 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | Subaru 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 |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.