2021 Subaru Impreza: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 2 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
14
Complaints
2
Recalls
1
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
1
Injuries
85.7
Severity index
Severity index 85.7 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 3 | 21.4% |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 3 | 21.4% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 | 14.3% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 | 14.3% |
| TIRES | 2 | 14.3% |
| STEERING | 2 | 14.3% |
| AIR BAGS | 1 | 7.1% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 | 7.1% |
The single most-reported system is FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE, cited in 3 of 14 complaints (21.4%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 1.8x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V675000 | 30/08/2021 | SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2021 Impreza vehicles. The left-front lower control arm weld may fail, allowing the control arm to separate from the crossmember. |
| 21V024000 | 26/01/2021 | POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2021 Outback and Impreza vehicles. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) select lever cable nut may not have been tightened properly, allowing the nut to loosen. |
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.