Subaru Impreza: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
2,461 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Subaru Impreza, model years 2000 to 2026. 3 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2013 (engine 7.6×); 2012 (engine 5.6×); 2008 (transmission 5.7×). Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2000, 2010, 2006. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 41 | quiet: 1 of 19 | 4 | |
| 2001 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 10 | — | 3 | |
| 2002 Impreza | 292 | — | 6 | |
| 2003 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 62 | quiet: 5 of 19 | 6 | |
| 2004 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 96 | — | 8 | |
| 2005 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 75 | quiet: 7 of 19 | 6 | |
| 2006 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 56 | quiet: 3 of 19 | 10 | |
| 2007 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 68 | quiet: 6 of 19 | 9 | |
| 2008 Impreza | 174 | transmission 5.7× | 15 | |
| 2009 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 104 | — | 15 | |
| 2010 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 45 | quiet: 2 of 19 | 15 | |
| 2011 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 58 | quiet: 4 of 19 | 14 | |
| 2012 Impreza | 243 | engine 5.6× | 6 | |
| 2013 Impreza | 251 | engine 7.6× | 4 | |
| 2014 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 108 | — | 3 | |
| 2015 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 77 | — | 2 | |
| 2016 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 75 | — | 1 | |
| 2017 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 125 | — | 7 | |
| 2018 Impreza | 152 | — | 5 | |
| 2019 Impreza | 194 | — | 5 | |
| 2020 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 85 | — | 1 | |
| 2021 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 14 | — | 2 | |
| 2022 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 14 | — | 1 | |
| 2023 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 4 | — | 2 | |
| 2024 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 32 | — | 2 | |
| 2025 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 5 | — | 0 | |
| 2026 ImprezaFEW REPORTS | 1 | — | 0 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Subaru models
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Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 200220082012201320182019