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Subaru Impreza.

The best Subaru Impreza years are 2010, 2014, 2011. Years to avoid: 2020, 2008, 2019. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 100, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2007 to 2025.

100Lemon Index · 100 = average car

About average. Whole model, 2010-2022.

Best year 2010 · Worst year 2020

Subaru Impreza
Photo shows a 2017 Subaru Impreza. Kevauto, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

2007–few complaints20081771.8× the complaints200999about average2010313.2× fewer complaints2011581.7× fewer complaints20121371.4× the complaints2013661.5× fewer complaints2014571.8× fewer complaints201594about average2016881.1× fewer complaints201792about average201896about average20191601.6× the complaints20201821.8× the complaints2021601.7× fewer complaints2022871.1× fewer complaints2023–few complaints2024164early read · 1.6× the complaints2025–few complaints

Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.

Best years to buy

2010.

2010313.2× fewer complaints than average2014571.8× fewer complaints than average2011581.7× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

2020.

20201821.8× the average car's complaints20081771.8× the average car's complaints20191601.6× the average car's complaints

Quick answers.

Is the Subaru Impreza a good car?

It is about average, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 100; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2010 and the worst is 2020.

What are the best Subaru Impreza years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2010, 2014, 2011.

What Subaru Impreza years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2020, 2008, 2019.

How many recalls does the Subaru Impreza have?

122 safety recalls across the 19 model years we track. Most: 2008 (15), 2009 (15), 2010 (15). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Subaru Impreza problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name wipers & visibility, airbags and engine most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
2007–too few complaints to score18transmission & drivetrain (33%)9—20–22
20081771.8× the average car's complaints86airbags (31%)15—21–22
200999about average37engine (43%)15—21–22
2010313.2× fewer complaints than average14engine (21%)15—21–22
2011581.7× fewer complaints than average21brakes (19%)14—19–22
20121371.4× the average car's complaints101airbags (55%)6★★★★☆19–30
2013661.5× fewer complaints than average51airbags (39%)4★★★★★19–30
2014571.8× fewer complaints than average37airbags (27%)3★★★★★19–30
201594about average61transmission & drivetrain (30%)5★★★★★27–31
2016881.1× fewer complaints than average52airbags (17%)4★★★★★27–31
201792about average84wipers & visibility (23%)8★★★★★25–32
201896about average77wipers & visibility (38%)6★★★★★25–32
20191601.6× the average car's complaints113wipers & visibility (43%)6★★★★★25–32
20201821.8× the average car's complaints83wipers & visibility (61%)2★★★★★25–31
2021601.7× fewer complaints than average22transmission & drivetrain (27%)3★★★★★25–32
2022871.1× fewer complaints than average33engine (48%)2★★★★★25–32
2023–too few complaints to score12engine (25%)3★★★★★25–32
20241641.6× the average car's complaints46automatic emergency braking (22%)2★★★★★29–30
2025–too few complaints to score8transmission & drivetrain (25%)0★★★★★29–30

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Subaru Impreza transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data