The Lemon Index

All cars · Subaru Impreza · 2015

2015 Subaru Impreza. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index94100 = average car
Complaints61NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold66,785U.S. model year
Per 100K sold91complaints
Year rank#9 of 15#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 5

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
2.0L 4-cylAuto (AV-S6)AWD28 / 36 / 31Regular$2,000
2.0L 4-cylManual 5-spdAWD25 / 33 / 28Regular$2,200
2.0L 4-cyl turboManual 6-spdAWD21 / 28 / 24Premium$3,200
2.0L 4-cyl turboAuto (AV-S8)AWD19 / 25 / 21Premium$3,700
2.5L 4-cyl turboManual 6-spdAWD17 / 23 / 19Premium$4,050

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 13,900 and 60,000 miles. Median 35,500, from 100 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Transmission & drivetrain38,50014,200–65,20024
Engine50,00028,000–87,00019
Electrical40,00017,500–70,90017
Airbags32,50010,300–48,6006
Steering56,00036,000–65,0007

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Transmission & drivetrain30%
Engine13%
Airbags11%
Electrical11%
Lights10%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
13471405

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 5

  • 22V522000 Jul 2022 Exterior Lighting / Back Up Lights / Switch

    Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2021 WRX vehicles. The backup light switch may corrode and become inoperative, which can result in the backup lights not illuminating and the rearview camera image not displaying when the vehicle is in reverse.

    Risk. Inoperative backup lights and an inoperative rearview camera can reduce vehicle visibility and driver awareness, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the backup light switch, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-22.

  • 19V149000 Feb 2019 Exterior Lighting / Brake Lights / Switch

    Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.

    Risk. Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.

    Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.

  • 17V625000 Oct 2017 Electrical System / Wiring

    Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015 WRX and WRX/STI vehicles, equipped with an optional factory-installed subwoofer in the trunk. Items in the trunk may cause the subwoofer wiring to contact the subwoofer metal frame, possibly resulting in an electrical short.

    Risk. An electrical short may damage the subwoofer amplifier, and may result in the subwoofer overheating, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the subwoofer wire, install a wire retainer clip, and, as necessary, replace the subwoofer, free of charge. The recall began October 31, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTQ-76.

  • 16V162000 Mar 2016 Engine And Engine Cooling / Engine / Gasoline / Turbo/Supercharger

    Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall.

    Risk. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct. The recall began April 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTA-62.

  • 15V366000 Jun 2015 Forward Collision Avoidance / Crash Imminent Braking

    Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufactured October 16, 2014, to April 15, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles manufactured March 23, 2015, and equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.

    Risk. If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQS-54.

Manufacturer communications 599

Subaru filed 599 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Seen various online and other

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Subaru Impreza SW AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★
Subaru Impreza 4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardOptionalOptional

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
201213710168,175Airbags
2013665158,856Airbags
2014573757,996Airbags
2015946166,785Transmission & drivetrain
2016885255,238Airbags
2017928486,043Wipers & visibility
2018967776,400Wipers & visibility

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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