Subaru Impreza Engine Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Some. 294 of the 1,789 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Subaru Impreza (16.4%) name the engine, 0.8× the median share across the 152 models we track. Across the 2015–2022 cohorts with published sales, the Subaru Impreza rate is 0.11 per 1,000 sold, below the 0.44 median. The worst years are 2013, 2012 and 2008.
Engine complaints
294
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
0.11
2015–2022 cohorts
Share of all complaints
16.4%
of 1,789 complaints for this model
Engine recalls
4
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Subaru Impreza engine complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling, and per 1,000 vehicles sold where a published U.S. sales figure exists. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Engine complaints | Per 1,000 sold | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Engine recalls | Engine TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008WORST | 42 | — | 20.1% | 2 | 08V460000 | 0 |
| 2009 | 28 | — | 25% | 0 | — | 14 |
| 2010 | 10 | — | 21.7% | 1 | — | 14 |
| 2011 | 6 | — | 10.5% | 1 | — | 36 |
| 2012WORST | 56 | — | 23.1% | 2 | 18V772000 | 143 |
| 2013WORST | 75 | — | 30.2% | 5 | 18V772000 | 137 |
| 2014 | 20 | — | 18.5% | 2 | 18V772000 | 85 |
| 2015 | 11 | 0.11 | 13.9% | 0 | — | 62 |
| 2016 | 3 | 0.05 | 4% | 0 | — | 22 |
| 2017 | 14 | 0.16 | 11.2% | 1 | 19V74500019V744000 | 107 |
| 2018 | 11 | 0.14 | 7.4% | 2 | 19V744000 | 101 |
| 2019 | 9 | 0.14 | 4.7% | 1 | — | 94 |
| 2020 | 3 | 0.07 | 3.5% | 0 | — | 73 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0.03 | 7.1% | 0 | — | 65 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0.03 | 8.3% | 0 | — | 54 |
| 2023 | 1 | — | 25% | 0 | — | 45 |
| 2024 | 2 | — | 6.9% | 2 | — | 39 |
| 2025 | 1 | — | 25% | 1 | — | 18 |
- Per 1,000 sold = complaints ÷ published U.S. calendar-year sales × 1,000. Calendar-year sales stand in for the model-year cohort. A dash means no published figure or fewer than 5,000 sold, too small to divide by.
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.
Common Subaru Impreza engine problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 294 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Subaru Impreza years to avoid for the engine
2013 Subaru Impreza
75 engine complaints (30.2% of the year's 248). Most often described: oil consumption or oil leaks. Covered by engine recall 18V772000.
2012 Subaru Impreza
56 engine complaints (23.1% of the year's 242). Most often described: oil consumption or oil leaks. Covered by engine recall 18V772000.
2008 Subaru Impreza
42 engine complaints (20.1% of the year's 209). Most often described: engine failure, seizure or replacement. Covered by engine recall 08V460000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Subaru Impreza years to avoid.
Subaru Impreza engine recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any Subaru Impreza model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 19V745000 · 2019-10-17 · 2017 models
The PCV valve may come apart, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, possibly resulting in a loss of power while driving.
- 19V744000 · 2019-10-17 · 2017–2018 models
The PCV valve may come apart, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, possibly resulting in a loss of power while driving.
- 18V772000 · 2018-11-01 · 2012–2014 models
The engine valve springs in these vehicles may fracture causing an engine malfunction or a possible engine stall.
- 08V460000 · 2008-09-11 · 2008 models
SUBARU IS RECALLING 16,715 MY 2007-2008 LEGACY SEDANS AND WAGONS, MY 2008 IMPREZA SEDANS AND WAGONS, AND MY 2009 FORESTER VEHICLES. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE THE CYLINDER HEAD-SIDE OIL SUPPLY PIPE AND TURBOCHARGER-SIDE PIPE IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2013 Subaru Impreza have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 75 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2013 Subaru Impreza, 30.2% of all 248 complaints for that year. The most common description is "oil consumption or oil leaks" (13 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 18V772000. 5 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2012 Subaru Impreza have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 56 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2012 Subaru Impreza, 23.1% of all 242 complaints for that year. The most common description is "oil consumption or oil leaks" (21 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 18V772000. 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2008 Subaru Impreza have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 42 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2008 Subaru Impreza, 20.1% of all 209 complaints for that year. The most common description is "engine failure, seizure or replacement" (10 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 08V460000. 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Subaru Impreza years have the most engine complaints?
2013 (75), 2012 (56) and 2008 (42), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so compare the per-1,000-sold column too.
What are the most common Subaru Impreza engine problems?
In the 294 engine complaints, owners most often describe engine failure, seizure or replacement (19%), oil consumption or oil leaks (18.7%) and stalling or shutting off while driving (14.3%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a engine failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Dividing by sales shows how often owners complain relative to how many were sold, which makes models of different sizes comparable.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Subaru Impreza model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration