Subaru Impreza Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Some. 214 of the 1,789 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Subaru Impreza (12%) name the transmission, 1.0× the median share across the 139 models we track. Across the 2015–2022 cohorts with published sales, the Subaru Impreza rate is 0.08 per 1,000 sold, below the 0.28 median. The worst years are 2008, 2009 and 2012.
Transmission complaints
214
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
0.08
2015–2022 cohorts
Share of all complaints
12%
of 1,789 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
3
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Subaru Impreza transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline), and per 1,000 vehicles sold where a published U.S. sales figure exists. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Per 1,000 sold | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008WORST | 70 | — | 33.5% | 0 | — | 17 |
| 2009WORST | 30 | — | 26.8% | 0 | — | 17 |
| 2010 | 5 | — | 10.9% | 0 | — | 17 |
| 2011 | 6 | — | 10.5% | 0 | — | 17 |
| 2012WORST | 26 | — | 10.7% | 0 | — | 49 |
| 2013 | 23 | — | 9.3% | 1 | — | 44 |
| 2014 | 9 | — | 8.3% | 1 | — | 43 |
| 2015 | 12 | 0.12 | 15.2% | 1 | — | 41 |
| 2016 | 13 | 0.23 | 17.3% | 1 | — | 34 |
| 2017 | 5 | 0.06 | 4% | 0 | — | 48 |
| 2018 | 4 | 0.05 | 2.7% | 1 | — | 50 |
| 2019 | 4 | 0.06 | 2.1% | 0 | — | 42 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 31 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0.03 | 7.1% | 0 | 21V024000 | 29 |
| 2022 | 3 | 0.1 | 25% | 0 | — | 20 |
| 2023 | 0 | — | 0% | 0 | 23V647000 | 17 |
| 2024 | 2 | — | 6.9% | 0 | 23V754000 | 10 |
| 2025 | 1 | — | 25% | 0 | — | 6 |
- 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 transmission.
Common Subaru Impreza transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 214 transmission 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 transmission
2008 Subaru Impreza
70 transmission complaints (33.5% of the year's 209). Most often described: slipping or revving without accelerating.
2009 Subaru Impreza
30 transmission complaints (26.8% of the year's 112). Most often described: will not shift, stuck in gear or no reverse.
2012 Subaru Impreza
26 transmission complaints (10.7% of the year's 242). Most often described: transmission repaired or replaced.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission 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 transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Subaru Impreza model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 23V754000 · 2023-11-09 · 2024 models
The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.
- 23V647000 · 2023-09-21 · 2023 models
The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
- 21V024000 · 2021-01-26 · 2021 models
The continuously variable transmission (CVT) select lever cable nut may not have been tightened properly, allowing the nut to loosen.
Which transmission does the Subaru Impreza use?
- Subaru CVT — 2012–2020 (extension years)
Years are as listed for that transmission's applications. Some apply to certain engines only.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2008 Subaru Impreza have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 70 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2008 Subaru Impreza, 33.5% of all 209 complaints for that year. The most common description is "slipping or revving without accelerating" (2 complaints).
Does the 2009 Subaru Impreza have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 30 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2009 Subaru Impreza, 26.8% of all 112 complaints for that year. The most common description is "will not shift, stuck in gear or no reverse" (2 complaints).
Does the 2012 Subaru Impreza have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 26 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2012 Subaru Impreza, 10.7% of all 242 complaints for that year. The most common description is "transmission repaired or replaced" (4 complaints).
Which Subaru Impreza years have the most transmission complaints?
2008 (70), 2009 (30) and 2012 (26), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so compare the per-1,000-sold column too.
What are the most common Subaru Impreza transmission problems?
In the 214 transmission complaints, owners most often describe transmission repaired or replaced (6.1%), loss of power or limp mode (5.1%) and jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (4.2%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission 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 transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
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 transmission 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