NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Subaru Impreza. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
THE BRAKE STOP SWITCH FAILS INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING DASH LIGHTS TO SHOW THE HILL BRAKE ASSIST, STABILITY CONTROL, AND ABS SYSTEMS HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. ANOTHER SIDE-EFFECT OF THIS SITUATION IS THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS CAUSING A RISK OF REAR COLLISION IF THE DRIVER CONTINUES TO DRIVE EVEN WHEN THE DASH LIGHTS GO OFF. AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE DRIVING SITUATION.
WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND PLACED INTO PARK POSITION, THE GEAR SHIFTER IS ABLE TO BE MOVED FROM PARK INTO DRIVE, REVERSE, AND NEUTRAL WITH THE ENGINE OFF. THE KEY ALSO BECOMES STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER IS MALFUNCTIONING. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE SHIFT INTERLOCK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE.
2016 SUBARU IMPREZA. CONSUMER WRITES WITH CONCERN FOR VERY DIM HEADLIGHTS AND EASILY SCRATCHED/SOFT WINDOW SHIELD. *AS *TR
BRAKE LIGHTS TURN ON AUTONIMOUSLY WITHOUT HAVING TO PULL THE EMERGANCY BRAKE OR DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKE LIGHT WITHIN MY VECHILE WILL TURN ON WHILE DRIVING RANDOMLY OR EVEN WHILE IN A STATIONARY POSITION, THERE IS NOT SET TIME INTERVAL TO THE RANDOM ON AND OFF BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. SOME TIMES IT'LL TURN ON AND OFF WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF DRIVING OR THRITY MINUTES.THERE HAS RECEMTLY BEEN A RECALL BY SUBARU FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A DEALER NOTIFICATION YET.
THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR HAS BEEN GOING OFF WHEN NOTHING IS IN THE SEAT. BECAUSE THE SENSOR THINKS SOMETHING IS IN THE SEAT THE AIRBAG FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE IS TURNED ON. AFTER GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP, QUIRK SUBARU, IN BANGOR MAINE, THEY TOLD ME MY CELL PHONE WAS SETTING OFF THE SENSOR. THEIR RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, "DON'T BRING YOUR CELL PHONE INTO THE CAR." THE CAR CAN BE MOVING OR STATIONARY AND WILL RANDOMLY TURN ON. IT'S GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE LAST YEAR HAPPENING ABOUT 4 TIMES SINCE AUGUST OF 2018. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO HANDLE THE MATTER. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THIS POSES A RISK TO OCCUPANTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHICH MAY LED TO AN UNWANTED AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.
I WAS DRIVING TO A THANKSGIVING GATHERING, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JULTED. IT WAS VERY ODD FELT ALMOST LIKE A PIN WAS PUT IN THE TRANSMISSION FORCING THE TIRES TO STOP SPINING. BUT WAS VERY BRIEF. AFTER ANOTHER 0.5 MILES OF DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70MPH IT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT CONTINUOUSLY WITH LOUD GRINDING AND CRUNCHY NOISES. AFTER PULING OVER THE CAR WAS SMOKING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS EXTREMELY HOT. NO LIGHTS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. GOT A TOW TRUCK AND IT STRUGGLED TO PULL THE CAR ON TO THE TRAILER BED. AND WHILE IT WAS ROLLING ON YOU COULD STILL HEAR THE GRINDING NOISES. WE HAD 4 PEOPLE IN THE CAR 2 SMALL 5FT 2IN WOMEN AND 2 MAKES WINNING 180 LBS. WE HAD FOOD AND DUFFLE BAGS IN THE TRUNK AND IT WAS 40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OUTSIDE WE WERE 1 HOUR INTO THE TRIP AND ON FLARE ROADS
I WAS DRIVING ON A DECLINE AT 10 TO 15 MILES PER HOUR ON A SNOWY EVENING AND WHEN I TRIED TO BREAK, MY BREAKS LOCKED UP AND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OF MY AUTOMOBILE EXCEPT FOR STEERING AND MADE THE CHOICE TO GO TOWARDS THE GUARD RAIL TO SLOW MY AUTOMOBILE DOWN SINCE I HAD NO BRAKES. I BOUGHT MY AUTOMOBILE 16 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE HAD DIFFICULTIES WITH TIRE LIGHTS COMING ON AND MANY OTHER ISSUES AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS AUTOMOBILE.
INTERMITTENTLY UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION AFTER PLACING CAR IN PARK. UPON RESTARTING VEHICLE AND TURNING IT BACK OFF, KEY IS ABLE TO BE REMOVED.
EXPERIENCED UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WHEN TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT; SUCCESSFULLY STOPPED THE CAR WITH THE BREAK HOWEVER WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK AGAIN TO GO FORWARD, THE CAR ACCELERATED DRIVING OVER A SMALL ISLAND AND HIT A PARKED CAR WHICH WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER PARK CAR. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. RECENTLY AN OUTSIDE AGENCY WAS HIRED BY SUBARU AND AN ENGINEER FROM THIS AGENCY COMPLETED AN INSPECTION. AM WAITING TO GET THE RESULTS OF THIS REPORT.
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while the operating the vehicle, the front driver’s side floor mat detached and slid underneath the brake pedal and accelerator pedal. The contact stated that one of the pegs used to secure the floor mat fractured, allowing the floor mat to become unsecured. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 35,000.
THE AIRBAGS TURN OFF WHEN IT IS RAINING OR HUMID OUTSIDE. PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND WHEN THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. PASSENGER AIRBAG HAS TURNED OFF WHEN THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT; DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG HAS ALSO TURNED OFF DURING RAINING/HUMID CONDITIONS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
CVT WILL NOT SHIFT IN COLD WEATHER. I TOOK TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE TACH REACHING 2600 RPM'S AT 30 MILES TO 55 MPH AND CVT WAS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR, WOULD NOT SHIFT. I SAY THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM, NOT NORMAL FOR THIS OR ANY CAR. GAS MILEAGE IS BAD, ENGINE WEAR IS BAD AND NOT SAFE ON HIGHWAY. THIS HAPPENED )1/3/18, 1/6/18 AND 1/8/18.
REAR AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK/UNLOCK USING KEY FOB OR AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK FEATURE ON INTERIOR OF CAR. IT SEEMS TO BE MORE AFFECTED DURING HOT OR COLD DAYS. THE ONLY WAY TO LOCK/UNLOCK IS TO MANUALLY DO IT. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, NO WATER DAMAGE OR HAS HAD ANY OTHER ISSUE.
MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH ON A CIITY STREET WHEN A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF HER. SHE SWERVED TO MISS THE DEER, LEAVING THE ROAD AND ENTERING A HEAVELY WOODED LOT. SHE CAME TO A STOP APPROXIMATELY SIX FEET OFF THE ROAD STOPPED BY A TREE DEAD CENTER IN THE FRONT BUMPER. EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, NEVER LOCKED UP THE BRAKES, AND HER REAR PUMPER WAS ONLY SIX FEET OFF THE ROAD, THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND SURGED WHILE MAKING A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS TO CHECK WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I TURNED MY CAR ON ONE AFTERNOON AND FOUND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT STAYED LIT ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE CAR WAS STATIONARY. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE, I DISCOVERED THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY GONE (I.E., VERY HARD TO TURN STEERING WHEEL). HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER, SINCE ONLY 1 YEAR OLD. DEALER INITIALLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BAD POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE. THREE DAYS LATER, AFTER THE PART ARRIVED, THEY INSTALLED IT AND FOUND MORE ERROR CODES INDICATING A POWER SUPPLY ERROR. MORE NEW PARTS WERE ORDERED THAT TOOK ANOTHER THREE DAYS TO ARRIVE. UPON REMOVAL OF POWER STEERING RACK, TECHNICIAN FOUND RODENT DAMAGE ON WIRING TO MODULE ON RACK AND PINION UNIT. MY ONLINE RESEARCH SUGGESTS RODENTS ARE ATTRACTED TO SOY WIRE INSULATION THAT IS USED IN NEWER SUBARU VEHICLES LIKE MINE. I AM CONCERNED OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS CAN SHORT OUT IN THE CAR AT ANY TIME, SINCE I CANNOT AVOID SQUIRRELS AS MY CAR IS PARKED IN AN OPEN PARKING LOT AT HOME. MY PRIOR CAR (A 1999 SATURN SL2) WAS DRIVEN AT THE SAME INTERVALS AND PARKED AT THE SAME LOCATION FOR 5.5 YEARS WITHOUT A SIMILAR PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A WHIPLASH AND A BLOODY NOSE, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,047.
THE BLUETOOTH HAS A CONNECTIVITY ISSUE. IT HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING, WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, WHEN I'M STATIONARY. THERE IS REALLY NO TELLING WHEN IT WILL SKIP, BUT IT HAPPENS ONE TO TWO TIMES EVERY HOUR. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT CAUSES MY HEART TO RACE AND SOMETIMES I FEEL I'M HAVING A PANIC ATTACK. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW, THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE CAR, IT'S NOT THE PHONE, BUT IT'S THE WAY IT CONNECTS, AND THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA AND IT DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE RADIO UNIT, MADE SURE THE CAR'S OPERATING SYSTEM IS UP TO DATE, AND BASICALLY TOLD ME IT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT.
THE 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA STARTED TO GO FORWARD WHEN THE SHIFT KNOB WAS IN THE REVERSE POSITION. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN A ROW AND ON THE THIRD TIME THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BRAKE HARD IN ESSENCE "FIGHTING" THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, TRIED AGAIN, MADE IT HOME. IT WAS A RAINY DAY. MADE APPT. WITH DEALER. AFRAID TO DRIVE IT!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
While driving a multi lane road with traffic going same direction in front of me, if one or more cars begin to slow for a left or right turn, the auto braking feature begins to slow and will try to stop my car. Problem is that the car in front of me turning isn't in my lane. I have a clear lane ahead and suddenly the system brakes. still locked onto the car in front, but doesn't recognize the clear road ahead and I can easily pass it on by. I've nearly been re ended because the guy behind me wasn't thinking I would suddenly brake for nothing. It happened with adaptive cruise control, and with that off, the auto braking system, or "accident avoidance" system. I have have more near misses driving this car than with any other car I've had without the system. This system is dangerous, it doesn't work like it was intended.
WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY FROM A STANDING OR SLOW MOVING POSITION THE CAR STALLS OFTEN TIMES LEAVING YOU MOMENTARILY STOPPED IN THE FACE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC.THIS ACTION IS SPORADIC, IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME YOU MASH THE ACCELERATOR FOR TAKE-OFF . THE DEALER MECHANIC SAYS IT HAS BEEN A NORMAL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR.
TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, I BLACKED OUT. FIRST TIME, RAN OFF EDGE OF ROAD; SECOND TIME, RAN OVER INTO ON-COMING LANE. TWICE, I HAD MAJOR ALLERGIC SYMPTOMS. FIRST, RIGHT AFTER BUYING CAR; SECOND, SIX MONTHS LATER. TWICE, I GREW BREATHLESS AFTER DRIVING CAR FOR SEVERAL HOURS. ONCE, I COULD NOT KEEP MY BALANCE AFTER DRIVING CAR ON A HIGHWAY. ALL OF THESE EPISODES OCCURRED AFTER LONGER THAN USUAL DRIVES. NORMALLY, I DRIVE SHORT DISTANCES AROUND TOWN. TWICE, AN OPAQUE FILM FORMED ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, OBSCURING VISIBILITY - ONCE ON A DARK HIGHWAY; ONCE ON ENTERING A GARAGE. WIPERS, WASHER FLUID, RAIN DID NOT AFFECT THE FILM. *TR
WHEN MY WIFE SITS ON A 3 INCH FOAM CUSHION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THE PASSENGER SIDE TO SIT MORE COMFORTABLY (SHE IS 4'11' AND HAS HIP PROBLEMS); THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ONLY GOES INTO ON MODE INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAPPEN WHEN ENTERING THE CAR AND CONTINUES WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IN AN ACCIDENT, IF NOT NOTICE BE THE PASSENGER OR DRIVER. CORRECTIVE ACTION BELIEVE IT OR NOT INVOLVE.S BOUNCING UP AND DOWN ON THE SEAT. A SIDE EFFECT SEEMS TO BE, THAT WHEN THE SIGN IS IN OFF POSITION, THE SEAT BELTS LOCKUP AND CONSTRICT THE PASSENGER.
THE SEAT BELTS LOCK OFTEN AND WILL NOT RELEASE UNTIL THEY ARE FULLY RETRACTED AND PUT BACK ON. THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER WILL BE FIRMLY SECURED TO THE SEAT WHEN THIS OCCURS. IT HAS CAUSED US MANY TIMES TO HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO CORRECT THE BELT. THIS CAUSES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN THE DRIVER CANNOT MOVE TO CHECK FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC ETC. THE DEALER CALLS THIS NORMAL OPERATION AND SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG. ALSO, THIS HAPPENS IN MOTION OR STANDING STILL AND EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF.