2016 Subaru Impreza

Typical pattern

8.3% of complaints about the 2016 Subaru Impreza came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2016 vehicle — around the middle of the 199 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.1 yr in service. The most-reported system is other (19 complaints), typically at 4.9 yr or about 38,000 miles.

Complaints: 108
Median age at failure: 4.1 yr
Median mileage: 27,000 n=57
Crash / fire / tow: 14.8% of reports
Safety recalls: 1

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

19V149000 2019-02-28

Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

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.

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

In owners’ own words

Other 55,000 mi 3.2 yr in service

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.

Other 44,000 mi 3.9 yr in service

WHEN CAR IS STOPPED/PARKED I AM UNABLE TO TURN IGNITION OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY. THIS HAPPENS 25% OF THE TIME. IT IS AN ONGOING ISSUE.

Other 48,000 mi 4.1 yr in service

THE KEY ROUTINELY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION, REQUIRING ME TO SOMETIMES RESTART THE CAR MULTIPLE TIMES IN ORDER RIP REMOVE IT. I HAVE SEEN POSTS ON THE INTERNET SUGGESTING A SENSOR DOES NOT TELL THE CAR THAT IT IS IN PARK AND GOVE DIRECTIONS TO DISCONNECT IT.

Other Impreza model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2016 Subaru Impreza

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

In owners’ own words

Other Impreza model years

How to read this