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NHTSA-Verified · Common Problems

2018 Subaru Impreza
Common Problems

Ranked from 73 federal NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

3
Safety
3
Medium
3 problems on this vehicle involve a crash, fire, or injury risk. If you are experiencing one, stop driving and have it inspected.

6 Common Problems

Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.

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  1. 1

    Recall Issues with Exterior Lighting

    38complaints
    Safety riskOther

    Subaru has issued multiple recalls for exterior lighting issues, but parts remain unavailable, posing significant safety risks.

    $100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  2. 2

    Headlight Assembly Malfunction

    31complaints
    Safety riskOther

    Headlight assemblies are malfunctioning, leading to poor visibility and potential safety hazards.

    $100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  3. 3

    Windshield wiper issues

    15complaints
    Safety riskOther

    Windshields require frequent replacement due to chips and cracks.

  4. 4

    Parasitic Drain on Battery System

    10complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    The Data Communications Module (DCM) is causing a parasitic drain, leading to frequent battery failures and requiring expensive repairs.

    $150–$700est. parasitic-drain diagnosis + battery · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes

    Related recalls: 21V264000, 19V743000

  5. 5

    Engine Oil Leak

    2complaints
    Medium severityEngine

    Engine oil leaks are occurring, posing a fire hazard and increasing the risk of engine damage.

    $200–$1,600est. oil-leak repair · 1–8 hrs labor
    Get local quotes

    Related recall: 19V744000

  6. 6

    Steering noise and vibration

    2complaints
    Medium severitySteering

    Steering produces creaking noises and vibrations during braking and at higher speeds.

Other years & sources

2016 Subaru Impreza2017 Subaru Impreza2019 Subaru ImprezaAll NHTSA complaints for this vehicle →

Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.