One of the better Impreza years
Owners filed about 34% fewer complaints than a typical Impreza year. The area owners reported most is the electrical system, which half of owners reported by about 40,000 miles.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Impreza years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Subaru Impreza. The most reported problem area is the electrical system (20, 26% of complaints), followed by the engine and cooling and the transmission and drivetrain. That ranks 8th of 13 Impreza years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 2 recalls.
3 of these complaints came from Utah owners.
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2015 Subaru Impreza before you buy.
Electrical system
20 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 40,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
- Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
- Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.
Tools that help
What owners said
Battery Drain when plugging into the USB port: This is second battery that had to be replaced since purchase of the vehicle.Owner complaint, filed 2023
When put key in ignition, the car doesn’t start. The key can not be taken out of ignition. Numerous jiggles. Put foot on the brake, take foot off the brake. Eventually starts. Fear will be unable to take key out of ignition.Owner complaint, filed 2022
Engine and cooling
11 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 46,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
- Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
- Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
- Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.
Tools that help
What owners said
All of a sudden, with no reason whatsoever, my daughter's car has "rod knock" with less than 100,000 miles on it. Bought this Subaru for my daughter so she would have a car that would last a long time and she would be safe. Maintenance was kept up at our local mechanic religiously. I am saddened and disappointed in the mechanical…Owner complaint, filed 2023
The contact owns a 2015 SUBARU Impreza. The contact stated that the vehicle's check engine light was illuminated and they began to notice at an oil change that their vehicle was leaking excessive oil consumption a year ago. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who informed them they needed to rebuild the engine. The repair was…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 101,000 miles
Transmission and drivetrain
11 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 47,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
- Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
- Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
- If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.
Tools that help
What owners said
My transmission completely locked up on me while driving at interstate speeds. I was traveling at 65 MPH with the car in regular driving mode, on cruise control and the transmission completely locked up on me. The front tires locked briefly, causing me to go into a small skid, which I was able to correct, and then the engine revved high…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Smoke and oil burning smell entering cabin through vents. I have two young children. I’m concerned of toxic fumes. Coming from oil leaking onto exhaust manifold and at only 52,000 miles on odometer!Owner complaint, filed 2022
Air bags
7 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
- Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.
Tools that help
What owners said
We bought our 2015 Subaru Impreza from a used car dealer (we are second owner) in February 2020 with 55K miles on it. On our test drive, we noticed the air bag said it was off even with a passenger in the car. We agreed to purchase the vehicle upon repair. It was repaired and the mechanic guaranteed his work, and we had no issues for a…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Passenger air bag will randomly turn off with passenger riding. This is well know issue with subaru and they still have not sent a recall. With this issue being so wide spread I do not think the dealership should charge over 600 dollars for this repair. I previous did this repair and the same part failed within a year and half.Owner complaint, filed 2022
Steering
6 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
- On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
- A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
Power Steering failed, extremely hard to turn steering wheel, EPS Light on dash illuminated. Luckily happened in driveway. Thinking back steering seemed odd last week was less effort to turn left as opposed to turning right.Owner complaint, filed 2023
I was driving as I normally do and parked my car. When I go to start it again the power steering light on my dash board lights up and I can't move my steering wheel at all. Since I was unable to drive my car I had to get it towed to my mechanic where I was told that the steering shaft and motor where bad. In doing some research I found…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 60,000 miles
Cruise control and acceleration
6 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 57,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
- Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while reversing the vehicle at 10 MPH, the transmission was shifted into drive (D), and the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration at 30 MPH. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to stop and instead accelerated. No warning light was illuminated.…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 63,000 miles
It happen to me november 7th and almost happened to my husband .I was pulling in a parking spot at our local cvs drug store.zthenmy shoe got caught between the brake and gas pedal. I believe it is a defect.I smashed in to a iron gate and to brick fence support.this is the second accident I have had like this.and my husband almost…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 2,000 miles
Lights, wipers and visibility
5 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
- Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.
Tools that help
What owners said
I have had this vehicle for two months, the mileage is 24k miles. A sunny day, 42f, I installed new wiper blades on both front arms in my driveway. I dropped the passenger arm from about 2 inches from the glass and heard a zip sound. A crack appeared from the bottom of the windshield extending about 6 to 7 inches vertically. I drove the…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 24,261 miles
The contact owns a 2015 subaru impreza. While driving 55 MPH, the sun roof suddenly exploded without warning. The glass shattered and fell inside the vehicle. The contact was not injured. The contact stated that the sun roof blocked the windshield, which made it extremely difficult for the contact to see the roadway. The vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 38,000 miles
Brakes and stability control
4 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
- The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
- Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.
Tools that help
What owners said
The recall status of my 2015 subaru impreza is not complete. The remedy is not available yet. Can subaru please find remedy? The recall number is wue-90Owner complaint, filed 2019
Car won't turn over ignition. All brake lights stopped working. It impacted braking, vdc system, ABS system and cruise control didn't work. Occurred after 2 hour trip with no concerns and functioning systems.only noticed when tried to restart the car.Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 57,000 miles
Body, doors and structure
4 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
- Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.
Tools that help
What owners said
Hood flew open on interstate. After driving around town running errands I drove onto the interstate got like a mile down the road. I was in the left lane going about 60 mph the hood flew open. Smashing directly into the windshield. I thankfully was able to hit my four ways and get to a stop without any collision. I couldn’t say exactly…Owner complaint, filed 2022
When leaving a gas station with a slight dip in the pavement, I inched my vehicle forward as slowly as I could as to not “bottom out.” This 2015 Impreza model has an overall design flaw; it sits too low to the ground therefore compromising the entire structure of the body. The Impreza in fact bottomed out and my entire front end cracked…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Wheels and tires
4 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
- Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
- The tire pressure light should go out after startup.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2015 subaru impreza. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the tire pressure monitoring system sensor light illuminated. Upon inspection, it was determined that the tire air pressure was low on multiple tires. The vehicle was taken to young subaru located at 3920 riverdale rd, ogden, ut 84405, who…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 2,000 miles
There was a large potholes on the entrance into freeway 280 on geneva avenue, the spot was located at the merging line point. When I was driving on 19jan18, my vehicle ran directly through this potholes, and there was a huge sound from my right front wheel hitting the edge of the potholes. After I stopped my vehicle, I found out the tie…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 14,200 miles
Fuel system
2 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
- On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
- Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
The car will stop running abruptly after running for several hours and getting low on fuel. No check engine lights or other lights come on. No gas light comes on. I have taken it to 2 dealerships who cannot replicate the problem. The electrical components all stay on, but the motor will not run. The vehicle will start again when fuel is…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 50,000 miles
Car will have a slow or non responsive start from a stop.. There will be a couple second lag from the time I press on the accelerator.Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 10,000 miles
Seats and seat belts
2 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
- Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.
Tools that help
What owners said
My front passenger seat belt has been stuck and unusable since November 2025. This issue has been reported to Brandon Tomes Subaru in McKinney TX at the end of November. The seat belt was inspected and was determined faulty and covered under the warranty. The part needed to fix it wasn't unavailable and the dealership said it would be…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The vehicle was park at my home. Upon starting the vehicle the airbag light illuminated. Subaru of america was contacted and an appointment was set up with the local subaru dealership. The vehicle was dropped off that evening and was looked at the next day. After inspecting the vehicle I was notified that the passenger seat occupancy…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 46,110 miles
Subaru Impreza complaints by year
Compare the 2015 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2015 compact cars
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Subaru Impreza | One of the better years | 2 |
| 2015 Toyota Corolla | About average | 1 |
| 2015 Honda Civic | About average | 1 |
| 2015 Mazda Mazda3 | About average | 4 |
2015 Subaru Impreza recalls
Lights Switch
- Risk
- Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
Automatic emergency braking Crash imminent braking
- Risk
- If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufactured October 16, 2014, to April 15, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles manufactured March 23, 2015, and equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.
2015 Subaru Impreza questions
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Subaru Impreza?
The most reported problem areas on the 2015 Subaru Impreza are the electrical system (20 complaints), the engine and cooling (11 complaints) and the transmission and drivetrain (11 complaints).
Is the 2015 Subaru Impreza a good year to buy?
One of the better Impreza years. Owners filed about 34% fewer complaints than a typical Impreza year. The area owners reported most is the electrical system, which half of owners reported by about 40,000 miles. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Impreza years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2015 Subaru Impreza have?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2015 Subaru Impreza. The most recent, from Feb 2019, covers the switch. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
At what mileage do 2015 Subaru Impreza problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the electrical system gave a mileage of about 40,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the engine and cooling gave a mileage of about 46,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.
Which Subaru Impreza years should I avoid?
The Impreza years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2012 and 2013. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2015, 2016 and 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
Looking at a 2015 Subaru Impreza?
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