How the 2019 compares
Worse than most Impreza years
Owners filed about 1.6 times as many complaints as a typical Impreza year. The main thing to watch is the lights, wipers and visibility, which half of owners reported by about 11,000 miles. Years with fewer complaints: 2015, 2016 and 2021.
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 194 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Impreza. The most reported problem area is the lights, wipers and visibility (123, 63% of complaints), followed by the electrical system and the engine and cooling. That ranks 3rd of 13 Impreza years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 5 recalls.
Complaints194filed with NHTSA
Recalls5for this model year
Crashes65 injuries reported
Fires1reported in complaints
5 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 2019 Subaru Impreza before you buy.
Lights, wipers and visibility
123 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 11,000 miles.
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 was under the vehicle changing the oil and heard a loud bang. I investigated the sound and didn't notice anything. After completion of the oil change I got into the driver seat and noticed my rear view mirror was hanging by the wires. It had come loose from the windshield taking a big chunk of glass out of the windshield. It left a…Owner complaint, filed 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V624000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 5,000 miles
Electrical system
19 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 22,000 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
When attempting to start the vehicle, randomly, the key loses programming. This is the 2nd time where the keys lose programming and vehicle has to be towed at owners' expense and wait as long as 5 days for dealership to reprogram.Owner complaint, filed 2026
The battery dies sporadically when the car has been parked for a short time or a day or two. No telling when it will happen, but suddenly the car will not start. Subaru dealer says there's nothing wrong, but obviously there is. This has happened three times already, once in 25- degree weather with a 15-degree wind chill. I have checked…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Engine and cooling
10 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
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
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle was jerking, shaking, and failed to accelerate as needed. The check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The failure nearly caused a crash. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where the oxygen sensor and spark plugs were…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 147,600 miles
Owner’s manual calls for 87 octane fuel. Vehicle engine pings on anything less than 91 octane. Subaru should issue an update to prevent engine damage.Owner complaint, filed 2024
Brakes and stability control
8 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
Front right caliper seized less than 3k miles following dealer service including brake fluid flush. Replaced calipers, pads, and rotors at my own expense. Suspect internal degradation of rubber brake lines. Service bulletin exists for year prior model. Many others report rubber brake line/caliper issues on this generation. Please…Owner complaint, filed 2026
I had my vehicle inspected on 5/3/25 and all 4 break lines had bubbles protruding from the rubber break lines that go from the caliper to the metal lines. A safety recall for the same problem exists for 1 year earlier than my Subaru. It appears that Subaru continues to use defective break lines.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Fuel system
6 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
Ii bought this car new in 2019. I have had 8 times which I would be out somewhere and the car would not start. I lived in fort worth and aaa would come. At no time has subaru addressed this issue of why it will not start. I had to take it to cleo bay in killen on saturday the 10th because I was at lunch in brownwood and when I tried to…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 14,500 miles
Car stopped running while driving down the street. Automobile was towed to dealer yesterday (9-11-19). Dealer, called today (9-12-19) said problem is a bad fuel pump and may take up to a month to get the ordered part delivered and installed. New vehicle purchased april, 2019 a little less than 2800 miles on odometer.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 2,750 miles
Steering
5 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
Vehicle sways significantly and continuously left and right in lane at highway speeds, including in low or no wind conditions, since the car was new. This happens regardless of whether eyesight/lane keep assist is enabled or not, and all tire pressures are regularly monitored and at manufacturer recommended levels. Changing tires from…Owner complaint, filed 2024
The power steering pump on this car makes it feel like it is floating on the road at highway speeds. The tires are like new and have the correct amount of air pressure. As someone familiar with power steering pumps, this behavior is consistent with a pump that is either delivering too much fluid or too little during acceleration. It is a…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Driver assist systems
5 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
- Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
- Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.
Tools that help
What owners said
When you put in reverse my 2019 Subaru Impreza Sport, the control display flashes green and is distorted. It is very difficult to detect an obstruction or a child when backing up. Recently we bumped a pedestrian. This Is A Safety Issue! The condition was observed at the Orlando Subaru dealer. Their solution is to replace the whole radio…Owner complaint, filed 2024
2019 Subaru Impreza has experienced intermittent and now persistent failures involving the factory EyeSight driver assistance system. Prior to complete failure, the EyeSight system would randomly disable and re-enable while driving. Adaptive cruise control and related safety features became unreliable and would intermittently stop…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Transmission and drivetrain
4 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
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
Subaru is aware of a specific set of year/model/makes that start to make a sound coming from the drive shaft center bearing in cold weather. Unnatural wear occurs on the bearing but the only remedy is to replace the entire drive shaft which is a really costly repair for something that is a structural design issue. There is a service…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Rear wheel bearing premature wear. Originally installed wheel bearings were replaced, under warranty, at 44,137 miles. Same bearings then had to be replaced again at 62,486 miles. Both replacements were done by Beardmore Subaru in Nebraska. A failed wheel bearing at high speed could result in a catastrophic accident, and requiring…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Air bags
4 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
On May 8th of this year, my fiancé were involved in a rear end collision. That morning, the Hyundai Tucson in front of us stopped short and we ran into the back of it doing around 35 an hour, and ended up with our vehicle (Subaru Impreza) being totaled. I’d like to provide pictures to show the impact, as even car experts have been…Owner complaint, filed 2021
My vehicle is identified in the accident report as unit 2. Unit 1 attempted to make an improper/careless left turn onto mauch chunk rd. Unit 2 was in motion traveling straight across the intersection when unit 1 tried to make an illegal left turn and struck unit 2. Unit 1 was responsible for the accident. Initial impact point was 10…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 23,950 miles
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 2019 Subaru Impreza equipped with Continental tire, tire line: Pro-contact TX, Tire Size: 225/55/R16, DOT number: [VIN]. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 65 mph, the rear driver’s side tire experienced a blowout. The contact stated that several warning lights were illuminated. The driver exited the…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 17,340 miles
On or about july 17, 2020, I was traveling on an interstate at approximately 63 MPH when I experienced a sudden loss of air pressure in right front tire. There was no warning and nothing on my dash indicated that pressure was low at any tire prior to the incident. I almost lost control of the vehicle, but was able to regain control of…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 5,121 miles
Body, doors and structure
3 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
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that upon approaching the vehicle, excessive corrosion on the driver’s side rocker panel was observed. The contact inspected the passenger’s side rocker panel and found excessive corrosion. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the frame needed to…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 48,000 miles
The cowl that fills the gap between the bottom of the windshield and the hood is defective and warps from the heat of the engine. This warping leaves a huge gap that exposes the bottom of the windshield and allows debris and water under the hood of the car. I was told this was a known issue with multiple Subaru models. The auto glass…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Suspension
2 complaintsClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
- Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
- Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.
Tools that help
What owners said
The front suspension has been broken since I purchased the vehicle with 50,000 miles on it. This has always been a safety concern for this vehicle yet I see no recalls for it. This puts my safety at risk as there is a metal clunking sound when turning the wheel and the tire rod can break from the faulty parts used for the vehicle. The…Owner complaint, filed 2025
The contact owns a 2019 subaru impreza. While driving various speeds over bumps in the road, the contact heard an abnormal dragging, scraping noise emerging from the driver's side of the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to busam subaru (6195 dixie hwy, fairfield, oh 45014) where it was…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 600 miles
Cruise control and acceleration
2 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
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
While slowly pulling into a parking slot in a Wal-Mart parking lot, the car experienced an abrupt acceleration causing it to lurch forward at full throttle and it struck a parked vehicle in the next space. The accelerator pedal was not depressed. Upon investigation I discovered that there have been many reported incidents of this…Owner complaint, filed 2023
My vehicle starts to shake and the engine acts like it is going to die when I hit around 50-60 mph. I cannot floor it and the vehicle will not let me go any faster then 60mph without it acting like there’s no fuel getting to the engine or something in that senseOwner complaint, filed 2021
Subaru Impreza complaints by year
Compare the 2019 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2019 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Subaru Impreza | Worse than most years | 5 |
| 2019 Toyota Corolla | About average | 5 |
| 2019 Honda Civic | About average | 4 |
| 2019 Mazda Mazda3 | One of the better years | 6 |
2019 Subaru Impreza recalls
This is every recall issued for the 2019 Subaru Impreza, not what is still open on one car. A recall that was fixed does not show up any differently here. Check a VIN at NHTSA to see what is still open on the car you are looking at, and ask the seller for proof any recall work was done.
Lights Headlights
- Risk
- Reflectors that do not provide adequate illumination reduce the driver's ability to see and increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the front headlamp assemblies, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Impreza vehicles. The left and right side reflex reflector and left side low beam reflector may inadequately reflect light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Fuel system Fuel pump
- Risk
- Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Electrical system
- Risk
- A short circuit in the ignition coils may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECM software, replace the ignition coils and, if necessary, the front exhaust pipe, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Subaru Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, causing a short circuit.
Fuel system Fuel pump
- Risk
- If the low pressure fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.
Electrical system
- Risk
- If a short circuit occurs while driving, the vehicle may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECM software and inspect and replace the ignition coil, as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, which could result in a short circuit and blown fuse.
2019 Subaru Impreza questions
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Subaru Impreza?
The most reported problem areas on the 2019 Subaru Impreza are the lights, wipers and visibility (123 complaints), the electrical system (19 complaints) and the engine and cooling (10 complaints).
Is the 2019 Subaru Impreza a good year to buy?
Worse than most Impreza years. Owners filed about 1.6 times as many complaints as a typical Impreza year. The main thing to watch is the lights, wipers and visibility, which half of owners reported by about 11,000 miles. Years with fewer complaints: 2015, 2016 and 2021. 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 2019 Subaru Impreza have?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2019 Subaru Impreza. The most recent, from Aug 2022, covers the headlights. 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 2019 Subaru Impreza problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the lights, wipers and visibility gave a mileage of about 11,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the electrical system gave a mileage of about 22,000 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.
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Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.
- Check a specific car for open recalls at NHTSA
- Decode a VIN to see recalls, safety ratings and complaints for that exact year, make and model