Too new to judge fully
It has been on the road 4 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older Impreza year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the transmission and drivetrain.
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 14 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Subaru Impreza. The most reported problem area is the transmission and drivetrain (4, 29% of complaints), followed by the lights, wipers and visibility and the brakes and stability control. That ranks 12th of 13 Impreza years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 1 recall.
1 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 2022 Subaru Impreza before you buy.
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
Front wheels locked up while doing 75 miles an hour. Per shop the transmission locked up. There were no signs of transmission failure car ran perfectly fine and had been serviced and new tires 7 days before. This could have caused a very serious accident.Owner complaint, filed 2025
The vehicle was at a stoplight. Once the light turned green, the driver stepped on the gas. All of a sudden the car would not move, all the warning lights came on, and we could smell a burning smell. The car was towed to the dealership where it was purchased. They discovered a rubber hose leading to the transmission had somehow gotten…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Lights, wipers and visibility
4 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
Windshield cracked spontaneously at the middle base of the windshield in a perfect arch. Crack appears to be on the inside of the glass. No impacts or anything hit the windshield, no reason for this to happen. My car is parked in a garage. Called Subaru, they insist there is no recall.Owner complaint, filed 2023
Windshield suddenly cracked on the freeway not due to rocks or anything, and has since spread dramatically. Visibility is affected as the sun will glisten throughout driving and all of the cracks almost to the point it’s shattered obstruct view and cause objects to appear the a slightly different area. Subaru has apparently known about…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Brakes and stability control
2 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 vehicle's rear brake lines (both left rear and right rear) had ballooning present. The issue was initially identified by an independent mechanic during brake pad and rotor replacement on all four wheels. The ballooning was subsequently confirmed during an inspection by a Subaru dealership technician. This issue posed a safety risk…Owner complaint, filed 2026
total failure of brake booster at 49.5k miles, caused air leak in engine intake system, which caused lean run and burning more fuel and failure of air/fuel ratio sensor.Owner complaint, filed 2026
Steering
2 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
I picked up my vehicle that was made to order from the factory on 2/18/22. I drove the car for 12 days and found the steering to be over sensitive. The steering wheel felt disconnected from the car. I returned the car to the dealer from which it was purchased. The service advisor test drove the car and documented on the invoice that the…Owner complaint, filed 2022
To start of with the steering seems to loosen up while driving, it's hard to explain but while driving the vehicle it is very noticable that the car is jurking side to side , if your used to a certain pressure put on the steering wheel to turn or keep in a constant turn(like a long turn or steady turn on a long bend in a road , the…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Wheels and tires
2 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
I purchased the car brand new from the dealership. The vehicle had two bent rims in the first two years. I replaced those rims with brand new rims from the Subaru dealership, but those first bent rims also caused premature tire wear. Now about a year later I now have two more bent rims on a new set of replacement tires that are beginning…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Driving between 40-50mph on streets, my tire burst and the rubber part completely shredded off. I just had my tires checked a couple weeks ago where they said everything was great. This tire completely disintegrated out of nowhere and nearly damaged my rim! The tire guy said there's no way this happened from a nail or road injury to the…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Engine and cooling
1 complaintStalling, 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
We have a hesitation when hitting the gas with our Subaru Impreza. I took it to a mechanic who said there isn't officially an issue with the car, but it is consistent with a CRT transmition issue on other Subarus. The only way we are able to fix it is to take it to a Subaru dealership who insist there isn't an issue. I am not sure what…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Electrical system
1 complaintDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
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
On [XXX], my 2022 Subaru Impreza caught fire in Lincolnwood, IL. My sister in-law and nephew escaped the vehicle just before it was consumed by the fire. The Lincolnwood Fire Department Fire Inspector said the fire was caused by a defected car battery. The car was declared a total loss. Subaru America only offered $2,000.00 credit…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Subaru Impreza complaints by year
Compare the 2022 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2022 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Subaru Impreza | Too new to judge | 1 |
| 2022 Toyota Corolla | Too new to judge | 0 |
| 2022 Honda Civic | Worse than most years | 4 |
| 2022 Mazda Mazda3 | Too new to judge | 0 |
2022 Subaru Impreza recalls
Windows, mirrors and wipers Windshield
- Risk
- An insufficiently bonded windshield can detach during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Subaru will offer owners a vehicle exchange or repurchase, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 Impreza and Outback vehicles. The incorrect paint clearcoat may have been applied, which can cause the windshield to be insufficiently bonded to the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
2022 Subaru Impreza questions
What are the most common problems with the 2022 Subaru Impreza?
The most reported problem areas on the 2022 Subaru Impreza are the transmission and drivetrain (4 complaints), the lights, wipers and visibility (4 complaints) and the brakes and stability control (2 complaints).
Is the 2022 Subaru Impreza a good year to buy?
Too new to judge fully. It has been on the road 4 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older Impreza year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the transmission and drivetrain. 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 2022 Subaru Impreza have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2022 Subaru Impreza. The most recent, from Sep 2022, covers the windshield. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
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
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