Home · 2017 Subaru Impreza · Complaints

What 125 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Subaru Impreza

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (125)Crash / fire / injury (14)Lights (32)Visibility & wipers (25)Electrical system (21)Engine (14)Airbags (11)Brakes (7)Fuel system (5)Transmission & drivetrain (5)Speed control (4)Wheels (4)

14 of 125 complaints match · Engine · clear filters

Feb 2, 2025EngineVisibility & wipersCrash

I hit the guard rail going 35 mph on an exit ramp because of the low visibility because of the safety recall. I went to get the recall fixed when I found out and they refused to fix the recall because my bumper is messed up.

NHTSA ODI 11640254

Oct 8, 2021Engine

This is not a safety complaint. However I wish to share this information for your records kindly . Oil usage for 2017 Impreza per 2000 miles : 1.5Quarts (1419ml) ; Odometer approx 32 000 miles ; 5MT; Age 4 years Manufacturer notes this to be normal operating finding.

NHTSA ODI 11436108

Aug 24, 2021Engine

Loss of power, hesitation, bucking ( jerky) with hints of stalling between 2000 and 3000 RPM in 2nd grear at appropriate speed and momentum . This is a 2017 manual Impreza sport sedan .

NHTSA ODI 11430329

Oct 17, 2020Speed controlEngine

I HAD PURCHASED A SUBARU IMPREZA 2017 IN JUNE OF 2017. SINCE LEAVING THE PARKING LOT WITH THE CAR I'VE EXPERIENCED ALL THE INFO ENTERTAINMENT ISSUES. I HAVE A WEIRD ENGINE TICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. IT HAS NEVER GONE OUT OF CONTROL. HOWEVER THE 'FORWARD' MOMENTUM/ INERTIA THAT'S CREATED BY THE ENGINE DOESN'T DISPERSE CORRECTLY THRU THE EXHAUST AS IT SHOULD. THE VEHICLE IS A 5 SPEED MANUAL AND IF I DON'T SHIFT DOWN TO NEUTRAL WHEN STOPING THEN I WON'T STOP WHERE I'M JUDGING TO. THE CAR WILL FEEL AS IF IT'S SLIDING OVER THE BRAKES. YOU ALSO MAY HAVE TO POWER BRAKE WITH THE CLUTCH AS I DO REGULARLY. SINCE HAVING ALL THESE ISSUES. WHEN EVER I'D GO TO A DEALER THEY WOULD SAY SOME JARGON ABOUT HOW IF THEY HAVE TO TURN A SCREW THAT'S NOT A PART OF THE PART BEING FIXED UNDER WARRANTY OR A RECALL THEN THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID FOR. I WAS TOLD I CAN HAVE MY CAR SERVICED BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WILL HAVE TO DO. PRETTY MUCH TAKING ME FOR A RIDE OF 'FEAR MONGERING' AND SAYING PUT YOUR HAND ON THIS TABLE AND LET'S PLAY THE KNIFE GAME...POKE! I WOULD BE PUT IN A VERY TOUGH SITUATION WITH NO GUARANTEE. THE DEALER DID THIS SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO WORK AND NOT GET PAID. BECAUSE THEY LOOSE MONEY AS A DEALER FOR RECALL WORK. THEY ARE NOT SUBARU AT ALL. ALL IN ALL NOW I'M TOLD TO HAVE MY CAR TAKEN TO SERVICE FOR ALL THE NUMEROUS RECALLS/LAWSUITS ATTACHED TO MY CAR. EVEN THO NOW I'M PAST MY WARRANTY (120,000). AND THERE SAYING THE SAME BS AS THEY WILL CHARGE FOR EVERYTHING NOT ASSOCIATED TO THE EFFECTED PARTS. ALL NECESSARY MEANS TO ADDRESS THE EFFECTED PARTS SHOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL. I HAVE BEEN SCAMED. THE WHOLE TIME EVERY ISSUE WAS EITHER UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL AND THEY NEVER HONOR IT. IF THEY DO. THEY WILL FIX WHATEVER HAS A SCRATCH AND CHARGE YOU SAYING IT WAS REQUIRED. IT'S ALL A GAME. THEY ARE CON ARTISTS!!!

NHTSA ODI 11364840

Nov 20, 2019Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED THROUGH DEALERS HELP AND NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED YET FOR THESE PROBLEMS. FIRST: THE ENGINE STALLS AROUND 16 TO 11 MPH. THE ACCELERATION SLOWS DOWN RAPIDLY AFTER 16-15MPH THEN IT RAMPS UP AT 13MPH AND THEN SLOWS DOWN AROUND 11 MPH SPEEDS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN PERSISTENT SINCE THE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. NHTSA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT CAN BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK AND CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS. SECOND: THE BATTERY ON THIS VEHICLE WAS DEAD SUDDENLY OVER NIGHT WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE CLUES. NO MAP OR DOME LIGHTS WERE KEPT ON. THE VEHICLE WAS SWITCHED OFF PROPERLY AND NEXT MORNING THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE (THE SUSPECT IS INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM) THE BATTERY IS DRAINING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE AND HAD TO CHANGE THE BATTERIES. THESE ISSUES ARE HUGE SAFETY HAZARDS THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ODI 11281276

Nov 7, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO HERITAGE SUBARU OWINGS MILLS (9808 REISTERSTOWN RD, OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117, (888) 553-0026) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BATTERY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V743000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,500.

NHTSA ODI 11278649

Mar 7, 2019Fuel systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT METRO WEST SUBARU (948 WORCESTER ST, NATICK, MA 01760, (508) 651-2000) PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V216000 (FUEL SYSTEM GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,304. *BF. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11184805

Dec 20, 2018Engine

THE RPM IS DROPPING TO 6,000 TO 5,800. EVERY TIME I APPLY THE BREAK ALL THE WAY. FELT THE VIBRATION OF THE CAR EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STOP. TOOK IT TO THE 2 DIFFERENT DEALER STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. I ALSO CALL THE SUBARU MAIN OFFICE THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THEY EVEN SEND ME A GIFT FOR NO REASON AFTER I YELL AT THEM OVER THE PHONES.

NHTSA ODI 11162657

Dec 6, 2018Engine

THE LOW-OIL LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED TWICE WITHIN THE FIRST 11,400 MILES. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS TOLD THAT THIS OIL CONSUMPTION IS NORMAL. HOWEVER, WE FIND IT EXCESSIVE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. WE NEVER WOULD HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR IF WE HAD KNOWN ABOUT ITS OIL CONSUMPTION. SUBARU SHOULD PLACE A WINDOW STICKER WARNING DRIVERS TO CARRY EXTRA OIL TO PREVENT GETTING STRANDED WITH A BLOWN ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11156558

Jan 24, 2018Engine

I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT THE LIGHT WHEN CAR SUDDENLY STALLED. BROUGHT IT TO LIBERTY SUBARU DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND TECH RELEASE IT AS SAFE TO DRIVE AFTER THEY CLAIMED TO FIX THE MAIN RELAY. A MINUTE AFTER I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP CAR STALLED AGAIN NEAR THE TRAIN TRACKS. THE 2017 SUBARU IMPREZA IS HAZARDOUS, UNSAFE, AND LIFE THREATENING. THIS TIME LIBERTY SUBARU SAID THEY HAVE TO REWIRE THE ENGINE. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS CAR WITH MY CHILDREN. IT IS NOT SAFE FOR ME, MY FAMILY, AND OTHER DRIVERS.

NHTSA ODI 11064614

Jan 22, 2018Engine

MY CAR STALLED 3X YESTERDAY, 1/21/2017 WHILE DRIVING. I WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ABOUT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED

NHTSA ODI 11064197

Dec 7, 2017Engine

3 DIFFERENT TIMES,ON DIFFERENT DAYS, WHEN MAKING A TURN AFTER STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. NO INDICATION LIGHTS CAME ON AND MY RADIO STAYED PLAYING. A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE!! PUT 4 WAYS ON AND PRAYED I WOULD NOT GET HIT.

NHTSA ODI 11052942

Nov 5, 2017Engine

OIL CONSUMPTION . 1 QUART LOW AT 4,051 MILES. WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON. ENGINE OIL LEVEL LOW. AT 6, 603 MILES PHYSICALLY CHECKED OIL LEVEL AND ONCE AGAIN 1 QUART LOW. SUBARU FACILITY PERFORMED OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND IT FAILED. SMALL BLOCK HAS BEEN ORDERED

NHTSA ODI 11043372

Apr 20, 2017Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. ALSO, THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE DIFFERENT TIMES ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 10979645

Working with the data? Download all 125 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 12, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2017 Subaru Impreza verdict →