2016 Subaru Impreza: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2016 Subaru Impreza
On the 2016 Subaru Impreza, the failure owners report most often is other powertrain problem, with 8 reports on file. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 27,500 miles. Overall it scores 68 out of 100, high risk for a 2016.
High risk for a 2016 — 192nd riskiest of the 255 2016 vehicles we can rate. 108 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What owners report breaking
Owners have reported 32 named failure modes on the 2016 Subaru Impreza, and the three most-reported carry 20% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other powertrain problem leads with 8 reports and about 0.1 per 1,000 vehicles.
Other electrical problem follows with 8 reports, median 45,000 miles.
Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure follows with 6 reports, median 25,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into electrical (16), transmission (12) and adas (11).
When these failures get reported
58 of the reports on the 2016 Subaru Impreza came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 27,500 miles.
Cumulatively, 90% by 50,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.
The busiest stretch is between 20,000 and 30,000 miles, which alone holds 34% of the dated reports.
69% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 32. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 12 mention a crash and 1 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.09, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500, other electrical problem at $250–$2,000, ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure at $250–$1,500 and other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
14% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 8 | 4 | — | 28k | — | 0.1 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 8 | 4 | — | 45k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 6 | 5 | — | 25k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 6 | 2 | — | 32k | — | 0.1 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 5 | 3 | — | 24k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 4 | 4 | — | 24k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 4 | 4 | — | 29k | — | 0.1 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 3 | 3 | — | 38k | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 3 | 2 | — | 66k | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 3 | 1 | — | 26k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 3 | 1 | — | 5k | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Torque converter failure | transmission | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,100–$3,200 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 2 | 2 | — | 3k | — | 0.0 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Infotainment screen failure | infotainment | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $400–$2,600 | Low |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 2 | 2 | — | 28k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Windshield cracking | glass | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 2 | 1 | — | 66k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| CVT failure | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 3k | — | 0.0 | $3,000–$8,500 | Critical |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Audio or connectivity failure | infotainment | 1 | 1 | — | 15 | — | 0.0 | $150–$900 | Low |
| Parking sensor failure | adas | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $180–$900 | Low |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 1 | 1 | — | 100 | — | 0.0 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Other engine problem | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 45k | — | 0.0 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 22 | 16 | 20k | 29k | 45k | 0.4 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2016 Subaru Impreza draws about 2.0 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 77th percentile of complaint rates among 2016 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 54,313 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2016 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other powertrain problem
The 2016 subaru impreza started to go forward when the shift knob was in the reverse position. This happened 3 times in a row and on the third time the car was accelerating causing the driver to brake hard in essence "fighting" the transmission. After the car was turned off, tried again, made it home. It was a rainy day. Made appt. With dealer. Afraid to drive it!
Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure
Rear automatic door locks will not lock/unlock using key fob or automatic door lock/unlock feature on interior of car. It seems to be more affected during hot or cold days. The only way to lock/unlock is to manually do it. The vehicle has never been in an accident, no water damage or has had any other issue.
Recalls on the 2016 model year
NHTSA has issued 1 recall campaign covering the 2016 Subaru Impreza, affecting an estimated 54,313 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover exterior lighting:brake lights:switch. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
1,303,530 vehicles 2019-02-28- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2016 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
How 2016 compares with the other years
High risk for a 2016 — 192nd riskiest of the 255 2016 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.
Across the 27 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2015 comes out best at 65 and 2021 worst at 84, with 2016 itself at 68.
If the model year is negotiable, 2015 scores lower than 2016 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2012–2019 generation specifically, 2015 is the strongest year at 65 and 2012 the weakest at 73.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2012-2019 generation, 2015 Subaru Impreza scores best at 65 and 2012 Subaru Impreza worst at 73.
The limits of complaint data
108 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 108 reports, 58 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 54% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Subaru Impreza?
The most-reported failures are other powertrain problem (8 reports, median 30,000 miles), other electrical problem (8 reports, median 45,000 miles) and ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure (6 reports, median 25,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
Is the 2016 Subaru Impreza reliable?
It scores 68 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 192nd riskiest of the 255 2016 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2016 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Subaru Impreza is best?
Within the 2012–2019 generation, 2015 scores best at 65 out of 100 and 2012 worst at 73. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed