Reliable Auto DB

2018 Subaru Impreza reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2018 Subaru Impreza has 151 complaints with NHTSA after 9 years, or 13 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Impreza years here — over the median of the other years, which is 9. NHTSA has 5 recalls on file, including Headlights, Fuel pump, and Electrical system, software.

2012 Subaru Impreza
Photo by TTTNIS, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC0
Complaints

151

Per year

13

Recalls

5

Years on the road

9

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Exterior lighting (64 of 151), then Visibility and wipers (34) and Electrical system (12). Those filings include 5 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, 2 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 Impreza has 125 complaints, 15 per year, and the 2019 has 194 complaints, 25 per year. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2018 Subaru Impreza. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (5)

Recall exterior lighting, headlights 2022-08-12 · NHTSA campaign 22V624000
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."
Remedy Dealers will replace the front headlamp assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 15, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-22.
Recall Fuel pump 2021-07-29 · NHTSA campaign 21V587000
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.
Remedy Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
Recall electrical system, software 2021-04-15 · NHTSA campaign 21V264000
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.
Remedy 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. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 1, 2021. Owners can contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-21. Note: This recall includes all vehicles previously repaired under Recall 19V743.
Recall electrical system, software 2019-10-18 · NHTSA campaign 19V743000
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.
Remedy Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECM software and inspect and replace the ignition coil, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, on vehicles with confirmed ignition coil damage and a certain stored diagnostic trouble code (DTC), Subaru will replace the front exhaust pipe, free of charge. The recall began December 4, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUQ-02.
Recall engine and cooling, exhaust system, emission control, PCV system 2019-10-17 · NHTSA campaign 19V744000
Summary Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Impreza and 2018 Crosstrek vehicles equipped with an aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve. The PCV valve may come apart, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, possibly resulting in a loss of power while driving.
Remedy Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the engine will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began December 2, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUP-01.

Complaints by component (151 total)

Exterior lighting
64
Visibility and wipers
34
Electrical system
12
Engine
11
Structure
6
Visibility
6
Powertrain
4
Service brakes
3
Speed control
3
Steering
3
Air bags
2
Suspension
2
Wheels
2
Carry handle, shell, and base
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Other or not sure
1
Seat belts
1
Seats
1
Show 10 more Show less
Crash-flagged

5

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

2

Death reports

1

Complaints filed per year

82018820192320201520211420225220232320243202552026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Spontaneous crack in passenger side of windshield 5 times in a row!!"
    Visibility and wipers · filed 2026-09-19
  • "Vehicle Information: 2018 Subaru ImprezaVIN: [XXX] Affected: Steering (Electronic Power Steering / EPS Gear Box Assembly)Description of the Safety Defect:I am reporting a severe safety defect regarding a sudden and…"
    Steering · filed 2026-09-13
  • "I bought a new Subaru Impreza and there is a cam carrier leak that was reported last time I took it for service at the dealership two weeks ago. There are only 41k miles on the car, and there were no warning…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-05-06
  • "The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated and the high-temperature warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent…"
    Engine · filed 2026-02-19
  • "The problem started on towards the end of Dec 2025. The primary latch that holds the hood down failed, and the safety latch kept the hood from flying off. I pulled the car over and shut it, and it seemed okay. Because…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-01-18

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2018 Subaru Impreza 4 DR AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars
2018 Subaru Impreza SW AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Impreza 4-Door 2L, 4-cyl Manual 5-speed All-wheel drive 24 32 27 MPG $2400
Impreza 4-Door 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S7) All-wheel drive 28 38 32 MPG $2050
Impreza 5-Door 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S7) All-wheel drive 28 37 31 MPG $2100
Impreza 5-Door 2L, 4-cyl Manual 5-speed All-wheel drive 24 31 26 MPG $2500
Impreza Sport 4-Door 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S7) All-wheel drive 27 36 30 MPG $2150
Impreza Sport 4-Door 2L, 4-cyl Manual 5-speed All-wheel drive 23 31 26 MPG $2500
Impreza Sport 5-Door 2L, 4-cyl Manual 5-speed All-wheel drive 22 30 25 MPG $2600
Impreza Sport 5-Door 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S7) All-wheel drive 27 35 30 MPG $2150

Specs and fitment

5th generation (GK/GT), 2017–2022
Body styles Sedan, Wagon
Oil 0W-20 synthetic (2.0L; 5W-30 if 0W-20 unavailable) , 4.8 qt capacity
Tire size 205/55R16, 205/50R17, 225/40R18 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 21V587000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that 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. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21. When NHTSA lists multiple Subaru nameplates in one campaign, the published unit count is shared across them.

Compare

Previous year 2017 Subaru Impreza Next year 2019 Subaru Impreza See every Subaru Impreza model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Subaru Impreza reliable?

The 2018 Subaru Impreza has 151 complaints with NHTSA after 9 years, or 13 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Impreza years here — over the median of the other years, which is 9. NHTSA has 5 recalls on file, including Headlights, Fuel pump, and Electrical system, software.

What are common problems with a 2018 Subaru Impreza?

The complaints owners file most often name Exterior lighting (64 of 151), then Visibility and wipers (34) and Electrical system (12). Those filings include 5 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, 2 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Is the 2018 Subaru Impreza more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2017 Impreza has 125 complaints, 15 per year, and the 2019 has 194 complaints, 25 per year. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.

Has the 2018 Subaru Impreza been recalled?

The 2018 Subaru Impreza has 5 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2018 Subaru Impreza?

Owners have filed 151 complaints about the 2018 Subaru Impreza with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2018 Subaru Impreza get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2018 Subaru Impreza is 28.4 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a Subaru Impreza use?

US Impreza manuals specify 0W-20 synthetic for the FB 2.0L, with 5W-30 only when 0W-20 is unavailable.

What generation is the 2019 Subaru Impreza?

5th generation / GK-GT (2017-2022).

What body styles does the Subaru Impreza offer?

US Impreza generations on this site include sedan and wagon (hatchback) body styles.