Undoubtedly, the 2016 Subaru Impreza is the most unique car in the compact sedan segment mechanically. Its standard all-wheel-drive powertrain and CVT transmission make it stand out, while also providing a manual for driving enthusiasts. What we find is that with a total of 58 complaints so far and only 1 recall, it has a few problems. These are mainly Subaru Impreza engine problems, steering column, as well as windshield issues. It competes against the cars such as the Honda Civic, the Mazda 3, and the Volkswagen Jetta. The Impreza is priced at a very competitive MSRP of $18,595. Read on to find a detailed inspection of Subaru Impreza reliability below. Even, the "MaxTheCarGuy" highlights that CVT issues such as slipping and overheating along with fuel pump problem are among the common issues in the list. To know more, click on the video below:
2016 Subaru Impreza User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical problems:
- In some cars, owners have experienced sudden unintended acceleration and this has been the cause of several accidents. In one case, the transmission became extremely hot and there were grinding noises.
- There are multiple complaints reported about the transmission system of this car including the car going forward when the shifter is in reverse. 2016 Subaru Impreza transmission problems are in fact, quite common.
- One owner reported that the engine had valve failures that resulted in complete overhauls twice within a hundred thousand miles.
- Although later model cars had a fuel pump recalled, some owners have faced issues similar to those in 2016 cars as well. However, they have to be repaired from the owner’s pocket.
- Some cars have reported excessive vibration while braking.
- One car also had a complete brake failure which resulted in a collision.
Electrical system problems:
- In some cars, the keys are not able to be removed from the steering column after shifting the car into Park. This is a known issue that has been documented in several forums and owners have to depress the shift lever and shift the gears back and forth or restart the car in order to get the key out.
- One of the most common problems in these cars is that the battery dies very frequently. Many owners have gone through several batteries already and it seems to be an area that the manufacturer has not been able to solve completely.
- Another issue that has affected many cars is the brake stop switch failing to work which not only fails to illuminate the brake light, but also causes problems to the hill brake assist, stability control, ABS, and so on.
- This car also uses soy-based wire insulation which attracts rodents. This has resulted in several issues like the power steering failing due to rodents eating out the wires.
- The Bluetooth system of this car is also another area where owners have faced multiple problems. Even after replacing the radio unit, updating the operating system, and so on, the issue persists. 2016 Subaru Impreza Bluetooth problems are well documented in forums.
Exterior problems:
- One of themost common issues regarding the 2016 model year cars is the Subaru windshield cracking issue. It cracks very easily and also has the problem of the windshield cowl separating from it.
- Another owner has raised the complaint about the headlight being too dim and that the windshield scratches very easily.
- One owner has also faced issues with the headlight suddenly falling out of the car when the car hit a pothole.
- The automatic door locks on the rear in one car do not work using the key fob or using the button inside. The problem seems to be worse when the temperature is cold.
Safety problems:
- There are many incidents reported in which Imprezas are involved and the cars are often totaled but the airbags failed to deploy and protect the owners.
- Many cars have reported problems with the occupant detection system often malfunctioning. In another case, the airbag will turn off when the front seats are mildly wet.
- The seatbelts are another known problem area because they can often lock and not release until they are fully retracted and put back on.
- There have been a few complaints regarding owners not having the recalls done on time and parts not arriving.
2016 Subaru Impreza Recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA Campaign Number |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
February 28, 2019 |
19V149000 |
Brake lights may not illuminate |
The brake light switch may malfunction due to exposure to certain contaminants and fail to alert other drivers on the road. |
Dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. |
Should you buy the 2016 Subaru Impreza?
The Subaru Impreza is one of the most unique cars in its price range and comes with its set of attributes. As you can see, its reputation is not pristine in terms of reliability, but the problems are restricted to three or four areas. These are the problems with unintended acceleration, keys getting stuck in the ignition, and the windshield cracking issue. 2016 Subaru Impreza CVT transmission problems are also common. If you keep these problems in mind while buying a car, you’ll know exactly what you’re looking at and it still would be a good choice.
