In the compact sedan segment, there are very few oddball products and the 2019 Subaru Impreza is definitely one. With its capable all-wheel-drive powertrain and boxer engine, it has a lot of mechanical novelty but its appeal is not restricted to that. What we find is that with a total of 84 complaints so far and only 4 recalls addressing the problems, it is not looking in the best shape for buyers. This is a problem because its category has a host of extremely reliable cars such as the Honda Civic, the Mazda 3, and the Volkswagen Jetta. The segment is intensely competitive in terms of price as well, due to which the Impreza is priced at a very competitive MSRP of $19,595. Read on to find a detailed inspection of Subaru Impreza reliability below.
2019 Subaru Impreza User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical problems:
- For some owners, the vehicle jerks violently and refuses to accelerate. Often it is due to excessive carbon build-up in the engine which requires a labor-intensive overhaul. In these situations, there is the Subaru Impreza check engine light illuminated.
- One person had issues in which the gear grinds while shifting into fourth. The car has only 1300 miles on it the person is experienced driving a manual car and hence knows how to properly do the shifting.
- Few owners have faced brake squeal and related issues. Some people have had the brakes being so hard that they could not be pressed and the cars have caused front-end collisions in this situation.
- A few owners have had problems with the steering wheel of the car. While one owner states that it is too darty and needs constant corrections, another person has stated that it has no feel at all and sometimes does not respond.
Electrical system problems:
- 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. The problem was reported multiple times.
- A few owners have had issues with squirrels chewing on electrical lines and so on. Although this might look like an issue unrelated to the car, often it is due to a poor selection of material choices for the wiring.
- One owner also lost a car to fire while it is being parked for approximately 12 hours. It was declared totaled and the fire consumed the entire car.
Exterior problems:
- The most common issue regarding the 2019 model year cars is the Subaru windshield cracking issue. This is not just restricted to this model but nearly half the complaints about the 2019 car have been this very problem. It cracks very easily and also has the problem of the windshield cowl separating from it.
- One person has also raised the complaint about the welds on the roof rails not being proper. This causes the bike rack to shake and sometimes come apart.
- One owner has also faced issues with the headlight suddenly dimming while driving and coming back to proper lighting only when it is coming to a stop.
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 in the situation. There have been serious injuries due to this problem as well.
2019 Subaru Impreza Recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA Campaign Number |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
July 29, 2021 |
21V587000 |
Fuel pump may fail |
The low-pressure fuel pump can fail and cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash. |
|
2 |
April 15, 2021 |
21V264000 |
ECM software can cause stall |
The ignition coils can have a short-circuit and may result in the engine stalling, causing a safety concern. |
|
3 |
April 16, 2020 |
20V218000 |
Fuel pump may become inoperative |
The low-pressure fuel pump can become operative and this can cause the engine to stall. |
|
4 |
October 18, 2019 |
19V743000 |
ECM software can cause stall |
The ECM software may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off and can result in a short-circuit. |
Should you buy the 2019 Subaru Impreza?
The Subaru Impreza is one of the legendary names in rallying across the world and shows that pedigree even on the road. In terms of reliability, its reputation is not the best around but is fairly decent even if you consider all of its rivals. Some dealers are even offering Subaru windshield replacement for free which is a reassuring sign, and the other issues occurring are quite small and can be rectified easily with the manufacturer. We would recommend it to you if your use case requires a capable sedan with incredible traction.
