What are the most common problems with the 2015 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport?

The electrical system is the biggest complaint group, with 20 complaints. Power train has 12 and engine has 11.

Does the 2015 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport have recalls?

Yes, there are 2 recalls on file. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.

Is the 2015 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport reliable?

The complaint record is one piece of the picture, with 79 reports on file. See the sections on this page for fuel economy, safety and the by-year comparison.

Is 2015 the best year for the Impreza/Outback Sport?

Compare it against nearby years in the by-year section of this page. The 2015 count is 79 complaints.

2015 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport Problems, Recalls and MPG

Q: How many complaints does the 2015 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport have?

NHTSA has 79 owner complaints on file.

NHTSA has 79 owner complaints on file for the 2015 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport^[1]. The biggest group names the electrical system, with 20 complaints^[2].

79owner complaints^[1]

2recalls^[3]

27–31MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here is how the complaints on file split up, biggest group first.

Electrical System. 20 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe a key that will not come out of the ignition after parking, a passenger air bag light that comes on with someone in the seat, an interior light that stays on, and a car that failed to start until the brake pedal was pressed several times.
Unknown Or Other. 14 complaints^[6]. These reports do not fit a single named part, so we say no more about them.
Power Train. 12 complaints^[7]. Owners describe warning lights while driving, a car that stalls and has to be towed, shifting that feels wrong, and trouble taking the key out after parking.
Engine. 11 complaints^[8]. Owners describe a delay between pressing the pedal and the car moving, a stall while waiting to turn, and an oil leak that sent smoke into the cabin.
Speed Control. 7 complaints^[9]. This group includes reports that mention a crash.
Air Bags. 7 complaints^[10]. Owners describe the passenger air bag switching itself off when someone is sitting there, and a repair that did not last.
Steering. 7 complaints^[11].
Brakes. 4 complaints^[12].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2015 Impreza/Outback Sport is necessarily included.

Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch (19V149), February 2019. About 1,303,530 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Forward Collision Avoidance › Crash Imminent Braking (15V366), June 2015. About 71,710 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Impreza AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[15]	25 / 33 / 28	$2,400
Impreza AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[4]	28 / 36 / 31	$2,150
Impreza Wagon AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[16]	25 / 33 / 28	$2,400
Impreza Wagon AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[17]	28 / 36 / 31	$2,150
Impreza Sport AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[18]	24 / 33 / 27	$2,500
Impreza Sport AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[19]	27 / 35 / 30	$2,250

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR AWD^[5]	5	4	5	5	9.9%
SW AWD^[20]	5	4	5	5	9.9%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2015 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport with 2.0L 4-cylinder^[21]	148 hp

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
IMPREZA 4DR SEDAN 2.0i^[22]	180 in	69 in	58 in	104 in	3,020 lb
IMPREZA 5DR HATCH 2.0i^[23]	174 in	69 in	58 in	104 in	3,009 lb

How 2015 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Impreza/Outback Sport model year. The 2015 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1995	46	1
1996	20	0
1997	30	0
1998	30	0
1999	22	0
2000	41	0
2001	11	0
2002	292	6
2003	62	6
2004	96	8
2005	75	6
2006	60	10
2007	68	9
2008	213	14
2009	119	14
2010	46	15
2011	58	14
2012	243	6
2013	251	4
2014	108	3
2015	79	2
2016	75	1
2017	125	7

NHTSA's counts for the Impreza/Outback Sport show 79 complaints and 2 recalls for 2015^[3]. Among the 23 model years listed, 14 have fewer complaints than 2015 and 8 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2001 (11) and the most are for 2002 (292)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2015 Impreza/Outback Sport?

The complaint record for this model year is modest in size, with 79 reports on file^[1]. Electrical issues lead the list, and power train and engine reports follow^[2]^[7]^[8]. Some reports mention a crash, so they are worth reading before you buy^[1]. These are owner reports that nobody has verified, and they are not adjusted for sales. Check the recall section and the by-year comparison, then have a mechanic look at any car you plan to buy.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2015 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport?: The electrical system is the biggest complaint group, with 20 complaints^[2]. Power train has 12^[7] and engine has 11^[8].
How many complaints does the 2015 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport have?: NHTSA has 79 owner complaints on file^[1].
Does the 2015 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport have recalls?: Yes, there are 2 recalls on file^[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.
Is the 2015 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport reliable?: The complaint record is one piece of the picture, with 79 reports on file^[1]. See the sections on this page for fuel economy, safety and the by-year comparison.
Is 2015 the best year for the Impreza/Outback Sport?: Compare it against nearby years in the by-year section of this page. The 2015 count is 79 complaints^[3].

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport

2008 213 complaints, 14 recalls
2009 119 complaints, 14 recalls
2010 46 complaints, 15 recalls
2012 243 complaints, 6 recalls
2013 251 complaints, 4 recalls
2014 108 complaints, 3 recalls
2015 this page
2016 75 complaints, 1 recall
2017 125 complaints, 7 recalls

Compare all model years of the Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport

Other Subaru models from 2015

2015 Subaru Forester 615 complaints, 3 recalls
2015 Subaru Legacy/Outback 670 complaints, 5 recalls

All Subaru models

Similar cars from 2015: compact cars

2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 61 complaints, 7 recalls
2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 49 complaints, 9 recalls
2015 Nissan Versa 254 complaints, 2 recalls
2015 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 322 complaints, 14 recalls
2015 Volkswagen Jetta 197 complaints, 8 recalls
2015 Volvo S60 59 complaints, 2 recalls

All compact cars we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 79 owner complaints on file for the 2015 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport (5 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 4 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
20 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 40,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Impreza AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 28 city / 36 highway / 31 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 9.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
14 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 30,000). NHTSA vehicle records
12 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 57,000). NHTSA vehicle records
11 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,712). NHTSA vehicle records
7 complaints name the speed control component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 60,000). NHTSA vehicle records
7 complaints name the air bags component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 46,000). NHTSA vehicle records
7 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 60,000). NHTSA vehicle records
4 complaints name the brakes component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 19V149, filed February 28, 2019: Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch. NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V366, filed June 12, 2015: Forward Collision Avoidance › Crash Imminent Braking. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Impreza AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 33 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Impreza Wagon AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 33 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Impreza Wagon AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 28 city / 36 highway / 31 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Impreza Sport AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 33 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Impreza Sport AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 27 city / 35 highway / 30 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,250. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SW AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 9.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2015 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 148 hp. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, IMPREZA 4DR SEDAN 2.0i: length 180 in, width 69 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 3,020 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, IMPREZA 5DR HATCH 2.0i: length 174 in, width 69 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 3,009 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2015 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport: problems, recalls and fuel economy