What are the most common problems with the 2016 Subaru Impreza?

The largest named group in the NHTSA files is the electrical system, followed by the power train. A bigger group has no clear component.

Does the 2016 Subaru Impreza have recalls?

Yes, the by-year data shows a recall on file. The details are in the Recalls section of this page.

Is the 2016 Subaru Impreza reliable?

Owners filed 75 complaints with NHTSA. They are unverified and not adjusted for sales, so read them as a guide to what to check.

How is the gas mileage of the 2016 Impreza?

See the fuel economy section on this page for the official figures.

Is 2016 the best year for the Impreza?

See the by-year comparison on this page. It lays out the complaint and recall counts for each year.

2016 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 75 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport^[1]. Seven of them mention a crash^[1].

75owner complaints^[1]

1recalls^[2]

27–31MPG combined (EPA)^[3]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[4]

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

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups in the NHTSA files, biggest first.

Unknown or other. 19 complaints^[5]. These do not name a clear component, so there is no single story to tell.
Electrical system. 14 complaints^[6]. Owners describe a key that will not come out of the ignition, brake lights that switch on by themselves, warning lights on the dash, a battery that runs down and a sudden loss of power steering assist.
Power train. 13 complaints^[7]. In the stories we read, owners describe a shifter that moves out of park with the engine off, a key stuck after parking, a car that lurched forward while in reverse and odd jolts and grinding while driving.
Air bags. 8 complaints^[8]. Owners describe the passenger air bag indicator acting up, a seat sensor that seems confused by an empty seat or by a cushion, and air bags that did not go off in a crash.
Speed control. 8 complaints^[9]. Owners describe the car surging or speeding up when they did not expect it, including in parking lots, and a car that stalled when they tried to pull away quickly.
Brakes. 6 complaints^[10]. The files list these without a story we can retell here.
Steering. 5 complaints^[11]. The files list these without a story we can retell here.
Visibility and wipers. 4 complaints^[12]. The files list these without a story we can retell here.

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2016 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]

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^[14]	25 / 33 / 28	$2,400
Impreza AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[3]	28 / 36 / 31	$2,150
Impreza Wagon AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[15]	25 / 33 / 28	$2,400
Impreza Wagon AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[16]	28 / 36 / 31	$2,150
Impreza Sport AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[17]	24 / 33 / 27	$2,500
Impreza Sport AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[18]	27 / 35 / 30	$2,250

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SW AWD^[4]	5	4	5	5	9.9%
4 DR AWD^[19]	5	4	5	5	9.9%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2016 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport with 2.0L 4-cylinder^[20]	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^[21]	180 in	69 in	58 in	104 in	3,020 lb
IMPREZA 5DR HATCH 2.0i^[22]	174 in	69 in	58 in	104 in	3,009 lb

How 2016 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Impreza/Outback Sport model year. The 2016 is highlighted^[2].

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 75 complaints and 1 recalls for 2016^[2]. Among the 23 model years listed, 12 have fewer complaints than 2016 and 9 have more^[2]. The fewest complaints are for 2001 (11) and the most are for 2002 (292)^[2]. 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 2016 Impreza/Outback Sport?

These are unverified owner reports, so treat them as a pattern to check and not as proof. The biggest group has no clear component^[5], and the electrical system comes next^[6]. The speed control and air bag groups are smaller, but they hold the crash reports^[8]^[9]. A used 2016 Impreza deserves a careful test drive and a look at the recall section on this page^[2]. Pay attention to how the key, shifter and brake lights behave.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Subaru Impreza?: The largest named group in the NHTSA files is the electrical system^[6], followed by the power train^[7]. A bigger group has no clear component^[5].
Does the 2016 Subaru Impreza have recalls?: Yes, the by-year data shows a recall on file^[2]. The details are in the Recalls section of this page.
Is the 2016 Subaru Impreza reliable?: Owners filed 75 complaints with NHTSA^[1]. They are unverified and not adjusted for sales, so read them as a guide to what to check.
How is the gas mileage of the 2016 Impreza?: See the fuel economy section on this page for the official figures.
Is 2016 the best year for the Impreza?: See the by-year comparison on this page. It lays out the complaint and recall counts for each year^[2].

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 79 complaints, 2 recalls
2016 this page
2017 125 complaints, 7 recalls

Compare all model years of the Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport

Other Subaru models from 2016

2016 Subaru Forester 415 complaints, 3 recalls
2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback 790 complaints, 4 recalls

All Subaru models

Similar cars from 2016: compact cars

2016 Ford Focus 1,194 complaints, 11 recalls
2016 Honda Civic 1,083 complaints, 5 recalls
2016 Hyundai Accent 102 complaints, 0 recalls
2016 Kia Forte 138 complaints, 1 recall
2016 Lexus GS 10 complaints, 2 recalls
2016 Mazda 3 104 complaints, 6 recalls

All compact cars we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 75 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport (7 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 2 injuries, 0 deaths reported). 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, SW AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 9.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
19 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 38,000). NHTSA vehicle records
14 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 24,800). NHTSA vehicle records
13 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 19,218). NHTSA vehicle records
8 complaints name the air bags component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 28,817). NHTSA vehicle records
8 complaints name the speed control component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 24,400). NHTSA vehicle records
6 complaints name the brakes component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 28,817). NHTSA vehicle records
5 complaints name the steering component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
4 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 19V149, filed February 28, 2019: Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch. 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, 4 DR AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 9.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2016 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.

2016 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport: problems, recalls and fuel economy