2010 Subaru Impreza Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
27/100
#12 most-complained of 16 Impreza years
The 2010 Subaru Impreza has a complaint index of 27, ranking 12th out of 16 model years, and NHTSA rates it 'Good' relative to other Impreza years. Engine problems lead complaints (15, 33% share, median mileage 69,500), with 15 recalls filed including several airbag inflator campaigns.
- Complaints
- 46
- Recalls
- 15
- Crashes / fires
- 3 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 19 city / 25 hwy
Top 2010 Subaru Impreza problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine15 (33%)
- Other9 (20%)
- Brakes7 (15%)
- Airbags6 (13%)
- Fuel System6 (13%)
- Visibility & Wipers6 (13%)
- Electrical System5 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain5 (11%)
- Structure & Body2 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (4%)
What owners report
- Owners report sudden loud engine noises followed by smoke or a bang from the engine compartment, sometimes with fire.
- Some describe engine failure tied to a failed piston ringland, with white smoke from the tailpipe and engine hesitation at low mileage.
- Rear brake pads and rotors reportedly wear down to metal-on-metal far faster than expected.
- The front passenger airbag off indicator has illuminated regardless of seat occupancy, prompting dealer visits.
- Owners report the clutch pedal bracket assembly creaking and shifting because spot welds securing it to the firewall failed.
- A separate account describes a broken pedal and cracked firewall making the car impossible to shift.
2010 Subaru Impreza recalls
15 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V001000Jan 2, 2020Airbags258,813 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
- NHTSA 20V003000Jan 2, 2020Airbags111,562 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
- NHTSA 20V002000Jan 2, 2020Airbags127,547 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
2010 Subaru Impreza fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19 MPG
- Highway
- 25 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,800
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2010 compared with other Impreza years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Subaru Impreza reliable?
- Compared with other Impreza model years, 2010 ranks 12th of 16 with a complaint index of 27 and a 'Good' verdict, meaning it performs better than several later years like 2012 and 2013.
- What is the biggest problem area for the 2010 Subaru Impreza?
- Engine complaints top the list with 15 reports, a 33% share of all complaints, and a median failure mileage of 69,500 miles.
- Does the 2010 Subaru Impreza have airbag recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 15 recalls for the 2010 Impreza, several of them for airbag inflator replacement, including campaigns 19V008000, 19V007000, and 19V009000.
- How does the 2010 Impreza compare to the 2012 and 2013 Impreza?
- The 2010 model has a complaint index of 27 versus 93 for 2012 and 100 for 2013, both of which carry an 'Avoid' verdict, making 2010 comparatively better.