2011 Subaru Impreza Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2011 Subaru Impreza has a complaint index of 40 and ranks 13th worst of 21 model years, earning a Caution verdict capped by 14 recall campaigns. Airbags are the top problem area with 17 complaints and a median failure mileage of 55,000.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 40/100
- #13 of 21 Impreza years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 57
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 14
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 5
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 5
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 21.5
- 19.5 city / 25.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
Top 2011 Subaru Impreza problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags17 (30%)
- Electrical System9 (16%)
- Engine8 (14%)
- Visibility & Wipers8 (14%)
- Brakes6 (11%)
- Fuel System6 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain6 (11%)
- Other5 (9%)
- Structure & Body4 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy in frontal crashes, in one case at 10,900 miles, contributing to head injuries.
- A deployed airbag caused a facial laceration in a crash reported at 75,000 miles.
- Electrical issues include a seat heater that overheated and burned a hole in the driver seat around 85,000 miles.
- Engine failures were reported at low mileage, including one around 5,000 miles involving smoke, power loss, and a warranty dispute, and another at 4,600 miles involving broken piston ring lands requiring a short block replacement.
- Owners reported severe steering vibration and shimmying above 55 mph despite tire balancing and steering-related bulletin work.
2011 Subaru Impreza recalls
14 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.
2011 Subaru Impreza fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19.5 MPG
- Highway
- 25.5 MPG
- Combined
- 21.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,375
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- 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.
2011 compared with other Impreza years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Subaru Impreza reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2011 Impreza a complaint index of 40 and a Caution verdict relative to other Impreza years. It ranks 13th worst out of 21 model years tracked.
- Why is the 2011 Impreza rated Caution instead of a better verdict?
- Its complaint index of 40 would suggest a milder rating, but NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns requiring a dealer visit for this year, which caps the verdict at Caution.
- What is the biggest problem area for the 2011 Impreza?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 17 complaints, 30% of total complaints, and 4 crashes, with a median failure mileage of 55,000.
- Does the 2011 Impreza have airbag recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists multiple 2011 Impreza recalls for front passenger air bag inflator replacement, part of the broader Takata-related campaigns covering 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles.
- How does the 2011 Impreza compare to other years?
- With a complaint index of 40, the 2011 Impreza is less problematic than 2008, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, and 2019, which all carry Avoid verdicts, but it still falls short of Good or Best years like 2005, 2015, 2022, and 2025.