YearToAvoid

2016 Subaru Impreza Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#10 most-complained of 16 Impreza years

The 2016 Subaru Impreza has a Complaint Index of 40, ranking 10th out of 16 model years, with a "Good" verdict relative to other Impreza years. NHTSA lists 75 complaints, 1 recall, and 7 crashes tied to owner reports, led by the Electrical System (24% of complaints).

Complaints
75
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
7 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
29
26 city / 34 hwy

Top 2016 Subaru Impreza problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other19 (25%)
  2. Electrical System18 (24%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain13 (17%)
  4. Engine11 (15%)
  5. Airbags8 (11%)
  6. Brakes7 (9%)
  7. Structure & Body7 (9%)
  8. Steering5 (7%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers5 (7%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (5%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden unexpected acceleration when backing out of parking spots or slowing in parking lots, sometimes resulting in a crash.
  • Some describe the engine stalling when trying to accelerate rapidly from a stop, leaving the vehicle stopped facing oncoming traffic.
  • Brake failure was reported during a snowy-weather stop, with owners saying the brakes locked up and offered no control.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during crashes, including a low-speed collision with a tree and a parking-lot wall impact.
  • Seat belts were reported to lock and not release until fully retracted, forcing drivers to pull over to fix the belt.
  • A passenger-side airbag indicator was reported to activate intermittently depending on how a passenger sat in the seat.
2016 Subaru Impreza complaints: complaints filed per quarter112016 Q12017 Q12018 Q22019 Q32021 Q12022 Q22023 Q32025 Q1
102 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2020 Q3 (11).

2016 Subaru Impreza recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V149000Feb 28, 2019Electrical System1,303,530 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.

    Risk: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.

2016 Subaru Impreza fuel economy and fuel cost

City
26 MPG
Highway
34 MPG
Combined
29 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,225
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.

2016 compared with other Impreza years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Caution60108324
2015Good4777229
2016Good4075129
2017Caution67125728.5
2018Avoid80151528.5

All Subaru Impreza years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Subaru Impreza reliable?
Relative to other Impreza model years, the 2016 is rated "Good," with a Complaint Index of 40 and 75 NHTSA complaints, ranking 10th out of 16 years tracked.
What is the biggest problem with the 2016 Subaru Impreza?
The Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 18 complaints, or 24% of all complaints, at a median mileage of 38,000.
Does the 2016 Subaru Impreza have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists one recall (campaign 19V149000) covering the electrical system and brake light switch, affecting 2008-2016 Impreza sedans and 2012-2016 Impreza wagons among other Subaru models.
How does the 2016 Impreza compare to other Impreza years?
With a Complaint Index of 40, the 2016 is better than the 2012 (93), 2013 (100), 2018 (80), and 2019 (87) model years, all rated "Avoid," but worse than 2021 (20) and 2022 (7), rated "Best."
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Subaru Impreza?
The 2016 Impreza gets 29 mpg combined (26 city / 34 highway) with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,225, according to EPA data.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.