2017 Subaru Impreza Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Apr 16, 2026 · 125 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Impreza years
Far more complaints than other years 7th of 32 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
5 out of 5 stars

Owners have filed 125 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Subaru Impreza. That ranks 7th out of 32 Impreza model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is exterior lighting (32 complaints, 26%), typically at around 57,264 miles. Complaints mention 10 crashes, 3 fires, 7 injuries. There are 7 safety recalls covering this model year.

Subaru Impreza
Subaru Impreza (GU) at Auto Zürich 2023. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2017 Subaru Impreza problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Exterior Lighting32 · ~57,264 mi
Visibility/wiper25 · ~31,500 mi
Unknown or Other22 · ~7,890 mi
Electrical System21 · ~4,222 mi
Engine14 · ~9,000 mi
Air Bags11 · ~4,948 mi
Service Brakes7 · ~17,890 mi
Power Train5 · ~40,425 mi
Vehicle Speed Control4 · ~20,000 mi
Wheels4 · ~53,500 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Exterior Lighting3226%57,264——
Visibility/wiper2520%31,500——
Unknown or Other2218%7,890——
Electrical System2117%4,222——
Engine1411%9,000——
Air Bags119%4,948——
Service Brakes76%17,890——
Power Train54%40,425——
Vehicle Speed Control43%20,000——
Wheels43%53,500——
Forward Collision Avoidance32%17,477——
Fuel System, Gasoline32%11,000——
Fuel/propulsion System22%500——
Structure22%9,572——
Suspension22%20,500——
Back Over Prevention11%14,953——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)11%8,500——
Lane Departure11%38,980——
Steering11%3,000——
Visibility11%8,985——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2023, with 31 complaints
2017: 172017172018: 132018132019: 142019142020: 172020172021: 122021122022: 2202222023: 312023312024: 102024102025: 7202572026: 220262

n = 125 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2017 Subaru Impreza recalls (7)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Exterior lighting:headlightsAug 12, 2022 · NHTSA campaign 22V624000 · 188,397 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Impreza vehicles. The left and right side reflex reflector and left side low beam reflector may inadequately reflect light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: Reflectors that do not provide adequate illumination reduce the driver's ability to see and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the front headlamp assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 15, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-22.

Electrical system:software; engine and engine cooling:engine:engine control module (ecu/ecm):software; electrical system:ignition; engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipeApr 15, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V264000 · 466,205 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Subaru Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, causing a short circuit.

Risk: A short circuit in the ignition coils may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECM software, replace the ignition coils and, if necessary, the front exhaust pipe, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 1, 2021. Owners can contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-21. Note: This recall includes all vehicles previously repaired under Recall 19V743.

Electrical system:software; electrical system:ignitionOct 18, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V743000 · 466,205 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, which could result in a short circuit and blown fuse.

Risk: If a short circuit occurs while driving, the vehicle may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECM software and inspect and replace the ignition coil, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, on vehicles with confirmed ignition coil damage and a certain stored diagnostic trouble code (DTC), Subaru will replace the front exhaust pipe, free of charge. The recall began December 4, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUQ-02.

Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)Oct 17, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V744000 · 205,000 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Impreza and 2018 Crosstrek vehicles equipped with an aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve. The PCV valve may come apart, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, possibly resulting in a loss of power while driving.

Risk: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the engine will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began December 2, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUP-01.

Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)Oct 17, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V745000 · 251 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017 Impreza vehicles equipped with an aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve. The PCV valve may come apart, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, possibly resulting in a loss of power while driving.

Risk: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUS-04.

Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsMar 29, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V216000 · 33,131 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017 Impreza vehicles. Winter fuels may vaporize prematurely in the fuel line, resulting in a reduction in fuel pressure, possibly causing the engine to stall.

Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the engine control unit to turn the radiator cooling fan on at a lower temperature, free of charge. The recall began on April 20, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2738. Subaru's number for this recall is WTP-75.

Back over prevention: camera systemMar 2, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V132000 · 25,567 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017 Impreza vehicles. Due to a software problem, the rearview camera display may not work properly.

Risk: A rearview camera display that does not function as designed can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the car, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the infotainment software, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for the recall is WTN-74.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

I am filing a safety complaint regarding an Engine Control Module (ECM) failure in my 2017 Subaru Impreza and the handling of a prior recall repair. Dealership records show that a recall repair (WRE21 – ignition coil recall) was completed in June 2021. At that time, the dealership documented that…

Electrical System · received Apr 16, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11731598

I noticed that visibility at night was poor. I was pulled over by the police and give a warning that my headlight was out and told to get it fixed. I thought it may be as simple as a bulb but was told the entire left headlamp assembly had to be replaced at a cost of more than $2,000. Just days…

Electrical System · received Feb 16, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11718214

[XXX] 2017 Subaru Impreza VIN [XXX] Cruze control error. Will it make brake lights fail if not repaired? go look in your database and see if Impreza has more than normal rear end collisions? What else is on bus that might be damaged by spike? Braking? Antilock? Lights? Why is this NOT a recall?…

Service Brakes · received Sep 1, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11684276

1. Any and all airbags failed to deploy. The car is currently parked in my garage and is available for inspection. The insurance company has declared the car a "total loss," and would like to tow it away as soon as possible. 2. The driver had a concussion and whiplash after their forehead hit the…

Air Bags · received Aug 26, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11683244

Premature failure of wheel bearings. Both rear wheel bearings had to be replaced after only 54,192 miles. Technician indicated that replacements were upgraded "sealed" systems. At 73,712 miles the front driver's side wheel bearing was also replaced by the dealer after the same symptoms of excessive…

Power Train · received Aug 23, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11682621

Other Subaru Impreza years

← 2016 Impreza · 2018 Impreza →

See all Subaru Impreza problems by year, every Subaru model, or the Subaru VIN decoder.

Similar Subaru models

Embed this 2017 Subaru Impreza badge on your site

Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2017 Subaru Impreza?

Owners most often report exterior lighting, visibility/wiper, unknown or other problems. The top one, exterior lighting, accounts for 32 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2017 Subaru Impreza?

Yes, 7 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2017 Subaru Impreza a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Impreza model years, the 2017 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.