Subaru Impreza Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 202 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the Subaru Impreza across 23 model years. The 2018 model year has the most (64). The words owners use most often: “exterior lighting contacted” (22% of reports).
- 202exterior lighting complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- 32%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Exterior lighting contacted: mentioned in 44 of 202 complaints (22%)
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 34 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 202 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 2 a fire.
Subaru Impreza exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Impreza | 1 | 20% | 75 |
| 2024 Impreza | 2 | 6% | — |
| 2022 Impreza | 1 | 7% | — |
| 2020 Impreza | 1 | 1% | 1,000 |
| 2019 Impreza | 63 | 32% | 20,000 |
| 2018 Impreza | 64 | 42% | 21,000 |
| 2017 Impreza | 32 | 26% | 57,264 |
| 2016 Impreza | 4 | 5% | 38,000 |
| 2015 Impreza | 1 | 1% | 700 |
| 2014 Impreza | 1 | 1% | 42,500 |
| 2013 Impreza | 7 | 3% | 74,108 |
| 2012 Impreza | 4 | 2% | 118,889 |
| 2009 Impreza | 3 | 3% | 39,000 |
| 2008 Impreza | 4 | 2% | 40,000 |
| 2007 Impreza | 1 | 1% | 105,000 |
| 2006 Impreza | 2 | 4% | 9,959 |
| 2004 Impreza | 1 | 1% | 5,651 |
| 2003 Impreza | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2002 Impreza | 2 | 1% | 53,250 |
| 2000 Impreza | 2 | 5% | — |
| 1998 Impreza | 2 | 7% | — |
| 1997 Impreza | 1 | 3% | — |
| 1995 Impreza | 2 | 4% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Model years: 2023
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Impreza vehicles. The brake light switch may be improperly adjusted and illuminate the brake lights without application of the brake pedal. The vehicle may also allow drivers to start and shift the transmission out of the PARK position without pressing the brake pedal. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment" and 102, "Trans Shift Lever Seq/Starter Interlock/Trans Braking Effect."
Risk: An unintentional brake light illumination can fail to alert other motorists of actual brake application. A vehicle that shifts out of the park position unexpectedly can allow the vehicle to rollaway. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the gap between the brake light switch and stopper, adjusting the switch as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 23, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRI-23.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Model years: 2017, 2018, 2019
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.
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Model years: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Forward collision avoidance: crash imminent braking; exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Model years: 2015
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufactured October 16, 2014, to April 15, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles manufactured March 23, 2015, and equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.
Risk: If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQS-54.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving at nighttime, the headlights failed to provide adequate illumination of the roadway ahead, reducing the driver's ability to see the roadway. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the headlights were raised; however…
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…
I get ads for Sirius XM that occupy navigation while the vehicle is moving. The ad does not go away on its own, i have to manually dismiss the ad. I've owned the car for one year and i've gotten about 5 of these ads for SiriusXM. I even made a Sirius account and opted out of all in-vehicle…
Vehicle Fire Summary â Arvada, CO On [XXX] at approximately [XXX], the Arvada Fire Department responded to a report of a vehicle fire on [XXX] . The vehicle involved was a 2013 gray Subaru Impreza WRX. The driver reported noticing smoke coming from the engine compartment before pulling over to…
I attempted to get a safety recall (headlamp assembly defect) addressed at my local Subaru dealership. The vehicle is still under warranty, and I was told I may be able to get a loaner or rental. However, when I arrived, I was informed that the dealership only has 9 loaners and does not offer…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Subaru Imprezas have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 202 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the Subaru Impreza. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Subaru Impreza exterior lighting?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the Subaru Impreza?
The most frequent phrase is “exterior lighting contacted”, in 44 of 202 complaints.
Other Subaru Impreza problems
- Air Bags problems (449)
- Power Train problems (288)
- Engine problems (263)
- Electrical System problems (231)
- Visibility/wiper problems (201)
- Suspension problems (156)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (149)
- Service Brakes problems (132)
See all Subaru Impreza problems.