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Research · Subcompact Cars

2006 Subaru ImprezaRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 10 safety recalls and 56 owner complaints for the 2006 Subaru Impreza. Most complaints involve air bags (20) and power train (7). The EPA rates it 18–22 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
18–22mpg
EPA · 9 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
10campaigns
Latest Jan 2020
Owner complaints
56
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$2,900est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

10 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V003000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V002000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V001000
See all 10 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

56 complaints filed with NHTSA · Feb 2006 – Jun 2025
  1. Air bags20
  2. Power train7
  3. Engine and engine cooling7
  4. Engine5
  5. Fuel/propulsion system4
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic4
  7. Fuel system, gasoline3
  8. Service brakes2
  9. Suspension2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Impreza model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
199626
199734
199830
199922
200041
200111
2002296
200364
200496
200575
200656
200768
2008209
2009113
201046
201158
2012243
2013251
2014108
201579
201675
2019194
202432
20255
20261
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

20 reports3 crashes
“My vehicle contains faulty airbags that can launch shrapnel at the passenger if it goes off, this is a common recall for many vehicles. This airbag system can put everyone in the car at risk if it ever triggers. Subaru has refused multiple times to fix this recall because the vehicle was originally Canadian and the VIN number is not in the US branches data base. Over the past 2 years I have made efforts to both Canadian and American corporate branches as well as multiple dealerships. At the end of the day the duty to transfer the VIN between databases falls on the dealers efforts to reach out and the corporate branches cooperation—neither of which are happening. The vehicle is fully and legally imported, registered in California, stock, and has passed smog very recently.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 27, 2025Air bagsODI 11669766

Power train

7 reports
“I HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING IN SEPTEMBER OF 2009 WITH 63,455 MILES, THEN IN FEBRUARY, 2012 AT 99,985 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING, AND AGAIN ON JULY 7, 2014, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING AGAIN AT 118,903 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RATHER EXCESSIVE FAILURE OF SUBARU'S DESIGN, SINCE I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED NOR TO I KNOW ANYONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED ANY TYPE OF RE-OCCURRING FAILURES WITH WHEEL BEARINGS ON OTHER VEHICLES. MY HUSBAND IS A RETIRED MECHANIC, WHO AFTER WORKING ON ALL TYPES OF VEHICLES FOR OVER 40 YEARS, HAS NEVER ENCOUNTERED SUCH PROBLEMS. SURELY SUBARU SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO IT'S CUSTOMERS TO CORRECT THEIR PROBLEMS WITH A RE-CALL TO MODIFY THEIR POOR DESIGN, WITHOUT MAKING THEIR CUSTOMERS CONTINUALLY PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKES, BEFORE SOMEONE LOOSES A WHEEL, CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT RESULTING IN LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A NORMAL OCCURRENCE FOR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 10, 2014Power train, WheelsODI 10609634

Engine and engine cooling

7 reports
“CODE P1410 SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM SWITCHING VALVE STUCK OPEN. THIS IS A COMMON ERROR MANY 2006 AND UP SUBARU IMPREZA WRX OWNERS ARE HAVING. THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM IS PRONE TO FAIL DUE TO CARBON BUILDUP OR MOISTURE AND RUST CONTAMINATING VALVES, LEADING TO REPAIRS COSTING $700 TO $1500. THIS FAILURE IS COMMON EVEN WITH LOW MILEAGE. NOTE THESE CODES ARE ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FAILURE: 06/07 WRX: P0410 P0411 P0413 P0414 P0416 P0417 P0418 P2431 P2432 P2433 P2440 P2441 P2442 P2443 P2444 07 STI: P0410 P0411 P0413 P0414 P0418 P2431 P2432 P2433 P2441 P2444. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 23, 2013Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasolineODI 10557044
All 2006 Impreza problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

9 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Subcompact Cars, Small Station Wagons
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl · 2.5L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd · Manual 5-spd · Manual 6-spd
Drive
4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Impreza AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202522$2,900404
Impreza AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202722$2,900404
Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202522$2,900404
Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202722$2,900404
Impreza AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182420$4,000444
Impreza AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172420$4,000444
Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182420$4,000444
Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172420$4,000444
Impreza AWD
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
162218$4,400494
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 Subaru Impreza as of Oct 28, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 28, 2026Vehicle 1998Vehicle 1961
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2006 Impreza questions

How many recalls does the 2006 Subaru Impreza have?

10 safety recalls as of Oct 28, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2006 Subaru Impreza problems?

Owners filed 56 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (20), power train (7), engine and engine cooling (7). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2006 Subaru Impreza get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Subaru Impreza at 18–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (9 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 28, 2026