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Research · Compact Cars

2009 Subaru ImprezaRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 15 safety recalls and 113 owner complaints for the 2009 Subaru Impreza. Most complaints involve power train (30) and structure (22). The EPA rates it 19–22 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
19–22mpg
EPA · 9 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
15campaigns
Latest Jan 2020
Owner complaints
113
Top: power train
Fuel cost / yr
$2,900est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

15 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 (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

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
See all 15 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 29, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

113 complaints filed with NHTSA · Apr 2009 – Sep 2026
  1. Power train30
  2. Structure22
  3. Engine and engine cooling15
  4. Service brakes14
  5. Engine13
  6. Air bags13
  7. Vehicle speed control9
  8. Electrical system8
  9. Fuel/propulsion system5

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
2
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
2
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Power train

30 reports
“The contact owns a 2009 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the transmission failed to properly shift. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road and shut off the vehicle. Once the contact restarted the vehicle, the vehicle started operating normally; however, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the clutch pedal bracket had fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was under recall however, the recall had expired. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 54,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2023Power trainODI 11532736

Structure

22 reports1 crash
“MY CAR JUST BROKE ON ME. THE SHOP SHOWED ME HOW THE FIREWALL WAS BUILT ON THESE MODELS AND HOW IT WAS CHANGED FROM PREVIOUS MODELS. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRRY ABOUT THE FIREWALL BREAKING ON ME WITH ONLY 100K MILES ON MY CAR. THIS IS DANGEROUS THE FIREWALL BROKE ON ME WHILE DRIVING AND RENDERED THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD BEFORE POTENTIALLY CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THIS IS A HAZARD FOR ANYONE WHO BUYS THESE CARS BECAUSE THE FIREWALL CAN BREAK ANYTIME REALLY DEPENDING ON HOW HARD THE CAR IS DRIVEN ALTHOUGH IT SHOULD REALISTICALLY NEVER BREAK.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 30, 2020StructureODI 11322790

Engine and engine cooling

15 reports
“ENGINE KNOCK SOUND WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, PULLED OFF NEXT EXIT AND CAR SHUT DOWN. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OR OIL LIGHTS INDICATING AN ISSUE. UPON RESTART KNOCKING SOUND WAS LOUDER AND HAD A METAL SOUND TO IT. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE CAR OFF AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER. UPON FIRST REVIEW DEALER IDENTIFIED IT AS "INTERNAL CONNECTING-ROD BEARING FAILURE" WHICH CAUSED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE. SUBARU OF AMERICA DENIED THE REPAIR DUE TO THE ECM BEING MODIFIED, STATING "OUR ENGINEERS REVIEWED YOUR FILE AND DEEMED IT TO BE CAUSED BY THE ECM MODIFICATION". I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS CASES OF THE EXACT ISSUE ON THE INTERNET, AS WELL AS A MY DEALERSHIP TELLING ME THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS FAILURE. SOA IS PROVIDING A "ONE TIME GOOD FAITH REPAIR" BUT I AM RESPONSIBLE TO REPLACE THE ECM. IN MY OPINION THIS ISSUE WHICH SOA IS AWARE OF AND ACKNOWLEDGES WITH A TSB SHOULD BE A RECALL - THE ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED HAS POTENTIAL TO CAUSE BODILY HARM - LOSS OF POWER, ENGINE SEIZE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS LUCKY TO NOT BE INVOLVED IN ANY SORT OF ACCIDENT. FURTHER I AM TOTALLY UNSURE OF HOW SOA CAN CLAIM THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO ECM…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 1, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10423716
All 2009 Impreza problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

9 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars, Small Station Wagons
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl · 2.5L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (S4) · 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 29, 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 (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202622$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 (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202622$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 (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
192421$3,800423
Impreza AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182521$3,800423
Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT AWD
Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
192421$3,800423
Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182521$3,800423
Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT AWD
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172319$4,200468
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 29, 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 2009 Subaru Impreza as of Oct 29, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 29, 2026Vehicle 5031Vehicle 5030
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

2009 Impreza questions

How many recalls does the 2009 Subaru Impreza have?

15 safety recalls as of Oct 29, 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 2009 Subaru Impreza problems?

Owners filed 113 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (30), structure (22), engine and engine cooling (15). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2009 Subaru Impreza get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Subaru Impreza at 19–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (9 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 29, 2026