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Research · Compact Cars · 2 NHTSA variants

2010 Subaru ImprezaRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 15 safety recalls and 46 owner complaints for the 2010 Subaru Impreza. Most complaints involve engine (7) and fuel/propulsion system (6). 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
46
Top: engine
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 (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 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
See all 15 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

46 complaints filed with NHTSA · May 2010 – Aug 2026
  1. Engine7
  2. Fuel/propulsion system6
  3. Air bags6
  4. Electrical system5
  5. Vehicle speed control5
  6. Service brakes5
  7. Power train5
  8. Visibility/wiper4
  9. Engine and engine cooling3

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
1
Injuries reported
1
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

Engine

7 reports1 fire
“The contact owned a 2010 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while her son was driving approximately 60 MPH, he stated that he heard a loud bang from the engine compartment and saw smoke coming from under the hood. The son stated that an unknown warning light had illuminated. The son safely stopped the vehicle, exited, and noted that more smoke was coming from under the hood. The son stated that a small fire had ignited under the front end of the hood and eventually engulfed the vehicle. The police were on the scene and called the fire department. The son was not sure if the fire department extinguished the flame with water or chemicals. The fire department issued a report. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and declared a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2022EngineFire reportedODI 11477460

Fuel/propulsion system

6 reports
“VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. CAR DIED WHEN STARTING. THE STARTER TURNED OVER AND THE ENGINE ENGAGED, BUT IMMEDIATELY DIED. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING CONCERNING THE HEALTH OF THE ENGINE (I.E. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO ROUGH RIDING/ISSUES WITH GEARS). MY MECHANIC CHECKED INSIDE THE FUEL PUMP AND SAW THERE WAS A WIRE BURNED BLACK THAT CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A FAULT OF EQUIPMENT AND NOT SIMPLE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE CAR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 18, 2018Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11162299

Air bags

6 reports1 crash
“TAKATA RECALL MY CAR WAS PARKED IN A SPACE WHEN I LEFT TO GO AND EAT. WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE CAR S0MEONE HAD BACKED INTO IT . THEY HAD IT REPAIRED AND IT WAS FINE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 24, 2019Air bagsODI 11171972
All 2010 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
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
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 (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · All-Wheel Drive
202622$2,900404
Impreza AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · All-Wheel Drive
202722$2,900404
Impreza Wagon/Outback Sport
Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · All-Wheel Drive
202622$2,900404
Impreza Wagon/Outback Sport
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · All-Wheel Drive
202722$2,900404
Impreza AWD
Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
192421$3,800423
Impreza AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
182521$3,800423
Impreza Wagon/Outback Sport
Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
192421$3,800423
Impreza Wagon/Outback Sport
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
182521$3,800423
Impreza Wagon/Outback Sport
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
172319$4,200468
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 2010 Subaru Impreza as of Oct 28, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 28, 2026Vehicle 5491Vehicle 5492
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

2010 Impreza questions

How many recalls does the 2010 Subaru Impreza have?

15 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 2010 Subaru Impreza problems?

Owners filed 46 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (7), fuel/propulsion system (6), air bags (6). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2010 Subaru Impreza get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Subaru Impreza at 19–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (9 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 28, 2026