Problems · NHTSA complaints

2010 Subaru Impreza problems

Owners filed 46 complaints about the 2010 Subaru Impreza with NHTSA between May 2010 and Aug 2026. The most-cited component is engine (7).

Complaints
46
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  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
  10. Tires2
  11. Visibility2
  12. Service brakes, hydraulic2
  13. Seats1
  14. Structure1

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20102
20111
20123
20138
20143
20156
20163
20174
20182
20193
20204
20213
20222
20231
20240
20250
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

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 crash10 related recalls
“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

Electrical system

5 reports2 related recalls
“The speedometer and the entire dashboard goes haywire when driving. It’s impossible to know what speed I’m going, no inspection yet. The cruise control light is on and won’t go off. I’m not sure if it’s on or not which is unfastened and could cause other issues. The check engine light goes on and off as well as the brake and ABS lights. There is no telling what could be wrong with those lights. It gets hard to brake when the brake light and the ABS light is on. Also the transmission gets stuck and I can’t reverse the car or put it in park unless I turn the car off with my foot on the brake and shift in to Park turn the car back on and now I’m able to reverse. That’s dangerous when trying to park on a busy road or parking lot.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 25, 2026Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Unknown or otherODI 11759503

Vehicle speed control

5 reports1 crash
“VEHICLE HESITATES THEN SURGES FORWARD VIOLENTLY WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED WHEN ENGINE IS COLD OR IN COLD WEATHER. CONDITION IMPROVES WHEN ENGINE IS WARMED UP. DEALERSHIP AND SUBARU HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE ISSUE. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO DRIVE VEHICLE AS THEY SAY IT'S UNSAFE, BUT ARE NOT WORKING ON SOLVING THE ISSUE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 27, 2018Vehicle speed control, Unknown or otherODI 11163702

Service brakes

5 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND WENT TO THE FLOOR BOARD WITH THE BRAKES FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND BECAME OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BY AN UNKNOWN DEALER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V311000 (SERVICE BRAKES HYDRAULIC). THE DEALER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2020Service brakesODI 11311511
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

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