Research · Compact Cars

2015 Subaru ImprezaRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 79 owner complaints for the 2015 Subaru Impreza. Most complaints involve electrical system (20) and power train (12). The EPA rates it 27–31 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
27–31mpg
EPA · 6 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
2campaigns
Latest Feb 2019
Owner complaints
79
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$2,050est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

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

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

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.

Exterior lightingReported Feb 28, 2019NHTSA 19V149000

Forward collision avoidance: crash imminent braking

Free remedy

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.

Forward collision avoidanceReported Jun 12, 2015NHTSA 15V366000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 29, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

79 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 2015 – Apr 2026
  1. Electrical system20
  2. Power train12
  3. Engine10
  4. Vehicle speed control7
  5. Air bags7
  6. Steering7
  7. Service brakes4
  8. Wheels3
  9. Visibility/wiper3

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
5
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
4
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

Electrical system

20 reports
“I purchased a Subaru for reliability and safety reasons. This car has placed my family in some dangerous situations. Every time the outside temp is 90+ degrees F and it is driven on a road trip of 200+ miles, the car's acceleration shuts off. There is never any warning or check engine/trans lights until after this happens. Nate Wade Subaru in Salt Lake City cannot find any codes and does not know how to help. The car will not restart after being turned off, even after waiting up to an hour. We have had to tow it. The last incident taking place 7/30/2022 with our 19 year old son driving. The worst part is that twice it happened in the far left lane with no option to get over to the right side of the highway safely due to traffic. Cars/trucks from behind have narrowly missed hitting us because there was not enough shoulder to pull out of the way. This has happened both in UT and ID where posted speed limits were 70-80 mph and put us in real danger. I don't know what to do other than sell the car. But I don't feel right doing that without sharing this problem -which would then "kill" the sale. It is unacceptable to not have a fix for this issue or at least a…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2022Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11477430

Power train

12 reports
“My transmission completely locked up on me while driving at interstate speeds. I was traveling at 65 MPH with the car in regular driving mode, on cruise control and the transmission completely locked up on me. The front tires locked briefly, causing me to go into a small skid, which I was able to correct, and then the engine revved high and I had no power. This lockup and skid caused a rapid deceleration of the vehicle and had there been lots of traffic around me it would have caused a major accident on the interstate, possibly causing fatalities. My transmission completely locked up once I went through the nearest intersection to get to a side road. This left me stranded in the middle of a major highway intersection with no ability to physically push my vehicle out of the way. The vehicle behind me just about rear-ended me. This has been a major issue with these transmissions and a major safety issue. These transmissions should be put on a recall since this is a major safety issue. The extended warranty that Subaru has put out only waits for a problem to occur, this does not save lives but only puts them in danger. They should be FORCED to do a recall. No…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 27, 2022Power trainODI 11476180

Engine

10 reports
“All of a sudden, with no reason whatsoever, my daughter's car has "rod knock" with less than 100,000 miles on it. Bought this Subaru for my daughter so she would have a car that would last a long time and she would be safe. Maintenance was kept up at our local mechanic religiously. I am saddened and disappointed in the mechanical performance of this vehicle. Started with lights going out early in ownership when it was new, and now this. I have a Subaru Impreza as well and am strongly considering trading it in for a Honda. I have family that works for Subaru and I wanted to support family and bought 2 Impreza's based on belief that your brand was highly regarded for longevity and safety. Engine's in vehicles should last more than 100k miles, regardless of the manufacturer. This should be a recall based on internet research. My ask is that Subaru stands up to its marketing and its product and takes care of this repair at no cost.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2023EngineODI 11537225
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

6 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars, Small Station Wagons
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (AV-S6) · Manual 5-spd
Drive
All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular 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 (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · All-Wheel Drive
283631$2,050289
Impreza Wagon AWD
Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · All-Wheel Drive
283631$2,050289
Impreza Sport AWD
Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · All-Wheel Drive
273530$2,150294
Impreza AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · All-Wheel Drive
253328$2,300318
Impreza Wagon AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · All-Wheel Drive
253328$2,300318
Impreza Sport AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · All-Wheel Drive
243327$2,400326
  • Impreza AWD
    Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    28 city · 36 hwy · $2,050/yr
    31
    mpg comb.
  • Impreza Wagon AWD
    Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    28 city · 36 hwy · $2,050/yr
    31
    mpg comb.
  • Impreza Sport AWD
    Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    27 city · 35 hwy · $2,150/yr
    30
    mpg comb.
  • Impreza AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    25 city · 33 hwy · $2,300/yr
    28
    mpg comb.
  • Impreza Wagon AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    25 city · 33 hwy · $2,300/yr
    28
    mpg comb.
  • Impreza Sport AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    24 city · 33 hwy · $2,400/yr
    27
    mpg comb.
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
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Subaru Impreza SW AWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
4 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
9.9%
Overall
5 / 5
Subaru Impreza 4 DR AWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
4 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
9.9%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 29, 2026Vehicle 9255Vehicle 9254
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

2015 Impreza questions

How many recalls does the 2015 Subaru Impreza have?

2 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 2015 Subaru Impreza problems?

Owners filed 79 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (20), power train (12), engine (10). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2015 Subaru Impreza get?

The EPA rates the 2015 Subaru Impreza at 27–31 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).

How safe is the 2015 Subaru Impreza?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2015 Subaru Impreza 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 29, 2026