How many recalls does the 2021 Subaru Impreza have?

NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2021 Subaru Impreza model year. Whether one car had the recall work done depends on that car, so check its VIN with NHTSA.

What is the WhipWorthy verdict on the 2021 Subaru Impreza?

Worthy. Fewer owner complaints than a typical year. The verdict weighs this year against the other years of the Impreza, from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are unverified and not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

1995: 64 owner complaints, Maybe

Our take: worth a look. Owners filed fewer complaints than in a typical year of this model, and one recall says do not drive it until it is fixed.

Year verdict

Worthy

0.1× a typical year

Fewer owner complaints than a typical year. Still get it inspected.

Confidence: Low

Only 14 complaints in its first 6 years and 10 months, which can mean a strong year or very few cars sold.

Past 100,000 miles

Not judged

Too young to judge at high mileage. Most 2021 cars have not reached 100,000 miles yet, so their problems past it have not shown up.

How the dial was counted

Year verdict: Typical year: 78 complaints, the median of 8 nearby years. Each counted over its first 6 years and 10 months from January 2020; this one had 14.

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WhipWorthy sticker

2021 Subaru Impreza

Complaints14From owners
Loading owner complaints
Recalls21 do not drive
Loading recalls
NHTSA did not answer just now, so we cannot show crash ratings. Try again in a minute. You can also check it on their site.
Loading crash ratings
MPG25 to 32Combined, EPA
Loading fuel economy

Complaints are unverified owner reports, not adjusted for how many were sold.

Compare this car Every Impreza year

Car report

Park this car in My Garage and see its recalls at a glance.Car Hunt Pass or Pro

Value signals

We do not price cars.

These help you judge whether this one is worth its price.

Costly problem zones ahead at your miles come with a Car Hunt Pass or Pro. See plans
Fuel: $2,000 to $2,550 a year.The EPA’s estimate for 15,000 miles a year, 55% in town, at its fuel prices. Each version
Loading the EPA's yearly fuel cost
Have the VIN? Check it is this car, and see its open recalls at NHTSA.
VIN
On the dash at the base of the windshield, or on the driver’s door sticker.

What about the price? Check the asking price on two listing sites. Buying from a dealer? Run its offer through the offer X ray.

Education, not financial or mechanical advice. Have any used car checked by a mechanic you trust before you buy.

The full record

Tap to open

What owners complain about

14 complaints; the part named most is the driver assist and cameras

Unverified reports, not adjusted for sales. One complaint can name several parts, so shares add up past 100%. Filed Mar 31, 2021 to Sep 10, 2024. 14% name a part that is usually costly to fix.

Owners reported 1 crash and 1 injury in these complaints.

Driver assist and cameras3 · 21%
Windows, wipers and visibility3 · 21%
Cruise and speed control2 · 14%

What one owner wrote about the driver assist and cameras

The Eye Sight front collision warning did a hard brake going 55 mph when a car was well ahead of me slowing down to turn right. I was almost rear ended by the car behind me. This isn't the first time it's happened

Filed Apr 7, 2023NHTSA complaint 115160201 of 14 owner quotes

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7 more parts, and 14 owner quotes

Every part owners name for the 2021 Subaru Impreza, with their own words about what went wrong. Usually costly to fix among them: Engine, Transmission and drivetrain.

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SourceOwner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Subaru Impreza. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

Seller kit

Questions for the seller, test drive checks and price points

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Walk up to the seller ready

Questions to ask the seller of a 2021 Subaru Impreza, built from this year's owner complaints and recalls. What to feel, hear and look at on the test drive, with boxes to tick at the car. Honest points to raise on price, from the records and never from guesses. Copy the questions to your phone in one tap.

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Write your offer

A ready to send offer for the seller, by text or email

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Send the seller a fair offer

Type the asking price and your own offer for the 2021 Subaru Impreza, tick what you found, and get a polite message ready to text or email. Its reasons come from this year's owner complaints, recalls and crash ratings, and never from made up repair prices.

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When problems show up

Too few complaints give a mileage

Too few complaints mention a mileage to show a pattern. 4 complaints of 14 gave one, and a part needs at least 15.

SourceMileage from owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Subaru Impreza. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

Will it outlast the loan?

The month of your loan each problem zone lands in

Not enough owner complaints for the 2021 Subaru Impreza mention a mileage to lay against a loan. Have a mechanic look it over all the same.

Recalls

2 recalls on file, 1 saying do not drive or park outside

Not every car needs every fix. Run the VIN at NHTSA to see which are still open. Repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand; ask before any work.

Suspension
Aug 30, 2021 · Recall 21V675000Do not drive.NHTSA says: Park it until the repair is done.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2021 Impreza vehicles. The left-front lower control arm weld may fail, allowing the control arm to separate from the crossmember.
What can happen
A separated control arm may cause the tire to contact the wheel well, resulting in a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the control arm as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 3, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRI-21.
Transmission and drivetrain
Jan 26, 2021 · Recall 21V024000
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2021 Outback and Impreza vehicles. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) select lever cable nut may not have been tightened properly, allowing the nut to loosen.
What can happen
A loose nut can lead to a lost of retention in the CVT select lever cable and the gear selector not functioning properly, increasing risk of crash.
The fix
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and, if necessary, tighten the nut, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRA-21.

SourceRecalls listed by NHTSA for the 2021 Subaru Impreza. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

Crash ratings

NHTSA did not answer

NHTSA's stars out of five, for each version it tested. Front crash stars only compare cars of about the same size and weight.

NHTSA did not answer just now, so we cannot show crash ratings for this car. Try again in a minute. You can also check it on their site.

Fuel economy

25 to 32 mpg combined, across 7 versions

The EPA's estimates for each engine and transmission, and its own yearly fuel cost. Yours depends on how you drive and the shape the car is in.

Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L
Impreza 4-Door · All wheel drive · Regular gas
City
28 mpg
Highway
36 mpg
Combined
32 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$2,000
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
Impreza 4-Door · All wheel drive · Regular gas
City
23 mpg
Highway
31 mpg
Combined
26 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$2,450
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L
Impreza 5-Door · All wheel drive · Regular gas
City
28 mpg
Highway
36 mpg
Combined
31 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$2,050
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
Impreza 5-Door · All wheel drive · Regular gas
City
24 mpg
Highway
31 mpg
Combined
26 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$2,450
This one on fueleconomy.gov

Show 3 more versions

Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L
Impreza Sport 4-Door · All wheel drive · Regular gas
City
27 mpg
Highway
36 mpg
Combined
30 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$2,150
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L
Impreza Sport 5-Door · All wheel drive · Regular gas
City
27 mpg
Highway
35 mpg

SourceEPA fuel economy data, fueleconomy.gov. EPA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

True cost to own

The loan, fuel, insurance and upkeep, a month and over 5 years

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What it really costs to own

What the 2021 Subaru Impreza costs a month and over 5 years: the loan and its interest, fuel worked out from the EPA's figures for the version you pick, and your own insurance, registration and upkeep. A cost a mile, a link that reopens your numbers, and the breakdown copied to your phone in one tap.

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Every year of the Impreza

22 Worthy, 4 Maybe, 4 Pass, of 32 years on file

Owner complaints for each model year, this one outlined. Tap a year to open it. The newest 2 are not judged yet. Bars are totals, so older years stand taller; the verdict compares every year at the same age.

Best and worst years of the Impreza

NHTSA did not answer for 3 years, so the chart may be missing some.

SourceNHTSA owner complaints and recalls for the Impreza. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

Before you buy this one

5 checks, with a close look at the driver assist and cameras

Built from this year's numbers. Whatever the data says, the car in front of you is the one that counts.

Run the VIN at NHTSA to confirm every recall was fixed.
This year has 2 recalls on file. One of them says not to drive the car, or to park it outside, until it is fixed. Recall repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand. Ask the dealer to confirm before any work is done. Look up a VIN at NHTSA.
Ask the seller for the service records.
Look closely for any work on the driver assist and cameras. It is one of the parts owners complain about most for this year.
Have a mechanic you trust inspect it before you pay.
Ask them to look at the driver assist and cameras first.
Look at a vehicle history report.
It can show reported crashes, flood or salvage titles, and mileage that does not add up.
On the test drive, pay attention to the driver assist and cameras.
Try the cameras, sensors and every driver assist feature the car has.

Going to see it? Take the checklist52 checks with the bad signs to look for, saved on your phone.

Check this exact car

The verdict is about the model year. These checks are about the one in front of you. Most are free or a few dollars.

VIN for these checks

Copy it, then paste it into each check. Nothing is sent until you open one.

Official checks on this VIN

Open recallsFree
NHTSA
Safety recalls on this VIN that are not fixed yet, from the last 15 years.
A recall already fixed does not show.
Check recalls at NHTSAnhtsa.gov (opens in a new tab)
Theft and total lossFree
NICB VINCheck
Whether an insurer reported it stolen and not found, or wrote it off as a total loss.
Only insurer records. Five checks a day.
Open NICB VINChecknicb.org (opens in a new tab)
Title brandsA few dollars
NMVTIS, the federal title system
Salvage, flood, junk and rebuilt brands from any state, and the last miles on the title.
No repairs, service or recalls. Sold by approved sellers listed on the site.
See the approved sellersvehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov (opens in a new tab)
Title statusVaries by state
The state motor vehicle office
Whether the title is branded in that state and, where the state offers it, whether a lender still has a lien.
It will not name the owner. Each state asks its own way, and some only by mail. Ask to see the seller’s title too.
Find your state’s officeusa.gov (opens in a new tab)

What a paid report adds

A history report such as Carfax or AutoCheck pulls in more of the car’s past than these checks can:

Crashes and damage reported by police, insurers or shops, even when it was fixed.
Service visits that shops reported, with the miles each time.
How many owners, for how long, and the states it was registered in.
Whether it was a rental, fleet or lease car, when that was reported.

It only knows what was reported to it. A clean report is not proof of a clean car. Ask the seller first: many dealers hand one over for free.

Red flags in a history

Salvage title
Usually an insurer called it a total loss. In most states it cannot be driven on the road until it is rebuilt and inspected.
Rebuilt title
A salvage car that was fixed and passed a state check. It can be fine, but it is worth less, can be harder to insure, and needs a careful inspection.
Flood damage
Water can ruin wiring and sensors months later. Be wary of a flood brand that vanished after a move to another state.
Lemon or maker buyback
The maker bought it back over a defect it could not fix. Ask what the defect was and how it was fixed.
Odometer rollback
A mileage reading lower than an earlier one, or a title marked not actual miles.
Many owners, fast
Three owners in two years can mean a problem each one passed along.
Gaps in the records
Years with no service or registration. Ask why: it may have sat, been off the road, or been rebuilt.

Title words and rules differ by state. Not legal advice.

Before you pay

Pre purchase inspection
Have a mechanic you choose, not the seller, put it on a lift and look it over before you pay.
Insurance quote
Get a quote on this exact car before you sign. Ask your own insurer and one or two others.

Model year	Owner complaints	Verdict
1995	64	Maybe
1996	27	Worthy
1997	34	Worthy
1998	46	Worthy
1999	22	Worthy
2000	42	Worthy
2001	11	Worthy
2002	300	Pass
2003	64	Worthy
2004	96	Worthy
2005	75	Worthy
2006	56	Worthy
2007	68	Worthy
2008	209	Pass
2009	113	Maybe
2010	46	Worthy
2011	58	Worthy
2012	243	Pass
2013	251	Pass
2014	108	Worthy
2015	79	Worthy
2016	75	Worthy
2017	125	Worthy
2018	152	Maybe
2019	194	Maybe
2020	85	Worthy
2021	14	Worthy
2022	14	Worthy
2023	4	Not judged
2024	32	Worthy
2025	5	Worthy
2026	1	Not judged

The verdict on the 2021 Subaru Impreza

Value signals

What owners complain about

Seller kit

Write your offer

When problems show up

Will it outlast the loan?

Recalls

Suspension

What can happen

The fix

Transmission and drivetrain

What can happen

The fix

Crash ratings

Fuel economy

Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L

True cost to own

Every year of the Impreza

Before you buy this one

Check this exact car

Official checks on this VIN

What a paid report adds

Before you pay

Pre purchase inspection

Insurance quote

Suspension

What can happen

The fix

Transmission and drivetrain

What can happen

The fix

Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L

Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L