2016 Subaru Impreza Safety Report
2016 SUBARU IMPREZA Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Subaru Impreza
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Subaru Impreza. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (1) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (74) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 7 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Unknown Or Other | Compare unknown or other issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Subaru Impreza with 14 complaints and 2 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2019 | Check the 2019 Subaru Impreza before buying across this generation. |
Subaru Impreza Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Subaru Impreza years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Subaru Impreza | 124 | 7 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2015 Subaru Impreza | 78 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Subaru Impreza | 148 | 5 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Subaru Impreza | 186 | 5 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Subaru Impreza | 83 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2021 Subaru Impreza | 14 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Subaru Impreza Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Subaru Impreza, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Unknown Or Other
14 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Subaru onlyPower Train
8 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Subaru onlyElectrical System
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Subaru onlyVehicle Speed Control
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Vehicle Speed Control issues Subaru onlyAir Bags
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Subaru onlyVisibility/Wiper
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Subaru onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Subaru Impreza
Reliability Score
The 2016 Subaru Impreza receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Subaru Impreza
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Subaru Impreza
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Subaru Impreza:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission Failure Transmission issues have been reported, with one instance of a transmission solenoid failure leading to a transmission failure at high speed. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Engine Light Engine light has come on due to various issues, including a transmission solenoid failure. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Hood Latch Failure The hood latch system has failed, causing the hood to fly open and potentially damaging the windshield and reducing visibility. |
Low | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Headlight Issues Headlights have repeatedly failed, with one instance of a headlight needing replacement four times in three years. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Subaru Impreza:
Transmission issues are a common problem, with one instance of a transmission failure at high speed.
Engine light has come on due to various issues, including a transmission solenoid failure.
Headlights have repeatedly failed, with one instance of a headlight needing replacement four times in three years.
The hood latch system has failed, causing the hood to fly open and potentially damaging the windshield and reducing visibility.
Recall Details for the 2016 Subaru Impreza
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2016 Subaru Impreza by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Subaru Impreza
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Subaru Impreza with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 3 complaints involved crashes. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
Hello, I just purchase this vehicle from a dealership, 615 auto sales. After purchasing the vehicle I decided to go and get the recall done that was never done to the vehicle at the repair shop they did the recall but then ask me where did I purchase this vehicle from then I told them. The repair shop told me the grim news that the car was very rusted and should have not been sold like it was. The...
While driving a multi lane road with traffic going same direction in front of me, if one or more cars begin to slow for a left or right turn, the auto braking feature begins to slow and will try to stop my car. Problem is that the car in front of me turning isn't in my lane. I have a clear lane ahead and suddenly the system brakes. still locked onto the car in front, but doesn't recognize the cl...
The hood latch system failed and flew open while driving on the highway smashing the windshield. I was unable to see driving, glass shattered everywhere. The car was serviced three weeks prior and there was no notation of an issue with the hood latch. The hood would not latch after the incident either. Police were on scene and viewed the incident and insurance will be investigating. There have bee...
The seat foam has degraded and exposed the metal frame through the seat cover on the driver side front seat. It is not safe to drive with a metal frame being exposed. A service bulletin (12-232-18 dated 2/6/2018) indicates there is an issue with the seat construction that can lead to this defect/degradation but refuse to acknowledge the issue to customers calling it an "outside forces" problem.
Key will not turn past ACC after driving and so will not allow key to be removed from the car. This is a sporadic issue but could be a safety concern if needing to leave the car for an emergency as it runs down the battery and will not allow me to secure the vehicle. Driving around for 5 to 10 minutes more usually solves the problem but I might not have that extra time in an emergency! This has ...
We keep on having to replace our headlights. We just got one replaced 5 months ago and it’s out again. This will be the fourth time in three years. No one can figure out why the headlights keep burning out.
The variable fan speed control for the cabin air melted. The dial could no longer be moved and the assembly, once removed, had parts that were melted. Subaru was not interested. Cost me $1200 to get it fixed. Unfortunately, I cannot locate any pictures.
Engine light came on. Checked it, the failure was the transmission solenoid. It reported that a failure was about to occur. Brought it into the Subaru dealership because the will not sell any transmission parts to repair shops in the Phoenix area. I am not sure if I would have had a bigger problem, or not had I not taken it in right away.
This is the third time that this has happened on the highway. I was driving about 70 miles per hour when my acceleration cut out. My dashboard lights, head lights, and other electronics were still on, but the car stalled and would not accelerate. The car struggled to move forward, jerking while slowing down, and came to a stop. I was in the middle lane of traffic on the highway late at night drivi...
Transmission failure while at high speed on an interstate highway resulted in disengagement, immediate deceleration and limited steerage in an area with limited breakdown lane. Subaru reports this is a known issue for which they extended warranty but it is incomplete and does not include any safety check prior to failure!
I was driving on the highway when I experienced a sudden jerking and my car stopped accelerating while going about 67 miles an hour and came to a stop on the highway. It was dark outside and I was left in the road without the ability to turn my car back on. I towed the car to the dealership, and they couldn't diagnose a problem. The same thing happened two weeks later and they told me that because...
I bought my 2016 Subaru Impreza brand new and take great care of it. The car has 80,300 miles and when I did a sharp U turn the car stalled out and I was almost rear-ended. At a busy intersection a few weeks I was at a red light and my car was noticeably idling rough and when the light went green my car stalled out causing the road to be blocked. After taking my car to a certified mechanic I find...
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while the operating the vehicle, the front driver’s side floor mat detached and slid underneath the brake pedal and accelerator pedal. The contact stated that one of the pegs used to secure the floor mat fractured, allowing the floor mat to become unsecured. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contac...
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH and while attempting to avoid a collision with a second vehicle, the contact lost control of the steering and crashed into a tree. During the crash, the front end of the vehicle was damaged but no air bags were deployed. The contact sustained facial and dental injuries along with injuries to the left...
Intermittently unable to remove the keys from ignition after placing the car into Park and shutting off the engine. (Instances where keys remain stuck/locked in the ignition requiring someone to 'muscle' them out of there). I believe this is linked to a faulty sensor not allowing the keys to be released. Second complaint: The headset unit on the car, (starlink), has a touchscreen that no longer ...
The key will not come out of the ignition when the engine has stopped. It has to be restarted (often multiple times) before the key will come out. Does not happen every time but is frequent. This could lead people to leave the key in place if they are in a hurry and result in the possibility of theft. Roommate has 2017 Outback that does the same thing and was told that it could be fixed but the co...
In June 2020, 3 months after buying my 2016 Impreza used, the windshield randomly cracked from the bottom of the windshield and travelled upwards on the passenger side. Over the couple of weeks it took before getting replaced, the crack continued to spread splitting in multiple directions, including travelling across the bottom of the windshield and coming up the middle. By the time I was able to ...
In November of 2018 and again January 31, 2022. In November 2018, I was backing up in small parking lot tap the gas pedal. and my car speed up going backwards, even when I was pushing the brake. What stopped the momentum was another car, my car crashed into caused extensive damage to that car( it was totaled) . The second time; I turned the wheels to back-in as I had a several times into my dr...
Windshield cracked with a small pebble
Recently, when trying to park and turn off the vehicle, the key gets stuck in the battery position. The engine will turn off, but the car doesn't fully turn off so you can remove the key. The shifter is in park and there is no steering wheel lock or anything else that might ordinarily prevent the vehicle from being turned off. This process is no different from every other time I've turned the vehi...
Showing 20 of 74 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Subaru Impreza
Has the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA has 1 recall on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA have?
The 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA has 74 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 7 involved crashes. 2 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA?
The 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 5/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA involve unknown or other (14 complaints), power train (8 complaints), electrical system (5 complaints). Other affected components include vehicle speed control, air bags, visibility/wiper.
How many crash reports does the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA have?
There are 7 crash reports associated with the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA out of 74 total complaints (9.5% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA have?
There are no fire reports for the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA?
2 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA is acceptable with caveats. It has 74 complaints, 1 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA are: 1. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (14 complaints), 2. POWER TRAIN (8 complaints), 3. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (5 complaints), 4. VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (5 complaints), 5. AIR BAGS (4 complaints). UNKNOWN OR OTHER is the single most-reported problem area with 14 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA?
Be aware of potential transmission and electrical system issues. Ensure regular maintenance to address these common problems. The 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA has 74 NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA?
The 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 74 owner complaints, 1 recalls, and 7 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Transmission Failure and Engine Light.
What are the known issues with the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA?
Known issues with the 2016 SUBARU IMPREZA include: Transmission Failure, Engine Light, Hood Latch Failure, Headlight Issues. These are based on patterns found across 74 NHTSA complaints. 1 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues with the 2016 Subaru Impreza?
Common issues include transmission failures, engine light coming on, hood latch system failures, and repeated headlight failures.
Are there any recalls for the 2016 Subaru Impreza?
Yes, Subaru has recalled certain 2014-2016 Forester and 2008-2016 Impreza sedans for exterior lighting issues, specifically brake lights.
Can the hood latch system fail on the 2016 Subaru Impreza?
Yes, the hood latch system has failed in some cases, leading to windshield damage and loss of visibility.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of potential transmission and electrical system issues. Ensure regular maintenance to address these common problems.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Subaru Impreza
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Subaru Impreza. The data includes 74 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 1 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 7 reported crashes, 2 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Subaru Impreza an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 5 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16