2016 Subaru Impreza Safety Report

The 2016 Subaru Impreza presents an overall strong safety profile based on NHTSA crash test ratings, achieving a perfect 5-star Overall rating, with 5 stars in Side and Rollover, and 4 stars in Frontal crash tests. This indicates excellent performance in protecting occupants during various collision scenarios. However, the vehicle has accumulated 74 total complaints, including 7 crashes and 2 injuries, suggesting some areas of concern outside of direct crashworthiness. A single recall addresses a critical safety issue related to exterior lighting. Analysis of the 74 complaints reveals several recurring patterns. The 'POWER TRAIN' component, specifically the CVT transmission, is a significant concern, with multiple reports of sudden acceleration loss, jerking, stalling, and complete transmission failure, sometimes at highway speeds. This issue has led to dangerous situations, including vehicles stopping unexpectedly on interstates. Another notable pattern involves the 'ELECTRICAL SYSTEM' and 'VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL', with complaints about keys getting stuck in the ignition, headlights burning out frequently, and unintended auto-braking or acceleration. The 'UNKNOWN OR OTHER' category, which is the highest complaint component with 14 reports, often includes issues like windshield cracking, hood latch failure, and degraded seat foam. The single recall for the 2016 Impreza (NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V856000) pertains to 'EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH'. This recall affects a broad range of Subaru vehicles from various model years and addresses a defect where brake lights may not illuminate properly, significantly increasing the risk of a rear-end collision. While this recall is important, the complaint data suggests other potential safety-related issues, particularly with the powertrain and electrical system, that are not covered by this specific recall. The high number of complaints related to transmission issues, despite an extended warranty by Subaru for some, indicates a persistent problem that can compromise vehicle control and safety.

Our recommendation: While the 2016 Subaru Impreza boasts strong crash test ratings, potential buyers should be aware of recurring powertrain and electrical issues, particularly CVT transmission problems and keys getting stuck in the ignition. Thoroughly inspect the vehicle's service history for transmission work and ensure all recalls, especially the brake light switch recall, have been addressed.