2021 Subaru Impreza Safety Report
2021 SUBARU IMPREZA Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2021 Subaru Impreza
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2021 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 (2) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Low (14) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 1 | 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 | 2023 | Compare against the 2023 Subaru Impreza with 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Subaru Impreza | 12 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Subaru Impreza | 83 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2023 Subaru Impreza | 4 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Subaru Impreza | 186 | 5 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2024 Subaru Impreza | 25 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Subaru Impreza | 148 | 5 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2021 Subaru Impreza Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2021 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
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Subaru onlyTires
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Tires issues Subaru onlySteering
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering issues Subaru onlyAir Bags
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Subaru onlyForward Collision Avoidance
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Forward Collision Avoidance issues Subaru onlyVisibility/Wiper
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Subaru onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2021 Subaru Impreza
Reliability Score
The 2021 Subaru Impreza receives a reliability score of 5 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates below-average reliability. Significant issues have been reported by owners and should be carefully evaluated before purchase.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2021 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 2021 Subaru Impreza
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2021 Subaru Impreza:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Control Arm Recalled for potential failure of the left-front lower control arm, which could lead to a loss of vehicle control. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Tires Multiple tire-related recalls have been issued, including issues with tire wear and heat sensitivity. |
High | Common | 8k-30k miles |
| Steering Issues Reported issues include erratic steering and difficulty in maintaining a straight path, which can affect driving safety. |
High | Common | 8k-30k miles |
| Windshield Cracking Windshields have been reported to crack spontaneously, particularly in the defroster area, affecting visibility. |
Medium | Common | 23k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2021 Subaru Impreza:
Windshields have been reported to crack spontaneously, particularly in the defroster area, affecting visibility.
Reported issues include erratic steering and difficulty in maintaining a straight path, which can affect driving safety.
Multiple tire-related recalls have been issued, including issues with tire wear and heat sensitivity.
Recall Details for the 2021 Subaru Impreza
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2021 Subaru Impreza by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2021 Subaru Impreza
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2021 Subaru Impreza with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
The contact owned a 2021 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the vehicle. The force of the impact caused the contact to hit another vehicle which then caused that vehicle to also hit another vehicle; in total, four vehicles were involved in the accident. The contact's air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact was tak...
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
Went to my car this morning and the windshield was cracked on the top center from the edge of the windshield to around where the rear view mirror is. This crack was not there last night when I parked my car. And there was no accident/damage to the windshield before this morning.
Plastic parts of side mirror melt easily by heat and sunlight. (Not only side mirror, but also other components with the same plastic parts) It bothers driver visibility and safety when driving highway. The problem was reviewed by subaru service center, and they said it is not their problems. Subaru service center said they saw few cases but they said it is customers fault. Service center said cus...
Vehicle is at 23520 miles, front brake pads are worn to 1mm on passenger side and 2mm on front driver side. Vehicle had been taken on October 04, 2022 for repairs and local Subaru dealer refuses to repair it, even though warranty still applicable for defects until 3 years or 36,000 miles as stated in pages 4 and 5 the Warranty and Maintenance 2021 Book. Also vehicle has oil leak under rear side of...
Front windshield spontaneous cracking from defroster area in a "J" shape. This is the second windshield since new to do this (2021 model). Available for inspection. The first windshield was inspected and replaced by Subaru at their cost minus eyesight recalibration (ADAS). First windshield was inspected by insurance and no impact point was found and was notified to contact dealer before filing a...
I was using the adaptive cruise control on the highway set to 55 mph. The car suddenly decelerated to ~44 mph so quickly I had whiplash. There was no other vehicle in front of me and the highway was clear of debris. The dealership said this could be caused by a glare.
JULY 09 2021 REPORTED TO SUBARU EL PASO AT TIME OF FIRST MAINTENANCE (6000 MILES) VEHICLE LOSSES POWER AND STALLS WHEN MAKING TURNS, IT IS MORE NOTICEABLE MAKING A LEFT TURN. TECHNICIAN SAID COUDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NO FURTER ACTION WAS NEEDED. HOWEVER A YEAR ;LATER FROM TIME TO TIME VEHICLE DOES STALL WHILE MAKING TURNS MAKING, ODOMETER READS 18081. THE OHER ISSUE IS ITS WINDSHIELD, I...
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Impreza equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: ProContact TX, Tire Size: P205/55/R16, DOT Number: A3T2WC892420. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, she heard a loud abnormal noise and the vehicle started pulling to the right. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road. While inspec...
New lease beginning in March 2021. The steering column is erratically loose, noticeable at highway speed in April 2021, accompanied by slight swerve. Subaru dealer (cityside) begrudgingly assessed and found it needed alignment Aligned. Steering column now again erratically loose, less so than before, but still disconcerting, and accompanied by slight swerve. Does not feel safe to drive at highway ...
Tiers are Yokohama P225/40R18 88V This vehicle now has slightly more than 8,000 miles and has only been driven over local roads under normal operating conditions and speeds. A couple of weeks ago, while getting gas, I noticed a knot/bulge developing on front driver's side sidewall. The integrity of the tire was compromised so I contacted the dealership and arranged to have the tire replaced. I ca...
CRACKED WINDSHIELD WITHIN 3 WEEKS OF PURCHASING NEW 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA HATCHBACK AWD
THE CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM DRIVER. DRIVER DID NOT APPLY PRESSURE TO GAS PEDAL HOWEVER THE CAR STILL MOVES BOTH FORWARD AN BACKWARDS. CAR ACCELERATED ENOUGH TO DRIVE OVER A SPEED BUMP WITHOUT STOPPING, ROUGHLY 5 MPH. THREE VIDEOS WERE TAKEN TO DOCUMENT THE ISSUE. THE EVENT HAPPEN IN A PARKING LOT, THE CAR WAS STOPPED AT FIRST HOWEVER AS SOON AS THE DRIVER REMOVED PRESSURE FROM BRAKE...
THIS CAR WILL NOT TRACK STRAIGHT. NICE FIRM STEERING, BUT SIMPLY WILL NOT TRACK STRAIGHT. THERE IS NO SENSE OF CENTER. IF LEFT ALONE, THE STEERING WILL GO SLIGHTLY LEFT, OR SLIGHTLY RIGHT, BUT NEVER CENTER. THIS IS ANNOYING FAIR WEATHER, BUT OUTRIGHT DANGEROUS IN WEATHER OR WIND. A MAJOR IMPACT ON VEHICLE STABILITY AND SAFETY. THIS CAR IS NEW, WITH 700 MILES AND HAS DONE THIS SINCE DAY ONE. A SUBA...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2021 Subaru Impreza
Has the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA been recalled?
Yes, the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA has 2 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA have?
The 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA has 14 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 1 involved crashes. 1 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA?
The 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 5/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA involve unknown or other (2 complaints), tires (2 complaints), steering (2 complaints). Other affected components include air bags, forward collision avoidance, visibility/wiper.
How many crash reports does the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA have?
There are 1 crash reports associated with the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA out of 14 total complaints (7.1% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA have?
There are no fire reports for the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA.
How many injuries are reported for the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA?
1 injury has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA is generally recommended. It has 14 complaints, 2 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 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA?
The components with the most failures on the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA are: 1. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (2 complaints), 2. TIRES (2 complaints), 3. STEERING (2 complaints), 4. AIR BAGS (1 complaints), 5. FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1 complaints). UNKNOWN OR OTHER is the single most-reported problem area with 2 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA?
Be aware of potential recalls and common issues with the 2021 Subaru Impreza, including steering, tire, and windshield problems. Regular maintenance is crucial. The 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA has 14 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA?
The 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA receives a reliability score of 5/100, indicating below-average reliability. This is based on 14 owner complaints, 2 recalls, and 1 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Lower Control Arm and Tires.
What are the known issues with the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA?
Known issues with the 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA include: Lower Control Arm, Tires, Steering Issues, Windshield Cracking. These are based on patterns found across 14 NHTSA complaints. 2 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2021 Subaru Impreza?
Yes, recalls have been issued for issues with the lower control arm, shift linkage, and tires.
What are the common steering issues reported?
Drivers have reported erratic steering and difficulty in maintaining a straight path.
Are there any issues with the windshield?
Yes, windshields have been reported to crack spontaneously, particularly in the defroster area.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of potential recalls and common issues with the 2021 Subaru Impreza, including steering, tire, and windshield problems. Regular maintenance is crucial.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2021 Subaru Impreza
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2021 Subaru Impreza. The data includes 14 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 2 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 reported crashes, 1 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2021 Subaru Impreza an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 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