The 1994 Subaru Impreza has 3 safety recalls and 8 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (3 complaints).
Recalls3safety recalls
Complaints8filed by owners
Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Exterior lighting › Headlights
NHTSA recall 09E025000 · May 11, 2009 · 42,540 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Exterior lighting
NHTSA recall 09E012000 · Apr 7, 2009 · 16,270 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Air bags
NHTSA recall 98V315000 · Dec 11, 1998 · 95,673 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN OCCUR AFTER UNDERCARRIAGE CONTACT OF THE TOW HOOKS WITH CURBS, DIPS, SPEEDBUMPS, POTHOLES, ETC.
Risk: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FRONT TOW HOOKS.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
Impreza
24mpg combined
City / highway
22 / 29 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel
Impreza Wagon
24mpg combined
City / highway
22 / 29 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel
Impreza
23mpg combined
City / highway
21 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
Impreza AWD
23mpg combined
City / highway
21 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
Impreza Wagon
23mpg combined
City / highway
21 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
Impreza Wagon AWD
23mpg combined
City / highway
21 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
Impreza AWD
22mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
Impreza Wagon AWD
22mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Power train Automatic transmission; Clutch assembly › Pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)
3
1
0
0
—
Equipment Appliance › Air conditioner
2
0
0
0
—
Suspension Front
1
0
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control
1
0
0
0
—
Visibility Defroster/defogger/hvac system
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Oct 11, 1999Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system WHILE DRIVING REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
Aug 20, 1997Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner THE AIR COMPRESSOR UNIT CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED FOR INTERNAL PRESSURE, THE WHOLE UNIT HAS TO BE REPLACED AS PER DESIGN.
Mar 4, 1997Power train › Clutch assembly CLICKING NOISE OCCURS WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AS WELL AS WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED. *AK
Feb 11, 1997Power train › Clutch assembly › Pedal/hand lever(motorcycle) CLICKING NOISE OCCURS WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED, WHEN DRIVING OR WITH ENGINE OFF.
Sep 20, 1996Vehicle speed control WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLE LURCHED FOWARD, LACK OF POWER , AND BACKFIRED. *AK
May 1, 1995Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner ON THREE OCCASIONS THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR BROKE, PURCHASED CAR NEW . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
May 1, 1996Suspension › Front FRONT SUSPENSION, BOLTS THAT SHAFT TO THE RIGHT FRONT MISSING, CAUSING THE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. *AK
Dec 13, 1995 · crashPower train › Automatic transmission AUTO-TRAN: TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF DRIVE INTO REVERSE; DRIVER ACCELERATED; VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. TT
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
EA97010 · opened Apr 30, 1997 · closed Dec 23, 1998 · led to recall 98V315000OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN ITS LETTER DATED DECEMBER 21, 1998, SUBARU STATED THAT THE VEHICLES IDENTIFIED ABOVE WILL BE RECALLED.SUBARU DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FRONT TOWING/TIE-DOWN HOOKS.REFER TO NHTSA RECALL NO. 98V-315 FOR DETAILS.
PE96075 · opened Dec 18, 1996 · closed Apr 30, 1997OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT ODI HAS REVIEWED 33 COMPLAINTS OF OVERSENSITIVE' AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT (I.E., ANY NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENT) RECEIVED BY ODI AND SUBARU INVOLVING MODEL YEAR 1995 SUBARU IMPREZA & LEGACY VEHICLES AND ALL OTHER IMPREZA & LEGACY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR BAG SYSTEMS IDENTICAL OR SIMILAR TO THOSE IN THE 1995 IMPREZA & LEGACY; THEY ARE LATE 1994-1996 IMPREZA AND ALL1995 & 1996 LEGACY (33 COMPLAINTS OUT OF 165,385 VEHICLES).ODI'S ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT CERTAIN IMPREZA & LEGACY VEHICLES - - LATE 1994 & EARLY 1995 IMPREZA AND ALL 1995 & EARLY 1996 LEGACY (29 COMPLAINTS OUT OF 95,678 VEHICLES) -- HAVE MUCH HIGHER COMPLAINT RATE THAN THE REMAINING VEHICLES WHICH ARE DIFFERENT IN VEHICLE STRUCTURE OR EQUIPPED WITH DIFFERENT AIR BAG SENSING SYSTEM.MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS (26 OF THE 29) INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE'S DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FROM AN UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACT WITH A CURB, BUMP, DIP, POTHOLE, ETC.IN…