The 1998 Subaru Impreza has 3 safety recalls and 30 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (13 complaints).
Recalls3safety recalls
Complaints30filed by owners
Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths1 · 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.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
NHTSA recall 08E050000 · Aug 11, 2008 · 1,921 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
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 AWD
23mpg combined
City / highway
20 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
Impreza AWD
23mpg combined
City / highway
20 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
Impreza Wagon AWD
23mpg combined
City / highway
20 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
Impreza Wagon AWD
23mpg combined
City / highway
20 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.2 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
2.5 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
Impreza AWD
21mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/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 Axle assembly › Axle shaft; Clutch assembly
13
0
0
0
—
Suspension Multiple axle; Front › Wheel bearing
13
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Engine › Gasoline
8
0
0
0
72,000 mi
Unknown or other
4
0
0
0
—
Air bags Frontal
3
1
0
1
—
Electrical system Wiring › Interior/under dash; Starter assembly
3
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components › Disc › Pads; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
2
0
0
0
—
Wheels Hub
2
0
0
0
—
Exterior lighting Brake lights
2
0
0
0
—
Seats
1
1
0
1
—
Interior lighting
1
0
0
0
—
Structure Body
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
Sep 1, 2016Air bags AIR BAG RECALL AND IMPENDING SUIT AGAINST AIR BAG COMPANY
Sep 12, 2006 · 72,000 milesEngine and engine cooling › Engine 98 SUBARU IMPREZA 2.5RS. I HAD THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST TIME . AROUND A YEAR AFTER THAT,THE CAR OVER HEATED AGAIN. I HAD IT TOWED TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT I WORKED AT AND HAD THEM TEST THE CAR TO SEE THE PROBLEM. IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AGAIN. THEY DETERMINED THIS BY TESTING FOR ANY EMISSIONS IN THE COOLANT. THERE WAS ALSO A LARGE AMOUNT OF SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR(OIL)AS WELL. SUBARU WOULD NOT WARRANTY THERE ORIGINAL WORK SO THE CAR SAT FOR A BIT BEFORE I COULD AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED. WHEN I SAVED UP SOME MONEY FOR THE REPAIR, I BROUGHT IT TO THE SUBARU DEALER TO HAVE THEM DO THE WORK ON IT. I WAS EXTREMELY UPSET WITH THE WORK THEY DID BUT…
Mar 15, 2001 · 29,000 milesEngine and engine cooling › Engine HEAD GASKET FAILURE ENGINE OVERHEATED ON 16 HOUR TRIP.. TOOK TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP, THEY PUT IN A NEW "STARTER BOLT" STATED IT WAS A BAD GROUND?? ON RETURN HOME CAR OVER HEATED AGAIN.. WAS REPAIRED BY SUBARU, TECH SAID IT WAS COMMON. 2ND HEAD GASKET FAILURE, TWO MONTHS LATER, OIL IN ANTIFREEZE... DRIVING 55-65 MPH FOR 10 MIN IN 75-80F WEATHER, NOT UNDER HARD ACCELERATION. FEAR THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. CURRENT RECALL ON 99-01 MODELS FOR "COOLANT ADDITIVE". POOR HEAD GASKET DESIGN IS LEADING TO FAILURE... SEEMS TO BE COMMON PROBLEM ON 98'S (2.5RS DOHC EJ25 PHASE 1) *JB
Jun 4, 2004 · 120,000 milesElectrical system › Ignition INTERMITTENT FAILURE/SHORT OF POWER TO THE MAIN COMPUTER (ECU) AT APPOX. 120K MILES. CAR WOULD NOT START, NO CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT. AFTER WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK, IT STARTS AND RUNS FINE. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND HE SAYS NOTHING WRONG. TWO WEEKS LATER, SAME THING. HOOK UP OBD II MONITOR AND IT SAYS ECU RECIEVING "NO PWR." TOWED TO SHOP. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS FAILED ECU AND REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER, SAME SYMPTOMS (NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, "NO PWR" ON OBD II MONITOR), BUT AN HOUR LATER CAR STARTED FINE AND OBD II SHOWED NO PROBLEMS. TOOK TO MECHANIC WHO FOUND NOTHING WRONG. HAPPENED AGAIN A WEEK LATER, MECHANIC FINDS NOTHING. TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT, FAILED AGAIN, WOULD NOT START AFTER MANY DAYS AND…
Dec 15, 2003 · 98,000 milesEngine and engine cooling › Engine THE ENGINE KEPT OVERHEATING AND AIR WOULD APPEAR IN THE RADIATOR. ANTIFREEZE WOULD BE PUSHED OUT OF RADIATOR AND THE HEATER WOULD BLOW COLD AIR. THE CAR HAD TO BE SHUT OFF REPEATEDLY AND ALLOWED TO COOL DOWN AND THE ANTIFREEZE REPLACED. A CHECK OF THE COOLING SYSTEM DETECTED NO LEAKS. WE WERE TOOK THE CAR TO A NUMBER OF GARAGES UNTIL FINALLY ONE GARAGE TOLD US THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS MOST LIKELY CRACKED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3600. ACCORDING TO THE GARAGE, THEY HAVE REPLACED A NUMBER OF ENGINES FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, SPECIFICALLY ONE WITH THE DOHC.*AK
Jun 17, 2004Engine and engine cooling › Engine 1998 SUBARU IMPREZA 53,000 MILES AND THE AUTO TECH AT SUBARU SAYS I HAVE A PISTON SLAP, $2500.00 TO PULL ENGINE AND CHECK THIS OUT. I HAVE CHANGED OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE 30,000 MILEAGE OVER ALL CHECK UP - WHAT IS UP WITH THIS MOTOR? *JB
Sep 15, 2003 · 67,000 milesUnknown or other THIS CAR NEEDED REPLACEMENT OF BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS AT SLIGHTLY OVER 67,000 MILES. NO OTHER SUBARU I HAVE OWNED OR HEARD OF NEEDED SUCH REPAIRS. MY PREVIOUS SUBARU HAD OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT WITH NO DEFECTS. THE SHOP PERSONEL AT THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOME OTHER IMPREZAS, AS WELL AS FORESTERS. I WROTE A LETTER TO SUBARU AMERICA, AFTER SIX DAYS I HAVEN'T RECIEVED ANY RESPONSE. I INCLUDED A COPY OF MY REPAIR BILL AS WELL AS MY RENTAL CAR FEES.
Jan 4, 2003Engine and engine cooling › Engine ENGINE STALLS WHEN TRYING TO TAKE OFF AFTER STOPPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. THERE IS ALSO A RAPPING NOISE IN ENGINE UNTIL ITS BEEN RUNNING AWHILE. *JB
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.