Showing the 2018 Impreza Premium. NHTSA's VIN data shows it with a 2.0 L engine, but that may not be every version of it, so the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 18, 2026.
Fuel economy
25–32 mpgcombined; city 22–28, highway 30–38; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$10,150–$12,990U.S. average; Ohio $9,070–$11,610 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2018 Impreza. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 151 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Impreza. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Exterior lighting
64
1
0
0
Visibility/wiper
34
0
0
0
Unknown or other
25
1
0
0
Electrical system
12
1
0
1
Engine
11
1
1
0
Structure
6
1
0
0
Visibility
6
0
0
0
Power train
4
1
0
0
Service brakes
3
0
0
0
Steering
3
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
3
1
0
1
Air bags
2
2
0
2
7 more parts
Suspension
2
0
0
0
Wheels
2
0
0
0
Carry handle, shell, base
1
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
1
1
0
0
Other/i am not sure
1
0
0
0
Seat belts
1
1
0
1
Seats
1
1
0
1
What the columns count
Complaints: complaints that name that part. One complaint can name several parts, so the rows overlap and don't add up to the total.
Crashes and Fires: complaints that report one. Two owners can file about the same event, and NHTSA doesn't link them, so these count reports, not events.
Injuries: the number of people the complaints say were injured.
None of these columns shows that a part caused a crash, fire or injury: they're what owners reported, unverified.
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2018 Impreza over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Exterior lighting: headlights
NHTSA campaign 22V624000 · reported Aug 12, 2022 · 188,397 vehicles potentially affected across the whole campaign
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front headlamp assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 15, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-22.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Impreza vehicles. The left and right side reflex reflector and left side low beam reflector may inadequately reflect light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Reflectors that do not provide adequate illumination reduce the driver's ability to see and increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA campaign 21V587000 · reported Jul 29, 2021 · 175,968 vehicles potentially affected across the whole campaign
Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Electrical system: ignition; Electrical system: software; Engine and engine cooling: engine; Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system
NHTSA campaign 21V264000 · reported Apr 15, 2021 · 466,205 vehicles potentially affected across the whole campaign
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECM software, replace the ignition coils and, if necessary, the front exhaust pipe, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 1, 2021. Owners can contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-21. Note: This recall includes all vehicles previously repaired under Recall 19V743.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Subaru Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, causing a short circuit.
Risk: A short circuit in the ignition coils may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA campaign 19V743000 · reported Oct 18, 2019 · 466,205 vehicles potentially affected across the whole campaign
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECM software and inspect and replace the ignition coil, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, on vehicles with confirmed ignition coil damage and a certain stored diagnostic trouble code (DTC), Subaru will replace the front exhaust pipe, free of charge. The recall began December 4, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUQ-02.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is shut off, which could result in a short circuit and blown fuse.
Risk: If a short circuit occurs while driving, the vehicle may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA campaign 19V744000 · reported Oct 17, 2019 · 205,000 vehicles potentially affected across the whole campaign
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the engine will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began December 2, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUP-01.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Impreza and 2018 Crosstrek vehicles equipped with an aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve. The PCV valve may come apart, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, possibly resulting in a loss of power while driving.
Risk: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 528 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2018 Impreza, the latest on Oct 5, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (257), equipment (197), power train (56), engine and engine cooling (55), engine (45).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2018 Impreza.
EPA class: midsize cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 5–7 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Impreza 4-Door All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AV-S7)
Regular Gasoline
28 / 38 / 32
Impreza 4-Door All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
24 / 32 / 27
Impreza 5-Door All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AV-S7)
Regular Gasoline
28 / 37 / 31
Impreza 5-Door All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
24 / 31 / 26
Impreza Sport 4-Door All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AV-S7)
Regular Gasoline
27 / 36 / 30
Impreza Sport 4-Door All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
23 / 31 / 26
Impreza Sport 5-Door All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AV-S7)
Regular Gasoline
27 / 35 / 30
Impreza Sport 5-Door All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
22 / 30 / 25
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 18, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 18, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 18, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 18, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data