Showing the 2021 Impreza Sport: EPA's Impreza Sport 4-Door and Impreza Sport 5-Door (2.0 L, AWD). NHTSA's overall rating for that drive: 5 stars (AWD). Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
25–30 mpgcombined; city 22–27, highway 30–36; the Sport
Five years of fuel
$10,830–$12,990U.S. average; Ohio $9,680–$11,610 at local prices; the Sport; 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 2021 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 14 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 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
Forward collision avoidance
3
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
3
0
0
0
Steering
2
0
0
0
Tires
2
0
0
0
Unknown or other
2
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
2
0
0
0
Air bags
1
1
0
1
Engine
1
0
0
0
Power train
1
0
0
0
Service brakes
1
0
0
0
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 2 recall campaigns for the 2021 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.
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.
Risk: 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.
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.
Risk: 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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 323 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2021 Impreza, the latest on Oct 5, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (189), equipment (104), engine (40), power train (32), unknown or other (28).
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 2021 Impreza.
EPA class: small station wagons. 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 / 36 / 32
Impreza 4-Door All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
23 / 31 / 26
Impreza 5-Door All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AV-S7)
Regular Gasoline
28 / 36 / 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 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 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 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