IllustrationHUB CAPS ARE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE AND REINSTALL. THE SERVICE DEALER'S TECH. BROKE ONE TRYING TO REMOVE THE COVER. THE COVERS (4) HAVE NOT STAYED ON AFTER REINSTALLATION. IF THE DEALER CAN NOT INSTALL THEM PROPERLY, HOW IS THE CONSUMER GOING TO INSTALL THEM PROPERLY?
1996 Subaru Impreza
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Subaru Impreza are lower than the model-year median of 56.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Impreza years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 20 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Wheels. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
20 reportsWHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN DRIVER'S AND PASSANGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
ANTI LOCK BRAKES GRINDING WITH NOISE, INTERMITTENT BRAKE LOSS.
BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED SERVICE.
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH WHEN SHE PRESSED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING CAR AHEAD, ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN FISHTAILING. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME VEHICLE FISHTAILED DUE TO ABS FAILURE. WHEN VEHICLE HIT BRIDGE, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK
VEHICLE HAS NO HEAD RESTRAINTS; ALSO, SEATBACK IS SHORT. ONE COULD GET A BROKEN NECK IF IN THE REAR DURING AN ACCIDENT. *AK
VEHICLE HAS NO HEADRESTS. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH WHEN SHE PRESSED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING CAR AHEAD. ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN FISHTAILING. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME VEHICLE FISHTAILED DUE TO ABS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HIT A BRIDGE, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT SHATTERED THE SHATTERED PROOF WIN…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH WHEN SHE PRESSED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING CAR AHEAD. ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN FISHTAILING. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME VEHICLE FISHTAILED DUE TO ABS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HIT A BRIDGE, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT SHATTERED THE SHATTERED PROOF WINDSHIELD. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAREND COLLISION TRAVELING ABOUT 10 MPH AND BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSESNGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE, PE96-075. *AK
HUBCAPS ON VEHICLE DESIGNED TO DETER VANDALISM, AND CAN ONLY BE REMOVED BY POUNDING THEM WITH A RUBBER MALLET. *DH
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.