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1997 Subaru Impreza

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Subaru Impreza do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 56.

About this comparison →
30Owner complaints

Model-year median: 56

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
8
199446
199520
199630
199730
199822
199941
2000
Compare all Impreza years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
6Power Train
5Wheels
5Suspension
4Seats
3
All reported categories
Electrical System
2Seat Belts
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Visibility
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Steering
1Structure
1

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: 3 of 30 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 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Wheels. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports

Power Train complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2004
Power TrainSuspension

REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED 4 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY AND ADDITIONAL 4 TIMES OUT OF WARRANTY. BEARING WERE REPLACED DURING EACH REPAIR, SOMETIMES AXELS AND HOUSINGS AS WELL. SUBARU REFUSED TO CONTINUE REPAIRS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY PERIOD. 8 FAILUES TOTAL AT REGULAR INTERVALS . *AK

NHTSA ODI #10082500

Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2002
Power TrainFire

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A "FAULTY AXLE" CONSUMER WILL SEND MORE INFORMATION WHY THIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DIAGNOSIS PROVIDED TECHNICIAN OF THE INSURANCE COMPANY. TS

NHTSA ODI #10001523

Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2001
Power Train

REAR AXLE FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #889889

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2001
Power Train

I'VE HAD THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED 3 TIMES IT HAS BEEN A TOTAL OF 6 OF BOTH SIDES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #744511

Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2001
Power Train

CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM WHEELS. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE WHEEL BEARINGS. WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED IN OCTOBER 1999/ OCTOBER 2000, AND AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #884695

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.