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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 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

Visibility complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2002
Electrical SystemVisibility

WIRING BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE HUTCH PASSES THROUGH RUBBER BOOT. REPEATED OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE HUTCH BREAKS THE WIRING. REAR TOP BRAKE LIGHT, REAR WIPER POWER LOCKS ARE AFFECTED. ALSO IN ANOTHER BOOT THE TUBE FOR A REAR WASHER IS SIMILARLY SEVERED, WASHER FLUID ENTERS THE CAR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #756819

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 1997
Visibility

CONTACTED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER BOTH SENT CONSUMER A TOOL TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WILL BE A REACCURRING PROBLEM. WHEN EVER USINGWINDSHIELD WIPERS AND TURNING MOTOR TO HIGH MODE, THE WIPERS WILL THEN STOP AT RANDOM UNTILL CONSUMER TIGHTENS THE WIPERSWITH THE TOOLS PROVIDED BY MANUFACTURER. …

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CONTACTED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER BOTH SENT CONSUMER A TOOL TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WILL BE A REACCURRING PROBLEM. WHEN EVER USINGWINDSHIELD WIPERS AND TURNING MOTOR TO HIGH MODE, THE WIPERS WILL THEN STOP AT RANDOM UNTILL CONSUMER TIGHTENS THE WIPERSWITH THE TOOLS PROVIDED BY MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #814479

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.