Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
180–25K
1825–50K
450–75K
075–100K
0100–150K
1150K+
41 reports with mileage · 34 unknown
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.
Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
75 reports
45,000 miles · Sep 9, 2020
Electrical SystemEngine
KEY LOCKS INTO IGNITION AND VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RESTARTED AND THE SHIFT MOVED FROM PARK POSITION BACK TO PARK POSITION A FEW TIMES BEFORE THE KEY WILL RELEASE. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THIS ISSUE IE. FAILING LOCK CYLINDER/PARK SENSOR PROBLEMS. WILL THERE BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS AND A POSSIBLE RECALL? M…
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KEY LOCKS INTO IGNITION AND VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RESTARTED AND THE SHIFT MOVED FROM PARK POSITION BACK TO PARK POSITION A FEW TIMES BEFORE THE KEY WILL RELEASE. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THIS ISSUE IE. FAILING LOCK CYLINDER/PARK SENSOR PROBLEMS. WILL THERE BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS AND A POSSIBLE RECALL? MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000M ON IT.
NHTSA ODI #11353983
45,000 miles · Sep 8, 2020
Electrical System
CAR WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO TAK KEY OUT OF IGNITION WHEN CAR IS IN PARK.
NHTSA ODI #11353881
53,000 miles · Sep 2, 2020
Unknown Or Other
WHEN MY CAR IS PARKED I CANNOT REMOVE MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION. I HAVE TO TAKE IT OUT OF PARK PUT IT BACK IN PARK PRESS PARK ALL THE WAY FORWARD JIGGLE MY KEY MOVE MY STEERING WHEEL AND THEN TAKE MY KEY OUT. SOMETIMES IT STILL WILL NOT REMOVE AND IT WILL TAKE ME A VERY LONG TIME TO REMOVE IT. OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO REVERSE MY CAR…
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WHEN MY CAR IS PARKED I CANNOT REMOVE MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION. I HAVE TO TAKE IT OUT OF PARK PUT IT BACK IN PARK PRESS PARK ALL THE WAY FORWARD JIGGLE MY KEY MOVE MY STEERING WHEEL AND THEN TAKE MY KEY OUT. SOMETIMES IT STILL WILL NOT REMOVE AND IT WILL TAKE ME A VERY LONG TIME TO REMOVE IT. OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO REVERSE MY CAR AND DRIVE FORWARD AND PARK TO TRY AND TAKE IT OUT.
NHTSA ODI #11352844
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHICH HAPPENS EVERY DAY SINCE THE FIRST HAPPENING ON 8/22/20. AFTER GOOGLING IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH 2016 IMPREZAS AND OUTBACKS.
NHTSA ODI #11351771
Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2020
Power TrainSuspension
MY CAR SHAKES WHEN I DRIVING THE CAR AND WHEN I AM WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANCE USING THE BRAKES AND AC IT LOOKS LIKE TURN IN OFF .I WENT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IS NORMAL BUT I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW NEVER SHAKE I JUST WORRY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE BRAKES
NHTSA ODI #11351026
40,000 miles · Jul 28, 2020
Power Train
KEY GETS STUCK IN VEHICLE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO PARK. SOME SORT OF COMPONENT THAT TELLS THE CAR IT IS PARKED IS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME BUT PROBABLY ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. PLACING THE CAR INTO GEAR AND THEN BACK INTO PARK EVENTUALLY FIXES THE ISSUE, BUT IT OFTEN TAKES MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS.…
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KEY GETS STUCK IN VEHICLE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO PARK. SOME SORT OF COMPONENT THAT TELLS THE CAR IT IS PARKED IS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME BUT PROBABLY ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. PLACING THE CAR INTO GEAR AND THEN BACK INTO PARK EVENTUALLY FIXES THE ISSUE, BUT IT OFTEN TAKES MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THIS STARTED HAPPENING AFTER ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ANOTHER DRIVER. IT HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN AN ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11341855
28,288 miles · Jul 20, 2020
Unknown Or Other
KEY ON THE SUBARU IMPREZA WOULD NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSITION. DIFFICULT TO GET KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. TOOK CAR TO NAPLETON'S SUBARU IN PALATINE AND MECHANIC TECH REPLACED PARK SWITCH. I BELIEVE MECHANIC STATED THE KEY WOULD HAVE FALLEN OUT OF THE IGNITION IF THIS WAS NOT FIXED. MY IMPREZA HAS 28,289 MILES AND IS IN GREAT CON…
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KEY ON THE SUBARU IMPREZA WOULD NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSITION. DIFFICULT TO GET KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. TOOK CAR TO NAPLETON'S SUBARU IN PALATINE AND MECHANIC TECH REPLACED PARK SWITCH. I BELIEVE MECHANIC STATED THE KEY WOULD HAVE FALLEN OUT OF THE IGNITION IF THIS WAS NOT FIXED. MY IMPREZA HAS 28,289 MILES AND IS IN GREAT CONDITION. WHY DID THIS HAPPEN? CAR HAS KEY IGNITION AND WOULD NOT GO TO FINAL POSITION.
NHTSA ODI #11340474
Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2020
Unknown Or Other
KEY IGNITION REQUIRES MULTIPLE TRIES TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION LOCK. THIS HAPPENS EACH TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WITHOUT RESTARTING THE CAR AND COMPRESSING THE BRAKES OVER AND OVER.
NHTSA ODI #11339480
Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2020
Unknown Or Other
WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AND TURNED OFF, THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND CAN'T BE REMOVED WITHOUT TURNING THE CAR BACK ON AND SHIFTING FROM PARK BACK TO DRIVE AND THEN BACK TO PARK AGAIN. HAVE TO DO THIS TWICE TO BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION.
NHTSA ODI #11309759
24,000 miles · Jan 11, 2020
Unknown Or Other
AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND WHEN TRYING TO TAKE KEY OUT, KEY GETS STUCK IN THE KEY SLOT - CANNOT TAKE OUT. COMPLAINED TO DEALER AND DEALER IMMEDIATELY SAID IT IS IS A BRAKE SHIFT LOCK PROBLEM AND WILL COST $700 TO FIX - SO SUBARU KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM. CAR IS ONLY 24K MILES OLD. MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING IT ONLINE. DEALER SAYS…
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AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND WHEN TRYING TO TAKE KEY OUT, KEY GETS STUCK IN THE KEY SLOT - CANNOT TAKE OUT. COMPLAINED TO DEALER AND DEALER IMMEDIATELY SAID IT IS IS A BRAKE SHIFT LOCK PROBLEM AND WILL COST $700 TO FIX - SO SUBARU KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM. CAR IS ONLY 24K MILES OLD. MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING IT ONLINE. DEALER SAYS IF I DO NOT FIX IT, YOU WILL GET STUCK OUTSIDE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO TAKE KEY OUT AT A SUPER MARKET, FOR EXAMPLE
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
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.
2016 Subaru Impreza Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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