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2017 Subaru Impreza problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
24%
20 of 83 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2017 Subaru Impreza. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 24% of relevant complaints.

Better than 81% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 42 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 16%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2017 Subaru Impreza have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 20 of 83 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Subaru Impreza concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (24%). For comparison, the 2016 scores 27% and the 2018 scores 13%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
20
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
125
this model year
Fires reported
3
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
7
10 crashes · 7 injuries

Complaints by component

EXTERIOR LIGHTING32 · 26%
VISIBILITY/WIPER25 · 20%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER22 · 18%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21 · 17%
ENGINE14 · 11%
AIR BAGS11 · 9%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2017 compares with other Subaru Impreza years

Of the 11 Subaru Impreza years with enough complaints to score, the 2017 is the 4th-best on engine and transmission share (24%). The worst is the 2013 (57%), the best the 2020 (4%). By volume, the 2017 drew 125 complaints (20 drivetrain), against 75 for the 2016 and 151 for the 2018.

Subaru Impreza years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2017 Subaru Impreza

  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN08/23/2025
Premature failure of wheel bearings. Both rear wheel bearings had to be replaced after only 54,192 miles. Technician indicated that replacements were upgraded "sealed" systems. At 73,712 miles the front driver's side wheel bearing was also replaced by the dealer after the same symptoms of excessive noise and poor mi…

One of 20 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2017 Subaru Impreza engine recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2017 Subaru Impreza involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv)19V744000 · Oct 2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Impreza and 2018 Crosstrek vehicles equipped with an aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve. The PCV valve may come apart, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, possibly resulting in a loss of power while driving.

Risk: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the engine will be replaced, free of…

engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv)19V745000 · Oct 2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017 Impreza vehicles equipped with an aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve. The PCV valve may come apart, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, possibly resulting in a loss of power while driving.

Risk: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is…

fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings17V216000 · Mar 2017

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017 Impreza vehicles. Winter fuels may vaporize prematurely in the fuel line, resulting in a reduction in fuel pressure, possibly causing the engine to stall.

Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the engine control unit to turn the radiator cooling fan on at a lower temperature, free of charge. The recall began on April 20, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru…

4 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
exterior lighting: headlights22V624000 · Aug 2022
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Impreza vehicles. The left and right side reflex reflector and left side low beam reflector may inadequately reflect light. As such,…
electrical system: software21V264000 · Apr 2021
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Subaru Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the…
electrical system: software19V743000 · Oct 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Impreza and 2018-2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may continue to power the ignition coil after the engine is…
back over prevention: camera system17V132000 · Mar 2017
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017 Impreza vehicles. Due to a software problem, the rearview camera display may not work properly.

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2017 Subaru Impreza? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2017 Subaru Impreza

Does the 2017 Subaru Impreza have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 20 of 83 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Subaru Impreza concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (24%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Subaru Impreza?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2017 Subaru Impreza is exterior lighting: 32 of 125 complaints (26%) name it, followed by visibility/wiper (25) and electrical system (21). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 24% of the relevant total.

Is the 2017 Subaru Impreza reliable?

On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 24% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 81% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 11 Subaru Impreza years we score, it ranks 4th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Subaru Impreza?

Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2017 Subaru Impreza involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total: 19V744000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv)), 19V745000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv)), 17V216000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Subaru Impreza years are better?

Among the Subaru Impreza years we track, the 2020 (4%), the 2018 (13%) and the 2019 (13%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2017 (24%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/subaru-impreza

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.