Home › Cars › Subaru › Impreza › 2018
2018 Subaru Impreza problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2018 Subaru Impreza. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 13% of relevant complaints.
Better than 95% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 66 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 7%).
Does the 2018 Subaru Impreza have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 11 of 85 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Impreza concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (13%). For comparison, the 2017 scores 24% and the 2019 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.
Complaints by component
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 2018 compares with other Subaru Impreza years
Of the 11 Subaru Impreza years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (13%). The worst is the 2013 (57%), the best the 2020 (4%). By volume, the 2018 drew 151 complaints (11 drivetrain), against 125 for the 2017 and 194 for the 2019.
Subaru Impreza years to avoid and best years →
2010 Impreza problems · 2011 Impreza problems · 2012 Impreza problems · 2013 Impreza problems · 2014 Impreza problems · 2015 Impreza problems · 2016 Impreza problems · 2017 Impreza problems · 2018 · 2019 Impreza problems · 2020 Impreza problems
The rest of the picture on the 2018 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
One of 11 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2018 Subaru Impreza engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2018 Subaru Impreza involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for…
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…
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2018 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.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2018 Subaru Impreza
Does the 2018 Subaru Impreza have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 11 of 85 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Impreza concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (13%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Subaru Impreza?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Subaru Impreza is exterior lighting: 64 of 151 complaints (42%) name it, followed by visibility/wiper (34) and electrical system (12). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 13% of the relevant total.
Is the 2018 Subaru Impreza reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 13% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 95% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 11 Subaru Impreza years we score, it ranks 2nd-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 2018 Subaru Impreza?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2018 Subaru Impreza involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total: 21V587000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 19V744000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv)). 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%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (13%). 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
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental 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.