The Lane Check

Home › Cars › Subaru › Impreza › 2019

2019 Subaru Impreza problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
13%
17 of 127 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2019 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 67 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 9%).

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 2019 Subaru Impreza have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 17 of 127 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Impreza concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (13%). For comparison, the 2018 scores 13% and the 2020 scores 4%. 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
17
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
194
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
5
6 crashes · 5 injuries

Complaints by component

EXTERIOR LIGHTING63 · 32%
VISIBILITY/WIPER55 · 28%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER26 · 13%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM19 · 10%
SERVICE BRAKES8 · 4%
ENGINE8 · 4%

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 2019 compares with other Subaru Impreza years

Of the 11 Subaru Impreza years with enough complaints to score, the 2019 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (13%). The worst is the 2013 (57%), the best the 2020 (4%). By volume, the 2019 drew 194 complaints (17 drivetrain), against 151 for the 2018 and 85 for the 2020.

Subaru Impreza years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2019 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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING09/01/2026
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle was jerking, shaking, and failed to accelerate as needed. The check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The failure nearly caused a crash. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where the oxygen sensor and spa…

One of 17 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2019 Subaru Impreza fuel system recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2019 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.

fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump21V587000 · Jul 2021

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…

fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump20V218000 · Apr 2020

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.

Risk: If the low pressure fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this…

3 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…

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

Checking one particular 2019 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 2019 Subaru Impreza

Does the 2019 Subaru Impreza have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 17 of 127 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 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 2019 Subaru Impreza?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2019 Subaru Impreza is exterior lighting: 63 of 194 complaints (32%) name it, followed by visibility/wiper (55) and electrical system (19). 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 2019 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 3rd-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 2019 Subaru Impreza?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2019 Subaru Impreza involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total: 21V587000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 20V218000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). 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 2019 (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 VIN

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.