IllustrationNAR 02/13/2003 ANSWERED BY TIS. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE HIS CLUTCH REPLACED TWICE DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR WHILE STILL UNDER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY, HOWEVER SUBARU REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIRS. *JB
1999 Subaru Impreza
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Subaru Impreza are lower than the model-year median of 56.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Impreza years →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: 10 of 22 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.
- Suspension. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
22 reportsTHE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WAS INJURED. TS *JB
CONSUMER WAS HIT FROM THE REAR BY A VAN, PUSHED FORWARD, AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STOPPED FOR TRAFFIC. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TS
REARVIEW MIRROR WAS BEING ADJUSTED AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD WHICH ACTION BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE WINDSHIELD MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY SINCE THERE WAS VERY LITTLE PRESSURE INVOLVED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT. THE FACTORY REP SAID THEY WOULDN…
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REARVIEW MIRROR WAS BEING ADJUSTED AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD WHICH ACTION BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE WINDSHIELD MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY SINCE THERE WAS VERY LITTLE PRESSURE INVOLVED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT. THE FACTORY REP SAID THEY WOULDN'T REPLACE IT. I CONTACTED SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE, KATE CLARK, WHO ALSO SAID THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER I COULDN'T SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE FACTORY REP, SO NEITHER HE NOR CUSTOMER SERVICE EVEN ASKED HOW THE WINDSHIELD BROKE. A PROPERLY INSTALLED WINDSHIELD ON A NEW VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BREAK FROM MERE CONTACT WITH THE REARVIEW MIRROR, IN MY OPINION, AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY AND SUBARU SHOULD REPLACE IT.*AK
REAR WHEELS REQUIRED NEW BEARINGS...HARSH GRINDING NOISE AS CAR SPED UP...WARRANTIED ITEM. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT I'VE DROPPED THE CAR OFF TWICE IN 3 MONTHS FOR SIMILAR NOISES...BRAKES, TRANSMISSION AND WHEELS.*AK
MANUFACTURER SHOULD MAKE SEAT BELT EXTENDERS AVAILABLE FOR CONSUMERS WHEN NEEDED. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND IS UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT BECAUSE THE FASTENER IS SO FAR BEHIND HER, IT PULLS THE SHOULDER STRAP UP UNDER HER RIGHT ARM WHICH CAUSES PAINFUL CHAFING. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING REAR STRUT WOULD MAKE NOISE. *AK
BRAKES ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONT ROTORS AND PADS, AND BRAKE SENSOR ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP FOR REPAIRS, AND WHILE DRIVING OFF DEALER'S LOT, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPING DISTANCE, ALMOST CAUSING A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE AN…
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BRAKES ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONT ROTORS AND PADS, AND BRAKE SENSOR ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP FOR REPAIRS, AND WHILE DRIVING OFF DEALER'S LOT, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPING DISTANCE, ALMOST CAUSING A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION PLUG FELL OUT, LEAKAGE OF ALL THE FLUID WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOCK UP. NO WARNING LIGHTS TO INDICATE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. MJS
WHILE TRAVELING 45MPH RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW. TOOK TO TIRE STORE & HAD TIRE REPLACED. THE BACK TIRE BLEW IN 21 JUL 99. IT WAS A GAS STATION ATTENDANT WHO INFORMED OWNER THAT TIRE HAD BUBBLES ON INSIDE WALL. ALL THE TIRES WITH VEHICLE WERE DEFECTIVE. BRIDESTONE, THE TIRE MANUFACTURER, CLAIMS THAT THE DEFECTS WERE DUE TO POOR RO…
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WHILE TRAVELING 45MPH RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW. TOOK TO TIRE STORE & HAD TIRE REPLACED. THE BACK TIRE BLEW IN 21 JUL 99. IT WAS A GAS STATION ATTENDANT WHO INFORMED OWNER THAT TIRE HAD BUBBLES ON INSIDE WALL. ALL THE TIRES WITH VEHICLE WERE DEFECTIVE. BRIDESTONE, THE TIRE MANUFACTURER, CLAIMS THAT THE DEFECTS WERE DUE TO POOR ROAD CONDITIONS. *AK *ML
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.