2023 Subaru Impreza recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-19. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
2 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Brakes
What's wrong, in plain English: Anything that slows the car down. Treat brake recalls as urgent. The brake light switch may be improperly adjusted and illuminate the brake lights without application of the brake pedal. The vehicle may also allow drivers to start and shift the transmission out of the PARK position without pressing the brake pedal. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment…
What could happen: An unintentional brake light illumination can fail to alert other motorists of actual brake application. A vehicle that shifts out of the park position unexpectedly can allow the vehicle to rollaway. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the gap between the brake light switch and stopper, adjusting the switch as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 23, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRI-23.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2023 IMPREZA.
- Book a repair at any authorized Subaru dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 23V292000 (manufacturer code WRI-23).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-844-373-6614.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Impreza vehicles. The brake light switch may be improperly adjusted and illuminate the brake lights without application of the brake pedal. The vehicle may also allow drivers to start and shift the transmission out of the PARK position without pressing the brake pedal. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment" and 102, "Trans Shift Lever Seq/Starter Interlock/Trans Braking Effect."
Consequence: An unintentional brake light illumination can fail to alert other motorists of actual brake application. A vehicle that shifts out of the park position unexpectedly can allow the vehicle to rollaway. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the gap between the brake light switch and stopper, adjusting the switch as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 23, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRI-23.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
2. Transmission / drivetrain
What's wrong, in plain English: The parts that send engine power to the wheels. Failure can mean a sudden loss of power or the car rolling away. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
What could happen: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRN-23.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2023 IMPREZA.
- Book a repair at any authorized Subaru dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 23V647000 (manufacturer code WRN-23).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-844-373-6614.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
Consequence: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRN-23.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Useful for owners
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Wheels / tires (2), Unknown Or Other (1), Electrical system (1), Engine (1), Fuel system (1).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (4)
02/04/2026 · Wheels / tires
The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Impreza equipped with Sailun Tires, Tire Line: Black Hawk Street UHP, Tire Size: 225/40R18, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact had purchased the tires from Amazon. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware of a bubble on the outside of the rear passenger's side tire in December 2025. The vehicl…
12/31/2025 · Wheels / tires
The original equipment (OE) tires (Size: 225/40R18) on a 2023 vehicle exhibited severe, deep concentric cracking on the outer sidewalls and near the bead/rim line of all four tires at approximately 30,000 miles. The safety of the driver and passengers was put at extreme risk as the structural integrity of the tires was compromised, posing an imminent threat…
12/17/2023 · Unknown Or Other
This Subaru model and most other models I have researched is having connections issues with the infotainment systems, connecting and keeping a connection with Android auto and apple. It's not like just a small annoyance, this is causing me big issues when it does connect to Android auto then it is intermittent causing the driver to take their attention off…
05/16/2023 · Electrical system
Car does not accelerate from a full stop. Hesitates to react to gas pedal for a few seconds