Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Subaru Impreza, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Air bags5
- Wheels3
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Seats2
- Suspension2
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Tires1
- Unknown or other1
- Visibility1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1996 Subaru Impreza failed the safety check 1.44% of the time — 2% less often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 146,179 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
72 first registered in 1996 are on Dutch roads; 13% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen24
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde23
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af15
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld8
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht6
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse5
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm5
- Band beschadigd4
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
116 cars built in 1996 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 689 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 152 of these cars first registered in 1996 took their annual MOT test. 73% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1996 the figure was 65%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1996 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 18.4% | 16.1% |
| Brakes | 9.9% | 11.5% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.2% | 6.8% |
| Suspension | 7.2% | 11.5% |
| Visibility | 6.6% | 6.7% |
| Tyres | 5.9% | 3.4% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
30 of these cars first registered in 1996 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 262,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
805 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register; 87% arrived as used imports, 6% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 5 variants: combined 10.3–10.8 L/100 km (about 22–23 mpg US), CO₂ 237–248 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impreza AWD · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 11.5 | 8.9 | 10.3 |
| Impreza AWD Wagon · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 11.5 | 8.9 | 10.3 |
| Impreza AWD · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 11.9 | 8.9 | 10.6 |
| Impreza AWD Wagon · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 11.9 | 8.9 | 10.6 |
| Impreza AWD Wagon · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 12.2 | 9.0 | 10.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1996 Subaru Impreza.
| 2000069 17 Mar 2000 | Other Certain vehicle do not comply with Regulation 6 - Statement of Compliance. Compliance label was not expressed in both official languages in regard to vehicle c… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1996 Subaru Impreza.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Subaru told its dealers about the 1996 Subaru Impreza: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 626926 | INFORMATION REGARDING SEAT BELT LATCH SLIDES TO THE LOWER SEAT BELT ANCHOR. *YH UPDATED *EH |
| 608198 | VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS MAY EXHIBIT FIRST GEAR POPPING OUT WHILE DRIVING. *TT |
| 605778 | INFORMATION ON INSTALLING REAR DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTOR . *TT |
| 46649 | ACCESSORY PROTECTIVE BUMPER COVER ADHESION. *SD |
| 10240110 | This bulletin announces the recommended cleaning procedures to followed when encountering vehicles with long time exposure to pollen on painted surfaces on vehicles imported from Japan. This bulletin does not apply to SIA built vehicles. |
| 10234261 | Remanufactured Automatic Transaxle Program |
| 10219492 | This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models. |
| 10219491 | This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. |
| 10209915 | This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential information during diagnosis and repair of the Infotainment concerns. (Applicable to all models with Harman or Denso CP1 Infotainment). |
| 10198758 | This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models |
| 10198749 | This bulletin is to advise of SOAs revised catalytic converter recycling program shipping procedure. |
| 10187315 | To help reduce confusion and increase technician efficiency, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) has developed the following cross reference list to help locate the appropriate Special Service Tool. |
| 10179378 | Special Service Tools Cross Reference List. |
| 10174543 | All Models (Vehicle Cleaning- COVID-19Best Practices) |
| 10163525 | This Service Information bulletin announces instruction for application of additional lubrication between the brake caliper support and pad clips. This will prevent the pad from dragging due to corrosion buildup which may result in uneven or premature wear of the replacement brake pads. This additional instruction applies to all models with brake pads using the upper and lower pad clips and has been added to the brake pad installation procedures found in the related Service Manuals. |
| 10161824 | Subaru Service and Technical Support Line Newletter. |
| 10161813 | To help reduce confusion and increase technician efficiency, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) has developed the following cross reference list to help locate the appropriate Special Service Tool. |
| 10037968 | SUBARU: THERE IS A STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO AN IMPORPER WHEEL BALANCE. *RM |
| 10019343 | RUBBING MARK ON TIMING BELT. SUBARU. *TT |
| 10000642 | NEW PROCEDURE FOR REPLACING REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)