Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Subaru Impreza, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension6
- Power train4
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Air bags2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Tires1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Child seat1
- Steering1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 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 1999 Subaru Impreza failed the safety check 1.82% of the time — 4% more often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 139,172 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1999 Subaru Impreza cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (160 kW, 215 hp), 1.6 petrol (70 kW, 94 hp) and 2.0 petrol (92 kW, 123 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 160 kW 215 hp | 270 |
| 1.6 petrol | 70 kW 94 hp | 74 |
| 2.0 petrol | 92 kW 123 hp | 23 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
388 first registered in 1999 are on Dutch roads; 4% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde111
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld54
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af49
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting beschadigd, dicht niet af45
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt39
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen39
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse26
- Band onvoldoende profiel23
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
443 cars built in 1999 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,602 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, 798 of these cars first registered in 1999 took their annual MOT test. 77% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1999 the figure was 63%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1999 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 9.4% | 16.6% |
| Suspension | 8.3% | 13.1% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.6% | 7.3% |
| Brakes | 5.5% | 12.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 4.8% | 9.3% |
| Visibility | 4.3% | 6.9% |
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
45 of these cars first registered in 1999 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 255,000 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
546 1999 cars are on the New Zealand register; 72% arrived as used imports, 21% 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 6 variants: combined 10.5–10.7 L/100 km (about 22 mpg US), CO₂ 242–246 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impreza AWD · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 12.0 | 8.7 | 10.5 |
| Impreza AWD Wagon · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 12.0 | 8.7 | 10.5 |
| Impreza AWD · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 8.9 | 10.7 |
| Impreza AWD · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 11.9 | 9.1 | 10.7 |
| Impreza AWD · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 8.9 | 10.7 |
| Impreza AWD Wagon · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 8.9 | 10.7 |
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 1999 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 1999 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 1999 Subaru Impreza: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 633865 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIR FLOW METER SENSOR. *JG |
| 632240 | SUBJECT REGADING AIR FLOW METER SENSING UNIT AVAILABILITY. *TT |
| 626926 | INFORMATION REGARDING SEAT BELT LATCH SLIDES TO THE LOWER SEAT BELT ANCHOR. *YH UPDATED *EH |
| 613408 | CUSTOMER COMPLAINT THAT THE A/T TEMPERATURE LIGHT FLASHING AND CODE 38 FOUND IN THE TCM. *TT |
| 610541 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT THE A/T TEMPERATURE LIGHT FLASHING AND CODE 38 FOUND IN THE TCM. *TT |
| 610540 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIR INTAKE CHAMBER BOX BREAKAGE. *TT |
| 610539 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF SLIGHT HESITATION ON ACCELERATION. *TT |
| 610111 | THIS BULLETIN MENTIONS IF YOU HAVE A 1999MY OR LATER VEHICLES WITH THE NEW (SECOND GENERATION) 4EAT AND ARE DIAGNOSING A CODE FOR A DUTY SOLENOID, CHECK THE TRANSMISSION OIL PAN FOR ANY DENTS. *TT |
| 605778 | INFORMATION ON INSTALLING REAR DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTOR . *TT |
| 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. |
| 10234829 | Repair Procedure for High-Pitched Sound from Extension Housing Area Using Latest Generation Production Parts |
| 10234261 | Remanufactured Automatic Transaxle Program |
| 10234260 | Repair Procedure for High-Pitched Sound from Extension Housing Area Using Latest Generation Production Parts |
| 10234258 | 5MT Transfer Driven Gear Bearings |
| 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. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)