2018 Subaru Impreza: What to check before buying

Headlight recall work that cannot be finished makes up most of these reports. Owners say they were notified of a headlight recall, but dealers and the manufacturer confirm the parts are not available. Several have waited nearly two years. Few describe an actual failure, though some say the low beams are very dim at night. Owners with front-end collision damage hit a second problem: dealers and body shops won't replace a damaged headlamp while the recall is open, which keeps cars off the road for months. One report is tied to a crash.

Windshields crack with no impact point, often while the car is parked overnight or during cold weather and defroster use. Cracks often start near the bottom edge or wiper area and spread across the glass within days. Some owners have replaced the windshield two or three times and paid about $1000 each time, because warranty and insurance did not cover it. Other complaints describe heavy chipping by 10,000 miles, and one describes a rear-view mirror that fell off and pulled a chunk of glass with it.

Windshields crack with no visible impact, usually discovered after the car has been parked. Cracks can run about 30 inches and block the driver's view. One windshield shattered when water was poured on it to wash it. Reported mileages run from 16,000 to 81,500, and several fall near 25,000. Owners generally could not find a cause, and dealers sometimes send them to independent glass shops. One complaint covers a recall repair waiting on parts.

Batteries go dead over and over, leaving cars that won't start or jump, and some owners are on their third or fourth battery. Dealers often tell owners to drive more or buy a battery tender. In one case a parasitic draw test traced the drain to the Data Communications Module. The Starlink head unit reboots itself, drops Bluetooth, and shows a black backup camera screen. Other reports cover flickering lights, a failed starter, and an ignition key that won't turn. One crash report with an injury says the side airbags did not deploy.

Oil leaks and heavy oil burning lead to blue or dark smoke, power loss under acceleration, and quotes for major repairs or rebuilds above $5000. One owner says the engine began failing at 68k miles. Another reports overheating at 106,000 miles after a failed reseal. Other complaints describe spark knock the dealer called common, and an engine that died while slowing and took minutes to restart. A fire investigator reported a fatal fire that started in the engine compartment.

Cars stall at stop signs and traffic lights, and in one case the stalled car rolled backward toward another vehicle. Other owners report shuddering, hesitation, and intermittent power loss between 2000 and 3000 RPM that dealers can't reproduce across repeated visits. One car's engine failed climbing a hill and was replaced, but the stalling continued afterward. One crash report describes sudden acceleration at low speed while parking, with the car jumping a curb and hitting a tree without the airbags deploying.

The wiper cowl panel lifts away from the base of the windshield. The gap starts small and grows to about 1 inch at the center after driving. Water pours in through the gap during heavy rain, snow, or car washes, and leaves and pine needles get in and clog the drain tubes. Pushing the panel back down doesn't hold, and one panel warped again soon after a warranty replacement at low mileage. The remaining reports describe windshields cracking with no impact, including a replacement that cracked within a week in frost.

Shaking and shuddering under braking is the main complaint. It shows up once the brakes are warm or at highway speed, and the vibration comes through the steering wheel into the cabin. Owners say it continues even after new pads and rotors, and one describes the car pulling as if a front brake were grabbing. Another report describes brakes squealing at about 20,527 miles that took repeated dealer visits to fix. Owners describe the shaking as getting worse and unsafe at speed.

The tilt steering column doesn't lock firmly, so the wheel shifts up or down while driving even with the lever engaged. One such report comes from a car under 40k miles that also had water leaking in through clogged drains. A second complaint describes a rubbing noise when braking in turns, vibration at higher speeds, and shifting trouble that the dealer could not find.