2020 Subaru Impreza: What to check before buying

The windshield cracks with no visible impact, most often while the car sits parked overnight, in a driveway, or in the sun. Cracks usually start at the lower center and spread across the glass within hours or days, often reaching 10 to 24 inches. Many reports come from nearly new cars, between about 1,300 and 7,000 miles. Some dealers blame stone chips that owners say they cannot find. A large crack blocks the driver's view, and replacement may also require recalibrating the EyeSight camera.

The windshield cracks after the car has been parked or while it is being driven, sometimes with an audible snap. Cracks typically begin at the bottom or lower passenger side, and some reach about 10 inches. At least one owner reports the crack returning in the same spot after the glass was replaced. The failures cluster around 15,000 to 16,000 miles, though one appears near 94,000. Small cracks are sometimes repaired instead of replaced.

Failures of the ABS/VDC hydraulic unit set off EyeSight warnings and shut off stability control. Dealers trace this to an internal pressure sensor, log code C1742, and replace the control unit, but replacement units are back-ordered. Separate reports describe loud rumbling and vibration when braking at high speed, along with uneven front pad wear and a leaking front caliper. Calipers are also in short supply. One complaint describes the collision-avoidance system braking hard at 35 mph with nothing ahead, possibly because of low sun glare, which nearly caused a rear-end crash.

These filings are few but serious. In one, the airbags failed to deploy in a 60 mph guardrail crash that totaled the car and injured the driver. Another blames a short in the passenger airbag wiring for an explosion and fire inside the cabin that caused burns, though no dealer or insurer confirmed it. A third describes an airbag warning light that did not come on at startup at 46,000 miles. The manufacturer blamed that fault on earlier accident damage.

The car shuts off completely while driving with no warning, then restarts normally after 20 to 30 minutes. One owner reports this 3 times, each requiring a tow. Other reports describe hard starting that gets worse over time until the engine will not turn over, possibly from a dead starter, and rear doors that sometimes will not open from inside or outside. That door fault can trap rear passengers and has needed repeated dealer visits without a fix.

Stalling and loss of power strike without warning while driving, after which the car restarts and runs normally. The problem recurs, and in one case it began around 10,000 miles with no cause found and drained the battery. A separate report describes white exhaust smoke with oil mixed into the coolant, which a mechanic said required a full engine replacement. A stall at speed raises crash risk, but only 2 complaints fall in this category.