Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 64 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Subaru Impreza, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 22 | 34% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 9% |
| Fuel system | 5 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 6% |
| Visibility | 3 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 5% |
| Suspension | 2 | 3% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 3% |
| Equipment | 2 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
REAR WIRES IN HATCH BOOT COMPLETELY SEVERED. NO THIRD BRAKE LIGHT, WIPER, OR DEFOGGER BECAUSE OF ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
GAS TANK FILLER TUBE HAS RUST THROUGH. CAN NOT FILL TANK OVER HALF FULL OR GAS WILL LEAK OUT. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
VEHICLE HIT A CURB ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO INJURY REPORTED. ALSO, NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, EXCEPT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHO
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING WENT AT 53,743 MILES ON MY 1995 SUBARU IMPREZA. SUBARU HAD A TSB AND USED LEGACY BEARINGS FOR THE FIX. IF NOT FIXED TIRE CAN SEPARATE FROM CAR AND LOSE CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
AT 53743 MILES RIGHT WHEEL BEARING WENT, FIXED BY DEALER. I NOTICED THE SAME NOISE AGAIN AT 78378, ONLY 24,635 LATER THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I CALLED SUBARU AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A WEA
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
WHILE DRIVING BOTH SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING, CAUSING INJURIES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE SWIPE ACCIDENT, THE OTHER VEHICLE HIT ME IN THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL AND BOTH AIR BAGS IMMEDIATLEY DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO BREAK AND CAUSING ME TO RUN INTO A SIGN, RATHER THAN BEING ABLE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1995 Subaru Impreza. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND A
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN OCCUR AFTER UNDERCARRIAGE CONTACT OF THE TOW HOOKS WITH CURBS, DIPS, SPEEDBUMPS, POTHOLES, ETC.
Risk: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FRONT TOW HOOKS.
| Reliability raw | 82 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 72 | good |
| Depreciation | 97 | excellent |
| Performance | 57 | average |
| Efficiency | 41 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 64 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 22 of them (34%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 76/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.