Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 9 | 21% |
| Suspension | 7 | 17% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 5% |
| Tires | 2 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 5% |
| Wheels | 2 | 5% |
| Air bags | 2 | 5% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I WAS PULLING OUT OF A SERVICE BAY AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, I WAS GOING A LITTLE TO FAST SO I HIT THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED, I LET UP OFF THE PEDAL AND BRAKED AGAIN AND IT ACCELERATED AGAIN. I BUMPED THE ATTENDANT IN F
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, FUEL FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. FOUND SERIOUS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINES AND INTAKE MANIFOLD. DEALER/OTHER OWNERS REPORTED SAME PROBLEMS FOR THIS MODEL. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
RE: GENERAL ALTIMAX RT 205/60R15 DOT 65TM3T3 (PER CONTINENTAL). TREAD SEPARATION/BUBBLED SIDEWALLS WHEN VEHICLE TRAVELING 50-55MPH. DRIVER FELT TIRE GOING FLAT & PULLED OVER TO FIND SIDEWALL BUBBLED & DISTORTED AROUND EN
NHTSA complaint: Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU IMPERZA. THE REAR CONTINENTAL TIRES MADE A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE TIRES WERE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED ABNORMAL TREAD WEAR INSIDE
NHTSA complaint: Tires
RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACED 63948, 67346, 84427 MILES. HAD TO GO ON THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE CAR (NEW) THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A NOISE LIKE SOMETHING RATTLIN
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
TURN SIGNAL DIMMER SWITCH. HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT IF TURN SIGNAL IS TOUCHED. FAILURE OF LIGHTS OPERATING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT FOR SECONDS UNTIL LIGHTS TURN BACK ON. NO CORRECTION MADE YET. WATER PUMP MAKING HIGH PITC
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARINGS. REPLACED REAR-RIGHT IN 2002, REAR LEFT FEB 2004, BOTH REAR JUN 2006. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2000 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.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
| Reliability raw | 87 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 84 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 72 | good |
| Depreciation | 97 | excellent |
| Performance | 60 | 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 42 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 9 of them (21%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (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 84/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 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 78/100. 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.