Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Subaru Impreza
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Subaru Impreza has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns and 96 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #23V076000 Incorrectly Installed Replacement Air Bag Inflator NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V002000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V003000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V001000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V323000 Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V464000 FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM/TRANSVERSE LINK NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V473000 SUBARU/OIL FLOW CONTROL VALVE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V128000 SUBARU/CRUISE CONTROL CABLE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 24 complaints
- Suspension 17 complaints
- Air Bags 14 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 13 complaints
- Power Train 9 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 5 complaints
Of the 96 complaints on file, 7 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 96 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Subaru Impreza fares as an average vehicle primarily due to persistent issues with the airbag system and occasional suspension problems. While critical systems like the engine and transmission show less frequent concerns, notable recalls for airbag inflators and other components highlight significant but manageable risks over a 5-year period.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| fuel system | 80,000–110,000 miles | $300–$700 | common |
| control arm | 90,000–120,000 miles | $400–$900 | common |
| airbag inflators | any mileage | No reliable estimate | common |
| engine oil leak | 70,000–100,000 miles | $250–$600 | occasional |
| cruise control cable | 50,000–80,000 miles | $150–$300 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Replace air filter every 20,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 30,000 miles
- Timing belt check at 100,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Check engine light
- Poor fuel efficiency
- Suspension noise
- Leaking oil
- Cruise control issues
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Subaru Impreza at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.