This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for the STARLINK® Remote Engine Start (RES).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Subaru Impreza engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2011 Subaru Impreza have filed 5 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 Impreza | 10 |
| 2008 Impreza | 29 |
| 2009 Impreza | 24 |
| 2010 Impreza | 8 |
| 2011 Impreza (this page) | 5 |
| 2012 Impreza | 40 |
| 2013 Impreza | 57 |
| 2014 Impreza | 14 |
| 2015 Impreza | 8 |
When does it fail?
Of the 5 engine complaints filed for the 2011 Subaru Impreza, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 14 model years of Subaru Impreza we track for engine problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (5).
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Service Information Bulletin provides the Service Manual Correction to the diagnostic procedure for DTC B2A16 (Immobilizer Key Collation Diagnosis).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be followed when diagnosing engine oil leakage on FA and FB type engines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The purpose of this bulletin is to advise of SOA’s revised Catalytic Converter Recycling Program shipping procedure.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
2011 Subaru impreza. Consumer writes in regards to a faulty transmission clutch. *smd the consumer noticed on cold starts and especially if it was cold and/or rainy the throw out bearing would have a consistent squeal. Once the vehicle was warmed up and operating temperature was reached, the noise would subside. At 50,000 miles, the consumer went to another dealership and an inspection…
The car is a 2011 Subaru wrx sti. As far as I can tell nothing LED up to the failure. It was fine one day, then failed the next. The failure was broken piston ring lands on the #2 and #4 pistons in the engine. The consequences were that I needed to replace the short block of the engine along with all associated parts like new pistons. Subaru replaced the short block and all associated parts…
1. Was driving the car and it started to smoke like crazy, and lost power while in the middle of traffic. 2. I had an engine failure, almost 75% of these cars are having the same issue 3. Brought it in for work and the dealer made me pay for it because Subaru didn't want to warranty the car! *tr
Had engine trouble with your 2011 Subaru Impreza?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2011 Subaru Impreza?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 5 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 5 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 11,370 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Subaru/Impreza.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.