This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. (This is an revised version of the orignal bulletin.)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Subaru Impreza electrical problems
moderate Owners of the 2015 Subaru Impreza have filed 18 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 36,000 miles at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Impreza | 9 |
| 2012 Impreza | 25 |
| 2013 Impreza | 32 |
| 2014 Impreza | 17 |
| 2015 Impreza (this page) | 18 |
| 2016 Impreza | 12 |
| 2017 Impreza | 19 |
| 2018 Impreza | 11 |
| 2019 Impreza | 18 |
When does it fail?
Of the 18 electrical complaints filed for the 2015 Subaru Impreza, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Electrical accounts for 23% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 8 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 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 electrical 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 bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces the new procedure and Warranty Fail Code for FirstTime air conditioning (A/C) performance concerns possibly resulting from an undetected A/C refrigerant leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin contains information to help when attempting to complete the STARLINK Telematics subscription process, an Error Code 202 and / or 204 may occur preventing the process from completing successfully
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for 2026 model year vehicles exhibiting DTC B2A20 with gen 4 Telematics.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 18 complaints center on three main electrical failures. Most common is the ignition key stuck in the ACC position after shifting to Park—owners report being unable to remove the key 30–40 percent of the time or more, often requiring multiple attempts cycling the shift lever and restarting the engine. One owner diagnosed the root cause as loss of spring tension in the shift knob plunger or the mechanical switch it activates (called "Plate Guide B"), allowing contamination or wear to prevent the plunger from deactivating the ignition lock. Subaru issued a technical bulletin for this ("Park-Range repair"), and one owner successfully repaired it with hand tools in 10 minutes by bending the metal switch contact upward. The issue recurred even after dealership ignition switch replacement on at least one vehicle.
The second major failure is the passenger seat occupancy sensor. Owners report the sensor failing to detect an occupied passenger seat half the time—leaving the airbag undeployed—while also falsely activating when the seat is empty. One owner noted the sensor uses capacitance detection, which varies with body composition and clothing, unlike weight-based sensors used in other vehicles. The airbag warning light has illuminated intermittently; one owner was told to avoid passenger travel due to airbag unpredictability.
The third distinct failure involves acceleration cutoff during warm-weather highway driving (above 90°F, trips over 200 miles). The vehicle loses acceleration without warning lights, then will not restart for up to an hour, requiring towing. No diagnostic codes appear. The front interior dome light stuck on is also mentioned once, as is a battery drain from the USB port and one instance of simultaneous brake light and brake system failure.
Same Subaru Impreza electrical reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Ignition Key Stuck in ACC Position / Cannot Remove Key from Ignition
After shifting to Park and turning off the engine, the ignition key becomes stuck in the ACC position and cannot be turned to LOCK or removed. Owners must repeatedly cycle the shift lever in and out of Park, sometimes restarting the engine multiple times, for 5–40+ attempts before the key releases.
When: 15,000–70,800 miles; intermittent, occurring 30–40% of the time
Symptoms owners cite: Key will not turn from ACC to LOCK position; Key cannot be removed from ignition; Steering wheel locked; Shift lever may be locked in Park; Repetitive cycling of shift and restart required to release key
Repairs/costs cited: Subaru technical bulletin #16-112-18R and 'Park-Range repair' issued; one owner repaired without parts by bending the Plate Guide B switch contact upward (10 minutes, hand tools). Dealership ignition switch replacement performed on at least one vehicle but failure recurred at 27,000 miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru issued technical bulletin regarding contamination and loss of spring tension in Plate Guide B mechanism. At least one dealership performed repair under warranty (no charge) after owner contact.
Passenger Seat Occupancy Sensor Malfunction
The passenger airbag sensor fails to reliably detect passenger presence and misfire detection. The sensor either does not activate the airbag when a passenger is seated (over 50% of the time) or falsely activates the airbag off light when the seat is empty. The sensor uses capacitance detection rather than weight-based detection.
When: 19,000–46,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light illuminates intermittently or remains on at startup; Passenger airbag does not deploy when occupant is present; Passenger airbag off light activates when seat is empty; Sensor malfunction occurs in motion and stationary conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnosed and replaced passenger seat on at least one vehicle; one owner was instructed to avoid passenger seat use due to unpredictable airbag behavior. Repair on one vehicle recurred after dealer service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru of America notified and contacted; warranty coverage status unclear on at least one claim. Owner noted similarity to 2014 Forester passenger airbag sensor recall (366,000 vehicles).
Acceleration Loss and No-Start During Warm-Weather Highway Driving
During extended highway trips in temperatures above 90°F, the vehicle's acceleration suddenly cuts off without warning lights or check engine codes. After shutdown, the vehicle will not restart for up to one hour, requiring towing. No diagnostic trouble codes appear.
When: Unknown mileage; occurs on 200+ mile trips in high heat (above 90°F)
Symptoms owners cite: Acceleration ceases abruptly during highway driving; No warning lights or check engine light before failure; Vehicle will not restart after being turned off; Restart possible only after 30–60 minute wait
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to diagnose; no codes found. Towing required.
Brake System and Brake Light Electrical Failure
All brake lights stopped working; VDC, ABS, and cruise control systems simultaneously failed. Occurred after a 2-hour trip with no prior symptoms.
When: Unknown mileage; occurred after extended trip
Symptoms owners cite: All brake lights nonfunctional; ABS system inoperative; VDC (vehicle dynamic control) system inoperative; Cruise control inoperative; No restart of vehicle possible
Front Dome Light Stuck On
Front overhead interior light will not turn off, causing battery drain.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Front dome light remains on continuously
Repairs/costs cited: Owner removed bulb as temporary fix. Dealership advised leaving it on until battery died, then calling roadside service.
Battery Drain from USB Port
Plugging into the USB port causes battery drain.
When: Unknown mileage; second battery replacement since purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Battery drain when USB port is in use
Repairs/costs cited: Second battery replacement required.
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Subaru impreza. The contact stated that after shifting into park, the contact was unable to remove the key from the ignition switch. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer grand prix Subaru located at 500 s broadway, hicksville, ny 11801, to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ignition switch was defective and needed to be replaced. The ignition switch…
The passenger air bag sensor fails to properly identify a human in the passenger seat. More than half the time someone is sitting in the front passenger seat, the passenger air bag is not activated. This happens both when the vehicle is in motion, stationary, and on in street types or street conditions. The air bag also frequently activates when no one is sitting in the seat. The passenger…
Had electrical trouble with your 2015 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 electrical problem on the 2015 Subaru Impreza?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 18 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 19,000 and 57,000 miles, with the median around 36,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 19,000; a quarter make it past 57,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2015/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.