While driving about 60 miles an hour, in the second from the left lane on a busy, four-lane freeway ascending a slight hill, my car shuddered violently and came to a complete stop. We were almost rear-ended several times; cars were swerving around us; it was terrifying and quite dangerous. We waited close to 10 minutes for the chp to stop traffic. Subaru has identified the problem as the CVT…
2015 Subaru Impreza powertrain problems
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 12 powertrain 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
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Subaru impreza. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to autobarn Subaru of countryside in countryside, illinois. The dealer diagnosed that the transmission's wiring harness may have been affected, but the cause of the failure could not be fully determined. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage…
While driving downhill on the interstate, the accelerator suddenly was unresponsive, almost as if the car were in neutral. Once pulling over and restarting the car it drove normally. Took the car in for service and the dealer could not replicate the issue and there were no error codes. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).' *pm
A CVT defect is causing erratic, uncontrollable, and violent changes in engine RPM, including but not limited to: rapid violent oscillations in RPM, non-shifting, sustained holding of RPM near engine red-line, abrupt decreases of RPM and subsequent loss of power despite the accelerator is still being applied. These defects have occurred under an array of driving conditions, speeds, throttle…
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Subaru impreza. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, an abnormal grinding sound was present coming from the driver's side front wheel well. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer faulkner Subaru bethlehem located at 330 stoke park rd, bethlehem, pa 18017, to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the wheel bearing was and transmission were…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2015 Subaru Impreza?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 35,000 and 71,000 miles, with the median around 67,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 35,000; a quarter make it past 71,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.