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 powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Subaru Impreza have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 67,000 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Impreza | 5 |
| 2012 Impreza | 25 |
| 2013 Impreza | 23 |
| 2014 Impreza | 8 |
| 2015 Impreza (this page) | 12 |
| 2016 Impreza | 11 |
| 2017 Impreza | 5 |
| 2018 Impreza | 4 |
| 2019 Impreza | 4 |
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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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 service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which enhancement was implemented to prevent abnormal operations. The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body. The updated valve body incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2015 Impreza powertrain complaints center on CVT transmission failures across multiple failure modes. Owners describe abrupt transmission lockups at highway speeds with no warning lights, sudden violent RPM oscillations and sustained red-line hold, and complete loss of power despite accelerator input. One owner's transmission locked at 65 MPH on cruise control, causing tire lock and rapid deceleration in traffic. Another reports 20,000 miles of escalating violent CVT malfunctions despite three dealer visits and multiple software updates (TCM re-flashing, ECM and software updates) with no resolution.
Shift interlock issues are widespread: keys stuck in ignition because the vehicle doesn't recognize park position, occurring daily in some cases and requiring restart and re-shifting to resolve. Owners also report the vehicle staying in reverse when the selector is moved to drive.
Additional powertrain concerns include stalling without warning, accelerator unresponsiveness mimicking neutral, and very early clutch/transmission failure at 7,600 miles. One early-mileage case (7,600 miles) saw clutch replacement fail within two weeks, requiring both clutch and transmission replacement per dealer diagnosis. An oil leak onto the exhaust manifold at 52,000 miles creates cabin smoke and burning smell. Start button failures with brake pedal travel to floorboard, and one report of a parked vehicle rolling backward, round out the reported issues.
Same Subaru Impreza powertrain reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
CVT Transmission Complete Lockup
Transmission locks up abruptly during highway driving, causing sudden loss of power, front tires to lock briefly, and vehicle to decelerate rapidly. No warning lights precede the lockup. Certified mechanic diagnosis confirms transmission defect.
When: Interstate speeds (65 MPH), cruise control active
Symptoms owners cite: complete transmission lockup; sudden loss of power; front tire lock with brief skid; high engine rev before power loss; no warning lights prior
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty program available; owner states this does not prevent incidents
CVT Erratic RPM and Power Loss
CVT exhibits violent, uncontrollable RPM oscillations, non-shifting behavior, sustained red-line hold, abrupt RPM drops, and loss of power despite accelerator input. Defects worsen over time and occur across varied driving conditions. One incident caused minor neck injury to disabled passenger from abrupt downshift.
When: Gradually increased in severity and frequency over 20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: rapid violent RPM oscillations; non-shifting; sustained RPM near red-line; abrupt RPM decreases; loss of power with accelerator applied; violent malfunctions at varied speeds and conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple software interventions attempted: TCM re-flashing, ECM updates, software updates—no effect
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru performed TCM re-flashing, ECM updates, and software updates without resolution; owner provided video documentation
CVT Violent Shudder and Complete Stop
Vehicle shudders violently and comes to complete stop while driving at highway speed on incline. Creates immediate safety hazard requiring emergency vehicle traffic control.
When: 60 MPH on freeway ascending slight hill
Symptoms owners cite: violent shudder; complete stop without warning
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru identified problem as CVT transmission and initiated warranty replacement
Shift Interlock and Gear Selection Failure
Shift guide plate assembly malfunction prevents vehicle from engaging correct gear and causes key to stick in ignition. Vehicle remains in previous gear when selector moved to different position (reverse when selector in drive, or vice versa). Shift interlock does not recognize park position.
When: Developed over few months, increasing in frequency
Symptoms owners cite: key stuck in ignition; shift guide plate does not recognize gear position; vehicle does not shift into selected gear; remains in previous gear despite selector movement
Repairs/costs cited: Shift guide plate assembly is faulty
Key Stuck in Ignition - Park Detection Failure
Vehicle does not recognize it is in park position, preventing key from turning to lock position and being removed from ignition. Requires restart and brief drive to park position again before key removal is possible. Occurs with increasing frequency.
When: No mileage specified; one report at 30,520 miles for related transmission issue
Symptoms owners cite: key cannot turn to lock position; key cannot be removed from ignition; car does not recognize park position; problem occurs with increasing frequency
Transmission Stall at Low Speed
Vehicle stalls without warning at 35 MPH. Dealer suspected transmission wiring harness issue but could not fully determine cause.
When: 30,520 miles
Symptoms owners cite: stall without warning; loss of power
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer suspected transmission wiring harness
Accelerator Unresponsiveness in Neutral-Like State
While driving downhill on interstate, accelerator becomes unresponsive as if vehicle is in neutral. Issue resolves after stopping and restarting vehicle.
When: No specific mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: accelerator unresponsive; loss of power; behaves like neutral
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer could not replicate issue; no error codes present
Clutch and Transmission Failure - Early Onset
At only 7,600 miles, warning light indicates vehicle not in sixth gear and vehicle shifts into neutral. Dealer diagnosed clutch failure, replaced it, but failure persisted within two weeks. Subsequent diagnosis indicated both clutch and transmission need replacement.
When: 7,600 miles
Symptoms owners cite: warning light indicating not in sixth gear; vehicle shifted into neutral; clutch failure
Repairs/costs cited: Clutch replaced initially, but failure recurred; both clutch and transmission later diagnosed as needing replacement; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure
Oil Leak onto Exhaust Manifold with Cabin Odor
Oil leaks onto exhaust manifold, causing burning smell and smoke to enter cabin through vents at low mileage. Owner concerned about toxic fumes exposure to children.
When: 52,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: smoke and oil burning smell in cabin; oil leak onto exhaust manifold
Start Button Failure with Brake Pedal Travel to Floor
Vehicle fails to start when brake pedal depressed and start button pushed. Brake pedal travels to floorboard multiple times before vehicle starts. Check engine and unknown warning lights illuminate during driving.
When: 71,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle fails to start; brake pedal travels to floorboard; check engine light; unknown warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed battery replacement needed; owner replaced battery but failure recurred; vehicle not returned to dealer
Vehicle Rolls Backward While Parked
Vehicle rolls backward independently while parked. Occurs at same mileage as start failure issues.
When: 71,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle rolls backward while parked
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
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…
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.