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 ↗2016 Subaru Impreza electrical problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 Subaru Impreza have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Impreza | 25 |
| 2013 Impreza | 32 |
| 2014 Impreza | 17 |
| 2015 Impreza | 18 |
| 2016 Impreza (this page) | 12 |
| 2017 Impreza | 19 |
| 2018 Impreza | 11 |
| 2019 Impreza | 18 |
| 2020 Impreza | 4 |
When does it fail?
Of the 12 electrical complaints filed for the 2016 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 electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 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
Owners report that the ignition key becomes stuck in the ACC (accessory) position after shutting off the engine in Park, requiring repeated shifting, engine restarts, or yanking to remove it. This happens intermittently and unpredictably—sometimes every few times, sometimes weeks apart—but occurs frequently enough to be a pattern. Subaru issued technical service bulletins TSB 16-112-18 and TSB 16-112-18R to address the defect, and a dealer admitted it's a "known issue," yet Subaru refuses to recall it. Owners outside warranty have been denied free service; one quote from a 2017 Outback ran approximately $1,300.
Brake-light failures are also reported: the stop lamps fail to illuminate when braking while dashboard warnings for ABS, Stability Control, and Hill Brake Assist appear intermittently. This is a rear-collision hazard because trailing drivers can't see the car slowing.
Additional complaints include battery drain despite a good battery and no detected power leak, a cabin fan dial that literally melted inside its assembly (repair cost $1,200), a Starlink infotainment touchscreen that stopped responding and allegedly drains the battery, and one case of sudden unintended acceleration during a low-speed turn that the dealer could not reproduce. No warning lights accompany most of these failures, making diagnosis difficult for owners.
Same Subaru Impreza electrical reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Key stuck in ignition — won't release from ACC position
After shutting off the engine in Park, the ignition key becomes locked in the ACC (accessory) position and cannot be removed. The driver must repeatedly shift the lever back and forth, restart the engine, or manipulate the shift linkage to free the key. The issue occurs intermittently—sometimes every few ignitions, sometimes sporadically over months—but when it happens, there are no warning lights or diagnostic messages. Owners report this as a known defect that Subaru has documented but refuses to recall.
When: At engine shutdown; occurs intermittently after 24,000–50,000 miles and beyond; reported as ongoing for weeks to months
Symptoms owners cite: Key locked in ignition and cannot be removed after engine shutdown in Park; Key release requires restarting engine multiple times or shifting back and forth; No warning lights or diagnostic codes present; Intermittent occurrence—not every shutdown, but frequent enough to be a pattern
Repairs/costs cited: Subaru issued TSB 16-112-18 and TSB 16-112-18R addressing the defect; owners out of warranty report being denied free service. One owner's spouse mentioned a 2017 Outback with the same problem quoted at approximately $1,300 for repair. Some owners have reportedly bypassed the safety feature by disabling key-removal interlocks in steering column wiring.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 16-112-18 and TSB 16-112-18R issued; Subaru acknowledged the issue as 'known' but declined recall; dealer responsibility disclaimed; Subaru insinuated customer misuse (e.g., spilled beverages) as possible cause; warranty-limited coverage on repairs.
Brake stop switch fails intermittently — lights and safety systems disabled
The brake stop switch (likely a pressure or pedal position switch) fails intermittently, causing multiple warning lights to illuminate on the dashboard (ABS, Hill Brake Assist, Stability Control) while the vehicle is in motion or stationary. A critical side effect is brake-light failure—the actual stop lamps do not illuminate when braking, creating a serious rear-collision hazard because trailing drivers cannot see the vehicle is slowing. The failures are intermittent and do not follow a predictable pattern.
When: Occurs randomly while driving or parked; no set time interval; failures may cycle on and off within five to thirty minutes
Symptoms owners cite: Brake stop lights illuminate without brake pedal input or emergency brake engagement; Dashboard warnings for Hill Brake Assist, Stability Control, and ABS systems appear; Actual brake lights fail to illuminate during braking; No predictable pattern or warning before failure; Intermittent cycling of warning lights and brake-light function
Repairs/costs cited: No repair costs or parts details provided by owners. One owner noted that Subaru recently issued a recall for this specific issue but has not yet received dealer notification.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued for brake stop switch failure (owner has not received notification letter as of complaint date); no other manufacturer communication documented.
Battery drains without electrical fault or warning
The battery drains significantly within a week despite normal weekly driving (5–10 miles per day). The vehicle struggles to start but does not illuminate a low-battery warning light. An independent electrical test (AutoZone) found no power leak and the battery itself is functional. The cause of the drain remains undiagnosed.
When: Battery drains completely within one week despite consistent short-distance weekly driving
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle struggling to start; Battery fully drained within one week; No battery-low warning light on dashboard; Independent testing shows battery condition is good and no power leak detected
Repairs/costs cited: AutoZone tested the battery and electrical system; no parasitic draw or battery fault found. Cause remains unresolved.
Cabin fan speed control dial melts
The variable dial for cabin air fan speed control melted, rendering the dial immobile. Upon disassembly, internal components within the assembly were visibly melted, indicating an internal thermal or electrical failure. Cost to replace the entire assembly was $1,200; Subaru declined involvement.
When: Timing not specified; failure detected when dial became stuck and could no longer be adjusted
Symptoms owners cite: Fan speed control dial physically melted; Dial would not move or adjust; Internal assembly components visibly melted upon removal
Repairs/costs cited: Entire climate control assembly replaced; cost $1,200. Owner states pictures of the melted components are unavailable.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru declined to service or assist with this issue.
Unintended acceleration during low-speed right turn
While turning right at low speed, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without driver input, causing loss of steering control and the car to veer into the opposite lane and into a neighbor's yard. The issue resolved only after the driver shifted into neutral. The dealer was unable to reproduce the failure. The underlying cause was never determined.
When: At 24,800 miles; occurred during a low-speed right turn
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden unintended acceleration while turning right at low speed; Loss of steering control; Vehicle crossed into opposite lane; Acceleration stopped only after manual shift to neutral
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to dealer; dealer unable to reproduce or diagnose the failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer (Subaru) was not notified of the failure by the owner or dealer.
Starlink infotainment touchscreen unresponsive and drains battery
The Starlink (integrated satellite and infotainment system) touchscreen stopped responding to touch input. The same unit is suspected of causing a slow battery drain that persists even when the vehicle is off. Subaru is unwilling to service either complaint without a service fee.
When: Timing of touchscreen failure not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Starlink touchscreen no longer responsive to touch input; Suspected parasitic battery drain linked to the unit; Battery drain occurs even when vehicle is not in use
Repairs/costs cited: Owner suspects both the touchscreen failure and battery drain are caused by a faulty Starlink unit; Subaru refuses warranty service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru is unwilling to service the vehicle for either issue without charging a service fee.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
After turning off the engine in Park, the keys are not being released from the ACC position of the ignition in my 2016 Subaru Impreza, which has 32,000 miles. I must repeatedly depress the shift lever and/or shift gears back and forth and/or restart and turn off the car in order to get the key out. This has been going on for two months now for at least half the time although not every time I turn…
There seems to be an issue with keys getting stuck in the ignition on a lot of various years and makes of Subaru's. So much so, that Subaru put out a service bulletin (Bulletin Number: 16-112-18R) to remedy this. Unfortunately, those who are out of the warranty time frame, are no longer eligible for a replacement without charge. This is not a safety issue per-say, but rather an issue of the…
Key locks into ignition and vehicle needs to be restarted and the shift moved from park position back to park position a few times before the key will release. I have seen many complaints online regarding this issue ie. Failing lock cylinder/park sensor problems. Will there be an investigation into this and a possible recall? My car has less than 50,000m on it.
Car will not allow you to tak key out of ignition when car is in park.
Had electrical trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Subaru Impreza?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 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?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 38,713 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 $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/2016/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.