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 ↗2016 Subaru Impreza powertrain problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 11 powertrain complaints filed for the 2016 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
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 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 ↗This bulletin has been developed in response to a small number of customer concerns regarding fluid seepage found coming from the CVT assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2016 Subaru Impreza report a cluster of transmission and ignition-related failures occurring over multiple model years. The most serious complaints involve sudden loss of engine power at highway speeds (60–70 mph) where the vehicle stalls and refuses to restart, leaving drivers stranded in traffic. This happened repeatedly to at least two owners despite Subaru replacing the torque converter under warranty; the problem recurred after each repair, yet dealerships claimed no diagnostic codes or abnormalities existed.
A second pattern involves jerking, hesitation, and grinding noises during acceleration from stopped position and at low speeds, particularly in cold weather. One owner documented CVT staying locked in third gear at 2,600 RPM.
Two owners report uncontrolled backward acceleration when shifting into reverse—one incident in a parking lot totaled a nearby car; another crashed through a garage wall. A fourth failure mode involves the ignition key getting stuck in the switch when parked, sometimes occurring 50% of the time, linked to a defective sensor plate and shift interlock. One transmission overheated and ground loudly at highway speed with no warning lights before failure.
Across these incidents, owners describe being turned away by dealerships that could not diagnose problems or blamed driving habits. Subaru eventually replaced some parts under warranty but did not resolve underlying issues. One owner was told this key-stuck problem is known across all 2016+ Subaru models.
Same Subaru Impreza powertrain reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden loss of power and stalling at highway speed
Vehicle suddenly loses acceleration, engine stalls, and refuses to restart immediately while traveling at highway speeds (60-70 mph), leaving owner stranded in traffic. Occurs intermittently; dealership diagnostics repeatedly reveal nothing. Owners report torque converter replacement by Subaru under warranty, but problem recurs.
When: Highway driving; incidents occur at 67-70 mph; one owner reports third occurrence
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of acceleration; Engine stall; Vehicle jerking during slowdown; Inability to restart immediately; Blinking warning lights (one report); Lights and electronics remain functional
Repairs/costs cited: Torque converter replacement performed at Subaru dealership under transmission warranty; problem persisted after repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru performed diagnostics but found no irregularities initially; eventually replaced torque converter under warranty; later advised owner that hesitation was due to driving habits rather than vehicle defect; one owner notes Subaru mentions extended warranty coverage for this 'known issue'
Jerking, hesitation, and knocking during acceleration
Vehicle hesitates when accelerating from stop, jerks forward with audible knocking or grinding noises at low speeds (around 10 mph) and during normal driving. Behavior is inconsistent and difficult for dealers to replicate on demand, hampering diagnosis.
When: During low-speed acceleration and highway driving; cold weather reported as trigger in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation when accelerating from stopped position; Jerking forward with thud sound; Knocking/grinding noises at low speed; Vehicle struggles to move forward smoothly; CVT stuck in gear in cold weather (one report with tach reaching 2600 RPM at 30-55 mph)
Repairs/costs cited: Torque converter replacement attempted; one owner cites transmission solenoid failure warning from check engine light; dealers recommended unspecified 'service that may fix the issue'
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Torque converter replaced under warranty in at least two cases; problem persisted; one dealership suspected transmission issue but could not diagnose after multiple visits
Unintended forward or reverse motion in park or gear
Vehicle moves forward or backward unexpectedly when shifted into reverse or when stationary in park, even with foot off accelerator or foot on brake. Two owners report severe property damage and near-collision resulting from uncontrolled backward acceleration.
When: Upon shifting into reverse; November 2018 and January 2022 for one owner; rainy day conditions noted in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates forward when shift knob in reverse position; Car speeds up backward even when brake pedal pressed; Engine revs up on its own; Uncontrolled acceleration in reverse at low speed (parking lot, driveway); Vehicle must be fought with brakes to stop
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle totaled (crashed through garage wall); another struck parked car (totaled); no repairs documented
Key stuck in ignition / gear shifter interlock failure
Key cannot be removed from ignition when vehicle is in park. Occurs intermittently (one owner reports 50% of the time) and is linked to a defective sensor or plate that signals to the ignition lock whether the vehicle is in park. One owner notes problem began after adjusting steering wheel. Multiple reports indicate shift interlock failure allows gear shifter to move out of park with engine off.
When: Upon parking; occurs intermittently; one incident at 15,000 miles; problem persists after steering wheel adjustment
Symptoms owners cite: Key will not release from ignition switch; No warning lights illuminated; Gear shifter moves out of park with engine off; Requires repeated attempts to shift back to park to free key
Repairs/costs cited: Gear shifter replacement recommended by Subaru dealership (Capital Chevrolet, Salem OR); shift interlock replacement recommended by another dealership; vehicle not repaired in at least one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Capital Chevrolet diagnosed gear shifter defect; referred to manufacturer; Subaru referred owner to NHTSA. One owner reports being told this is a known problem in all 2016+ Subaru models.
Transmission overheating and grinding at highway speed
After brief initial jolt at highway speed (felt like 'pin in transmission'), vehicle experiences continuous loud grinding and crunching noises accompanied by smoking transmission. Transmission becomes extremely hot; no warning lights precede failure. Vehicle becomes undrivable and must be towed.
When: 0.5 miles into highway driving at 70 mph; vehicle loaded with 4 occupants and cargo; 40 degrees Fahrenheit; 1 hour into trip on flare roads
Symptoms owners cite: Initial jolt at highway speed; Continuous loud grinding and crunching noises; Smoke from transmission; Transmission extremely hot; No warning lights prior to failure; Difficulty rolling onto tow truck due to grinding resistance
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle required tow truck; grinding noises continued even while being towed
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I was driving to a thanksgiving gathering, when all of a sudden the car julted. It was very odd felt almost like a pin was put in the transmission forcing the tires to stop spining. But was very brief. After another 0.5 miles of driving on the freeway at 70mph it happened again but continuously with loud grinding and crunchy noises. After puling over the car was smoking. The transmission was…
The 2016 Subaru impreza started to go forward when the shift knob was in the reverse position. This happened 3 times in a row and on the third time the car was accelerating causing the driver to brake hard in essence "fighting" the transmission. After the car was turned off, tried again, made it home. It was a rainy day. Made appt. With dealer. Afraid to drive it!
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2016 Subaru Impreza?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 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?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 19,520 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 $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/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.