This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is suspected.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Subaru Impreza steering problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Subaru Impreza have filed 5 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Impreza | 10 |
| 2013 Impreza | 14 |
| 2014 Impreza | 4 |
| 2015 Impreza | 7 |
| 2016 Impreza (this page) | 5 |
| 2019 Impreza | 5 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 5 steering 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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.
As part of Subaruâs dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is announcingan extension to the Basic New Car Limited Warranty for the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) GearBox Assembly for certain 2012-2018 MY vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗As part of Subaruâs dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is announcing an extension to the Basic New Car Limited Warranty for the Electronic Power Steering Gear Box Assembly for certain 2012-2018 MY vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗As part of Subaru of Americaâs dedication to customer satisfaction, this letter is to inform you of an extension to the Basic New Car Limited Warranty for your vehicleâs Electronic Power Steering Gear Box Assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces a new Electronic Power Steering (EPS) control module for the models listed above. These new EPS control modules address a limited number of customer concerns regarding increased steering effort which may occur during freezing temperatures after a cold start. The cause has been identified as a frozen relay contact inside the control module. Illumination of the EPS warning lamp can also occur and a DTC C2532 may be stored.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Hello, I just purchase this vehicle from a dealership, 615 auto sales. After purchasing the vehicle I decided to go and get the recall done that was never done to the vehicle at the repair shop they did the recall but then ask me where did I purchase this vehicle from then I told them. The repair shop told me the grim news that the car was very rusted and should have not been sold like it was.…
I was driving on a decline at 10 to 15 miles per hour on a snowy evening and when I tried to break, my breaks locked up and I had absolutely no control of my automobile except for steering and made the choice to go towards the guard rail to slow my automobile down since I had no brakes. I bought my automobile 16 months ago and have had difficulties with tire lights coming on and many other…
Once the car is parked, the key cannot be removed from the ignition. This problem gradually got more frequent over the last year until it got stuck every time we drove. It would take multiple attempts turning the car on and off to get the key out. Subaru of america did agree to fix it at no charge even though the car is out of warranty.
Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2016 Subaru Impreza?
It's a meaningful issue. 5 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 5 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 17,253 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.