This bulletin announces availability of new power window switch assemblies.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Subaru Impreza visibility problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 Subaru Impreza have filed 4 NHTSA complaints about the visibility at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Complaints
4
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Impreza | 6 |
| 2015 Impreza | 4 |
| 2016 Impreza (this page) | 4 |
| 2017 Impreza | 21 |
| 2018 Impreza | 34 |
| 2019 Impreza | 58 |
| 2020 Impreza | 53 |
When does it fail?
Of the 4 visibility 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 visibility complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 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 visibility 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 availability of new power window switch assemblies developed to address the following customer concerns: ⢠Power windows inoperative from the driverâs door master and / or passenger front door switch ⢠Unable to remotely operate other door windows from the driverâs door master switch ⢠One-Touch Auto Up / Down features inoperative from either / both front door switches"
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces availability of new power window switch assemblies developed to address the following customer concerns: ? Power windows inoperative from the driver?s door master and / or passenger front door switch ? Unable to remotely operate other door windows from the driver?s door master switch ? One-Touch Auto Up / Down features inoperative from either / both front door switches
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information bulletin announces a change made to the lens portion of the fog light assembly. The new lens has optimized light distribution characteristics while remaining interchangeable with the original type.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides a repair procedure for replacing the foam cushion installed between the top front edge of the IP and the windshield glass. Use the supplied Service Procedure to address a customer concern involving the foam cushion becoming visible above the IP near the defroster vent outlets.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Twice while driving on a highway, I blacked out. First time, ran off edge of road; second time, ran over into on-coming lane. Twice, I had major allergic symptoms. First, right after buying car; second, six months later. Twice, I grew breathless after driving car for several hours. Once, I could not keep my balance after driving car on a highway. All of these episodes occurred after longer than…
Going a very low rate of speed a small rock was able to crack my windshield. I was merging onto a highway with a work vehicle in front of me. The windshield appears to be very weak and brittle. I have not even had my forester for a year and it seems as if dinks and cracks appear very easily. I had safelite come to fill in the crack and only 80% was able to be corrected.. On a crack smaller…
Had visibility 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 visibility problem on the 2016 Subaru Impreza?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 4 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Based on the 4 complaints filed, visibility issues most often appear around 4,500 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 $350 for visibility 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 visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility 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.