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 ↗2018 Subaru Impreza electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2018 Subaru Impreza have filed 11 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
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Impreza | 17 |
| 2015 Impreza | 18 |
| 2016 Impreza | 12 |
| 2017 Impreza | 19 |
| 2018 Impreza (this page) | 11 |
| 2019 Impreza | 18 |
| 2020 Impreza | 4 |
1crash
1injury
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
2018 Subaru Impreza owners report a cluster of electrical issues that can leave you stranded or worse. The most frequent complaint is repeat battery failure—some vehicles have gone through three or four replacements before reaching 15,000 miles. Owners cite a parasitic drain linked to the Data Communications Module (DCM) that keeps trying to connect via outdated 3G cell service and won't let the battery recharge properly. One owner had to install an aftermarket battery tender just to keep the car functional.
Infotainment and display malfunctions also appear regularly: the factory head unit (Starlink, HK-produced) randomly powers off and on, won't hold Bluetooth pairing, and the backup camera display goes black or is slow to activate. One owner reports the display hasn't even responded after a recall update was supposed to fix it.
Less frequent but serious failures include a cracked ignition coil that triggered a complete engine shutdown while driving, an ignition switch that won't engage properly, and a confirmed starter motor failure. One owner's side airbags didn't deploy during a collision because electrical faults prevented the sensors from firing. Dashboard lights flicker severely enough to hamper visibility, and some owners report loss of power when driving uphill alongside these electrical gremlins. Multiple owners note Subaru dealerships have been slow to address the root causes and reluctant to escalate issues as recalls.
Same Subaru Impreza electrical reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Parasitic battery drain / Data Communications Module (DCM) failure
Battery fails repeatedly within weeks of replacement, car won't hold charge and strands owner. Dealership testing identified the DCM as the parasitic load source; DCM is attempting to phone home via deprecated 3G service that no longer exists.
When: As early as 2 years into ownership; by 14k–50k miles some vehicles on their 3rd–4th battery by 2021
Symptoms owners cite: Battery dead or near-dead after a few days of non-use; Unable to jump-start in some cases; Car completely unresponsive, cannot start
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced OEM battery multiple times (up to 4 replacements per owner); one owner installed battery tender; DCM fuse pulled as temporary fix; DCM and DCM battery back-ordered or replaced under extended warranty when available
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru consumer advocate suggested aftermarket battery tender; some owners had extended warranty cover DCM replacement; no formal recall announced
Infotainment head unit (Starlink/HK) malfunction
Factory head unit randomly powers on and off, loses Bluetooth pairing, and exhibits unresponsive behavior. Issue persists even after WUA86 software update recall in 2019.
When: Post-recall in 2019; complaints logged 2021–present
Symptoms owners cite: Head unit randomly turns off and on; Bluetooth will not connect or randomly disconnects; USB/music interface not recognized; Backup camera display slow to activate or goes black; Power button ineffective; unit won't stay off
Repairs/costs cited: Unit was reprogrammed/updated in 2019 under recall; issue recurred post-repair; no follow-up parts or reprogramming documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: WUA86 software update recall performed 2019; same issues reported after
Cracked ignition coil
Ignition coil failure at low mileage caused engine to stall and shut down completely while driving uphill. Owner notes there were two recalls related to this issue but the root cause was not addressed until sudden failure.
When: Relatively low mileage; owner notes ignition coils typically last 80k–100k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine hesitation and stuttering/sputter when driving uphill; Power loss during acceleration; Engine stalls without warning; Simultaneous dashboard warning lights illuminate; Complete engine shutdown while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Cracked coil replaced; battery was also found dead at same incident
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Two recalls related to this issue exist but owner reports unclear explanation of root cause or ongoing risk
Ignition switch engagement failure
Ignition key stuck or very difficult to turn; owner had to manipulate key repeatedly over months to get engine to turn over.
When: Intermittent over several months prior to complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Key won't turn in ignition or resistance is high; Requires repeated manipulation to engage starter
Starter motor failure
Starter motor failed without warning, rendering vehicle unable to start. Mechanic indicated this was the third such failure he had seen on 2018 Imprezas.
When: No prior symptoms; sudden failure at unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Car struggled to turn over earlier in day; Sudden complete inability to start; No warning lights reported
Repairs/costs cited: Starter motor replaced by independent mechanic; confirmed faulty
Dashboard and headlight flickering
All dashboard lights flicker uncontrollably, reducing visibility noticeably. Flickering worsens during acceleration and correlates with a shimmy felt throughout the vehicle. Owner fears headlights will fail completely.
When: Prior to complaint; over 2 years since related headlight recall
Symptoms owners cite: Nonstop flickering of all lights; Vehicle shimmy synchronized with light flicker; Flickering increases during acceleration; Reduced headlight output/visibility
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership states parts unavailable or ignores repair requests
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Headlight recall exists but parts unavailable at dealership
Backup camera/display malfunction
Rear camera display goes black or is very slow to appear when reversing. Owner can only see guideline overlay, no actual camera feed.
When: Recurring since January 2021
Symptoms owners cite: Display screen goes black when reverse is activated; Only red and yellow guide lines visible; No camera image displayed; Extended delay before image appears
Automatic headlight dimmer failure
Automatic dimming function for headlights stopped working and has not been repaired.
When: Noticed post-battery replacement; still not functional at time of complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Automatic dimmer will not engage
TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) sensor false warning
Low tire pressure warning lamp illuminates repeatedly despite vehicle being serviced twice for the issue. Owner has open case with Subaru of America.
When: Recurring issue; serviced twice without resolution
Symptoms owners cite: Low tire pressure warning remains on persistently; Warning returns after service visits
Repairs/costs cited: Serviced twice; unresolved
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Open case with Subaru of America; no resolution reported
Airbag sensor failure due to electrical fault
Side airbags failed to deploy during a collision. Airbag control sensors were triggered but the electrical system did not fire the airbag due to electrical problems.
When: At time of collision
Symptoms owners cite: Side airbags did not deploy on impact; Airbag sensors activated but airbag module did not respond; Undeployed airbag failed to provide safety protection
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
When the car is turned on, all of the lights flicker nonstop to the point of moderately reducing line of sight. I am terrified the headlights are going to just quit altogether. The car also “shimmys” in time with the flickering lights. It appears to get worse when accelerating as well. Also it has been over 2 years since the headlight recall for this model. The dealership keeps saying, we don’t…
Had electrical trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Subaru Impreza?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 16,136 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/2018/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.