This bulletin is for information purposes only.The bulletin adresses design changes of the headlamps and rear combination lamps, where moisture and or condensation may develop on the inside of the lamp lenses.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Subaru Impreza lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2018 Subaru Impreza have filed 62 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
62
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Impreza | 4 |
| 2017 Impreza | 30 |
| 2018 Impreza (this page) | 62 |
| 2019 Impreza | 62 |
1crash
What stands out
Lighting accounts for 42% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 7 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 62 lighting complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting 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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) has initiated a safety recall for certain 2017-2019 model year Impreza vehicles, which may contain non-compliant headlamp assemblies.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗UPDATE Safety Recall: WRG-22 Impreza Headlamp Non-Compliance.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is initiating a new safety recall for certain 2017-2019 model year Impreza vehicles, which may contain non-compliant headlamp assemblies.
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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2018 Impreza has a mandatory safety recall issued August 12, 2022 (NHTSA 22V624000, manufacturer WRG-22) for non-compliant headlamp reflector assemblies that fail to illuminate the roadway adequately. Owners consistently describe headlights as extremely dim, making nighttime driving unsafe and nearly impossible in bad weather. Some report near-miss incidents and genuine fear about driving in darkness.
The stated remedy is replacement of left and right headlamp housing assemblies. However, replacement parts have been unavailable at dealers since the recall issuance—spanning 18 to 24+ months depending on complaint date. Owners contacted dealers across multiple regions (New York, Michigan, California, and others) and were uniformly told parts remain on backorder with no delivery timeline. Subaru has provided no definitive completion deadline and told owners there is no legal time requirement.
One owner reports being charged $319.95 (MSRP) for a headlamp replacement at a body shop after Subaru promised free recall service. Another owner questions why parts remain unavailable when OEM assemblies appear available on Subaru's own website. Owners express frustration that Subaru continues manufacturing new vehicles while failing to remedy the safety defect in existing cars.
Same Subaru Impreza lighting reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Dim or inadequate headlamp illumination
Headlamp assemblies fail to provide sufficient light output to illuminate the roadway properly at night. Multiple owners report very dim low-beam illumination, poor visibility in darkness, and inability to drive safely in poor weather conditions.
When: Present from new or early in ownership; reported at mileages 17,000–36,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights extremely dim, insufficient roadway illumination at night; Difficulty seeing road while driving at night; Very low night visibility, dangerous for driver and other road users; Cannot see anything in bad weather conditions; Low beams do not cast light far enough, near-miss incidents on coastal roads
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 22V624000, Manufacturer WRG-22
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report $319.95 MSRP for right-hand headlamp assembly replacement at body shop when parts were available. Subaru stated replacement would be free under recall; one owner disputes being charged after promised free replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 22V624000 / Manufacturer Recall WRG-22 issued August 12, 2022. Remedy stated as replacement of left and right headlamp housing/reflector assemblies. Parts have remained unavailable at dealers across multiple regions and timeframes from August 2022 through late 2024, preventing recall completion. One owner reports Subaru initially fought the recall through appeals before losing and being forced to implement it.
Non-compliant headlamp reflector assembly
Left and right front headlamp reflector assemblies are defective and do not meet safety standards. Reflectors fail to effectively reflect and distribute light, reducing light output to the road surface.
When: Defect present from manufacturing; recall issued August 12, 2022
Symptoms owners cite: Left and right headlight reflectors do not effectively reflect light; Both front halogen low-beam reflectors fail to adequately light the road; Headlights not functioning properly per recall notice
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 22V624000, Manufacturer WRG-22
Repairs/costs cited: Recall remedy requires replacement of left and right headlamp housing assemblies. However, replacement parts have been unavailable since recall issuance. One owner reports seeing OEM headlight assemblies for sale on Subaru's website, questioning why remedy parts remain unavailable.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 22V624000 / WRG-22 issued August 12, 2022 for non-compliant headlamp assemblies. Remedy status remains 'Recall Incomplete, remedy not yet available' as of multiple complaint filing dates spanning over 18 months post-recall. Parts distribution has been severely delayed with no timeline provided to owners or dealers.
Parts unavailability and recall repair delay
Replacement headlamp assemblies required for the safety recall have remained unavailable at dealerships for an extended period—well over 18 months after recall issuance. Dealers report parts on backorder with no delivery date; manufacturer confirms parts not available.
When: August 2022 recall issued; parts unavailable from at least August 2022 through late 2024 (spanning roughly 18–24+ months)
Symptoms owners cite: Recall repair parts unavailable at local dealers; Parts on backorder with no delivery estimate; Dealers unable to complete recall repair despite recall notice; Multiple dealers across different regions unable to obtain parts
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 22V624000, Manufacturer WRG-22, VIN tool confirms parts not available
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple owners report dealers quoting $319.95 MSRP for headlamp assembly replacement if parts become available. Subaru indicated replacement would be free under recall. One owner was charged $319.95 at body shop after being promised free replacement. One owner reports attempting to arrange refund for headlight assembly replaced just before recall issuance.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru issued recall 22V624000 (WRG-22) August 12, 2022 but failed to produce or distribute replacement parts. Owners report Subaru stated no definitive timeline for remedy availability and no legal deadline for completion. Dealer communication confirms parts unavailable; Subaru confirms same via owner contact and NHTSA VIN lookup. One owner notes Subaru initially appealed the recall and lost, forcing implementation. Owners express concern that Subaru continues new-vehicle production while unable to remedy existing recalled units.
Synthesized from 62 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
My car was involved in an accident and one headlight was smashed. I found out from my body shop that was my car was recalled and they have no way to fix my headlight. I called Subaru and they told me that the body shop could just put another head light in. But when I talked to the body shop, they cannot just put a headlight in because of the recall. No one is able to help me and now I am out of a…
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V624000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool…
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V624000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer…
Received recall notice 10/22 and still have not received a phone call to have it repaired. I have called the dealer and they said they are starting with the older cars first and I will receive a letter when I can bring it in. Per the recall notice it states "increasing the risk of a crash". I find this to be very concerning because my son drives this car.
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V624000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer was notified of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The…
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V624000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool…
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V624000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The…
I can't see far enough at night with the low beams on. I drive to work on coastal roads and have had several near misses. I have been to Tacoma Subaru twice to get this fixed. The first time one if the parts was broken then when I went again this morning I was told that the Subaru Corporation would not approve the work. It has been almost 16 months since the recall was issued and I think that's…
Had lighting 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 lighting problem on the 2018 Subaru Impreza?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 62 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Based on the 62 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 21,000 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 $250 for lighting 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 lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting 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.