Credov's researched list of the 26 faults the Subaru Impreza is known for (2012–2015), 21 of them serious or costly. Each one says what to look for when you check the car, so you can spot it before you buy. Not every car has these faults: they are the ones worth checking on this model.
What to look for: Ask for proof the valve spring recall was done, and listen at cold start for metallic ticking or knocking.
Why it matters: The register describes a defective valve spring that can fracture, causing the engine to stall and possibly not restart. A car with the campaign still open cannot be retailed responsibly until it is done.
What to look for: Check the VIN on the NZTA recall lookup, and ask for the dealer invoice showing the airbag inflator was replaced.
Why it matters: Takata inflators can degrade with heat and humidity and the metal housing may rupture, propelling fragments through the airbag cushion. Retailing a car with an open campaign is a clear Fair Trading Act and CGA exposure.
What to look for: Feel along each flexible brake hose behind the wheels for a bulge or soft swollen section near the end fitting.
Why it matters: Subaru told MLIT that the durability testing of these brake hoses against brake pressure was inadequate and that the sealing at the crimped end fitting is insufficient on some hoses, so brake fluid soaks between the outer and inner layers of the hose and the hose swells. A swollen flexible brake hose is a warrant of fitness fail in its own right and the remedy is a replacement hose.
Sources: 1
What to look for: Check the dipstick cold for a low level, look for a top-up bottle, and watch for blue exhaust smoke.
Why it matters: The bulletin repair was an engine short block. On a $10-20k car that is a margin-destroying repair if it surfaces after sale.
Sources: 1
What to look for: Feel for judder pulling away gently, and listen for a whine at a steady 50-60 km/h that follows road speed.
Why it matters: A CVT replacement is one of the largest single repair bills on this era of Subaru and no NZ warranty program backs it. Symptoms on the test drive are the only cheap defence.
Sources: 1
What to look for: Check the breather valve recall is done, and watch the exhaust at cold start and idle for blue-grey smoke.
Why it matters: Register hazard wording is excessive exhaust smoke or loss of engine power. Fragments of a broken valve can enter the intake, so an open campaign is a walk-away or repair-first item.
What to look for: Check both engine software recalls are done, and feel for rough idle or a stumble pulling away.
Why it matters: Stall-while-driving hazard per the register. The fix is a software update, so an open campaign is cheap to close but must be closed before retail.
What to look for: Check all brake lights come on over five presses, and that the car restarts first time after 30 seconds off.
Why it matters: A no-start on a customer's driveway a week after sale is a Consumer Guarantees Act call-back; failed brake lights are a WOF fail.
Sources: 1
What to look for: Check the park brake recall is done, and that the electric park brake holds on a slope in Neutral.
Why it matters: Rollaway hazard per the register. Cheap to close but must be confirmed before retail.
Sources: 1
What to look for: Check the car starts within two seconds cold, and restarts hot after a ten-minute drive.
Why it matters: Register hazard: stalled engine or no-start; worst case serious injury. The fix is a connector/harness under the campaign.
Sources: 1
What to look for: Look for fuses of the wrong colour or rating in the engine-bay fuse box, and check all lights and wipers work.
Why it matters: Intermittent electrical faults are the hardest thing to fix after sale and a short is a fire risk.
Sources: 1
What to look for: Check each rear belt locks when yanked sharply, and ratchets when pulled out fully and let back a little.
Why it matters: A belt that does not lock is a WOF fail and a life-safety item.
Sources: 1
What to look for: Listen at the engine front for a whine or rumble rising with revs, and ask when the timing belt was done.
Why it matters: Subaru told MLIT the water pump bearing was assembled with too little clearance, that the bearing breaks, the water pump stops working, the timing belt is damaged, and the engine then stops and cannot be restarted. On these belt-driven EJ engines that failure sequence is expensive, and it does not announce itself as a coolant loss first.
Sources: 1
What to look for: Ask for the service book showing both the coil software update and the later coil replacement, and feel for misfires.
Why it matters: Subaru filed a second recall with MLIT stating that on cars where the coils had already had long periods of over-energisation, rewriting to the corrected program is not enough, because internal damage has accumulated and the fault can still develop. The remedy under the second notification replaces every ignition coil with a new one. A car that has only the first stamp looks done on paper and is not.
What to look for: Check for a hybrid warning, and watch the power gauge shows electric assist pulling away and charging on lift-off.
Why it matters: Subaru notified MLIT of a service campaign stating that the relay bracket inside the hybrid traction battery was not assembled correctly, that vibration in service brings the bracket into contact with the relay harness, and that if that harness breaks or shorts the hybrid system shuts down and the car is limited to running on the engine alone.
Sources: 1
What to look for: Listen at the front of the engine for a whine from a dry idler, and ask for a timing-belt invoice.
Why it matters: A snapped belt or seized idler on this interference engine lets the valves hit the pistons, which on an unlucky day turns a routine service item into a replacement engine. No invoice or sticker means the job's true age is unknown on a car that may already be well past the interval.
What to look for: With a torch, check the lower edge of both cylinder heads for wet oil or crusty dried coolant.
Why it matters: Left alone, a leaking head gasket on this engine progresses to coolant loss, overheating and a warped head, turning a gasket job into a full engine-out repair. A slow external seep that the seller calls 'just a weep' is the early stage of the same fault.
What to look for: Listen at the front of the engine for a whine from a dry idler, and ask for a timing-belt invoice.
Why it matters: A snapped belt or seized idler on this interference engine lets the valves hit the pistons, turning a routine service item into a replacement engine. No invoice or sticker means the job's true age is unknown on a car that may already be past the interval.
What to look for: With a torch, check the lower edge of both cylinder heads for wet oil or crusty dried coolant.
Why it matters: Left alone, a leaking head gasket on this engine progresses to coolant loss, overheating and a warped head, turning a gasket job into a full engine-out repair. A slow external seep that the seller calls 'just a weep' is the early stage of the same fault.
What to look for: Accelerate gently from rest and hold light throttle through 20-60 km/h, feeling for a shudder.
Why it matters: Shudder from the torque converter can be the start of valve-body or torque-converter failure, which on a CVT usually means a new unit rather than a cheap repair; catching it before buying avoids inheriting a multi-thousand-dollar transmission bill.
What to look for: Accelerate gently from rest through 20-60 km/h, feeling for shudder, and check for slipping revs.
Why it matters: A torque-converter or valve-body fault on this CVT can progress from an occasional shudder to a transmission that needs replacing, a repair that can run into the thousands and is disproportionate to the car's value if missed at purchase.
What to look for: Look along the top of the intake manifold for wiring resting on bolt heads, rub marks or tape repairs.
Why it matters: A chafed engine harness produces the intermittent faults that come back as warranty claims.
Sources: 1
What to look for: Check the engine restarts cleanly and quietly after stop-start cuts it, three times, with no grinding or whirring.
Why it matters: A stop-start car that fails to restart in traffic is a safety and reputational problem.
Sources: 1
What to look for: Check the glass recall is done, and look on the left rear window for the safety-glass mark and chipped edges.
Why it matters: Non-tempered glass can break into large shards; replacement under the campaign is free if still open.
Sources: 1
What to look for: Look at the towbar welds around the tow ball mount for cracks or repairs, and check the mounting bolts are there.
Why it matters: A towbar failure under load is a serious liability and easy to inspect in the driveway.
What to look for: Feel for weak pull or a stall pulling away up a steep hill with the air-con on full.
Why it matters: Subaru notified MLIT that when intake air is very hot the engine control program retards ignition timing to protect the engine and torque falls, so with the air conditioning on and the car heavily loaded on a steep climb it may not have the drive to get up the hill, and it can stall when pulling away with a certain amount of throttle.
Sources: 1
Got a question about a Subaru Impreza? Ask Credov: a noise, a warning light, a part or how to fix it.
On top of the faults above, every Credov inspection covers the basics: fuel smell, leaks or filler rust, engine oil leaks, power steering fluid leak, drive belt cracks or squeal, rust underneath: chassis and mounts, engine mounts, engine oil level and colour, coolant level, colour and leaks, head gasket failure signs, cold start: rattle, knock or smoke, rough or hunting idle, engine running hot on gauge, gearbox or diff oil leak, swapped gearbox without lvv and more.
Researched by Credov from manufacturer recalls and service bulletins, owner reports and workshop sources. Repair prices are typical ranges, not quotes. See also fault codes and repair costs.