1993 Subaru Impreza: common problems

Owners of the 1993 Subaru Impreza filed 33 complaints with NHTSA, most often about visibility and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 33
involving a crash: 9

What fails most often

1 Visibility 39% of all complaints
2 Air bags 33% of all complaints
3 Fuel system 15% of all complaints
4 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
5 Electrical system 6% of all complaints
6 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
7 Seat belts 3% of all complaints
8 Structure 3% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Visibility: 13 complaints (39% of all).
Air bags: 11 complaints (33% of all), 8 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Fuel system: 5 complaints (15% of all).
Powertrain: 3 complaints (9% of all).
Electrical system: 2 complaints (6% of all).

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

1.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl
automatic, 4-speed
manual, 5-speed

Drive: FWD, AWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 33 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

windows, sunroof11 · 33%
airbags did not deploy4 · 12%
fuel system, fuel smell2 · 6%
stalls while driving2 · 6%
brake failure1 · 3%
tires: bulges, blowouts1 · 3%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Visibility	13	0
Air bags	11	8
Fuel system	5	0
Powertrain	3	0
Electrical system	2	0
Service brakes	2	0
Seat belts	1	0
Structure	1	0
Suspension	1	0
Tires	1	1

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

1993 subaru impreza experienced a tire blow out causing the consumer to run off the road and hit the median wall twice. Ohio traffic crash report# 10-90-0831.
Tires · crash · 2008-01-03 · NHTSA complaint #10213956
The air bag never deployed. My wife an I required emergency medical attention. I just noticed that nhtsa issued a recall on defective subaru airbags in 1994, but there isn't even an option to search for a subaru problems in 1993.
Air bags · crash · 2004-11-28 · NHTSA complaint #10100633
Driver's side air bag did not deploy. Vehicle was totaled by insurance company. Driver treated at emergency room for injuries.
Air bags · crash · 2000-06-07 · NHTSA complaint #863156
Owner hit a car from behind and the air bag didn't deploy. He did apply the brakes but the car still hit the rear of the other car.
Air bags · crash · 1997-08-27 · NHTSA complaint #815750
Tl contact owns a 1993 subaru impreza which was purchased used in 2005. He stated that the filler pipe was leaking large quantities of fuel.there was a related recall campaign id number 93v072000 indicating the manufacturer would assume liability. The failure and current mileages were under 226,826.
Fuel system · 2010-01-06 · NHTSA complaint #10298447
Four fuel pumps have been installed in the vehicle since purchase of 2000. The vehicle would stall out with no warning putting the occupants at risk under any circumstances. The owner has found a nhtsa recall campaign 93v072000 fuel tank assembly pipe filler neck on the internet. Please describe details. Mr
Fuel system · 2002-11-04 · NHTSA complaint #8022113
Regarding the gas gauge: gauge does not read accurately. Shows as below empty when there is still over 3 gallons of fuel left. Goes up and down for no reason. I personally know 3 other 93 impreza owners who have the same problem. Re: the power locks/childproof switch.
Fuel system · 2002-08-12 · NHTSA complaint #765418
A malfunction occurred within the electrical system, causing the windows to become inoperable. Front and rear windows remained in the upright positions.
Visibility · 2000-05-22 · NHTSA complaint #862256

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

19954
19965
199712
19981
19994
20002
20011
20023
20031
20041
20081
20101

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 6,523 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 18% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Impreza has 74 complaints (36 years in the data). This year has 33, below average.

What to check before buying

Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 1993 Subaru Impreza?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: visibility, air bags, fuel system. Total complaints: 33. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: windows, sunroof (33%), airbags did not deploy (12%), fuel system, fuel smell (6%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1993 Subaru Impreza?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 1993 Subaru Impreza from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 1993 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.