Buyer Research

2018 Subaru Impreza — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $11,000–$16,000. There is 1 high-severity known issue you need to know before handing over a check.

Kestrel Take

Standard all-wheel drive at a compact-car price is a real advantage in snow country. The FB20 engine dropped the old head gasket curse but the CVT is now the component to watch, and Subaru's infotainment of this era is genuinely poor.

Known Issues for the 2018 Subaru Impreza

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

Lineartronic CVT failureHigh — wallet impact

Subaru extended CVT warranties on earlier model years after widespread failures. Symptoms: shudder from a stop, juddering under light throttle, and a whine that rises with speed.

Repair cost range: $4,000-$6,500

Oil consumption on FB enginesMedium

Some FB20 engines burn oil. Subaru ran an oil consumption test procedure and replaced short blocks under warranty on affected builds.

Repair cost range: $0 under warranty, $4,000+ after

Starlink infotainment freezing and rebootingMedium

Screen blackouts, loss of the backup camera, and Bluetooth failures. Software updates helped but did not cure it.

Repair cost range: $0-$900

Wheel bearing wearMedium

A hum that changes with steering input, typically starting around 80k miles. An AWD-car staple.

Repair cost range: $350-$700 per corner

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗Shudder or judder at low speed — the CVT talking
✗No record of CVT fluid service
✗Oil level low with no consumption tracking
✗Mismatched tires on an AWD car — this destroys the center differential

Good Signs

✓All four tires the same brand, model, and wear depth
✓CVT fluid service documented
✓Under 70k miles with dealer maintenance history

Found a specific Subaru Impreza?

This page covers what goes wrong on the 2018 Subaru Impreza in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.

Other Subaru Impreza years

2012 Subaru Impreza

$6,000–$11,000