Compact cars · model years 2017 to 2019
Subaru Impreza vs Toyota Corolla: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Impreza looks better on 3 and the Corolla on 2, with 2 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2017 to 2019 | Impreza | Corolla |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 4.5% | 18% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 1.1% | 1.4% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 2.6% | 10% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 17,000 | 20,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 3.0 | 2.0 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 0 | 2 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Impreza owners complain about most is exterior lighting; for the Corolla it is airbags. Complaints citing exterior lighting make up 34% of all Impreza complaints, against 2.3% on the Corolla. The Corolla leans the other way on airbags: 24% of its complaints, against 3.6% for the Impreza.
Subaru ImprezaToyota Corolla
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Impreza is windshield problems (25% of its complaints). On the Corolla it is airbag problems (24% of its complaints), against 2.3% on the Impreza.
| Problem | Impreza | Corolla |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield cracks or distorts | 25% 119most in 2019 · 16k mi | 1.2% 6 |
| Airbag warning light or recall | 2.3% 11 | 24% 121most in 2017 · 20k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 4.5% 2110k mi | 11% 57most in 2019 · 24k mi |
| Headlights too dim or fail | 13% 61most in 2018 · 30k mi | 1.9% 10 |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 3.2% 15 | 10% 53most in 2017 · 12k mi |
| Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves | 0 | 8.4% 436k mi |
| Seat belt or seat problems | 0 | 7.2% 3723k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 3.8% 18 | 2.7% 14 |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Impreza owners report problems earlier. Half the Impreza complaints that give a mileage come before 17,000 miles; for the Corolla the halfway point is 20,000. 85% of Impreza reports and 75% of Corolla reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Subaru ImprezaToyota Corolla
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 191 for the Impreza and 243 for the Corolla.
Worst and best years
The 2019 Impreza draws 2.7 times the complaints of a typical Impreza year for its age. The 2020 Corolla draws 2.2 times the complaints of a typical Corolla year for its age.
Subaru ImprezaToyota Corolla
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Impreza draws more recalls: 3.0 campaigns per model year against 2.0 for the Corolla. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Subaru Impreza
9 recall campaigns and 0 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: fuel system (3), electrical (2) and engine and engine cooling (2).
- 21V-264 (electrical) covers 3 model years
- 19V-743 (electrical) covers 3 model years
Toyota Corolla
6 recall campaigns and 2 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: equipment (2), airbags (1) and tires (1).
- 20V-024 (airbags) covers 3 model years
- 19V-503 (equipment) covers 3 model years
Investigations
- EA21002: Desiccated air bag inflator rupture (open)
- EA19001: Electrical overstress (closed, led to a recall)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Corolla complaints report a crash: 18%, against 4.5% for the Impreza. Fire reports: 5 for the Impreza and 7 for the Corolla. Complaints on file report 1 death in the Impreza and 2 in the Corolla for these model years.
Subaru ImprezaToyota Corolla
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Subaru Impreza or the Toyota Corolla more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Impreza looks better on 3 and the Corolla on 2, with 2 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Impreza has 470 complaints and the Corolla 514 for model years 2017 to 2019, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Impreza or the Corolla?
The Impreza has 9 recall campaigns and the Corolla 6 across model years 2017 to 2019. The Impreza draws more recalls: 3.0 campaigns per model year against 2.0 for the Corolla.
What are the most common problems on the Impreza and the Corolla?
The most reported problem on the Impreza is windshield problems (25% of its complaints). On the Corolla it is airbag problems (24% of its complaints), against 2.3% on the Impreza.
More comparisons
- Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla2014 to 2026
- Toyota Corolla vs Hyundai Elantra2014 to 2022
- Toyota Corolla vs Mazda32014 to 2018
- Nissan Sentra vs Toyota Corolla2014 to 2026
- Volkswagen Jetta vs Toyota Corolla2014 to 2019
- Chevrolet Cruze vs Toyota Corolla2014 to 2018
- Subaru Impreza vs Honda Civic2017 to 2019