1996 Subaru Impreza — 2.2L

Federal data positions the 1996 model as a cooling point within a volatile mid-1990s arc: after a sharp spike to 64 complaints and 3 recalls in 1995, 1996 dropped to 27 complaints while holding steady at 3 recalls and zero investigations. Relative to 1994’s 8 complaints and 1997’s 34 complaints, the 1996 model sits near the middle of that decade’s cycle, with its 22 TSBs showing only a modest uptick from the 13-to-19 range recorded between 1990 and 1995. The 1996 record shows tied top complaint categories of Air Bags and Service Brakes, Hydraulic with five filings each, plus five crash-related and one fire-related complaint, though the data does not specify root causes for these reports. With complaints roughly halved from the 1995 peak and no federal investigations opened, the 1996 model year presents a relatively calmer profile within its generation. For a buyer weighing a used Impreza from this era, 1996 is a comparatively sensible year to purchase.