Model year guide

1997 Subaru Impreza

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1997 Subaru Impreza is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 18 on record.

1997 Subaru Impreza — representative photo
Representative photo

1997 Subaru Impreza at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints34
Combined23–24 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1997 Subaru Impreza recalls 3

Exterior Lighting:headlights NHTSA Campaign #09E025000 · 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #09E012000 · 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Exterior Lighting:headlights NHTSA Campaign #08E050000 · 11/08/2008

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Fix: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1997 Subaru Impreza common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Wheels
Inspect wheels for bends, cracks and curb rash, and feel for vibration at highway speed.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Seats
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.

1997 Subaru Impreza safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 1997 Subaru Impreza 4-DR.. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

1997 Subaru Impreza MPG & running costs

Combined23–24 mpg
City21 mpg
Highway27 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,880
EPA size classSubcompact Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd or Manual 5-spd
Passenger volume85 cu ft
Cargo volume25 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$2,400 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 5 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1997 Subaru Impreza costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,400
Fuel only$14,400
Per mile$0.19

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
172.0–172.4 in
Width
67.3 in
Height
55.1–55.5 in
Wheelbase
99.2 in
Curb weight
2,465–3,056 lb
Front track
57.5 in
Rear track
57.5 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1997 Subaru Impreza — ranges cover the 4 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Canadian recalls 1

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1997 Subaru Impreza. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Other

Certain vehicle do not comply with Regulation 6 - Statement of Compliance. Compliance label was not expressed in both official languages in regard to vehicle classification. Correction: No corrective action will be taken for existing vehicles. Correct compliance label will be affixed in current production vehicles.

Transport Canada #2000069 · Mar 2000

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Subaru Impreza

The Subaru Impreza is a compact car that has been manufactured by the Japanese automaker Subaru since 1992. It was introduced as a replacement for the Leone, with the predecessor's EA series engines replaced by the new EJ series. It is now in its sixth generation.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1997 Subaru Impreza vehicles on record

1997 Subaru Impreza 1997 Subaru ImprezaJF1GC8LD3VG059842 1997 Subaru Impreza 1997 Subaru ImprezaJF1GC8LD3VG058916 1997 Subaru Impreza 1997 Subaru ImprezaJF1GC8LJ3VG055643 1997 Subaru Impreza 1997 Subaru ImprezaJF1GF8LR5VG045513 1997 Subaru Impreza 1997 Subaru ImprezaJF1GC3LG9VG057811 1997 Subaru Impreza 1997 Subaru ImprezaJF1GC8LD3VG060529 1997 Subaru Impreza 1997 Subaru ImprezaJF1GC3LG9VG058640 1997 Subaru Impreza 1997 Subaru ImprezaJF1GF8LJ4VG043149 1997 Subaru Impreza 1997 Subaru ImprezaJF1GC8LR5VG054393 1997 Subaru Impreza 1997 Subaru ImprezaJF1GC4LJ3VG059224 1997 Subaru Impreza 1997 Subaru ImprezaJF1GC3LG9VG058948 1997 Subaru Impreza 1997 Subaru ImprezaJF1GF8LR5WG053512 1997 Subaru Impreza 1997 Subaru ImprezaJF1GF4LJ4VG046438 1997 Subaru Impreza 1997 Subaru ImprezaJF1GC8LD3VG059573 1997 Subaru Impreza 1997 Subaru ImprezaJF1GF8LR5VG048680 1997 Subaru Impreza 1997 Subaru ImprezaJF1GF4856VH802913 1997 Subaru Impreza 1997 Subaru ImprezaJF1GF8LD3VG053732 1997 Subaru Impreza 1997 Subaru ImprezaJF1GF3LG9TG038602

Other Subaru Impreza model years

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1996 1995 1994 1993

1997 Subaru Impreza — frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Subaru Impreza have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1997 Subaru Impreza. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1997 Subaru Impreza?

Across all 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, wheels, power train.

What is the 1997 Subaru Impreza safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 1997 Subaru Impreza crash-test ratings of frontal 4★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 1997 Subaru Impreza get?

The 1997 Subaru Impreza has U.S. EPA estimates of 23–24 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (5 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.