The 2016 Impreza with the FB20 2.0L is generally reliable in the short-to-medium term, but shares the typical Subaru boxer weak points: CVT cooler issues and eventual head gasket/ringland failure if driven hard or neglected. This generation is better than the EJ era but not bulletproof.
CVT Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Common · high severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid leaking from front of vehicle, Burnt CVT fluid smell, Transmission overheating warning light, Delayed engagement or shuddering
Fix: External cooler on these CVTs corrodes and leaks, contaminating coolant or hemorrhaging ATF. Requires cooler replacement, full CVT flush, sometimes coolant system flush if cross-contamination occurred. 3-5 hours labor depending on contamination extent.
Estimated cost: $800-1,500
FB20 Piston Ringland / Head Gasket Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Blue smoke on startup or acceleration, Excessive oil consumption (quart per 1,000 mi or worse), Misfires on cylinder 2 or 4, External oil seepage at head gasket seam, Coolant loss without visible leaks
Fix: FB20 can crack ringlands under abuse or develop classic Subaru external head gasket weeps. Mild cases just need head gaskets (12-14 hours). Ringland failures require full short block replacement (18-24 hours) with all new pistons, rings, bearings. Often find scored cylinders once apart.
Estimated cost: $2,800-6,500
Transmission Mount Collapse
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk on hard acceleration or deceleration, Excessive engine movement visible from engine bay, Vibration at idle in Drive, Shifter feels sloppy or notchy
Fix: Rear transmission mount (pitch stop) deteriorates and allows drivetrain to rock excessively. Simple replacement but requires lifting powertrain slightly. 1.5-2 hours.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Brake Light Switch Failure (NHTSA Recall)
Occasional · medium severitySymptoms: Brake lights not illuminating, Push-button start will not engage, Cruise control inoperative, Shift lock will not release
Fix: Faulty brake light switch prevents multiple systems from functioning. Recall 16V-701 covers replacement. If not done under recall, 0.5 hours labor, switch clips in above brake pedal.
Estimated cost: $80-150
CVT Judder and Shudder (Software/Wear)
Common · low severityTypical onset: 40,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Shuddering during light acceleration 20-40 mph, Hesitation on takeoff from stop, Feeling like driving over rumble strips under light load
Fix: Often starts as software calibration issue, Subaru has multiple TSB reflashes. If fluid and software updates don't resolve, may need valve body replacement or full CVT rebuild. Start with fluid change and flash (1.5 hours); valve body adds 6-8 hours.
Estimated cost: $200-2,800
Fuel Filter Clogging (Non-Serviceable Design)
Rare · medium severityTypical onset: 100,000+ mi
Symptoms: Hard starting when fuel tank below 1/4, Sputtering under heavy load, Check engine light with fuel pressure codes, Fuel pump noise
Fix: Subaru uses in-tank non-serviceable filter integrated with pump assembly. If clogged (usually from bad fuel or sediment), entire pump module must be replaced. Requires dropping fuel tank. 2-3 hours.
Estimated cost: $600-1,000
Solid commuter under 80k miles if CVT has service history; after that, budget for potential transmission cooler and watch for oil consumption issues.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.