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Subaru light recalls: brake lights, backup lamps and turn signals failing
Four lighting recalls, and the Impreza shows up in two of them. On 2017-2019 Impreza the left and right side reflex reflectors and the left low beam reflector do not reflect enough light, failing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108. On the 2023 Impreza a misadjusted brake light switch can light the brake lamps with your foot off the pedal, and can also let the car start and shift out of Park without the brake applied — a rollaway risk. The other two are failures at the back of the car: a corroded backup light switch on 2015-2021 WRX kills the reverse lights and the rearview camera image, and 2022 BRZ and Toyota GR86 rear turn signals go intermittently dead.
Warning signs to watch for
- Brake lights glowing with your foot off the pedal (2023 Impreza)
- Being able to start and shift out of Park without pressing the brake
- Reverse lights don't come on and the backup camera shows no image
- Rear turn signals that work intermittently or not at all
- Weak headlight or reflector output noticed at night on 2017-2019 Impreza
Is it safe to keep driving?
None of these four recalls tells owners to stop driving or park outside, and each notice describes the vehicle as safe to drive while you schedule the free repair. Still, drive defensively until the work is done: with the WRX backup switch you have no reverse lights or camera, with the BRZ and GR86 other drivers may not see your turn signals, and with the 2017-2019 Impreza your nighttime visibility is reduced. On the 2023 Impreza, always set the parking brake.
What the free repair involves
All four repairs are free. On the 2023 Impreza a dealer inspects the gap between the brake light switch and stopper and adjusts the switch as necessary. WRX owners get the backup light switch inspected and replaced if needed. Affected Imprezas get new front headlamp assemblies, and BRZ and GR86 get both rear combination lamp assemblies replaced. No software or over-the-air fixes.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 1 |
| medium | 3 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-08-31 | Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 rear turn signals fail | medium |
| 2023-04-25 | Subaru Impreza brake light switch may cause rollaway | high |
| 2022-08-12 | Subaru Impreza headlight reflectors do not reflect enough light | medium |
| 2022-07-21 | Subaru WRX backup lights and camera may stop working | medium |
Common questions
Can my 2023 Impreza really roll away?
The notice says the misadjusted switch may let drivers start the vehicle and shift the transmission out of PARK without applying the brake pedal. Subaru does not tell owners to stop driving, but set the parking brake every time you park.
My BRZ is actually a Toyota GR86. Who handles the recall?
Both are covered by the same Subaru recall for intermittently inoperative rear turn signals, and both rear combination lamp assemblies are replaced free. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614; GR86 owners should contact Toyota.
Why does the Impreza reflector recall require whole new headlamps?
Because the low beam reflector is part of the headlamp assembly. The side reflex reflectors and the left low beam reflector fail FMVSS 108 for reflected light, so dealers replace the front headlamp assemblies free of charge.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.