Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

2018 Subaru Impreza pre-purchase inspection checklist

What to check before you buy, built from NHTSA recall data, owner-reported failures, and mechanic intel. Print it or bring it to your mechanic.

Pre-purchase inspection · 2018 Subaru Impreza
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2018 Subaru Impreza
2.0i / Premium / Sport / Limited (GK/GT, 5th gen, 2017-2023)
Low Risk

5th-gen Impreza on the SGP platform is the most advanced Impreza ever made. Standard AWD on all trims, updated FB20 engine, and available EyeSight. Head gasket failures that plagued EJ-series engines are minimal on the FB-series. Oil consumption check at 80k+ miles is still good practice. Strong value as an all-weather commuter.

Items to check
12
Open recalls
1
NHTSA complaints
75
Top concern
FB20 oil consumption / CVT fluid / EyeSight windshield

Powertrain

FB20 oil consumption (80k+ miles)

Monitor
FB20 boxer can consume oil above 80k miles with extended intervals.
Pull dipstick before driving.
Est. cost: $0 if early / $4,500–$7,000 engine Source: Subaru FB-series pattern

Lineartronic CVT fluid service

Monitor
CVT requires fluid every 30k–40k miles.
Test highway acceleration for any shudder.
Est. cost: $250–$450 service / $3,500–$5,500 CVT Source: Subaru CVT interval

Safety Systems

EyeSight windshield zone (if equipped)

Monitor
EyeSight recalibration required after windshield replacement.
Inspect top-center windshield for chips or repair.
Est. cost: $1,200–$2,200 windshield + recalibration Source: Subaru EyeSight service

Suspension

Front strut wear

Low Risk
Standard wear at 80k+ miles.
Bounce test each corner.
Est. cost: $400–$700 per strut Source: Common wear

Body

Rust (salt-belt cars)

Monitor
Subaru Imprezas develop rocker panel rust on salt-belt cars.
Inspect both rockers with flashlight.
Est. cost: $200–$1,500 depending on severity Source: Subaru rust pattern

Documentation

Oil dipstick + recall check

Monitor
Oil check and recall verification are the primary steps.
Check dipstick. Run nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Est. cost: Standard Source: NHTSA

NHTSA Recalls (verify completion via VIN)

21V-587
Denso Fuel Pump Impeller
Low-pressure fuel pump may fail — engine stall risk. 2018–2020 Impreza; free replacement (Subaru WRG-21).

What the VIN tells you

Single engine — every 2018 (5th-gen GK/GT) Impreza uses the direct-injection 2.0L FB20D boxer-4 (152hp), so there is no engine to disambiguate by VIN. Subaru carries the engine family in VIN positions 4–5 (FB), not the 8th digit; the 8th character is the occupant-restraint/safety-configuration code. The variable worth confirming is the transmission — the 5-speed manual was standard only on the 2.0i base and 2.0i Sport, while every other trim (and the majority of builds) is the Lineartronic CVT. All trims are symmetrical AWD.
After you buy: common DIY repair guides
Planning the upkeep this car will need? Our step-by-step guides cover oil changes, brake pads & rotors, battery replacement, transmission fluid, coolant flushes, and spark plugs — each with the tools, parts, torque specs, and common mistakes that matter. Browse all repair guides →

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