Subaru›Impreza›1995›1.8L/subaru/impreza/1995/1-8l/

1995 Subaru Impreza — 1.8L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1995 Impreza 1.8L. Covers both the standard and High Output 1.8L.

Engine 1.8LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1995 Subaru Impreza 1.8L is a compact car powered by a 1.8-liter engine and equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission, achieving EPA fuel economy of 21 city, 27 highway, and 23 combined mpg, while requiring 4.2 quarts of 5W-30 API oil. With 64 total owner complaints and 3 recalls, its top complaint area is air bags, and within the model’s complaint history spanning 1990–2026—where the peak year (2002) recorded 300 complaints and the lowest (2026) just 1—the 1995 model year sits well below that peak, indicating a relatively trouble‑free position in the Impreza’s reliability timeline.

Model year1997 1996 1995

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque58-72 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy21/27/23 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 360 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 360 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnSTOPOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	172.4 in
Overall width	67.3 in
Overall height	55.5 in
Wheelbase	99.2 in
Track (front / rear)	57.1 / 56.7 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	21 / 27 / 23 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	84 cu ft
Cargo volume	11 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

No 1995 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.

12.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 12.70 sec — 1993 L Wagon

110 hpHorsepower (as tested)

110 lb-ftTorque (as tested)

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1993	L Wagon 1.8L F-4	12.70 sec	19.00 sec	110 hp	AWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 58-72 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.6 Pints
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.2 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF
Transfer Case Fluid	80W-90 · GL-5

Engine torques

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings	29-31 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	51-55 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Main Bearings	10MM

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	58-72 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	17.0-20.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Champion
Spark Plug Gap	0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	13-17 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	NGK
Spark Plug Gap	0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.5-17.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing	20 degrees

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	0.99-1.50 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Capacity	4.90 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	360 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	13 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	13 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	173 °F
Engine Oil Pressure	14 psi @ 600-700 rpm, 43 psi @ 5000 rpm psi
Intake Valve Lash	Hydraulic in
Exhaust Valve Lash	Hydraulic in

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket	38 ft-lbs / 25-33 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	58 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	58 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.295; Rear: 0.256 specification
Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Rotor Runout Limit	0.0029 in / 0.0028 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.394 in / 0.709 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 8 stages

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	51 ft. lbs.	51 ft. lbs
3	Loosen 180 degrees.	180 degrees
4	Loosen 180 degrees.	180 degrees
5	Bolts 1-2	25 ft. lbs
6	Bolts 3-6	11 ft. lbs
7	80-90 degrees.	80–90 degrees
8	80-90 degrees.	80–90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 3,000 mi.

At 3,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Clutch Assembly (inspect) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Hill Holder System (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Wheel Bearing (inspect)
At 105,000 mi	Drive Belt (replace) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Within the 1993–2001 sequence recorded, annual complaints cycled between 8 and 46 units, recalls held steady at 2–3 per year, and TSB counts climbed gradually from 17 to 90—forming a relatively stable baseline before the triple-digit spikes seen from 2002 onward. Against that backdrop, 1995 registers 64 complaints, the highest volume in that span and a sharp increase from 8 in 1994 and 27 in 1996; it also carried 2 investigations, matching 1994, while 1996 through 2001 recorded none. Air bags dominated the 1995 docket at 22 complaints, followed by engine and engine cooling at 6, fuel system at 5, and electrical system at 4, with 14 crash-related and 2 fire-related complaints—though the data does not specify root causes. This places 1995 at the peak of the early-series complaint arc, indicating it concentrated more reported issues than adjacent model years without approaching the escalated volumes seen in later model years. Consequently, 1995 is a moderate-risk selection: it is the most complained-about year of its immediate cohort, so buyers should verify air-bag service history and expect higher-than-average reported complaints for that period, but its federal footprint remains far smaller than that of subsequent model years in the dataset.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

14 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’93 ’94’95’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 64 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags22

Engine & Engine Cooling6

Fuel System, Gasoline5

Electrical System4

Visibility3

Service Brakes, Hydraulic3

Suspension2

Fuel System, Other2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08E050000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 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… Remedy: 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.

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 19 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
12-249-23R	2023-07-11	Equipment	This bulletin announces the recommended cleaning procedures to followed when encountering…
15-302-22	2022-08-23	Equipment	This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as…
01-167-08R	2022-08-23	Equipment	This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the…
15-192-22R	2022-03-18	Electrical System	This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential…
01-167-08R	2021-06-17	Electrical System	This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Impreza. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 35 battery Vehicles taking 4.2 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1995 Impreza 1.8L take?

4.2 qt of 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 1995 Impreza have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 1.8L get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 27 highway / 23 combined mpg.