Subaru WRX Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 969 consumer complaints across the 19 model years of the Subaru WRX (2002–2024) that have at least 5 complaints. 2002 has the most, with 427. Across all years, the part named most often is fuel system (392 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All WRX model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 14 | 150 | 0 | 180 | — | Too new |
| 2023 | 9 | — | 1 | 212 | — | Too new |
| 2022 | 25 | 19,800 | 1 | 260 | 56 · Typical | Rising |
| 2021 | 13 | — | 1 | 215 | — | Not enough data |
| 2020 | 18 | 9,600 | 1 | 288 | — | Stable |
| 2019 | 30 | 27,250 | 2 | 371 | 33 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2018 | 43 | 14,500 | 2 | 348 | 64 · Typical | Stable |
| 2017 | 53 | 36,000 | 1 | 389 | 49 · Typical | Falling |
| 2016 | 31 | 25,000 | 3 | 406 | 51 · Typical | Falling |
| 2015 | 52 | 31,250 | 3 | 417 | 65 · More | Falling |
| 2014 | 6 | 34,000 | 10 | 219 | — | Not enough data |
| 2013 | 7 | 10,500 | 11 | 224 | — | Not enough data |
| 2009 | 41 | 71,327 | 10 | 174 | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2008 | 65 | 80,000 | 7 | 171 | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2006 | 14 | 66,870 | 3 | 123 | — | Not enough data |
| 2005 | 19 | 48,000 | 4 | 158 | — | Stable |
| 2004 | 42 | 69,990 | 4 | 175 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 60 | 23,800 | 1 | 118 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 427 | 40,000 | 1 | 117 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Fuel system392 38%
- Transmission and drivetrain173 17%
- Brakes153 15%
- Engine104 10%
- Electrical system70 6.7%
- Other or unknown65 6.3%
- Body and structure53 5.1%
- Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)30 2.9%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2015: “Decided to get my spark plugs replaced, and got a compression test done while that service was done for convenience. Compression came out low on one side of my fa20dit engine. With more research, because the engine is direct injected, there is obvious build up on the intake valves, causing bad air flow. This is not a wear and tear issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11280851, filed 2019-11, 96,000 miles2017: “I went to start my car and discovered that my windshield cracked directly in the middle of the windshield, there isn't a chip or anything indicating that something hit the windshield. It was a u shaped crack directly in the middle. I have no recollection of anything ever hitting against the windshield, it seems to have just cracked on its own. Car was parked in a driveway prior to the crack appearing.”
NHTSA complaint #11387250, filed 2021-01, 82,000 miles2008: “The firewall is cracking which can cause the clutch pedal to become inoperable. After I had work done on my car the mechanic told me that the firewall was cracking and that I would need to contact Subaru of america for possible coverage. They denied me coverage because it would be too costly despite the firewall being a known issue on the WRX from 2008-2014”
NHTSA complaint #11067358, filed 2018-02, 80,000 milesOther Subaru models
9,776 complaintsSubaru Forester
6,527 complaintsSubaru Legacy
3,182 complaintsSubaru Impreza
2,649 complaintsSubaru Crosstrek
1,191 complaintsSubaru Ascent
1,038 complaintsSubaru SVX
279 complaintsSubaru XV Crosstrek
258 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology