2003 Subaru WRX Problems
- Complaints
- 60filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 23,800miles, 49 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Subaru WRX (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often describe two things: a brake pedal that drops and braking force that fades for a moment when the car is braked over bumps or broken pavement, and a raw fuel smell in and around the car in cold weather, traced to fuel lines near the engine. Both show up at widely different mileages — the brake reports come early, many under 20,000 miles, while the fuel smell arrives over a much broader range, sometimes past 100,000 miles.
- Fuel system
Raw fuel smell / fuel leak in cold weather
- 21 complaints (35%)
- median 78,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (18 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2005–2019
Owners report a strong raw gasoline smell inside the cabin and around the engine, most often at cold start or when temperatures drop near or below freezing, with the odor sometimes stronger with the car stopped. Some describe seeing fuel pooling or smoke near the engine, and several mention damaged or loose clamps and lines under the intake manifold. Complaints describe dealers attributing it to overfilling the tank, declining coverage, or noting that the regional cold-weather campaign did not apply where the car was registered; some owners paid for line replacement themselves. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 47,000 to over 160,000 miles, and tied in the complaints to cold starts and sub-freezing temperatures.
What to check: Ask where the car was registered and whether the fuel line campaign (09V468000, limited to certain cold-weather states) was performed; on a cold start, smell around the engine bay and check the lines under the intake manifold for weeping or loose clamps.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Fuel leaking onto my engine block could result in my car engulfing in flames, no recall for it on my car but I see it everywhere and it's a super common problem. The cabin of the car always smells like gas usually in the cold, but when I smell the engine it smells badly of raw gasoline.”
NHTSA complaint #11063189, filed 2018-01, 100,000 miles“After a cold weekend the inside of the cabin smells of raw fuel. I see the manufacturer has a TSB for fixing this in the north and canada, but no mentions of it in the south. Also, they say it happens in 02 vehicles, but I have an 03 and it just started.”
NHTSA complaint #10107854, filed 2005-01, 34,035 miles - Brakes
Brake pedal drops / braking fades over bumps
- 16 complaints (27%)
- median 5,700 mi at 0.7 yrs old (12 state mileage)
- 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2003–2005
Owners describe the brake pedal sinking toward the floor and braking force dropping away for a second or so when they brake over small bumps, expansion joints, patched pavement, railroad crossings or gravel. Many say the only way to regain braking is to release the pedal and press again, and several describe longer stopping distances or hitting a curb or the car ahead. A number say the anti-lock system appears to activate when it should not; some report dealers could not reproduce or explain it, and a few disconnected the ABS fuse to avoid it. Frequently reported on cars with very low mileage, many under 20,000 miles, on bumpy, patched or broken pavement at low to moderate speeds.
What to check: On a test drive, brake firmly over patches, speed bumps and uneven pavement and see whether the pedal sinks or braking briefly fades; ask whether the ABS control unit has been serviced under the earlier customer satisfaction program.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“While taking a right hand uphill turn over a bump, ABS aparently activated and stopped braking functions. I was unable to slow down or stop and hit a curb, causing severe damage to car. I had previously had issues with ABS activating when it was not supposed to in moderalty light rain, which was what the weather was like during this incident.”
NHTSA complaint #10096093, filed 2004-10, 23,800 miles“2003 Subaru WRX sedan - when stopping on slightly bumpy surfaces the ABS brake system becomes ineffective. The driver must let off the brakes and reapply in order to get any effective braking. This is dangerous. I can repeat it at known places on my drive to work everyday. I compensate. If I had known I would not have bought the car. This needs to be fixed.”
NHTSA complaint #10030250, filed 2003-07, 2,500 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Gear grinding or failure when shifting
Mentioned in 4 of 56 sampled complaints
Owners of manual cars describe gears that resist engagement or grind when shifting, especially into second through fifth, and one report describes a pop followed by loss of gear selection with second gear broken. Complaints mention the dealer replacing the transmission or the affected gear, with repairs done under warranty in some cases. Reported at low mileage, generally within the first few thousand miles in the complaints.
What to check: Drive the car through all gears from cold and warm and listen for grinding or a refusal to engage; ask whether the transmission or clutch release bearing has been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I own a 2003 Subaru WRX sedan with a manual transmission and quite often when shifting gears 2nd,3rd,4th and especialy in 5th gear it tends to not shift in gear(gets stuck) and grinds from time to time. This scares me when I get on the expressway and I have to shift gears to get in the flow of traffic I'm affraid that its going to stick and cause a accident (it has gotten stuck in traffic and have almost had a accident). It happens during normal driveing conditions even when I shift fron neutral to reverse it will grind. …”
NHTSA complaint #10080598, filed 2004-07, 3,500 miles“I have a 2003 Subaru impreza WRX station wagon with an automatic transmission. The incident on january 19, 2004 is only one of at least five examples of the problem detailed below. Here is the recurring problem: whenever I brake at relatively low speeds (under 30mph as far as I remember) over even mildly bumpy surfaces, the brake pedal depresses completely to the floor and the car does not brake. The car will not begin braking until I realize what is going on, release the brake pedal, and then heavily depress the brake pedal again. …”
NHTSA complaint #10054622, filed 2004-01, 6,550 miles - Engine cooling
Oil line leaking onto hot engine parts
Mentioned in 4 of 56 sampled complaints
Owners describe oil leaking from the line feeding the variable valve timing system onto the exhaust manifold, producing smoke and a fire concern; one complaint also describes a power steering hose rubbing through against the turbo heat shield and starting a fire that was put out with an extinguisher. Dealers reportedly told owners there was no recall and that repairs were at their own cost. Reported mostly between roughly 30,000 and 120,000 miles.
What to check: Look for oil residue or staining on and around the exhaust manifold and check hose routing near the turbo heat shield; ask whether the AVCS line or its fittings have been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Took my vehicle in for routine maintenance when it was found to have a significant gas leak. Specifically the fuel rail had something like 16 leaks. While I never had an engine fire the possibility for that happening was very real. This is my family car, which I transport my children in. From reading other experiences about this I have found it to be a flaw in design with the 2003 Subaru WRX. I would hope that Subaru would value its customers safety and make a safety recall about this issue.”
NHTSA complaint #10258934, filed 2009-02, 82,000 miles“As I pulled into a parking space, the engine died and flames about 2' tall shot out from between the hood and cowl and out of the intercooler inlet in the center of the hood. The flames were followed by about 10 seconds of a huge smoke cloud. It took me about 90 seconds to get a fire extinguisher and get the fire put out. I examined the damage. The pressure side power steering hose was rubbing against the sheet metal heat shield over the turbocharger. After a while, the relative motion and heat rubbed a hole in the power steering hose. …”
NHTSA complaint #10239073, filed 2008-08, 121,929 miles - Vehicle speed control
Sudden or unintended acceleration with cruise control
Mentioned in 4 of 56 sampled complaints
Owners report the car accelerating without warning or the throttle staying open after cruise control is switched off, ranging from a high idle to wide-open acceleration. Complaints describe repeated dealer visits with no lasting fix and, in one case, a collision with another vehicle. Reported at low mileage in some complaints and at higher mileage in others, with one case at around 3,000 miles.
What to check: Test the throttle response with the cruise control engaged and disengaged, check for a high or hanging idle, and ask whether the throttle and cruise components have been inspected or replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My dream car demolished in split second. Could have very easily died as well as my passenger. I looked up the recalls when I got the car and it was not listed yet, the steel front control arms in the snow belt states rust out and cause the vehicle to loose control and or crash. Well it did both to me as well as excelerate my car. I was on a date that night for the first time in a while. …”
NHTSA complaint #10725033, filed 2015-06, 153,000 miles“The cruise control unit on my car will cause the throttle to remain open, even if the cruise is turned off. This can result in anything from higher than normal idle to random instances of wide open, uncontrolled acceleration. The car has been to 2 different Subaru dealers for a total of 7 times over the course of 5 years, and the problem has yet to be resolved. All applicable TSB's and recalls have been performed, but problem still occurs.”
NHTSA complaint #10214827, filed 2008-01, 3,000 miles
Buying note. Check both of the model year's signature issues before buying: brake behavior over rough pavement, and fuel smell at a cold start in a car that may or may not have had the regional fuel line campaign applied. Service history for the fuel lines, brake system and manual gearbox is worth asking for, since the complaints show repairs were sometimes handled outside warranty.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 56 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 60 consumer complaints for the 2003 Subaru WRX. 49 of the complaints include a mileage, and 59% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 23,800 miles. Of all complaints, 13 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 118 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes20 33%
- Fuel system20 33%
- Engine cooling4 6.7%
- Vehicle speed control3 5.0%
- Air bags2 3.3%
- Other or unknown2 3.3%
- Seats2 3.3%
- Steering2 3.3%
Also reported: Tires (2), Electrical system (1).
Example complaints
Brakes: “This problem has occurred 3 times to date. This is the typical situation: I was driving at a low rate of speed, around 25, coming up to a stop sign. A second or so after I applied the brakes I went over some small bumps on dry pavement and it felt like ABS was coming on, the pedal dropped, but then it went way down and it wasn't pulsing. No matter how hard I pressed, it didn't seem to help.”
NHTSA complaint #10046840, filed 2003-11, 14,000 milesFuel system: “When it get cold out, the fuel line starts leaking and there is the smell of gas in the car. There has been a limited recall for this issue depending on where the vehicle was purchased. I live in a state not included in the recall area. This doesn't change the fact that it is a serious safety issue and the manufacturer should correct it no matter what state I live in (illinois). This is clearly a manufacturer's defect and ask that they fix this issue.”
NHTSA complaint #10788271, filed 2015-11, 105,000 milesEngine cooling: “The contact owns a 2003 Subaru WRX. The contact stated the vehicle began leaking oil from the avcs line and would leak onto the manifold, creating a fire hazard. The manufacturer advised there were no recalls for the failure and any repairs would be the contact's expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were approximately 31,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10339906, filed 2010-06, 31,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “The driver was shifting to second gear when all of a sudden he heard a pop, and was unable to change gears, preventing the vehicle from moving. Took vehicle to dealer for checkup, and results showed that second gear was broken, and needed to be replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #10111075, filed 2005-02Mileage when problems were reported
59% of the 49 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 7,017 and 76,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
- 09V468000Dec 4, 2009Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pumpCovers: Subaru WRX 2002–2003, Impreza 2002–2003
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2002 and 2003 impreza wrx vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of south dakota, nebraska, north dakota, minnesota, idaho, iowa, montana, colorado, wisconsin, new york, wyoming, michigan…
Recall details for the 2003 Subaru WRX → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- EA03024Extended stopping distancesClosed · Nov 19, 2003
- PE03029Braking system/absClosed · Jul 8, 2003
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 118 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11037943Oct 5, 2026Other or unknown, Electrical system. This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines.
- 11037940Sep 18, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
- 11037930Sep 15, 2026Other or unknown. This announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year Subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
- 11037929Sep 14, 2026Other or unknown, Electrical system. This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 11037927Sep 14, 2026Electrical system. This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 11036807Aug 20, 2026Electrical system. This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to…
- 11036796Aug 13, 2026Electrical system. This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
- 11036794Aug 5, 2026Electrical system. Techtips newsletter locator index.
- 11036789Aug 1, 2026Electrical system. This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin
- 11034249Jun 12, 2026Other or unknown. This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood covers from Generation 4 EyeSight cameras.
Other model years of the Subaru WRX
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 14 | 150 | 0 | 5 | 22 | — | Too new |
| 2023 | 9 | — | 1 | 5 | 22 | — | Too new |
| 2022 | 25 | 19,800 | 1 | 5 | 22 | 56 · Typical | Rising |
| 2021 | 13 | — | 1 | 5 | 21 | — | Not enough data |
| 2020 | 18 | 9,600 | 1 | 5 | 21 | — | Stable |
| 2019 | 30 | 27,250 | 2 | — | 21 | 33 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2018 | 43 | 14,500 | 2 | — | 21 | 64 · Typical | Stable |
| 2017 | 53 | 36,000 | 1 | — | 21 | 49 · Typical | Falling |
| 2016 | 31 | 25,000 | 3 | — | 21 | 51 · Typical | Falling |
| 2015 | 52 | 31,250 | 3 | — | 21 | 65 · More | Falling |
| 2014 | 6 | 34,000 | 10 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2013 | 7 | 10,500 | 11 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2009 | 41 | 71,327 | 10 | — | — | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2008 | 65 | 80,000 | 7 | — | — | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2006 | 14 | 66,870 | 3 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2005 | 19 | 48,000 | 4 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 2004 | 42 | 69,990 | 4 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 60 | 23,800 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 427 | 40,000 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Subaru WRX model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Subaru WRX?
Owners of this model year most often describe two things: a brake pedal that drops and braking force that fades for a moment when the car is braked over bumps or broken pavement, and a raw fuel smell in and around the car in cold weather, traced to fuel lines near the engine. The issues reported most often: Raw fuel smell / fuel leak in cold weather; Brake pedal drops / braking fades over bumps; Gear grinding or failure when shifting.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Subaru WRX have?
NHTSA recorded 60 consumer complaints for the 2003 Subaru WRX as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2003 Subaru WRX is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 20 complaints (33% of the total), followed by fuel system with 20.
Has the 2003 Subaru WRX been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Subaru WRX reported?
Among the 49 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 23,800 miles and the middle half falls between 7,017 and 76,000 miles; 59% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
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.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.