2003 Subaru WRX Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 3%of 60 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 137,464miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the steering of the 2003 Subaru WRX, 3% of the 60 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 137,464 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“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 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11032035Apr 20, 2026This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when…
Steering: other model years
Other parts of the 2003 Subaru WRX
20 complaintsFuel system
20 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaintsAir bags
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsSeats
2 complaintsTires
2 complaintsElectrical system
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Subaru WRX
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology