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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2006 Subaru WRX Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
4about this part
Share
29%of 14 total for the year
Median mileage
28,550miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2006 Subaru WRX, 29% of the 14 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 28,550 miles.

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.

“While traveling down a major highway in fifth gear my car engine began to rev and the instrument panel was at 6,000rpms. I attempted to slow the car and make it to an exit ramp, but the clutch would not disengage. I pulled the car off the side of the highway and it stalled out. I had the car towed to fairway Subaru where I was told many different excuses that were all driver related. I was told that the clutch disintegrated under extreme heat from revving the engine. The clutch was taken apart and there were no heat spots. …”

NHTSA complaint #10220248, filed 2008-03, 22,100 miles

“I started my car on saturday may 18th and could not drive it. Clutch was bad. I've had the car 13 months, it has 13k miles on it and the dealer told me it was my fault-driver error. This is my 4th car with a manual transmission (ironically the first new car) and I have never, ever had a clutch problem with any of the others-ranging from an older saturn to an m series bmw. According to Subaru, they can't/won't do anything if the technician says the problem was caused by driver error. They said all I can do is ask the service manager to give me a goodwill discount. I am not holding my breath.”

NHTSA complaint #10230156, filed 2008-06, 13,000 miles

“At 3500 RPM shift from 2nd to 3rd gear at low level acceleration the 3rd gear teeth shattered and caused damage to the gearset. 3rd gear needed total replacement and metal debris floating in the casing until car could be stopped. 2000 miles later after Subaru dealership repair and all new parts from the factory the same scenario occurs again 3rd gear chipped all teeth and car needed to be stopped immediately. …”

NHTSA complaint #10460895, filed 2012-06, 111,000 miles

“Broken oil pickup tube, driving home from work the pickup tube broke causing the oil in the oilpan to not circulate through the system. This destroyed all internal bearings and likely fatigued many other engine internals. The dealership replaced all bearings under warranty but did not replace any other engine block components.”

NHTSA complaint #10232359, filed 2008-06, 35,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2024321%
2023111%
2022416%
2021646%
2020317%
201927%
2018614%
20171121%
2016413%
20151835%
2014117%
2013686%
20093380%
20084874%
2006429%
2005211%
200412%
200347%
2002164%

Other parts of the 2006 Subaru WRX

Fuel system
4 complaints
Engine cooling
3 complaints
Engine
2 complaints
Body and structure
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2006 Subaru WRX

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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