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Subaru WRXModel year report

2009 Subaru WRX Problems

Compared with other Subaru WRX years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

0/100 0.3× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
41filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
71,327miles, 40 complaints with mileage
Recalls
10campaigns 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 2009 Subaru WRX (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 41 consumer complaints for the 2009 Subaru WRX. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 33 complaints (80% of the total), followed by body and structure (13) and brakes (11). 40 of the complaints include a mileage, and 15% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 71,327 miles. NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns and 174 technical service bulletins for this model year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 7 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Body and structure complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 7 Subaru WRX model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 0 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

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.

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “**clutch spot welds** after replacing 2 clutches and hearing a clicking noise I took it to a Subaru shop. They informed me that the spot welds on the clutch and brake are starting to break loose from the firewall. I then received a safety bulletin from Subaru about the spot welds. Subaru expects the owners to pay for this hazardous well known safety problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10745730, filed 2015-08, 74,722 miles

Body and structure: “The firewall on my Subaru WRX hatchback is flexing so bad that my clutch will not fully engage nor disengage. I feel that it is a huge safety issues to myself and my family/friends that live in the vehicle due to the fact that my brake pedal or clutch pedal could penetrate the firewall due to the flexing/cracking. The firewall flex is preventing my car from getting routine service that is scheduled in the owners manual. …”

NHTSA complaint #10955642, filed 2017-02, 109,000 miles

Brakes: “When I bought the car from the used car lot I noticed the clutch pedal when being pressed and depressed made a squeaking noise. I figured it was probably lack of lubrication so I went ahead and lubricated the pedal assembly and the noise stayed the same. Couple months go by and the noise got much louder and sometimes a loud pop would occur. Recently I did some research and found out that many other WRX owners have had the same issue. …”

NHTSA complaint #10654643, filed 2014-11, 72,000 miles

Other or unknown: “I purchased this vehicle about 100 miles from my residence. I drove it home from the dealership and within 2 hours of driving I heard a loud whipping noise from underneath the hood. Sounded like a belt snapped and I knew something was wrong. …”

NHTSA complaint #10579242, filed 2014-04, 74,301 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

15% of the 40 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 57,000 and 85,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–2515%25–5043%50–7533%75–10010%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (40 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 71,327 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

20131420142015201620172018
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

See all 10 recalls for the 2009 Subaru WRX → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

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. 174 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 174 bulletins →

Other model years of the Subaru WRX

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2024141500522—Too new
20239—1522—Too new
20222519,800152256 · TypicalRising
202113—1521—Not enough data
2020189,6001521—Stable
20193027,2502—2133 · FewerFalling
20184314,5002—2164 · TypicalStable
20175336,0001—2149 · TypicalFalling
20163125,0003—2151 · TypicalFalling
20155231,2503—2165 · MoreFalling
2014634,00010———Not enough data
2013710,50011———Not enough data
20094171,32710——0 · FewerStable
20086580,0007——0 · FewerStable
20061466,8703———Not enough data
20051948,0004———Stable
20044269,9904——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20036023,8001——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200242740,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Subaru WRX model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Subaru WRX have?

NHTSA recorded 41 consumer complaints for the 2009 Subaru WRX as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Subaru WRX is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 33 complaints (80% of the total), followed by body and structure with 13.

Has the 2009 Subaru WRX been recalled?

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Subaru WRX reported?

Among the 40 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 71,327 miles and the middle half falls between 57,000 and 85,000 miles; 15% 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.