Subaru WRX: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Subaru WRX problems by model year, from 304 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2015 (71%, 34 drivetrain complaints), 2022 (70%, 16 drivetrain complaints) and 2017 (51%, 23 drivetrain complaints). 6 of the 6 Subaru WRX years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 2 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Subaru WRX year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2016 (44%).
By raw volume, the 2015 drew the most drivetrain complaints (34 of 119 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021 and 2023 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Subaru WRX year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 WRX | too few to score | – | 0 | 2 | – | 12 |
| 2011 WRX | too few to score | – | 2 | 5 | – | 11 |
| 2012 WRX | too few to score | – | 1 | 3 | – | 12 |
| 2013 WRX | too few to score | – | 8 | 9 | – | 11 |
| 2014 WRX | too few to score | – | 3 | 6 | – | 10 |
| 2015 WRX | very high | 71% | 34 | 55 | 1/6 | 3 |
| 2016 WRX | high | 44% | 14 | 34 | 6/6 | 3 |
| 2017 WRX | high | 51% | 23 | 53 | 3/6 | 1 |
| 2018 WRX | high | 50% | 19 | 44 | 4/6 | 2 |
| 2019 WRX | high | 45% | 13 | 30 | 5/6 | 2 |
| 2020 WRX | too few to score | – | 4 | 17 | – | 1 |
| 2021 WRX | too few to score | – | 8 | 13 | – | 1 |
| 2022 WRX | very high | 70% | 16 | 25 | 2/6 | 1 |
| 2023 WRX | too few to score | – | 2 | 8 | – | 1 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Subaru WRX years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Subaru WRX engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the Subaru WRX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2016 | 16V162000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger | 2015–2016 |
| Jul 2021 | 21V587000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2018–2019 |
4 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2015 | 15V366000 | forward collision avoidance: crash imminent braking | 2016 |
| Oct 2017 | 17V625000 | electrical system: wiring | 2015 |
| Jul 2022 | 22V522000 | exterior lighting: back up lights: switch | 2015–2019 |
| Jan 2023 | 23V016000 | equipment: other: owners/service/other manual | 2022 |
What the free pages leave out on the Subaru WRX
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Subaru WRX
What are the worst years for the Subaru WRX?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Subaru WRX years are the 2015 (71% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2022 (70% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2017 (51% of relevant complaints, high). 6 of 6 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Subaru WRX?
No Subaru WRX year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2016 (44%).
Does the Subaru WRX have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 6 scored years, 119 of 216 relevant NHTSA complaints (55%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022.
Is the Subaru WRX reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 6 of 6 Subaru WRX years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 55% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Subaru WRX?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Subaru WRX years we track, out of 6 in total: 16V162000 (Mar 2016, 2015–2016), 21V587000 (Jul 2021, 2018–2019). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.