Subaru WRX Best and Worst Years (2005–2025)
Subaru WRX years to avoid are 2008, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022, based on NHTSA complaint index scores of 80, 75, 85, 100, 95 and 90. No year earns a Best rating; 2005, 2006 and 2021 are the Good years with the lowest complaint indexes (35, 40 and 45).
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
Avoid 2008Avoid 2009Avoid 2015Avoid 2017Avoid 2018Avoid 2022
- Model years
- 21
- 2005–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 445
- Recall campaigns
- 22
- Crashes reported
- 23
- Fires reported
- 8
- Top problem area
- Transmission & Powertrain
WRX Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Subaru WRX problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Good | 35 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Fuel System | — | — |
| 2006 | Good | 40 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Engine | — | — |
| 2007 | No verdict | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 2008 | Avoid | 80 | 65 | 0 | 1 | 7 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2009 | Avoid | 75 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 10 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2010 | No verdict | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | Brakes | — | — |
| 2011 | No verdict | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | Brakes | — | — |
| 2012 | No verdict | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | Engine | — | — |
| 2013 | Caution | 30 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 11 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2014 | Caution | 20 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 10 | Brakes | — | — |
| 2015 | Avoid | 85 | 52 | 2 | 1 | 3 | Engine | 21 | — |
| 2016 | Caution | 65 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | Electrical System | 21 | — |
| 2017 | Avoid | 100 | 53 | 8 | 2 | 1 | Electrical System | 21 | — |
| 2018 | Avoid | 95 | 42 | 5 | 1 | 2 | Electrical System | 20 | — |
| 2019 | Caution | 60 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Electrical System | 21 | — |
| 2020 | Caution | 70 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Electrical System | 21 | 5★ |
| 2021 | Good | 45 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Transmission & Powertrain | 21 | 5★ |
| 2022 | Avoid | 90 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 1 | Engine | 21.5 | 5★ |
| 2023 | Caution | 50 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | Airbags | 21.5 | 5★ |
| 2024 | Caution | 55 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 21.5 | 5★ |
| 2025 | No verdict | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Electrical System | 21.5 | 5★ |
WRX years to avoid: what went wrong
2017 Subaru WRX Index 100 · 53 complaints · 1 recalls
The 2017 WRX has the highest complaint index of any model year at 100, with 8 crashes and 7 injuries reported. Electrical system problems lead at 32% of complaints, including wipers and steering that stopped functioning, and lane tracking and eyesight systems malfunctioning at highway speeds. Engine and transmission/powertrain issues follow. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign, for the backup light switch.
2018 Subaru WRX Index 95 · 42 complaints · 2 recalls
The 2018 WRX has a complaint index of 95, with 5 crashes and 2 injuries reported. Electrical system and engine problems are tied as top issues, each at 26% of complaints, including steering wheels seizing after gear shifts and check engine lights triggering reduced power. Fuel system and steering complaints follow at 17% each. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns, covering the backup light switch and a low-pressure fuel pump.
2022 Subaru WRX Index 90 · 25 complaints · 1 recalls
The 2022 WRX has a complaint index of 90, with 3 crashes reported. Engine problems dominate at 60% of complaints, including an oil pickup tube failure from gasket debris that caused engine failure. Owners also reported airbags failing to deploy in front-end collisions and brake holding issues after hill assist deactivated. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign, covering incorrect Eyesight high-beam instructions in the owner's manual.
2015 Subaru WRX Index 85 · 52 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2015 WRX has a complaint index of 85. Engine and transmission/powertrain problems are tied as the top issues, each at 35% of complaints, including transmission failures with burned clutch smell and turbocharger air intake duct concerns. Electrical system complaints follow at 19%, with a median failure mileage of 15,490 for that category. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns, covering a backup light switch defect, a subwoofer wiring issue, and the turbocharger intake duct.
2015 engine problems →2015 transmission & powertrain problems →
2008 Subaru WRX Index 80 · 65 complaints · 7 recalls
The 2008 WRX has a complaint index of 80, driven mainly by transmission and powertrain problems, which make up 74% of its complaints. Owners describe cracked welds where the clutch and brake pedal assembly mounts to the firewall, causing squeaking clutches and flexing pedals, with a median failure mileage of 69,500 for that category. Structure and body complaints follow at 40%. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this year, including three airbag inflator recalls shared across multiple Subaru models.
2008 transmission & powertrain problems →2008 structure & body problems →2008 brakes problems →
2009 Subaru WRX Index 75 · 41 complaints · 10 recalls
The 2009 WRX carries a complaint index of 75. Transmission and powertrain issues account for 80% of complaints, with owners reporting the same firewall-cracking and clutch pedal creaking pattern seen in 2008, at a median mileage of 65,844.5. Structure and body complaints and brake complaints follow. NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for this year, the most of any WRX model year, including airbag inflator recalls.
Most common Subaru WRX problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Transmission & Powertrain151 (34%)
- Engine116 (26%)
- Electrical System75 (17%)
- Other62 (14%)
- Brakes57 (13%)
- Structure & Body55 (12%)
- Fuel System43 (10%)
- Steering20 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires19 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers19 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What year Subaru WRX should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022 WRX have the highest complaint indexes, ranging from 75 to 100. The 2017 model year ranks worst overall with a complaint index of 100 and 8 reported crashes.
- Is there a best Subaru WRX year?
- No WRX model year earns a Best rating in this data. The lowest-risk years are 2005, 2006, and 2021, rated Good with complaint indexes of 35, 40, and 45.
- Does the Subaru WRX have a recall for clutch or firewall cracking?
- NHTSA complaint data shows 2008 and 2009 WRX owners frequently reported cracked welds at the pedal assembly firewall mount, though this pattern appears in complaints rather than a specific recall campaign for that issue.
- What is the most common problem area across all Subaru WRX years?
- Transmission and powertrain issues are the top problem area across all WRX years, accounting for 151 complaints, or 34% of the total 445 complaints on record.
- Is the 2017 Subaru WRX reliable?
- The 2017 WRX has the highest complaint index of any WRX year at 100, with 8 crashes and 7 injuries reported to NHTSA, making it a year to avoid relative to other WRX years.