2006 Subaru WRX Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2006 Subaru WRX has a complaint index of 40 with 14 complaints and 3 recalls, earning a Good verdict compared to other WRX years. It ranks 13th worst out of 21 model years, well below high-complaint years like 2017 and 2015.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 40/100
- #13 of 21 WRX years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 14
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Engine
Top 2006 Subaru WRX problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine5 (36%)
- Fuel System4 (29%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (29%)
- Structure & Body1 (7%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Fuel lines and hoses leak fuel and produce a strong gasoline odor in the cabin, especially in cold weather around 45-50 degrees F.
- Clutch fails to disengage or stops working entirely, sometimes leaving the engine revving high while the car will not slow down.
- The oil pickup tube cracks or breaks, starving the engine of oil and destroying internal bearings, often signaled by a flickering or steady oil light.
- A rear hatch strut arm bolt fails, causing the hatch to drop unexpectedly without staying propped open.
- The secondary air injection system valve sticks open, triggering a check engine code linked to carbon buildup or moisture contamination.
- Third gear teeth shatter during normal shifting, sending metal debris into the transmission case and requiring gear set replacement.
2006 Subaru WRX recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V001000Jan 2, 2020Airbags258,813 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
- NHTSA 20V003000Jan 2, 2020Airbags111,562 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
- NHTSA 20V002000Jan 2, 2020Airbags127,547 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
2006 compared with other WRX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Subaru WRX reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 WRX has a complaint index of 40, ranking 13th worst out of 21 model years and earning a Good verdict relative to other WRX years.
- What problems does the 2006 Subaru WRX have?
- NHTSA complaints point to engine issues (36% of complaints), fuel system leaks (29%), and transmission or clutch failures (29%). The median mileage at failure across all reported problems was 66,870 miles.
- Does the 2006 Subaru WRX have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2006 WRX, all related to airbags, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
- Which WRX years are worse than 2006?
- Years like 2017 (complaint index 100), 2015 (85), 2008 (80), and 2018 (95) all carry Avoid verdicts, making them worse than the 2006 model year.
- What is the top problem area for the 2006 WRX?
- Engine complaints make up 36% of reports for the 2006 WRX, the largest single problem area, with a median failure mileage of 85,685 miles.