YearToAvoid

2018 Subaru WRX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

93/100

#2 most-complained of 16 WRX years

The 2018 Subaru WRX ranks 2nd worst of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 93 and 42 complaints. Owners most often reported Electrical System and Engine problems, each 26% of complaints, plus 2 recalls covering backup lights and fuel pumps.

Complaints
42
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
5 / 1
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
17.5 city / 23 hwy

Top 2018 Subaru WRX problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System11 (26%)
  2. Engine11 (26%)
  3. Other8 (19%)
  4. Fuel System7 (17%)
  5. Steering7 (17%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain6 (14%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers4 (10%)
  8. Airbags3 (7%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (7%)
  10. Brakes2 (5%)

What owners report

  • Steering wheel seized after shifting gears, causing loss of control at low speed.
  • Front airbags failed to deploy during a low-speed crash after a wheel stayed turned.
  • Check engine and traction control lights illuminated together with a sudden loss of power, tied to a camshaft/crankshaft position code.
  • Engine developed a cylinder misfire with ringland and piston damage along with a destroyed spark plug.
  • Windshield cracked on its own while driving with no impact or debris strike.
  • Air conditioning use in hot weather caused stuttering, speed fluctuation, and erratic turbo engagement.
  • Vehicle failed to start after sitting in a garage over winter months, requiring a battery charge.
2018 Subaru WRX complaints: complaints filed per month9Oct 2017Nov 2018Jan 2020Dec 2020Jan 2022Jun 2023Jul 2024Aug 2025
63 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2017 to Jul 2026; peak May 2019 (9).

2018 Subaru WRX recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V522000Jul 21, 2022Electrical System59,934 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:back up lights:switch

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2021 WRX vehicles. The backup light switch may corrode and become inoperative, which can result in the backup lights not illuminating and the rearview camera image not displaying when the vehicle is in reverse.

    Risk: Inoperative backup lights and an inoperative rearview camera can reduce vehicle visibility and driver awareness, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the backup light switch, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-22.

  2. NHTSA 21V587000Jul 29, 2021Fuel System175,968 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.

2018 Subaru WRX fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17.5 MPG
Highway
23 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,000
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2018 compared with other WRX years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Caution6731321
2017Avoid10053121
2018Avoid9342220
2019Caution6030221
2020Caution5317121

All Subaru WRX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Subaru WRX reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 WRX ranks 2nd worst among 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 93 versus 100 for the highest 2017 model. It carries an 'Avoid' verdict relative to other WRX years.
What problems does the 2018 Subaru WRX have?
NHTSA lists 42 complaints for the 2018 WRX, led by Electrical System and Engine issues (26% each), followed by Fuel System and Steering problems (17% each).
Does the 2018 Subaru WRX have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for a corroding backup light switch (campaign 22V522000) and one for a low-pressure fuel pump that may fail (campaign 21V587000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
At what mileage do 2018 WRX problems usually appear?
Median mileage at failure varies by system: Engine problems showed up around a median of 9,000 miles, Electrical System and Steering issues around 14,500 miles, and Fuel System complaints around 25,875 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.