Worst years for a Subaru WRX
Owners have filed 1,232 complaints about the Subaru WRX with NHTSA across model years 2002 to 2025. More of them are about the fuel & propulsion than anything else.
Avoid
2002 Subaru WRX461 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly fuel & propulsion.
Every Subaru WRX year, graded
The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.
| Year | Grade | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Median miles | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance |
| 2024 | A | 15 | 0 | 0 | — | Other & Unspecified |
| 2023 | — | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | Engine & Cooling |
| 2022 | C | 36 | 4 | 2 | — | Engine & Cooling |
| 2021 | A | 21 | 0 | 0 | — | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2020 | C | 23 | 3 | 0 | 9,600 | Electrical System |
| 2019 | B | 44 | 0 | 0 | 30,000 | Electrical System |
| 2018 | D | 63 | 13 | 1 | 14,500 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2017 | D | 73 | 16 | 5 | 37,000 | Electrical System |
| 2016 | C | 40 | 1 | 2 | 30,000 | Electrical System |
| 2015 | D | 73 | 4 | 3 | 26,000 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2014 | — | 9 | 0 | 0 | 29,500 | Brakes |
| 2013 | B | 11 | 1 | 0 | 29,500 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2012 | — | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | Engine & Cooling |
| 2011 | — | 5 | 0 | 0 | 43,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2010 | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | Brakes |
| 2009 | B | 72 | 0 | 0 | 74,301 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2008 | C | 119 | 0 | 2 | 80,000 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2006 | A | 14 | 0 | 0 | 66,870 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2005 | A | 24 | 0 | 0 | 48,800 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 2004 | B | 46 | 1 | 0 | 73,500 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 2003 | D | 65 | 16 | 3 | 31,000 | Brakes |
| 2002 | D | 461 | 20 | 2 | 40,000 | Fuel & Propulsion |
What breaks on a Subaru WRX
Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.
Worst in 2017
Worst in 2018
Worst in 2002
Worst in 2008
Worst in 2015
Worst in 2022
Exactly what failed on a Subaru WRX
The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.
Complaints filed over time
Every complaint about every Subaru WRX, by the month it reached NHTSA.
Subaru WRX problems by state
Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.
Compare the Subaru WRX
Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.