FaultScore report
Owners have filed 24 complaints about the 2005 Subaru WRX with NHTSA between 2007 and 2015. The largest single group is the fuel & propulsion. Across this model's run it ranks 15 of 17 worst.
FaultScore 19/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Subaru WRX.
How this is worked out24
Complaints
0
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
48,800 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
32%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Median failure at 48,800 miles
Median failure at 94,400 miles
Median failure at 21,250 miles
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
AS I WAS DRIVING THIS MORNING STARTED SMELLING STRONG RAW FUEL ODOR.
NHTSA complaint #10689645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2005 STI, 42,000 MILES..... COLD MN WEATHER CAUSED MY FUEL SYSTEM UNDER THE HOOD LEAK GAS ALL OVER. INSIDE OF CAR SMELT OF GAS VERY VERY BAD. POPPED THE HOOD, EVEN STRONGER GAS SMELL, LOCATED FUEL LEAKS UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DRIVERS SIDE. TOWED IT TO NEAREST SUBARU DEALER DO TO FEAR OF FIRE. NOT COVERED UNDER THE 2 WARRANTIES I PURCHASED WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR OR UNDER SUBARU RECALL OF 2003-2004 WRX/STI'S FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.....CHARGES WILL BE $600+...... BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A SUBARU DEALER HERE IN MN, SECOND OWNER, EXPENSIVE LOW MILES USED CAR, JUST PLAIN STUPID SUBARU DOES NOT FIX THIS.....
NHTSA complaint #10672009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
DURING COLD WEATHER, THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN. RUBBER FUEL LINES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE LEAK, CAUSING FUEL TO PUDDLE ON TOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK, CREATING AN EXTREME FIRE HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10671494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
DURING COLD WEATHER, THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN. RUBBER FUEL LINES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE LEAK, CAUSING FUEL TO PUDDLE ON TOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK, CREATING AN EXTREME FIRE HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10671494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
AFTER INVESTIGATING A SMALL LEAK IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT MY FRONT SWAY BAR MOUNT CONNECTED TO MY LOWER CONTROL ARM( RECALL NUMBER "WVX-34 LOWER CONTROL ARM) MOUNT HAD SNAPPED AND SEPARATED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MYSELF, FAMILY AND OTHERS DRIVING AROUND ME AT THE TIME IS SNAPPED. SUBARU CONFIRMS THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAS A CORROSION ISSUE BUT REFUSES TO COVER THIS PROBLEM DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE BREAKAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10659591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL SMELL INSIDE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES <20 DEGREES F. THIS IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN PROBLEM, AND A TSB WAS ISSUED FOR 2002 AND 2003 SUBARU WRX FOR A FUEL LEAK, BUT NOT FOR THE 2005. HAVE BEEN TOLD THE OWNER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS. ONLINE SEARCH FINDS MANY IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS.
NHTSA complaint #10640973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ON COLD DAYS, THE CAR SMELLS LIKE GAS - MANY REPORTS ONLINE ABOUT FUEL LEAKS IN COLD WEATHER FOR SUBARU.
NHTSA complaint #10567007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
STRONG RAW FUEL SMELL IN CABIN WHEN STARTING IN TEMPS <30 DEGREES. FUEL IS CLEARLY VISIBLE LEAKING FROM LINES BELOW MANIFOLD.
NHTSA complaint #10562044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN I STARTED MY CAR THE OTHER MORNING (~14 DEGREES F) I SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE CABIN. I OPENED THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND ALSO SMELLED IT THERE AS WELL. I DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 2 MILES AND THE SMELL WENT AWAY. ONCE STOPPED AND IDLING, THE ODOR RETURNED. IT IS A VERY STRONG RAW GASOLINE SMELL. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. IT TURNS OUT TO BE A FAULTY CLAMP AND/OR HOSE, WHICH RESULTS IN LEAKING GASOLINE OUT OF THE FUEL LINE. THIS CONCERNS ME FOR NUMEROUS REASONS, BUT THE MAIN REASON IS THAT IT IS LEAKING GASOLINE IN THE ENGINE BAY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE AND ULTIMATELY INJURY/DEATH. THE SMELL IT PRODUCES IN THE CABIN IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT CONCERNS ME, ESPECIALLY IF CHILDREN ARE IN THE CAR. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE VERY COLD, PROBABLY BELOW 20 OR 25 DEGREES F. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND YOU WILL FIND MANY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING WITH THEIR VEHICLES. THANKS
NHTSA complaint #10559034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
WHEN I STARTED MY CAR THE OTHER MORNING (~14 DEGREES F) I SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE CABIN. I OPENED THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND ALSO SMELLED IT THERE AS WELL. I DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 2 MILES AND THE SMELL WENT AWAY. ONCE STOPPED AND IDLING, THE ODOR RETURNED. IT IS A VERY STRONG RAW GASOLINE SMELL. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. IT TURNS OUT TO BE A FAULTY CLAMP AND/OR HOSE, WHICH RESULTS IN LEAKING GASOLINE OUT OF THE FUEL LINE. THIS CONCERNS ME FOR NUMEROUS REASONS, BUT THE MAIN REASON IS THAT IT IS LEAKING GASOLINE IN THE ENGINE BAY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE AND ULTIMATELY INJURY/DEATH. THE SMELL IT PRODUCES IN THE CABIN IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT CONCERNS ME, ESPECIALLY IF CHILDREN ARE IN THE CAR. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE VERY COLD, PROBABLY BELOW 20 OR 25 DEGREES F. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND YOU WILL FIND MANY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING WITH THEIR VEHICLES. THANKS
NHTSA complaint #10559034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN STARTED, TEMPERATURES UNDER 20 DEGREES (F), VEHICLE WILL EMIT A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR UNDER HOOD AND WILL COME IN THROUGH HEATER VENTS. DEALER SAYS THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM, BUT NO CURRENT RECALLS. THE PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS HAD A RECALL FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. SUBARU OF AMERICA CLAIMS THE MODEL YEAR I HAVE HAS AN UPDATE, BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND WITH SUBARU DEALERS, THERE IS STILL A KNOWN PROBLEM. THERE IS A RUBBER FUEL LINE UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT IS THE CULPRIT. MY DEALER CLAIMS "THEY ALL DO THIS WHEN IT'S COLD." I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS ANSWER AND SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS BEEN NO HELP EITHER. THEY CLAIM IT IS UP THE NTSB TO ISSUE A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10491511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
FUEL SMELL INSIDE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES <20 DEGREES F. THIS IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN PROBLEM, AND A TSB WAS ISSUED FOR 2002 AND 2003 SUBARU WRX FOR A FUEL LEAK, BUT NOT FOR THE 2005. HAVE BEEN TOLD THE OWNER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS. ONLINE SEARCH FINDS MANY IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS.
NHTSA complaint #10384820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
STRONG GASOLINE ODOR SMELL INSIDE CAR. HAPPENS WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS VERY COLD, BELOW 15 DEGREES. THIS ISSUE IS SIMILAR TO THAT REPORTED IN EARLIER MODEL WRXS. SEE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V468000 WHICH ADDRESSED LEAKING FUEL LINES AT COLD TEMPERATURES. OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS ONE HAVE BEEN FILED FOR WRXS YEARS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10321000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
STRONG GASOLINE ODOR SMELL INSIDE CAR. HAPPENS WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS VERY COLD, BELOW 15 DEGREES. THIS ISSUE IS SIMILAR TO THAT REPORTED IN EARLIER MODEL WRXS. SEE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V468000 WHICH ADDRESSED LEAKING FUEL LINES AT COLD TEMPERATURES. OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS ONE HAVE BEEN FILED FOR WRXS YEARS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10321000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
GAS LEAK THAT CAUSES VERY STRONG GAS FUMES IN THE CAR DURING COLD STARTS AND SIGNIFICANT GAS LOSS OVERNIGHT. LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP DETERMINES IT'S FAULTY FUEL LINE GASKETS AND $900 TO REPAIR. THE FUMES ARE SO STRONG THAT I FEAR SOMETHING WILL IGNITE THE VAPORS AND START A FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10302197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
GAS LEAK CAUSING STRONG ODORS INSIDE CAR. THIS STARTED WITH THE COLD WEATHER. MOST LIKELY HOSES BECAME BRITTLE OR WEAK CLAIMING FORCE IN COLD WEATHER ALLOWED GAS LEAKAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10298577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR: 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA STI. PROBLEM: FACTORY DEFECT IN THE TURBO OIL SUPPLY. THE FACTORY RECOMMENDS IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF THE TURBO INLINE OIL FILTER. IF THIS FILTER BECOMES CLOGGED THE TURBO WILL BE RUINED. THIS IS PER SUBARU FACTORY BULLETIN NO. 02-103-07. WHY IS THIS NOT A FACTORY RECALL?
NHTSA complaint #10254900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
SUBARU WILL NOT REPLACE/FIX STRUT CLUNK NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAIN AND THERE IS STILL NO SOLUTION. THIS CAN CAUSE THE OWNER $1350 FOR SOMETHING THAT ALL 2004+ SUBARU STI CARS EXPERIENCE.
NHTSA complaint #10254158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
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
NHTSA complaint #10228254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
UNDER NORMAL CITY DRIVING AND HIGHWAY COMMUTING THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH PEDAL STOPPED DELIVERING POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. I MANAGED TO SAFELY GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER REFUSED TO COVER WORN CLUTCH UNDER WARRANTY DESPITE WEAR ITEMS COVERED UNDER THE 3 YEAR//36000 MILE COVERAGE. CAR WAS AROUND 20000 MILES. DEALER GAVE ME A FEELING THAT I WAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE I WAS A YOUNG MAN WITH A SPORTY CAR, THEREFORE, I MUST RACE IT AND ABUSE IT. I HAVE OLD PARTS IN MY GARAGE. THEY DID, HOWEVER, COVER BRAKE PADS AT ANOTHER TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10191008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
NORMAL CITY AND HIGHWAY COMMUTING. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE HAD A VIOLENT DROP IN SPEED , AND A METAL CLANKING NOISE. WAS HEARD. THE ENGINE DIED, AS A RESULT LOST POWER STEERING. I MANAGED TO SAFELY BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. IT WAS AS ABLE TO DRIVE IT DESPITE THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF FREQUENTLY TO THE DEALER. THEY REPORTED TO ME THAT THE TURBOCHARGER FAILED, AND I HAD 4 TWISTED AXLES, HALF-SHAFTS REPLACED. THEY HAD TO PLACE A CALL TO SUBARU TO SEE ABOUT COVERING THE FAILURE. I HEARD NOTHING, BUT AFTER CALLING THEY SAID SUBARU WOULD NOT COVER THE FAILURE, BUT WOULD NOT SAY WHY. I WENT IN LATER AND REQUESTED A WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT THEY REFUSED TO COVER IT AND WHY. IT WAS THEN I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS DUE TO ALLEGED ABUSE. THE PROOF OF THIS WAS THE PRESENCE OF CLUB STICKERS AND AFTERMARKET PARTS WHICH HAD NO BEARING ON THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. THEY STATED THE PRESENCE OF THESE THINGS IMPLIED ABUSE TO THE CAR. THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT UNLESS I PAYED. THEY OFFERED NOTHING , BUT A 800 NUMBER TO COMPLAIN TO SUBARU OF AMERICA. I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS WITH SOA AND EVERYONE IS BEING VERY UNCOOPERATIVE. I FELT BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF MY AGE. I AM YOUNGER , THEREFORE, I MUST BE ABUSED OR RACE THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10191035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
NORMAL CITY AND HIGHWAY COMMUTING. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE HAD A VIOLENT DROP IN SPEED , AND A METAL CLANKING NOISE. WAS HEARD. THE ENGINE DIED, AS A RESULT LOST POWER STEERING. I MANAGED TO SAFELY BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. IT WAS AS ABLE TO DRIVE IT DESPITE THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF FREQUENTLY TO THE DEALER. THEY REPORTED TO ME THAT THE TURBOCHARGER FAILED, AND I HAD 4 TWISTED AXLES, HALF-SHAFTS REPLACED. THEY HAD TO PLACE A CALL TO SUBARU TO SEE ABOUT COVERING THE FAILURE. I HEARD NOTHING, BUT AFTER CALLING THEY SAID SUBARU WOULD NOT COVER THE FAILURE, BUT WOULD NOT SAY WHY. I WENT IN LATER AND REQUESTED A WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT THEY REFUSED TO COVER IT AND WHY. IT WAS THEN I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS DUE TO ALLEGED ABUSE. THE PROOF OF THIS WAS THE PRESENCE OF CLUB STICKERS AND AFTERMARKET PARTS WHICH HAD NO BEARING ON THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. THEY STATED THE PRESENCE OF THESE THINGS IMPLIED ABUSE TO THE CAR. THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT UNLESS I PAYED. THEY OFFERED NOTHING , BUT A 800 NUMBER TO COMPLAIN TO SUBARU OF AMERICA. I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS WITH SOA AND EVERYONE IS BEING VERY UNCOOPERATIVE. I FELT BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF MY AGE. I AM YOUNGER , THEREFORE, I MUST BE ABUSED OR RACE THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10191035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
UNDER NORMAL CITY DRIVING AND HIGHWAY COMMUTING THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH PEDAL STOPPED DELIVERING POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. I MANAGED TO SAFELY GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER REFUSED TO COVER WORN CLUTCH UNDER WARRANTY DESPITE WEAR ITEMS COVERED UNDER THE 3 YEAR//36000 MILE COVERAGE. CAR WAS AROUND 20000 MILES. DEALER GAVE ME A FEELING THAT I WAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE I WAS A YOUNG MAN WITH A SPORTY CAR, THEREFORE, I MUST RACE IT AND ABUSE IT. I HAVE OLD PARTS IN MY GARAGE. THEY DID, HOWEVER, COVER BRAKE PADS AT ANOTHER TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10191008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE AT SLOW SPEED COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. A LOT OF OWNER IN THE INTERNET FORUMS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE THE STRUT GOING BAD AFTER COUPLE THOUSAND MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10186558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.