MODELYEARINDEX

Which Subaru WRX years to avoid

Across 8 scored model years, the 2018, 2017 and 2015 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Subaru WRX Full report
F
Grade 2013–2021
2018 vs model median 2.6×
Model median3× median
Electrical 8
Steering 6
Engine 4
Avoid

2017 · 2018

Best

2020 · 2021

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2013
0.52× 10 B
2015
1.76× 39 D
2016
0.81× 20 B
2017
2.48× 43 F
2018
2.63× 40 F
2019
1.19× 27 C
2020
0.73× 16 B
2021
0.81× 20 B
2022 P
1.50× 36 C
2024 P
0.48× 15 A

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2017 F 43 reports · median 37,000 mi

  1. Drivetrain 8

    Throw out bearing has now gone out for the 3x. Subaru of america did everything to not replace under warranty. Grind in 3rd gear not due to driver error. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 7

    Subwoofer and amp overheated during normal use causing wires to burn and melt causing a significant fire safety issue. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Engine 7

    Clutch on manual transmission has burned out twice in 13000 miles. Dealer blames driver and is not looking hard for other causes. We are 100% positive this is not caused by driver error. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

10 crash · 8 injuries

2018 F 40 reports · median 14,500 mi

  1. Electrical 8

    In january 2019 at around 10pm pst my 2018 subaru wrx experienced a serious malfunction. At the time of this incient I was in a secluded, wooded area without cellphone service, as well as being at least 30minutes to the… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Steering 6

    The contact owns a 2018 subaru wrx. While driving and after shifting the gear, the steering wheel seized without warning. As a result, the vehicle jumped a curb and crashed into some bushes. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Engine 4

    This issue occurs on acceleration , most noticeable when merging onto freeway from on ramp 1/2 throttle , the vehicle starts to accelerate normal then hits around 4200 RPM and the boost gauge goes nuts fluctuating up… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

13 crash · 1 fire · 6 injuries

The best year for the WRX

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2020 is the best-scoring WRX model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 79.1 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations. On complaint rate alone the lowest is 2013 at 0.52× this model’s median, against 0.73× for 2020.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2020 0.73× 16 B
2021 0.81× 20 B
2016 0.81× 20 B

Recalls

17 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
19V149000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH 2013 1,303,530
14V311000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS 2013 461,338
19V009000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2013 452,630
19V008000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2013 330,120
20V001000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2013 258,813
14V830000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 2013 200,064
21V587000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2018, 2019 175,968
20V002000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2013 127,547
20V003000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2013 111,562
15V366000 FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: CRASH IMMINENT BRAKING 2016 71,710
18V012000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2013 64,179
22V522000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS:SWITCH 2015–2021 59,934

+ 5 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2018 were reported at a median of 14,500 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Subaru WRX years should you avoid?
2018, 2017, 2015 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Subaru WRX model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Subaru WRX?
2020 is the best-scoring Subaru WRX model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 79.1 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Subaru WRX have?
17 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Subaru WRX model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2018 WRX
Complaints in window
40
Severity-weighted
89.5
Model median (weighted)
34
vs model median
2.63×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
2
Open investigations
0
Score 29.2 F