NHTSA Safety Recalls
Subaru WRX Recalls by Year
NHTSA's files hold 24 recall campaigns for the Subaru WRX, across 21 model years from 2002 to 2023. The 2012 has the most (12); the fewest among years with a recall is 2023 (1).
Subaru WRX years to avoid by our method: 2002 (11× the median year).
- Model years
- 21
- Recall campaigns
- 24
- Most recalls
- 2012
- Owner complaints
- 979
2002–2023, with a recall
12 recalls
all model years, NHTSA
Owners have filed 979 complaints with NHTSA about the Subaru WRX across 24 model years; the most, 427, concern the 2002.
Owners marked a crash on 54 of the Subaru WRX complaints (6%) and a fire on 12.
Across all Subaru WRX model years, owners name the fuel system, gasoline most often (at least 316 complaints), then the power train (173).
NHTSA received the most complaints about the Subaru WRX in 2004: 161, across all model years.
The component recalled most often on the Subaru WRX is air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module, in 56 model-year listings.
The newest Subaru WRX recall, 23V754000, was reported on November 9, 2023 and concerns the power train: driveline: driveshaft.
Subaru WRX years to avoid
The 2002 Subaru WRX stands out most: 282 complaints between 2001 and 2005, 62% of them naming the fuel system, gasoline.
The best-measured Subaru WRX years are 2020 (0.6×), 2016 (0.7×) and 2022 (0.9×).
The ranking uses owner complaints in each model year's first years on the road, adjusted for NHTSA's complaint volume for that model year. It is not adjusted for sales and is not a reliability rating. Method
Recalls and complaints by model year
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | First years | vs median year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 1 | — | not ranked |
| 2025 | 0 | 3 | — | not ranked |
| 2024 | 0 | 14 | — | not ranked |
| 2023 | 1 | 9 | — | not ranked |
| 2022 | 1 | 25 | 22 | 0.9× |
| 2021 | 1 | 13 | 8 | not ranked |
| 2020 | 1 | 17 | 11 | 0.6× |
| 2019 | 2 | 30 | 19 | 0.9× |
| 2018 | 2 | 43 | 21 | 1.0× |
| 2017 | 1 | 53 | 23 | 1.0× |
| 2016 | 3 | 31 | 15 | 0.7× |
| 2015 | 3 | 52 | 28 | 1.3× |
| 2014 | 10 | 6 | 5 | not ranked |
| 2013 | 11 | 7 | 6 | not ranked |
| 2012 | 12 | 2 | 0 | not ranked |
| 2011 | 11 | 4 | 1 | not ranked |
| 2010 | 12 | 1 | 0 | not ranked |
| 2009 | 10 | 41 | 0 | not ranked |
| 2008 | 7 | 65 | 0 | not ranked |
| 2006 | 4 | 14 | 6 | not ranked |
| 2005 | 5 | 19 | 4 | not ranked |
| 2004 | 5 | 42 | 2 | not ranked |
| 2003 | 2 | 60 | 36 | 1.7× |
| 2002avoid | 2 | 427 | 282 | 11.1× |
First years: complaints received from the year before the model year to three years after it.Subaru WRX years without a link have no recall page on this site.
What gets recalled most on the Subaru WRX
- AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE56
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH7
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS7
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS:SWITCH7
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH7
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC7
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING5
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP4
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER2
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: CRASH IMMINENT BRAKING1
Subaru WRX model-year listings per recall component; one campaign can cover several years.
Every Subaru WRX recall campaign (24)
| Campaign | Component | Years | Risk named | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23V754000November 9, 2023 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2023 | crash | 4,701 |
| 23V076000February 13, 2023 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2004–2005 | crash and injury | 130 |
| 23V016000January 23, 2023 | equipment: other: owners/service/other manual | 2022 | crash | 4,615 |
| 22V522000July 21, 2022 | exterior lighting: back up lights: switch | 2015–2021 | crash | 59,934 |
| 21V587000July 29, 2021 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2018–2019 | crash | 175,968 |
| 20V001000January 2, 2020 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2004–2006, 2008–2014 | injury and death | 258,813 |
| 20V002000January 2, 2020 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2004–2006, 2008–2014 | injury and death | 127,547 |
| 20V003000January 2, 2020 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2004–2006, 2008–2014 | injury and death | 111,562 |
| 19V297000April 11, 2019 | electrical system: ignition: switch | 2008–2014 | crash and injury | 511 |
| 19V149000February 28, 2019 | exterior lighting: brake lights: switch | 2008–2014 | crash | 1,303,530 |
| 19V007000January 9, 2019 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2014 | injury and death | 43,394 |
| 19V008000January 9, 2019 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2014 | injury and death | 330,120 |
| 19V009000January 9, 2019 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2014 | injury and death | 452,630 |
| 18V012000January 9, 2018 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2009–2013 | injury and death | 64,179 |
| 18V013000January 9, 2018 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2009–2010 | injury and death | 93,209 |
| 18V014000January 9, 2018 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2009 | injury and death | 72,150 |
| 17V625000October 6, 2017 | electrical system: wiring | 2015 | fire | 9,178 |
| 17V014000January 10, 2017 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2012 | injury and death | 53,480 |
| 16V162000March 21, 2016 | engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger | 2015–2016 | crash | 18,187 |
| 15V366000June 12, 2015 | forward collision avoidance: crash imminent braking | 2016 | crash | 71,710 |
| 14V830000December 31, 2014 | service brakes, hydraulic | 2008–2014 | crash | 200,064 |
| 14V311000June 10, 2014 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2008–2014 | crash | 461,338 |
| 09V468000December 4, 2009 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2002–2003 | fire | 5,724 |
| 06E060000 | exterior lighting | 2002–2006 | crash | — |
Vehicles: NHTSA's count of potentially affected vehicles in the whole campaign, not only the Subaru WRX. Each campaign page has the defect, risk and fix in NHTSA's words.
Newest record on this page: October 22, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted