MYRModel Year Report

Subaru WRX — years to avoid

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

1 model year to avoid, 2 to watch and 2 best bets. Tap a year to see its problem areas, recalls and buy-smart checklist.

Avoid1 year

Caution2 years

Best bets2 years

Complaint history

2002: 427 complaints, Avoid 2002 2003: 60 complaints, Caution 2004: 42 complaints, Recommended 2005: 19 complaints, Not enough data 2006: 14 complaints, Not enough data 2006 2007: 0 complaints, Not enough data 2008: 65 complaints, Caution 2009: 41 complaints, Recommended 2010: 1 complaint, Not enough data 2010 2011: 4 complaints, Not enough data 2012: 2 complaints, Not enough data 2013: 7 complaints, Not enough data 2014: 6 complaints, Not enough data 2014 2015: 52 complaints, Recommended 2016: 31 complaints, Recommended 2017: 53 complaints, Recommended 2018: 43 complaints, Recommended 2018 2019: 30 complaints, Recommended 2020: 17 complaints, Not enough data 2021: 13 complaints, Not enough data 2022: 25 complaints, Not enough data 2022 2023: 8 complaints, Not enough data 2024: 13 complaints, Not enough data 2025: 2 complaints, Not enough data 2002 · 427
2002: 427 complaints, Avoid 2002 2003: 60 complaints, Caution 2004: 42 complaints, Recommended 2004 2005: 19 complaints, Not enough data 2006: 14 complaints, Not enough data 2006 2007: 0 complaints, Not enough data 2008: 65 complaints, Caution 2008 2009: 41 complaints, Recommended 2010: 1 complaint, Not enough data 2010 2011: 4 complaints, Not enough data 2012: 2 complaints, Not enough data 2012 2013: 7 complaints, Not enough data 2014: 6 complaints, Not enough data 2014 2015: 52 complaints, Recommended 2016: 31 complaints, Recommended 2016 2017: 53 complaints, Recommended 2018: 43 complaints, Recommended 2018 2019: 30 complaints, Recommended 2020: 17 complaints, Not enough data 2020 2021: 13 complaints, Not enough data 2022: 25 complaints, Not enough data 2022 2023: 8 complaints, Not enough data 2024: 13 complaints, Not enough data 2024 2025: 2 complaints, Not enough data 2002 · 427
2002: 427 complaints, Avoid 2002 2003: 60 complaints, Caution 2003 2004: 42 complaints, Recommended 2004 2005: 19 complaints, Not enough data 2005 2006: 14 complaints, Not enough data 2006 2007: 0 complaints, Not enough data 2007 2008: 65 complaints, Caution 2008 2009: 41 complaints, Recommended 2009 2010: 1 complaint, Not enough data 2010 2011: 4 complaints, Not enough data 2011 2012: 2 complaints, Not enough data 2012 2013: 7 complaints, Not enough data 2013 2014: 6 complaints, Not enough data 2014 2015: 52 complaints, Recommended 2015 2016: 31 complaints, Recommended 2016 2017: 53 complaints, Recommended 2017 2018: 43 complaints, Recommended 2018 2019: 30 complaints, Recommended 2019 2020: 17 complaints, Not enough data 2020 2021: 13 complaints, Not enough data 2021 2022: 25 complaints, Not enough data 2022 2023: 8 complaints, Not enough data 2023 2024: 13 complaints, Not enough data 2024 2025: 2 complaints, Not enough data 2025 2002 · 427
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Recommended
  • Not enough data

Every year, ranked

Newest first. Find your year, then open it for the full report.

YearRankingComplaintsCompared with a typical year
2025 ○ Not enough data 2 Only 2 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2024 ○ Not enough data 13 Only 13 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2023 ○ Not enough data 8 Only 8 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2022 ○ Not enough data 25 Only 25 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2021 ○ Not enough data 13 Only 13 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2020 ○ Not enough data 17 Only 17 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2019 ▲ Recommended 30 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2018 ● Recommended 43 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2017 ● Recommended 53 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2016 ▲ Recommended 31 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2015 ● Recommended 52 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2014 ○ Not enough data 6 Only 6 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2013 ○ Not enough data 7 Only 7 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2012 ○ Not enough data 2 Only 2 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2011 ○ Not enough data 4 Only 4 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2010 ○ Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2009 ● Recommended 41 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2008 ◆ Caution 65 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2007 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2006 ○ Not enough data 14 Only 14 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2005 ○ Not enough data 19 Only 19 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2004 ● Recommended 42 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2003 ◆ Caution 60 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2002 ■ Avoid 427 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
How the rankings work

Each model year’s distinct NHTSA complaint count is compared with the median of the same model’s other eligible years.

  • ▲ Recommended

    At least 30% fewer complaints than the model’s typical year.

  • ● Recommended

    Within 30% of the model’s typical year.

  • ◆ Caution

    30% to 100% more complaints than the typical year.

  • ■ Avoid

    More than double the complaints of the typical year.

  • ○ Not enough data

    Fewer than 30 complaints on file, or too few other years to compare with — too few for a fair verdict.

Recalls

24

recalls on file across every Subaru WRX model year.

Open a year above to see that year’s own recalls, investigations, and remedies.

Other Subaru models