Subaru WRX STI
Owners filed 19 complaints across 11 model years of the Subaru WRX STI. The 2016 drew the most (3); the 2019 the fewest (1).
Model years11
Complaints19
Recalls14
Fires0
Deaths0
Every Subaru WRX STI model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | — | — | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | — | 1 | Exterior Lighting | Routine | |
| 2016 | 3 | 0 | — | — | Exterior Lighting | Routine | |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 | — | — | Engine | Routine | |
| 2014 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2013 | 2 | 2 | — | — | Engine | Routine | |
| 2012 | 1 | 2 | — | — | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2011 | 1 | 2 | — | — | Electronic Stability Control (esc) | Routine | |
| 2010 | 1 | 2 | — | — | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2009 | 2 | 2 | — | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages | Routine | |
| 2008 | 3 | 2 | — | — | Unknown or Other | Routine |
Which Subaru WRX STI years should you avoid?
On raw complaint volume the 2016 is the weakest year on record, with 3 complaints concentrated in the exterior lighting.
Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.