2015 Subaru WRX

Routine

Owners filed 52 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. It has been recalled 3 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

40 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 010,000 miles; the median is 34,500 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine14
000
Power Train13
000
Electrical System5
000
Exterior Lighting4
000
Unknown or Other3
000
Structure › Body3
000
Air Bags3
110
Visibility/Wiper2
000
Steering2
101
Tires1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Back Up Lights › Switch22V522000
Filed Jul 21, 202259,934 vehiclesSubaru Of America, Inc.

Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2021 WRX vehicles. The backup light switch may corrode and become inoperative, which can result in the backup lights not illuminating and the rearview camera image not displaying when the vehicle is in reverse.

Risk. Inoperative backup lights and an inoperative rearview camera can reduce vehicle visibility and driver awareness, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the backup light switch, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-22.

Electrical System › Wiring17V625000
Filed Oct 6, 20179,178 vehiclesSubaru Of America, Inc.

Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015 WRX and WRX/STI vehicles, equipped with an optional factory-installed subwoofer in the trunk. Items in the trunk may cause the subwoofer wiring to contact the subwoofer metal frame, possibly resulting in an electrical short.

Risk. An electrical short may damage the subwoofer amplifier, and may result in the subwoofer overheating, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the subwoofer wire, install a wire retainer clip, and, as necessary, replace the subwoofer, free of charge. The recall began October 31, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTQ-76.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/Supercharger16V162000
Filed Mar 21, 201618,187 vehiclesSubaru Of America, Inc.

Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall.

Risk. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct. The recall began April 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTA-62.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Mar 5, 2024TX

My engine starting making like a clunking sound I always have took my car for service at the dealership i own the 2015 subaru wrx premium i haven’t move the car after the noise due to scare I might mess something with the engine

Power Train
Filed Dec 20, 202387,000 milesAL

The contact owns a 2015 Subaru WRX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed failures with the drive belt, front drive axles, rear axle differential seals, and windshield washer reservoir. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,000.

Engine
Filed Mar 21, 2023WI

The secondary o2 pump will burn out or continue running causing unsafe risk to short circuit a fire. Recall has already been previously documented in the -2014 models however Subaru uses the same design and part number. My car Secondary o2 Pump was replaced under warrenty at 55k miles now at 90knmiles have the same CEL code.

Engine
Filed Mar 21, 2023WI

Engine has rod knock present common amongst owners. Short block replaced under warranty at 55k miles. How can a stock engine with synthetic oil changes commonly fail? Flaws.

Engine
Filed Nov 17, 2022NV

I first noticed the car engine began making a loud ticking sound and significantly lost power as I exited the freeway heading toward my home after work. After towing the vehicle to the Subaru dealership, they tore apart the engine and found a connecting rod bearing had failed. It had slid out between the rod and crankshaft and shattered in the oil system sending shards of metal into the engine and all components that the oil touches. Every component that oil touches needed to be replaced. Prior to this problem, maintenance and oil changes were performed according to Subaru's specifications. Had the engine completely failed on the freeway during my commute home (during rush hour traffic) I could have caused an accident and possibly hurt myself and others. Subaru inspected and kept the components that were faulty though they never accepted responsibility for the failure of the components. There was absolutely no indication nor warning signal prior to the failure of the connecting rod bearing. Subaru blamed me for the component failure saying the vehicle was not properly maintained though they never asked me for proof of maintenance. I had to pay $7868 to repair the car to it's original mechanical state.

Engine
Filed Jun 22, 2022AZ

-Engine Head Gasket (Blown), Yes. -Engine coolant created cloud of white vapor while driving, impairing ability to visually assess the road. Leaked hazardous fluid over freeway possibly contaminating soils and affecting local wildlife. -The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by Eastside Subaru in Kirkland, WA. -The vehicle has been inspected by Eastside Subaru in Kirkland, WA. -There was no warning (check engine lights) until the incident occurred.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 11, 202292,000 milesTX

* Battery charging system damaging battery resulting failure of battery. Suspecting overcharging or constant draining of battery below cycling. * Improper charging of battery could result in catastrophic battery failure which may cause battery to catch on fire. * Failure of battery in inclimate/severe weather may impede egress from elements and/or not allow for certain functions of the vehicle that would assist in providing warmth or cooling to occupants. *No, dealer simply replaced battery *No *Vehicle in question was purchased new in 2015 with no electrical modifications. OD reads ~92000 miles. This is the third battery replacement with evidence of suspected overcharging such as excessive build up of copper sulfate and corrosion on positive battery terminal (present on all replaced batteries).

Engine
Filed Dec 1, 2021PA

Turbocharger intake cracked and causes the engine to have an extremely rough idle and stall. My vehicle has the same issue as NHTSA campaign number 16V16200 however it was manufactured before April 10th 2015 so it is not included in that recall.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 12, 2021VA

Car battery is constantly drained even when car is used every other day

Power Train
Filed Aug 29, 2021IL

DEFECTIVE OEM THROW-OUT BEARING and FORK in the SIX SPEED manual transmission completely BURNING the clutch. I was going up a hill and the car just started rolling back. No gear would work on the car.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 20, 2021UT

The engine blew up around 75k miles, it had blown a rod barring even though the car had been maintained. The clutch prematurly went out causing me to have to replace everything but the flywheel at under 75k miles. The clockspring is bad in the car affecting the horn and air bags. Having to get that replaced as well. The car is currently at a dealership getting everything resolved other than the clutch as thats already been replaced. My safely and others safely were at risk as if the clutch went out while driving, my horn would not work, my airbag light was on flashing and possibly wouldn't deploy in an accident and the engine blowing up due to a thrown rod barring put me at risk as it was on the freeway this happened. You can get all this info on mileage and what has been replaced. This has cost me thousands upon thousands of dollars to fix in the car when none of it should of happened.

Electrical System
Filed May 18, 2021CA

Battery lasted only less than 2 year s

Engine
Filed May 5, 202192,000 milesCT

I OWN A 2015 WRX LIMITED CVT. WHEN I GO TO MY CAR TO GO TO WORK AND I START IT, THE CAR SPUTTERS. I'VE ONLY NOTICED THIS ON COLD STARTS ONLY, ONCE THE CAR IS WARMED UP IT'S FINE. FOR SOME REASON THOUGH WHEN THE CAR IS SPUTTERING ON START UPS IT WILL TRIP MY CEL AND BASICALLY PUT THE CAR INTO 'GET HOME' MODE, BUT IT ONLY SEEMS TO TRIGGER THE CEL WHEN IT WANTS TO. THE CAR WILL ALWAYS SPUTTER ON START UP BUT SOMETIMES THE CEL WILL COME ON AND I CAN'T USE THE DRIVE MODES AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T COME ON. NO MATTER WHAT I DO I CAN'T GET THE CAR TO STOP SPUTTERING. I'VE CLEANED PRETTY MUCH EVERY SENSOR I COULD AND NOTHING WORKED. I SCANNED THE OBD2 PORT AND GOT P0300 FOR RANDOM MISFIRE, WHICH TELLS ME ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Steering
Filed Apr 25, 202155,000 milesPA

WHEN I TAKE SHARP TURNS (LIKE PARALLEL PARKING OR BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY) MY STEERING COLUMN CLUNKS. MAINLY LEFT TURNS ... BUT IT DOES HAPPEN TIME TO TIME WITH RIGHT TURNS.

Structure › Body
Filed Apr 25, 202155,000 milesPA

RUST IS ON THE INSIDE OF THE TRUNK.

Structure › Body
Filed Mar 12, 202180,000 milesNJ

RUST APPEARING ON DOOR(S) FRAME INSIDE NEAR WEATHER STRIP, BUBBLING OUTWARDS AND SHOWING OUTSIDE ON B-PILLAR.

Engine
Filed Dec 30, 2020115,525 milesMA

VEHICLE IS BURNING OIL, OIL CAME OUT THROUGH WHERE THE DIP-STICK IS PLACED. FOUND OIL ON THE EXHAUST TIPS. MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING. REQUIRES NEW COILS AND SPARK PLUGS EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THEM. REQUIRED A NEW BATTERY, HOWEVER, REPLACING THE BATTERY DID NOT KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM TURNING OFF BY ITSELF. O2 SENSOR, BANK 1 SENSOR 2, IS ALSO MALFUNCTIONING.

Power Train
Filed Aug 26, 202050,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU WRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A CREAKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY. ALSO, A GRINDING SOUND WAS PRESENT WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JOLT WHILE ACCELERATING AND DECELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (MID HUDSON SUBARU LOCATED AT 1715 U.S. 9, WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY 12590) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PITCHER STOPPER MOUNT WAS FAULTY AND WAS SEPARATING FROM THE ENGINE FIRE WALL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *LN *DL

Power Train
Filed Jul 21, 202050,000 milesNY

SQUEAKY CLUTCH PEDAL AND WHIRRING NOISE WHEN CLUTCH DEPRESSED

Electrical System
Filed Dec 22, 2019138,000 milesNH

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ~70 MPH AND SUDDENLY LOST ALL THROTTLE RESPONSE, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ONLY LOOSE SPEED. ENGINE STARTED TO SHUTTER TO LOW RPMS, AND BECAUSE OF THIS DRASTICALLY LOST SPEED AND NEARLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHILE MOVING TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO PULL OVER. AFTER EVENTUALLY PULLING OVER, ENGINE CONTINUED TO SHUTTER TO LOW RPMS AND COULD NOT HOLD AN IDLE - WOULD JUST STALL AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO START IT UP. CAR WAS TOWED TO CLOSEST DEALERSHIP AND AFTER WAITING 4 DAYS FINALLY HEARD IT WAS THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. RESEARCHING THE ISSUE I FOUND THAT SUBARU MADE A DESIGN CHANGE FOR THE WIRE HARNESS TO PREVENT WATER/MOISTURE FAILURE WHICH IS MOST LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. STUCK WITH A $1400 BILL DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW, I DECIDED TO PURCHASE A 2020 MODEL WHICH HOPEFULLY DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. AFTER CALLING SUBARU OF NORTH AMERICA AND EXPLAINING THE SITUATION, THEY OFFERED ME $1000 TOWARDS THE NEW PURCHASE. IT WAS A KIND GESTURE HOWEVER I QUESTION IF IT IS SOMEWHAT ADMISSION OF GUILT FOR THE DESIGN FLAW. 2015 WRX 138K MILES WAS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED WITH ALL NECESSARY MAINTENANCE COMPLETED AT PROPER INTERVALS AND OIL CHANGES EVERY 3-4K MILES.

20 of 52 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2002
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20252000Routine
202413000Routine
20238100Routine
202225110Routine
202113100Routine
202017100Routine
201930200Routine
201842210Routine
201753120Routine
201631320Routine
2015 — this page52310Routine
201461000Routine
201371100Routine
201221200Routine
201141100Routine
201011200Routine
2009411000Routine
200865710Routine
20070300Routine
200614400Routine
200519500Routine
200442501Fatalities reported
200360220Routine
2002427220Above average

Compare every WRX year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jul 21, 2022. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.