2017 Subaru Wrx problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (10) · Engine (7) · Electrical System (7)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Subaru Wrx model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
33 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Exterior Lighting:back Up Lights:switch 2022-07-21 · campaign 22V522000 · 59,934 vehicles
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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (389)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-10-05 · SubaruNet Announcement (M · Other
this announcement provides information on a new software update for the midtronics dss and dca machines.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-18 · 13-109-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
Electrical System 2026-09-18 · 18-244-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"this bulletin announces additional troubleshooting steps for the following dtcs: dtc c1956: rh actuator circuit dtc c1957: lh actuator circuit"
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · SubaruNet Announcement (C · Other
this announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-14 · 15-333-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Electrical System 2026-09-14 · 15-304-22R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of infotainment concerns. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 389 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-05-06 · Engine“experienced catastrophic engine failure with no known cause. the car had been inspected and had an oil change 3,000 miles prior to the incident. thankfully, i had already exited the thruway and was on a quiet backroad but if this had happened 15 minutes earlier on the thruway this could have been a much different story.…”
2026-04-09 · Vehicle Speed Control“car all the sudden stall/ lock up tires at high way speeds due to sudden no warning engine failure causing a massive safety concern my car locked up during a normal drive up a slowly passing a semi when my car died no power steering no engine power transmission locking due engine failure car was checked and maintenance at the dealer less then a…”
2025-11-07 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“hit a deer. airbags did not deploy, however i have reasonable suspicion to believe my head hit the a pillar during impact.…”
2025-11-06 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“going about 55mph, i struck a deer head on. it struck towards the center, but more so on the passenger side. during the impact, no airbags deployed, however, based off iihs videos, it seems likely that they should have. additionally, i have reasonable suspicion to believe i hit my head on the pillar of the door, which would have been unlikely if th…”
2025-03-27 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 🔥 fire“likely secondary air injection pump and/or its related relays, cel p2444 came on 3 separate times. november 2024, brought it in to get replaced under warranty, came on again the day after picking her up in december 2024 due to faulty pump, didn’t get to bring her back in until march 1st 2025, fixed part again, brought her home [xxx]. car engulfed i…”
2024-12-14 · Steering“the current issues with my recently purchased used vehicle are as follows: clutch, odometer tampering, steering rack, 2 axle leaks, electrical issues, inspection issues. i tried to see if the dealership that i bought the car from is willing to fix these issues they keep going back and forth with me on these issues even though i just recently purch…”
2024-10-10 · Exterior Lighting · 70,000 mi“the contact owns a 2017 subaru wrx. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v522000 (exterior lighting). the contact stated that while reversing, the backup lights intermittently failed to illuminate. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that he had to pay the labor cost to have the recall repair p…”
2024-04-08 · Back Over Prevention · 118,000 mi“the contact owns a 2017 subaru wrx. the contact stated that while reversing, the reverse back up switch was activated; however, the reverse lights and the back over prevention camera feature failed to activate as designed. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. the contact was informed that the reverse switch needed to be…”
2023-12-22 · Visibility/Wiper · 💥 crash · 🔥 fire“1, at about 12000 miles the car's windshield wipers stop working. and did not ever work again for the past several years. wipers which was checked the motor was replaced to admission to the key was replaced and wiper still don't work. 2, about 24000 miles was turning the vehicle around on a inclined road in the mountains went to pull forward …”
2023-03-12 · Exterior Lighting“reverse lights won’t go on, and rear camera won’t turn on in reverse. while in reverse it says i’m in first. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.