2016 Subaru WRX problems and recalls

Owners filed 12 complaints on the 2016 Subaru WRX in the last three full years, out of 34 on record. The most cited component is the Electrical System.

34
Complaints
3
Recalls
1
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
0
Injuries
57.4
Severity index

Severity index 57.4 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 57.4p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 10 complaints (29.4%)10 29%EngineEngine: 9 complaints (26.5%)9 26%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 7 complaints (20.6%)7 21%Power TrainPower Train: 4 complaints (11.8%)4 12%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 2 complaints (5.9%)2 6%SteeringSteering: 2 complaints (5.9%)2 6%Service BrakesService Brakes: 2 complaints (5.9%)2 6%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 2 complaints (5.9%)2 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1029.4%
ENGINE926.5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER720.6%
POWER TRAIN411.8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM25.9%
STEERING25.9%
SERVICE BRAKES25.9%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING25.9%

Complaints filed per year

0472015: 12016: 62017: 12018: 72019: 32020: 12021: 32022: 72023: 32024: 2151617187192021222324
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20151
20166
20171
20187
20193
20201
20213
20227
20233
20242
Filings in 2022 to 2024 ran 1.7x those in 2019 to 2021 (12 against 7).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
15V36600012/06/2015FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: CRASH IMMINENT BRAKINGSubaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstr
16V16200021/03/2016ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGERSubaru 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
22V52200021/07/2022EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS:SWITCHSubaru 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.

Other Subaru WRX model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 9 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.