2017 Subaru WRX problems and recalls

Owners have filed 53 complaints on the 2017 Subaru WRX, and NHTSA has issued 1 recall. The most cited component is the Electrical System (14 complaints).

53
Complaints
1
Recalls
8
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
7
Injuries
105.2
Severity index

Severity index 105.2 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 105.2p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 14 of 137 by severity index among 2017 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 90% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2017 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 14 complaints (26.4%)14 26%EngineEngine: 12 complaints (22.6%)12 23%Power TrainPower Train: 11 complaints (20.8%)11 21%SteeringSteering: 6 complaints (11.3%)6 11%Air BagsAir Bags: 4 complaints (7.5%)4 8%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 4 complaints (7.5%)4 8%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 4 complaints (7.5%)4 8%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 3 complaints (5.7%)3 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1426.4%
ENGINE1222.6%
POWER TRAIN1120.8%
STEERING611.3%
AIR BAGS47.5%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING47.5%
VISIBILITY/WIPER47.5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL35.7%

Complaints filed per year

05102018: 92019: 62020: 82021: 102022: 62023: 62024: 32025: 32026: 2 (partial year)18192021102223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20189
20196
20208
202110
20226
20236
20243
20253
2026 (year to date)2
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (12 against 24).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
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.