2018 Subaru WRX problems and recalls

Owners have filed 42 complaints on the 2018 Subaru WRX, and NHTSA has issued 2 recalls. The most cited component is the Engine (11 complaints).

42
Complaints
2
Recalls
5
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
2
Injuries
72.5
Severity index

Severity index 72.5 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 72.5p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 32 of 122 by severity index among 2018 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 74% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2018 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 11 complaints (26.2%)11 26%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 10 complaints (23.8%)10 24%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 8 complaints (19.0%)8 19%SteeringSteering: 7 complaints (16.7%)7 17%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 6 complaints (14.3%)6 14%Power TrainPower Train: 6 complaints (14.3%)6 14%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 4 complaints (9.5%)4 10%Air BagsAir Bags: 3 complaints (7.1%)3 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE1126.2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1023.8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER819.0%
STEERING716.7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM614.3%
POWER TRAIN614.3%
VISIBILITY/WIPER49.5%
AIR BAGS37.1%

Complaints filed per year

0482017: 12018: 42019: 62020: 62021: 42022: 42023: 22024: 82025: 42026: 3 (partial year)171819202122232482526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20171
20184
20196
20206
20214
20224
20232
20248
20254
2026 (year to date)3
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (14 against 14).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V58700029/07/2021FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPSubaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
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.