CSR

Subaru · NHTSA safety record

2015 Subaru WRX

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

52

Complaints

2

Crashes

1

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2015 Subaru WRX have filed 52 safety complaints with NHTSA between May 2014 and March 2024. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 18 of them (35%). The typical failure was reported at 31,250 miles, the median across the 40 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS:SWITCH

22V522000 · July 21, 2022

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

Subaru of America, Inc. · up to 59,934 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

17V625000 · October 6, 2017

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

Subaru of America, Inc. · up to 9,178 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

16V162000 · March 21, 2016

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

Subaru of America, Inc. · up to 18,187 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 52.

ENGINE 18 35%
POWER TRAIN 18 35%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6 12%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 5 10%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 10%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 10%
STRUCTURE 4 8%
AIR BAGS 3 6%
STEERING 2 4%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 4%
SEAT BELTS 1 2%
TIRES 1 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2015 at 9.

2014 2015 2024
2014 to 2024

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

STEERING

1 injured · crash · towed · 56,000 miles

DRIVING ON STRAIGHT ROAD. STEERING WHEEL STOPPED WORKING. VEHICLE CROSSED OTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC AND CRASHED INTO SIGN AND DRAINAGE CULVERT. WAS TOTALLED FROM THE DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint 11114969. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

fire · crash · 5,100 miles

AVOIDING A VEHICLE IN BLIND SPOT. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME HIT HIS BREAKS CAUSING THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME TO HIT HIS BREAKS, I CLIP THE RIGHT FRONT FASCIA INTO THE LEFT SEAT CORNER OF THE TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER DID NOT WORK. I PULLED OVER, TURNED MY VEHICLE OFF AND MY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY BURNED DOWN TO THE FRAME AND IS A COMPLETE LOSS. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10663750. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

towed

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING UP A HILL AND MY SUBARU WRX WAS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. IT SMELLED LIKE BURNT RUBBER AND IT FELT LIKE MY VEHICLE DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER AT ALL SO I GOT OFF ON THE NEAREST EXIT. I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, PUT THE VEHICLE IN 1ST GEAR AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. I HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE ROAD WITH A STRANGERS HELP. THE CAR SMELLED LIKE BURNT RUBBER AND IT PUT ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I CALLED THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY SAID THAT THEY ALREADY REPLACED THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL BEFORE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AT 27,000

NHTSA complaint 11143993, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
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

NHTSA complaint 11575663. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

87,000 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 11561137. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
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.

NHTSA complaint 11512929. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
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.

NHTSA complaint 11512930. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
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

NHTSA complaint 11493886, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
-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.

NHTSA complaint 11470555. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Subaru WRX

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2022 25 1
2021 13 1
2020 17 1
2019 30 2
2018 42 2
2017 53 1
2016 31 3

Other 2015 Subaru models

Every Subaru on this site — 97 vehicles, 147 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst