2011 Subaru WRX Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2011 Subaru WRX, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes125.0%
- Engine125.0%
- Fuel system125.0%
- Powertrain (other)125.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, THREE DASH LIGHTS TURN ON-ABS LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, AND HILL ASSIST LIGHT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES NO LONGER FUNCTION ALONG WITH TRACTION CONTROL AND HILL ASSIST, FURTHERMORE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE.THE PART WAS REPLACED BY SUBARU WHEN UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS OTHER TIMES SINCE BEING REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE DASH LIGHTS WILL RESET WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, BUT THEY ALWAYS COME BACK AT SOME POINT.THE PART REPLACED WAS THE BRAKE LIGHT STOP SWITCH. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY SUBARU WRX DRIVERS EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS UNSAFE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY SUBARU. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
MULTIPLE SUBARU'S WITH TURBO ENGINES ARE EXPERIENCING THE P2441 CEL CODE WHICH IS AN ISSUE WITH SECONDARY AIR VALVES BEING STUCK. THIS IS PART OF THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND NOT POWERTRAIN SO WARRANTY DOESNT COVER BEYOND A CERTAIN TIMEFRAME. THIS ISSUE HAS ALSO BEEN OCCURING OVER THE PAST DECADE, WITH EXPENSIVE COST TO FIX >$1200 FOR A VALVE REPAIR. IT APPEARS EVEN WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE THE FAILURE OF THIS PART IS UNPREDICTABLE. SUBARU OF AMERICA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FREQUENCY OF THIS FAILURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
MULTIPLE SUBARU'S WITH TURBO ENGINES ARE EXPERIENCING THE P2441 CEL CODE WHICH IS AN ISSUE WITH SECONDARY AIR VALVES BEING STUCK. THIS IS PART OF THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND NOT POWERTRAIN SO WARRANTY DOESNT COVER BEYOND A CERTAIN TIMEFRAME. THIS ISSUE HAS ALSO BEEN OCCURING OVER THE PAST DECADE, WITH EXPENSIVE COST TO FIX >$1200 FOR A VALVE REPAIR. IT APPEARS EVEN WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE THE FAILURE OF THIS PART IS UNPREDICTABLE. SUBARU OF AMERICA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FREQUENCY OF THIS FAILURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
CLUTCH PEDAL MAKES SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN FULLY DEPRESSED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE INTO FIRST GEAR. IT WILL ALSO MAKE A CLICKING TYPE NOISE WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL IS ONLY DEPRESSED 25% OF THE WAY DOWN. CAN EASILY BE REPLICATED DAY OR NIGHT, HOT OR COLD. KNOWN ISSUE BUT DEALERSHIP SERVICE HAS NO WARRANT FIX FOR THE PROBLEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .