2015 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 2015 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
- Powertrain (other)1826.9%
- Engine1826.9%
- Electrical69.0%
- Exterior lighting57.5%
- Fuel system57.5%
- Body & structure46.0%
- Airbags34.5%
- Steering23.0%
- Visibility23.0%
- Driver assistance11.5%
- Seat belts11.5%
- Tires & wheels11.5%
- Transmission11.5%
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
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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 could have caused an accident and possibly hurt myself and others. Subaru inspected and kept the components that were faulty though they never accepted responsibility for the failure of the components. There was absolutely no indication nor warning signal prior to the failure of the connecting rod bearing. Subaru blamed me for the component failure saying the vehicle was not properly maintained though they never asked me for proof of maintenance. I had to pay $7868 to repair the car to it's original mechanical state.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
* Battery charging system damaging battery resulting failure of battery. Suspecting overcharging or constant draining of battery below cycling. * Improper charging of battery could result in catastrophic battery failure which may cause battery to catch on fire. * Failure of battery in inclimate/severe weather may impede egress from elements and/or not allow for certain functions of the vehicle that would assist in providing warmth or cooling to occupants. *No, dealer simply replaced battery *No *Vehicle in question was purchased new in 2015 with no electrical modifications. OD reads ~92000 miles. This is the third battery replacement with evidence of suspected overcharging such as excessive build up of copper sulfate and corrosion on positive battery terminal (present on all replaced batteries).
Car battery is constantly drained even when car is used every other day
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT IS RANDOMLY DISABLED. LIKE THE MAJORITY OF OTHERS HAVING THIS ISSUE, MY CAR HAS BEEN IN A COLDER CLIMATE (MINNESOTA) WHEN THIS STARTED OCCURRING. THERE IS NO WAY OF TURNING IT BACK ON. *TR
HEADLIGHTS DISABLED WARNING PRESENT ON CAR AND HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK. WARNING HAS BEEN ON FOR TWO DAYS FOR NO APPARENT CAUSE. CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE FOR TWO DAYS PRIOR TO WARNING COMING ON IN 75 DEGREE WEATHER. DURING THE TIME THAT IT WAS PARKED THERE WAS A LOT OF HEAVY RAIN. FORTUNATELY THE TIME CHANGE HAS HAPPENED AND I AM NOT DRIVING TO WORK IN THE DARK. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY REASON FOR THIS ISSUE SO WILL BE TAKING TO DEALER ASAP.
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
VEHICLE IS BURNING OIL, OIL CAME OUT THROUGH WHERE THE DIP-STICK IS PLACED. FOUND OIL ON THE EXHAUST TIPS. MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING. REQUIRES NEW COILS AND SPARK PLUGS EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THEM. REQUIRED A NEW BATTERY, HOWEVER, REPLACING THE BATTERY DID NOT KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM TURNING OFF BY ITSELF. O2 SENSOR, BANK 1 SENSOR 2, IS ALSO MALFUNCTIONING.
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ~70 MPH AND SUDDENLY LOST ALL THROTTLE RESPONSE, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ONLY LOOSE SPEED. ENGINE STARTED TO SHUTTER TO LOW RPMS, AND BECAUSE OF THIS DRASTICALLY LOST SPEED AND NEARLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHILE MOVING TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO PULL OVER. AFTER EVENTUALLY PULLING OVER, ENGINE CONTINUED TO SHUTTER TO LOW RPMS AND COULD NOT HOLD AN IDLE - WOULD JUST STALL AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO START IT UP. CAR WAS TOWED TO CLOSEST DEALERSHIP AND AFTER WAITING 4 DAYS FINALLY HEARD IT WAS THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. RESEARCHING THE ISSUE I FOUND THAT SUBARU MADE A DESIGN CHANGE FOR THE WIRE HARNESS TO PREVENT WATER/MOISTURE FAILURE WHICH IS MOST LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. STUCK WITH A $1400 BILL DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW, I DECIDED TO PURCHASE A 2020 MODEL WHICH HOPEFULLY DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. AFTER CALLING SUBARU OF NORTH AMERICA AND EXPLAINING THE SITUATION, THEY OFFERED ME $1000 TOWARDS THE NEW PURCHASE. IT WAS A KIND GESTURE HOWEVER I QUESTION IF IT IS SOMEWHAT ADMISSION OF GUILT FOR THE DESIGN FLAW. 2015 WRX 138K MILES WAS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED WITH ALL NECESSARY MAINTENANCE COMPLETED AT PROPER INTERVALS AND OIL CHANGES EVERY 3-4K MILES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
RUST IS ON THE INSIDE OF THE TRUNK.
RUST APPEARING ON DOOR(S) FRAME INSIDE NEAR WEATHER STRIP, BUBBLING OUTWARDS AND SHOWING OUTSIDE ON B-PILLAR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The engine blew up around 75k miles, it had blown a rod barring even though the car had been maintained. The clutch prematurly went out causing me to have to replace everything but the flywheel at under 75k miles. The clockspring is bad in the car affecting the horn and air bags. Having to get that replaced as well. The car is currently at a dealership getting everything resolved other than the clutch as thats already been replaced. My safely and others safely were at risk as if the clutch went out while driving, my horn would not work, my airbag light was on flashing and possibly wouldn't deploy in an accident and the engine blowing up due to a thrown rod barring put me at risk as it was on the freeway this happened. You can get all this info on mileage and what has been replaced. This has cost me thousands upon thousands of dollars to fix in the car when none of it should of happened.
DRIVING CAR WITH PASSENGER IN COLD WEATHER (~0 DEGREES F) ON CITY STREETS. AFTER 10MIN OF DRIVING, PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT SWITCHED OFF, NOTIFYING ME THAT PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS TURNED OFF WHILE PASSENGER WAS SEATED. ADDITIONALLY, NEAR THE SPEEDOMETER, THE SRS AIRBAG ERROR NOTIFICATION TURNED ON, SIGNALING AN ISSUE WITH THE SRS SYSTEM. INCIDENT HAS NOT BEEN REPLICATED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN I TAKE SHARP TURNS (LIKE PARALLEL PARKING OR BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY) MY STEERING COLUMN CLUNKS. MAINLY LEFT TURNS ... BUT IT DOES HAPPEN TIME TO TIME WITH RIGHT TURNS.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK NOT FOLLOWING ANYONE CLOSELY. I DID NOT GO UNDER ANY OVERPASSES OR TREES AND I HAD MY SUNROOF CLOSED WITH THE SHADE VISOR OPEN AT THE TIME. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY SUNROOF EXPLODED OUT OF NOWHERE (LOUD BOOM) AND A LARGE AMOUNT OF GLASS FELL ON ME INTO THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO ONE NEAR ME ON EITHER SIDE AND I KEPT MY COMPOSURE UNTIL I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO LOOK AND CLEAR THE GLASS FROM MY SEAT AND THE PASSENGER SEAT. WHEN I INSPECTED THE SUNROOF GLASS, IT LOOKED LIKE SOME OF THE BROKEN PIECES ARE FORCED IN AN UPWARDS MANNER AS IF DUE TO PRESSURE OR TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATION. I CHECKED OVER THE REST OF MY VEHICLE AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS CHIPS AND DEEP SCRATCHES FROM THE GLASS THAT DAMAGED MY ROOF, SHARKFIN ANTENNA, AND MY TRUNK AREA WHICH I WILL NEED TO HAVE REPAIRED TO AVOID RUST. I WAS COMPLETELY SURPRISED BY THIS INCIDENT AND GOT A FEW SMALL CUTS ON MY HANDS FROM CLEANING THE GLASS OFF SO I COULD DRIVE BACK HOME. I HAVE DASHCAM FOOTAGE (THAT CAN BE PROVIDED AS WELL) OF ME DRIVING DURING THIS OCCURRENCE AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE HIT THE SUNROOF TO DAMAGE IT IN SUCH A WAY. THERE WERE ALSO NO OBJECTS THAT WENT INTO MY CAR'S CABIN FOLLOWING THE BREAKAGE. I WAS READING OVER OTHER SIMILAR REPORTED ISSUES AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT IS SPREAD ACROSS VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A FACTORY DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF AND COVERED BY MANUFACTURERS AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU WRX. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE CONTACT CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA AT (866) 520-7894 (3161 AUTOMOBILE BLVD, SILVER SPRING, MD 20904) AND WAS INFORMED TO CALL A LOCAL SUBARU DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE LOCAL DEALER (CORPUS CHRISTI SUBARU, 3615 S PADRE ISLAND DR., CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78415, (361) 826-0630) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO COVER THE SUN ROOF WITH PLASTIC UNTIL THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
2015 WRX 2.0L MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN EVERYDAY SITUATIONS I HAVE HAD (3) DISTINCT PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENGINE/THROTTLE/IDLE. 1) GHOST BLIP: WHEN COMING TO A STOP, AROUND 5-15 MPH, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL COAST TO A STOP IDLE WILL INEXPLICABLY SPIKE FROM ~700RPM (IDLE) --> ~1.2-1.5K RPM (FOR A SECOND OR TWO...LIKE A GHOST BLIPPED THE THROTTLE). NO PRESSURE APPLIED TO ACCELERATOR. 2) ROUGH IDLE: WHILE SITTING AT A STOP, IN NEUTRAL, ~700RPM (IDLE) --> WILL DIP TO ~650-600RPM FOR A FRACTION OF SECOND & REOCCUR EVERY 2-4 SECONDS. FEELS LIKE SOMEONE LIGHTLY SHAKING YOUR SEAT FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. 3) NEAR STALL: WHILE SITTING AT A STOP, IN NEUTRAL, ~700RPM (IDLE) --> WILL DIP THE RPMS LOW ENOUGH THAT THE WHOLE CAR NOTICEABLY SHAKES...SIMILAR TO THE SHAKE YOU WOULD EXPERIENCE IF THE ENGINE WERE ACTUALLY ABOUT TO STALL. THE RPMS WILL FUMBLE AROUND A BIT AND THEN HICCUP BACK TO NORMAL IDLE AFTER 4-5 SECONDS. ALL THREE ITEMS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER ON (2) OCCASIONS W/ THE REPLY UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM AND/OR IT IS NORMAL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
FIRESTONE FIREHAWK WIDE OVAL TIRES CRACKING IN SIDEWALLS AFTER 13834 MILES ON VEHICLES. THREE OF THE FOUR TIRES WERE GROWING CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALLS, NEAR THE TREAD. ALL CRACKS WERE ON THE INSIDE AND ONLY VISIBLE AFTER THE WHEELS WERE REMOVED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU WRX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND WITH A STRONG BURNED CLUTCH ODOR. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.
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 .