2018 Subaru WRX Electrical Problems

2/17/2026 Mileage 96,000 Subaru case number Case # 260217-2101937 Vehicle intermittently indicates reverse gear while driving forward at speed. Backup camera activates and reverse lights illuminate while in forward motion. This condition matches NHTSA Recall 22V-522000. The recall repair was previously performed but the safety defect persists. Manufacturer was contacted and declined further repair despite active safety condition.

NHTSA ID

11718606

Incident

Jan 5, 2026

Fuel pump failing Reverse switch failing

NHTSA ID

11612016

Incident

Aug 13, 2024

Parasitic battery drain. Car is rendered inoperable after periods of non use. The batter has been replaced and the problem persists.

NHTSA ID

11446839

Incident

Jan 10, 2022

Battery dies and vehicle is unable to start after short periods of being turned off. This has left me stranded in unsafe areas and can pose a major safety hazard. Vehicle has been inspected and no issues found by Subaru dealer. No warning lights or other notifications, vehicle simply does not start.

NHTSA ID

11446144

Incident

Jan 2, 2022

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru WRX. The contact stated that the vehicle had been parked in the garage during the winter months and while attempting to drive the vehicle, the vehicle would not start. The contact stated he charged the battery and he was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and he replaced the battery himself. However, the failure reoccurred, and he was unable to restart the vehicle. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 5,000.

NHTSA ID

11432906

Incident

Apr 15, 2019

Mileage

5,000 mi

BATTERY DRAINED EVEN THOUGH I LEFT NO LIGHTS ON AND HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY TWICE IN LESS THAN A YEAR. HAD BATTERY TESTED AND IT WAS GOOD. HAD TO JUMP MY CAR MULTIPLE TIMES FOR DEAD BATTERY WHILE AT WORK. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ID

11416770

Incident

Mar 9, 2021

Mileage

43,065 mi

BATTERY DRAINING BEGINNING IN DECEMBER 2019 BUT STILL EXISTS

NHTSA ID

11416671

Incident

Dec 31, 2019

WHEN DRIVING MY 2018 SUBARU WRX PREMIUM IN THE HEAT WITH THE A/C ON IT IS CAUSING EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WITH THE CAR STUTTERING CAUSING FLUCTUATION IN SPEED WITH THE CAR DRAGGING THEN PROPELLING DRAMATICALLY DUE TO THE TURBO ENGAGING. THE ERRATIC CHANGE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CAR IS NOT NORMAL AND IS CAUSE FOR ATTENTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THIS PULLED SUCH AN EXTREME DRAIN ON THE CARS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND COOLING SYSTEM IT ALMOST MADE MY CAR OVERHEAT IN THE MIDDLE OF FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. MY CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED AND DRIVEN RESPONSIBLY. I HAD MY FAMILY IN THE CAR AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A TRAGGIC SITUATION AS THE FREEWAYS HERE IN CALIFORNIA ARE VERY UNFORGIVING.

NHTSA ID

11354086

Incident

Sep 6, 2020

Mileage

50,000 mi

IN JANUARY 2019 AROUND 10PM PST MY 2018 SUBARU WRX EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION. AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIENT I WAS IN A SUCLUDED, WOODED AREA WITHOUT CELLPHONE SERVICE, AS WELL AS BEING ATLEAST 30MINUTES TO THE NEAREST STORE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL AT 35MPH, IT WAS VERY RAINY AND DIFFICULT TO SEE. AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS HILL WAS A SHARP RIGHT TURN, AT THIS TIME THE SAFETY SYSTEM ACTIVED TAKING OVER ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED STEERING TO LOCK UP, TURNING TO THE FAR LEFT. AT THE RIGHT WAS A 15-20FOOT DROP INTO A LAKE. THE TURN I WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE WAS A SHARP RIGHT. STILL UNABLE REGAIN CONTROL AND WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE FAST APPROACHING LAKE. SHORTLY BEFORE DROPOFF I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE STERRING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. BUT STEERING AGAIN LOCKED UP AND FORCED ME TO THE FAR RIGHT. OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT WAS HEAVLY WOODED. NAROWLY ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF STERRING I CRASHED THROUGH BUSHES. CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE FOLLOWING; PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR, SCRATCHES TO WHOLE PASSENGER SIDE, DEEP DENT ON LOWER REAR DOOR AND QUARTER PANEL. REAR PASSENGER TIRE COLLIDED WITH A TREE STUMP WITH IMPACT AT 35MPH STOPPING THE CAR INSTANTLY. TIRE WAS SEPARATED FROM THE RIM BY A TREE BRANCH, LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS BENT AND CRACKED, ENTIRE REAR DRIVE AXLE WAS PUSH TO THE RIGHT CAUSEING ALIGNMENT OF THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE TO BE PUSHED OUT. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I HIT MY HEAD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THE CAR WAS 100% UNDRIVABLE TIRE WOULDN'T MOVE. TAKING DAMAGE TIRE OFF AND PUTTING ON DONUGT TOOK OVER AN HOUR, I COULDN'T GET THE DAMAGED TIRE OFF. A LOT MORE TO THIS AS WELL. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE MANY TIMES AND DEALERSHIP DID NOTHING. I AM SCARED OF THIS CAR AND WILL NEVER OWN A SUBARU AGAIN. THIS IS ONE OF DOZENS OF ISSUES I HAVE WITH THIS CAR. ITS GETTING WORSE BUT THE DEALER WONT CARE UNTIL I GET HURT

NHTSA ID

11205605

Incident

Jan 19, 2019

Mileage

14,500 mi

IN JANUARY 2019 AT AROUND 10PM PST MY 2018 SUBARU WRX EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION. AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIENT I WAS IN A SECLUDED, WOODED AREA WITHOUT CELLPHONE SERVICE, AS WELL AS BEING AT LEAST 30MINUTES TO THE NEAREST STORE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL AT 35MPH, IT WAS RAINY AND DIFFICULT TO SEE. AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS HILL WAS A SHARP TURN, AT THIS TIME THE SAFETY SYSTEM ACTIVED TAKING OVER ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE STEERING TO LOCK UP, PULLING TO THE FAR LEFT, TOWARDS A 15-20FOOT DROP INTO A LAKE. THE APPROACHING TURN I WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE WAS A SHARP RIGHT. STILL UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT INTO THE FAST APPROACHING LAKE. SHORTLY BEFORE THE ENDGE OF THE ROAD I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT. AGAIN STEERING LOCKED UP, NOW FORCING ME FAR RIGHT. AT THE RIGHT WAS DENSE TREES, BUSHES, AND SHRUBS. NARROWLY ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL BEFORE GOING HEAD-ON INTO A TREE, I FORCED THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE LEFT. I ENDED UP STRIKING SOME BUSHES AND A TREE STUMP. CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR, SCRATCHES TO BOTH PASSENGER DOORS, AND A DEEP DENT ON THE LOWER REAR DOOR AND QUARTER PANNEL. THIS IS WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE COLLIDED WITH A TREE STUMP, TAKING THE 35MPH BRUNT IMPACT THAT STOPPED THE CAR INSTANTLY. THE TIRE WAS SEPARATED FROM THE RIM BY A TREE BRANCH, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS BENT AND CRACKED, THE ENTIRE REAR DRIVE TRAIN WAS PUSH TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE ALIGNMENT OF THE DRIVER SIDE LEFT TIRE TO BE PUSHED OUT AS WELL. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS 100% IMMOBILE AT THIS POINT AS THE REAR TIRE WOULDN'T MOVE. AFTER SPENDING AN HOUR I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE OLD TIRED AND PUT ON THE DOUGHT. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT CASUED THIS MANY TIMES AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I AM SCARED OF THIS CAR AND WILL NEVER OWN A SUBARU AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11205591

Incident

Jan 19, 2019

Mileage

14,500 mi