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2015 Subaru Wrx

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

40 reports with mileage · 12 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

6 reports
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92,000 miles · Jan 11, 2022
Electrical System

* 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 …

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* 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).

NHTSA ODI #11446991

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2021
Electrical System

Car battery is constantly drained even when car is used every other day

NHTSA ODI #11436518

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2021
Electrical System

Battery lasted only less than 2 year s

NHTSA ODI #11417670

138,000 miles · Dec 22, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

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 P…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11290682

12,000 miles · Dec 28, 2015
Air BagsElectrical System

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 S…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10816466

11,700 miles · Apr 12, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT, A LIGHT CAME ON MY DASH THAT DISPLAYED, "HEADLIGHTS DISABLED." THE HEADLIGHTS WERE STILL FUNCTIONING, SO I IGNORED THE MESSAGE. FEW HOURS LATER, THE LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY FOR ~15 SECONDS AND THEN WENT AWAY. THE NEXT DAY, DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND …

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DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT, A LIGHT CAME ON MY DASH THAT DISPLAYED, "HEADLIGHTS DISABLED." THE HEADLIGHTS WERE STILL FUNCTIONING, SO I IGNORED THE MESSAGE. FEW HOURS LATER, THE LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY FOR ~15 SECONDS AND THEN WENT AWAY. THE NEXT DAY, DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF. I CAUTIOUSLY PULLED OVER, AND SET MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON. I FLICKED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY AND THEY CAME BACK ON. DROVE FOR ANOTHER 10 MINS AND THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT TURNED OFF, AND THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT STAYED ON. I MADE IT HOME SAFELY, BUT THE LIGHT NEVER CAME BACK ON. THE NEXT DAY, THE MESSAGE IS STILL DISPLAYED, BUT BOTH HEADLIGHTS ARE FUNCTIONING. I FEEL IT VERY UNSAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AT NIGHT, WHICH IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE, AS THE HEADLIGHTS MAY TURN OFF AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705237

Official recalls

3

22V522000 · Exterior Lighting:back Up Lights:switch

Jul 21, 2022

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

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.

17V625000 · Electrical System:wiring

Oct 6, 2017

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

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.

16V162000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger

Mar 21, 2016

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.