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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

What owners actually said

52 reports
5,100 miles · Nov 3, 2015
Exterior Lighting

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 NO…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10787894

13,000 miles · Oct 20, 2015
Power Train

ONCE, THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING, AND A SECOND TIME EIGHT MONTHS LATER, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ENTER GEARS FROM NEUTRAL. IN THE FIRST EVENT, THE CAR WAS STILL WARMING UP, DRIVING QUICKLY. IN THE SECOND EVENT, THE CAR WAS AT RUNNING TEMPERATURE, DRIVEN FOR ONE HOUR, DRIVING CONSERVATIVELY. IN BOTH SITUATIONS, I HAD T…

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ONCE, THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING, AND A SECOND TIME EIGHT MONTHS LATER, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ENTER GEARS FROM NEUTRAL. IN THE FIRST EVENT, THE CAR WAS STILL WARMING UP, DRIVING QUICKLY. IN THE SECOND EVENT, THE CAR WAS AT RUNNING TEMPERATURE, DRIVEN FOR ONE HOUR, DRIVING CONSERVATIVELY. IN BOTH SITUATIONS, I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL A TOW. ~1 HOUR LATER, THE VEHICLE WORKED FINE. NO BURNT CLUTCH SMELL, NO CHANGE IN THE FEELING OF THE CLUTCH/GEARS. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, CORPORATE IS DENYING THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10783753

5,332 miles · Sep 3, 2015
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW WITH LESS THAN TEN MILES ON ODOMETER. FROM NEW, THE VEHICLE PRODUCED A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING OR MELTING PLASTIC EVERY TIME IT WAS DRIVEN. CLUTCH BEGAN SLIPPING AND THEN CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED AT 5100 MILES. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, CLUTCH REPLACED. AT 7,200 MILES, CLUTCH THROW-OUT BEARING FAILED, DEALER R…

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PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW WITH LESS THAN TEN MILES ON ODOMETER. FROM NEW, THE VEHICLE PRODUCED A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING OR MELTING PLASTIC EVERY TIME IT WAS DRIVEN. CLUTCH BEGAN SLIPPING AND THEN CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED AT 5100 MILES. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, CLUTCH REPLACED. AT 7,200 MILES, CLUTCH THROW-OUT BEARING FAILED, DEALER REPLACED. AT 11,709 MILES, THROW OUT BEARING FAILED AGAIN, DEALER DISCOVERED CLUTCH WAS ON THE VERGE OF SECOND FAILURE DURING SERVICE. A SECOND REPLACEMENT CLUTCH HAS BEEN ORDERED. ADVISED BY SERVICE MANAGER THAT CAUSE OF ALL FAILURES WAS THAT A "PLUG" OF SOME SORT HAD WORKED LOOSE, CAUSING CLUTCH TO REMAIN ENGAGED AT ALL TIMES, LEADING TO CLUTCH FAILURE. IF CLUTCH FAILURE OCCURRED AT INTERSECTION OR RAIL CROSSING, THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT COULD LEAD TO THE SEVERE INJURY OR EVEN THE DEATH OF OCCUPANTS IN THE DISABLED VEHICLE, AS THIS FAILURE RENDERS THE VEHICLE IMMOBILE.

NHTSA ODI #10761389

10,500 miles · Aug 11, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

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 …

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10747992

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

3,400 miles · Feb 23, 2015
Exterior Lighting

THREE SEPARATE OCCURRENCES OF THE LED HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION LIGHT COMING ON, TOTALLY DISABLING HEADLIGHTS, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS, AND BLINKERS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS I PRIMARILY DRIVE TO WORK AT NIGHT AND HEADLIGHTS ARE OBVIOUSLY NEEDED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS IN COLD WEATHER, THE LAST OCCURRENCE AT -6F. STEPS TO REPLIC…

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THREE SEPARATE OCCURRENCES OF THE LED HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION LIGHT COMING ON, TOTALLY DISABLING HEADLIGHTS, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS, AND BLINKERS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS I PRIMARILY DRIVE TO WORK AT NIGHT AND HEADLIGHTS ARE OBVIOUSLY NEEDED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS IN COLD WEATHER, THE LAST OCCURRENCE AT -6F. STEPS TO REPLICATE ISSUE: 1) WARM CAR UP ABOUT 5 MINUTES. 2) DRIVE TO DESTINATION. TURN CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT 5-10 MINUTES. 3) START CAR BACK UP AND THE LED WARNING LIGHT APPEARS. WHEN THIS LIGHT COMES ON, YOU CANNOT TURN ON THE LIGHTS WITH AUTO, OR MANUAL. THE LAST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED DURING THE DAY FORTUNATELY, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE IN THE OFF POSITION. THIS HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THE LIGHT WAS OFF EVEN THOUGHT I HAD STRESSED TO THEM THIS WAS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. .....UPDATED 12/15/15 *BF *TR UPDATED 9/25/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10689890

18,980 miles · Feb 19, 2015
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS DISABLED. STARTED THE CAR, "HEADLIGHTS DISABLED" MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD. HEADLIGHTS WERE NON-FUNCTIONAL. THIS WAS IN VERY COLD WEATHER, APPROXIMATELY -10F. AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED WORKING AGAIN, MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD WENT AWAY. DEALER SERVICE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. IF ALL THE HEADLIGHT…

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HEADLIGHTS DISABLED. STARTED THE CAR, "HEADLIGHTS DISABLED" MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD. HEADLIGHTS WERE NON-FUNCTIONAL. THIS WAS IN VERY COLD WEATHER, APPROXIMATELY -10F. AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED WORKING AGAIN, MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD WENT AWAY. DEALER SERVICE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. IF ALL THE HEADLIGHTS HAD BECOME DISABLED WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM IS CREATED BY THIS ISSUE. NOTHING SHOULD BE ABLE TO SUDDENLY DISABLE ALL THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS WITHOUT WARNING. .....UPDATED 12/15/15 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10689384

1,200 miles · Jan 30, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemStructure

I DO NOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE VERY OFTEN AS I DRIVE MY WORK TRUCK SIX DAYS A WEEK. I GOT INTO MY VEHICLE BEFORE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY AND REALIZED I NEEDED GAS BEFORE I LEFT. I GOT TO THE GAS STATION WITH MY GAS LIGHT ON AND PARKED. AFTER PAYING FOR GAS I REALIZED MY GAS CAP ACCESS DOOR WAS NOT OPEN, AS I THOUGHT I OPENED IT. I TRI…

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I DO NOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE VERY OFTEN AS I DRIVE MY WORK TRUCK SIX DAYS A WEEK. I GOT INTO MY VEHICLE BEFORE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY AND REALIZED I NEEDED GAS BEFORE I LEFT. I GOT TO THE GAS STATION WITH MY GAS LIGHT ON AND PARKED. AFTER PAYING FOR GAS I REALIZED MY GAS CAP ACCESS DOOR WAS NOT OPEN, AS I THOUGHT I OPENED IT. I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES OPENING THE DOOR WITH THE RELEASE LEVER ON THE FLOOR BY THE DRIVERS SEAT. AFTER TWENTY MINUTES OF CONFUSION I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT OVER RIGHT AWAY ( GOOD THING THEY ARE DOWN THE STREET FROM ME). AFTER WAITING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND TALKING TO THE TECH AND SERVICE WRITER I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON THE CAUSE OF THIS (SOME WHAT). THERE IS A PART ON THE RELEASE MECHANISM THAT IS WEAK AND FAILS CAUSING YOU TO NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS YOUR GAS CAP. THIS COULD BE CATASTROPHIC IF YOU ARE ON A ROAD TRIP OR AWAY FROM ANY DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE WRITER ALSO HAD SAID THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON WITH THE NEW 2015 WRX AND THEY ARE GETTING ABOUT TWO VEHICLES COMING BACK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM PER WEEK. SUBARU NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY DESIGN AND RECALL ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10679866

5,100 miles · Dec 12, 2014
Air BagsSeat BeltsStructureCrashFire

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…

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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 ODI #10663750

145 miles · Nov 19, 2014
Power Train

SON HAD JUST PURCHASED CAR. TOOK THE CAR TO AN AREA WHICH HAD AN UNPLOWED PARKING AREA TO TEST THE HANDLING OF THE CAR IN THE SNOW. CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING AND THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE STRONG SMELL OF THE CLUTCH BURNING. COULD NOT START THE CAR WITH THE CAR IN GEAR AND THE CLUTCH PUSHED IN. CAR WOULD ONLY START IN NEUTRAL. …

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SON HAD JUST PURCHASED CAR. TOOK THE CAR TO AN AREA WHICH HAD AN UNPLOWED PARKING AREA TO TEST THE HANDLING OF THE CAR IN THE SNOW. CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING AND THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE STRONG SMELL OF THE CLUTCH BURNING. COULD NOT START THE CAR WITH THE CAR IN GEAR AND THE CLUTCH PUSHED IN. CAR WOULD ONLY START IN NEUTRAL. WHEN CAR STARTED COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO GO INTO GEAR. WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR PUSH STARTED AND DRIVEN APPROX. 0.2 MILES TO A SECURE AREA AND THEN HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CLUTCH WAS FOUND TO BE BURNED OUT. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS IT WAS DRIVER'S ERROR BUT THEY SENT PICTURES TO ME AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE DAMAGE DOES NOT LINE UP WITH WHAT THEY SAY THE PROBLEM WAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659348

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.