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2017 Subaru Wrx

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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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

33 reports with mileage · 20 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports2 fire reports6 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

14 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2025
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemFire

Likely secondary air injection pump and/or its related relays, CEL P2444 came on 3 separate times. November 2024, brought it in to get replaced under warranty, came on again the day after picking her up in December 2024 due to faulty pump, didn’t get to bring her back in until March 1st 2025, fixed part again, brought her home […

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Likely secondary air injection pump and/or its related relays, CEL P2444 came on 3 separate times. November 2024, brought it in to get replaced under warranty, came on again the day after picking her up in December 2024 due to faulty pump, didn’t get to bring her back in until March 1st 2025, fixed part again, brought her home [XXX]. Car engulfed in flames 10 days later on [XXX]. I do have the car’s ECU available for scan to check for previous codes. I could have been killed in a car fire, the building my car was in front of could have been turned to ash. No, the problem has not been reproduced, the car is totaled and in a pile of ash. Yes, the vehicle was inspected by police and fire force after the incident. The CEL light had come back on that morning. 9:11 am, came on, parked at 9:28am, car was on fire by 9:52am. I was parked and in an appointment when the cops came in in order to evacuate us because my car was in flames. Please contact Romano Subaru for information on my car, I do not have all of the paperwork available to me, but all of the work was done through that dealership. 315-475-7933 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11651199

Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 2024
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

The current issues with my recently purchased used vehicle are as follows: Clutch, odometer tampering, steering rack, 2 axle leaks, electrical issues, inspection issues. I tried to see if the dealership that I bought the car from is willing to fix these issues they keep going back and forth with me on these issues even though I…

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The current issues with my recently purchased used vehicle are as follows: Clutch, odometer tampering, steering rack, 2 axle leaks, electrical issues, inspection issues. I tried to see if the dealership that I bought the car from is willing to fix these issues they keep going back and forth with me on these issues even though I just recently purchased the car stating that I have to pay for it. I purchased this car [XXX]. There were several issues with this car prior to purchase that were not disclosed when I purchased it. The dealership that I bought the car from, highline car connection/Yankee Auto sales, insisted we buy an extended warranty. Upon inspection at Dan Perkins Subaru, one of the biggest safety issues with this vehicle is the clutch, I was informed that the clutch cover was missing and there were aftermarket bolts used, I was informed that the clutch is a normal wear and tear item such as an oil change and because of these two issues my warranty will not cover fixing the clutch. As you can see in my documents I just recently purchased this vehicle and had it for 28 days. I also noticed that there was odometer tampering, I reviewed the paperwork the dealership gave me for the carfax report and I went online to retrieve my own carfax report, there are several discrepancies in which I included with my documents. My vehicle has been in the shop since December 6th 2024 it is not safe to drive on the road in the condition it is which is the same condition the car was sold to me in. For the last week I have been going back and forth with the original dealership the insurance company Allstate with the warranty and Dan Perkins Subaru trying to figure out a way to get my car safe on the road and no one is willing to assist me properly. Please review the documents and get back to me at your earliest convenience thank you for your assistance with these issues. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11630702

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2023
Electrical SystemSteeringVisibility/wiperCrashFire

1, At about 12000 miles the car's windshield wipers stop working. And did not ever work again for the past several years. Wipers which was checked the motor was replaced to admission to the key was replaced and wiper still don't work. 2, About 24000 miles Was turning the vehicle around on a inclined road in the mountains w…

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1, At about 12000 miles the car's windshield wipers stop working. And did not ever work again for the past several years. Wipers which was checked the motor was replaced to admission to the key was replaced and wiper still don't work. 2, About 24000 miles Was turning the vehicle around on a inclined road in the mountains went to pull forward and the steering wheel would not work anymore which resulted in me crashing into a ravine dropping about 10 feet off the side of the cliff. 3, 33000 miles time issue occurred I was doing 75 on the Kansas turnpike and a curb came up as I entered the term for the curve that wheel would not turn and I kept going straighitting the guard railBut just only grazing it for I regained power to my steering at the last moment. And now currently again. dealership still cannot fix issue Instead they just charge me outrageous prices for not fixing anything and then threatened to call the cops on me if I don't pay it or agree to the service department's terms this has happened at 2 different dealerships.

NHTSA ODI #11561589

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2023
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

Reverse lights won’t go on, and rear camera won’t turn on in reverse. While in reverse it says I’m in first.

NHTSA ODI #11511429

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2022
Electrical System

I own a 2017 Subaru WRX. On 8/10/2019 I had the battery replaced at the dealership because it does for no reason. The battery died overnight and I had to jump the car to get it to the dealership. This happened again and the battery replaced at the dealership on 9/29/2022. This time the battery got weaker each time I started the …

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I own a 2017 Subaru WRX. On 8/10/2019 I had the battery replaced at the dealership because it does for no reason. The battery died overnight and I had to jump the car to get it to the dealership. This happened again and the battery replaced at the dealership on 9/29/2022. This time the battery got weaker each time I started the car over a period of 3 days then one day it didn't start. I had to jump to get to the dealership. They reaplaced the battery and I said I didn't want to pay because this is the 2nd time it's been replaced in 4 years. He told me to join a class action settlement for defective batteries.

NHTSA ODI #11488486

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2022
Electrical System

I have a 2017 model year Subaru and I've gone through 2 batteries and about to get a third one which seems like a lot considering how many other cars I've seen not get their battery replaced once and older in year than my car.

NHTSA ODI #11461131

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2021
Electrical System

Vehicle suffers from repeated battery drain issues - continue to replace top of the line batteries in the vehicle because they are constantly draining

NHTSA ODI #11435329

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2021
Electrical System

I had parked my car in front of my house and did not use it for 2 days. When I went to drive the car, it with not turn on. I had to call AAA to jump the car and I let it run for 30 minutes then drive it for the next 30 minutes. I parked the car again and 6 hours later went to go out and it would not start again. Called AAA again…

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I had parked my car in front of my house and did not use it for 2 days. When I went to drive the car, it with not turn on. I had to call AAA to jump the car and I let it run for 30 minutes then drive it for the next 30 minutes. I parked the car again and 6 hours later went to go out and it would not start again. Called AAA again and had them come jump start the car. Both AAA mechanics said this is a problematic battery. I went to my Subaru dealer in Rye, NY and they said my battery is fine and I had a loose negative terminal. This was a lie and incorrect. The battery was first put it on 7/15/2019 and this was less than 2 years later that it died on me twice. I have service documents from the car dealer for the battery install and the recent service to check the battery as well as AAA to vouch for my calls to them.

NHTSA ODI #11424689

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2021
Electrical System

Had to replace the battery in 2019, really short life for a 2017 model.

NHTSA ODI #11424469

34,000 miles · May 14, 2021
Electrical System

BATTERY DRAINED VERY QUICKLY. LEAVING CAR UNDRIVEN FOR 5 DAYS WOULD RESULT IN DEAD BATTERY. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP DEC 2019 AND THEY TESTED THE BATTERY, AND FOUND THAT BATTERY WAS BAD!AND REPLACED THE BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI #11416644

Official recalls

1

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.

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.