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.
2018 Subaru Wrx
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Wrx years →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
21 reports with mileage · 21 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 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
42 reportsThe 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 …
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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.
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.
BATTERY DRAINING BEGINNING IN DECEMBER 2019 BUT STILL EXISTS
WOKE UP ONE DAY TO MY WINDSHIELD HAVING A SMALLER CRACK THAT WAS NOT THERE BEFORE. WAS A COLD NIGHT CRACK HAS SPREAD, ASKED SUBARU IF THEY WOULD COVER THE COST THEY DIDN'T BUT ITS A KNOWN DEFECT IN SUBARU
WINDSHIELD CHIPPED/CRACKED WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY.
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 …
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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.
DEFECTIVE OEM THROW-OUT BEARING AND FORK IN THE SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY BURNING THE CLUTCH IN 3 MONTHS TO 3000 MILES AFTER REPAIR WITH REPLACEMENT PART. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE IN A BRAND NEW VEHICLE AFTER REPAIR AT DEALERSHIP. PURCHASED 2018 WRX WITH 13,000 MILES ON FEBRUARY 17, 2020 AND IT IS NOW JULY…
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DEFECTIVE OEM THROW-OUT BEARING AND FORK IN THE SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY BURNING THE CLUTCH IN 3 MONTHS TO 3000 MILES AFTER REPAIR WITH REPLACEMENT PART. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE IN A BRAND NEW VEHICLE AFTER REPAIR AT DEALERSHIP. PURCHASED 2018 WRX WITH 13,000 MILES ON FEBRUARY 17, 2020 AND IT IS NOW JULY 2020 SINCE THEN, ON MY THIRD THROW OUT BEARING REPLACEMENT. I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, LET THE CLUTCH OUT ALL THE WAY OUT, PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR REVS UP AND SLIPS AND DOESNT MOVE IN MOVING TRAFFIC! IT COMPLETELY STOPS IN THE ROAD, I PHYSICALLY HAD TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD AND HAVE A TOW TRUCK TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP! THROW-OUT BEARING FORK BURNT OUT SMOKES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. A COMMON DEFECTIVE ISSUE ON THIS MODEL 2018 SUBARU WRX THE DEALERS KNOW THIS AND THROW OUT BEARING IN TRANSMISSION IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY MULTIPLE DUPLICATE SUBARU SERVICES PERFORMED WITH SAME DEFECTIVE THROW OUT BEARING THE MANUFACTURER HAS CREATED A NEW RELEASE OF BEARINGS AND INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN THE 2018 LEGACY, OUTBACK, IMPREZA, CROSSTREK AND FORESTER. BUT NOT THE WRX! FACT CHECK HTTPS://STATIC.OEMDTC.COM/TSB/MC-10150949-9999.PDF THROW OUT BEARING FORK IS RUSTED FROM MAJOR HEAT FRICTION AND CORRODED BURNT BLACK AND ORANGE RUST PARTICLES ON THE 3 MONTH OLD TRANSMISSION INTERIOR IN 3000 MILES OF DRIVING A BRAND NEW VEHICLE AND CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL ARE COMPLETELY BURNT TO HELL. THE THROW OUT BEARING MAKES A LOUD CHIRPING NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION WITHIN THE BELLHOUSING OF THE TRANSMISSION EVERY DAY. THOUSANDS OF WRX OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THROW-OUT BEARING ISSUE AND THE DEALER IS CHARGING CUSTOMERS FOR THESE REPAIRS OF THEIR FACTORY DEFECTIVE SLIPPING TRANSMISSION IN THE 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION.! IT IS A RIP OFF AND LEMON
DEFECTIVE THROW-OUT BEARING AND FORK IN THE SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY BURNING THE CLUTCH IN 3 MONTHS TO 3000 MILES AFTER REPAIR WITH REPLACEMENT PART. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE IN A BRAND NEW VEHICLE AFTER REPAIR AT DEALERSHIP. PURCHASED 2018 WRX WITH 13,000 MILES ON FEBRUARY 17, 2020 AND IT IS NOW JULY 202…
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DEFECTIVE THROW-OUT BEARING AND FORK IN THE SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY BURNING THE CLUTCH IN 3 MONTHS TO 3000 MILES AFTER REPAIR WITH REPLACEMENT PART. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE IN A BRAND NEW VEHICLE AFTER REPAIR AT DEALERSHIP. PURCHASED 2018 WRX WITH 13,000 MILES ON FEBRUARY 17, 2020 AND IT IS NOW JULY 2020 SINCE THEN, ON MY THIRD THROW OUT BEARING REPLACEMENT. I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, LET THE CLUTCH OUT ALL THE WAY OUT, PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR REVS UP AND SLIPS AND DOESNT MOVE IN MOVING TRAFFIC! IT COMPLETELY STOPS IN THE ROAD, I PHYSICALLY HAD TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD AND HAVE A TOW TRUCK TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP! THROW-OUT BEARING FORK BURNT OUT SMOKES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. A COMMON DEFECTIVE ISSUE ON THIS MODEL 2018 SUBARU WRX THE DEALERS KNOW THIS AND THROW OUT BEARING IN TRANSMISSION IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY MULTIPLE DUPLICATE SUBARU SERVICES PERFORMED WITH SAME DEFECTIVE THROW OUT BEARING THE MANUFACTURER HAS CREATED A NEW RELEASE OF BEARINGS AND INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN THE 2018 LEGACY, OUTBACK, IMPREZA, CROSSTREK AND FORESTER. BUT NOT THE WRX! FACT CHECK HTTPS://STATIC.OEMDTC.COM/TSB/MC-10150949-9999.PDF THROW OUT BEARING FORK IS RUSTED FROM MAJOR HEAT FRICTION AND CORRODED BURNT BLACK AND ORANGE RUST PARTICLES ON THE 3 MONTH OLD TRANSMISSION INTERIOR IN 3000 MILES OF DRIVING A BRAND NEW VEHICLE AND CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL ARE COMPLETELY BURNT TO HELL. THE THROW OUT BEARING MAKES A LOUD CHIRPING NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION WITHIN THE BELLHOUSING OF THE TRANSMISSION EVERY DAY. THOUSANDS OF WRX OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THROW-OUT BEARING ISSUE AND THE DEALER IS CHARGING CUSTOMERS FOR THESE REPAIRS OF THEIR FACTORY DEFECTIVE SLIPPING TRANSMISSION IN THE 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IT IS A RIP OFF AND LEMON
THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE WIND SHIELD CRACKED ALONG THE MOST SUPERIOR BORDER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NOTHING VISIBLE OR AUDIBLE THAT HAD CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK DURING MY 10 MINUTE COMMUTE. THERE WAS ALSO LITTLE TO NO TRAFFIC. THE CRACK WAS LARGE ENOUGH THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. I AM…
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THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE WIND SHIELD CRACKED ALONG THE MOST SUPERIOR BORDER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NOTHING VISIBLE OR AUDIBLE THAT HAD CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK DURING MY 10 MINUTE COMMUTE. THERE WAS ALSO LITTLE TO NO TRAFFIC. THE CRACK WAS LARGE ENOUGH THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. I AM ONLY REPORTING THIS NOW BECAUSE I SUSPECT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED SECONDARY TO BEING ONE OF THE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD'S THAT SUBARU IS UNDER SCRUTINY FOR. UNFORTUNATELY, I NO LONGER HAVE PICTURES OF THE CRACKED WINDSHIELD; HOWEVER, I HAVE ATTACHED MY RECEIPT FROM SAFELITE AUTOGLASS.
Official recalls
222V522000 · 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.
21V587000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Jul 29, 2021
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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