2016 Subaru WRX problems and complaints

Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru WRX. The most-reported areas: Electrical System (10), Engine (9), Unknown Or Other (7).

Key takeaways

  • 34 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 1 involve a crash, 2 a fire, 0 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Electrical System1029%
Engine926%
Unknown Or Other721%
Power Train412%
Fuel/Propulsion System26%
Steering26%
Service Brakes26%
Exterior Lighting26%
Electronic Stability Control (esc)26%
Vehicle Speed Control13%
Tires13%
Equipment13%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2016 Subaru WRX 4 DR AWDNot ratedNot ratedNot ratedNot rated

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Electrical System - filed 2024-08-27

The Seconary Air Injection pump stayed on for days. Burnt a hole in the side, relay possibly damaged, and now setting off other components and computers.

Unknown Or Other - filed 2024-03-01

Driving and a loud explosion, sound, like a gunshot then a ton of pinging. The sunroof exploded and glass flew down my car and chipped a bunch of paint.

Power Train - filed 2023-05-10

While driving, the clutch became stiff and unusable. Ultimately the car could not be shifted resulting in using a lower gear than normal to limp the car to safety. The car had to be towed to a mechanic. During the repair the mechanic identified that the cause of the failure was the clutch fork pivot ball punched thr...

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More for the 2016 Subaru WRX

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.