Problems · NHTSA complaints

2015 Subaru WRX problems

Owners filed 55 complaints about the 2015 Subaru WRX with NHTSA between May 2014 and Mar 2024. The most-cited component is engine (20).

Complaints
55
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine20
  2. Power train18
  3. Electrical system6
  4. Structure5
  5. Fuel/propulsion system5
  6. Exterior lighting5
  7. Air bags3
  8. Steering2
  9. Visibility/wiper2
  10. Visibility1
  11. Fuel system, gasoline1
  12. Tires1
  13. Vehicle speed control1
  14. Seat belts1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20144
20159
20166
20174
20188
20195
20203
20219
20223
20233
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

20 reports
“My engine starting making like a clunking sound I always have took my car for service at the dealership i own the 2015 subaru wrx premium i haven’t move the car after the noise due to scare I might mess something with the engine”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 5, 2024EngineODI 11575663

Power train

18 reports
“The contact owns a 2015 Subaru WRX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed failures with the drive belt, front drive axles, rear axle differential seals, and windshield washer reservoir. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 20, 2023Power train, EngineODI 11561137

Electrical system

6 reports1 related recall
“* 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).”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 11, 2022Electrical systemODI 11446991

Structure

5 reports1 crash1 fire
“WHEN PULLING THE FUEL DOOR RELEASE LEVER THE DOOR FAILS TO OPEN. HAPPENED ONCE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. THEN ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO IT WAS EVERY OTHER TIME I NEEDED TO FILL UP. NOW IT'S EVERY SINGLE TIME. I FUEL UP EVERY 4-5 DAYS AND IT'S STARTING TO BECOME A HASSLE. I PICK UP MY WIFE FROM WORK SO THAT'S WHEN I DECIDE TO FUEL UP, SHE REACHES OVER AND PULLS THE LEVER MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE I SLIP MY ID/DEBIT CARD THROUGH THE GAP TO POP OPEN THE FUEL DOOR OPEN. SOMETIMES THE DOOR POPS OPEN A BIT WHERE I CAN PULL IT OPEN WITH MY NAILS. IT NEVER FULLY OPENS HOW IT USED TO BEFORE LIKE WHEN I BOUGHT IT. WHEN I'M BY MYSELF SELF I DRIVE OVER BUMPS WHILE PULLING THE RELEASE LEVER REALLY QUICKLY, NOT TO MENTION HOW DANGEROUS IT IS BECAUSE I HAVE TO REACH DOWN WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT OPENS RIGHT AWAY WHEN I HIT SOME BUMPS SOMETIMES IT TAKES A WHILE. JUST THINKING ABOUT GETTING STRANDED BECAUSE I CAN'T GET IT TO OPEN REALLY WORRIES ME. LOVE MY CAR, HAD IT FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS AND THIS IS THE ONLY THING SO FAR THAT'S MALFUNCTIONING. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 9, 2017Fuel system, gasoline, StructureODI 10950419

Fuel/propulsion system

5 reports
“VEHICLE IS BURNING OIL, OIL CAME OUT THROUGH WHERE THE DIP-STICK IS PLACED. FOUND OIL ON THE EXHAUST TIPS. MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING. REQUIRES NEW COILS AND SPARK PLUGS EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THEM. REQUIRED A NEW BATTERY, HOWEVER, REPLACING THE BATTERY DID NOT KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM TURNING OFF BY ITSELF. O2 SENSOR, BANK 1 SENSOR 2, IS ALSO MALFUNCTIONING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 30, 2020Unknown or other, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11385687

Exterior lighting

5 reports1 related recall
“DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT IS RANDOMLY DISABLED. LIKE THE MAJORITY OF OTHERS HAVING THIS ISSUE, MY CAR HAS BEEN IN A COLDER CLIMATE (MINNESOTA) WHEN THIS STARTED OCCURRING. THERE IS NO WAY OF TURNING IT BACK ON. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 11, 2017Exterior lightingODI 10944404
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.