2003 Subaru WRX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
60 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
23,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 49 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 60 complaints (31.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 20 | 33.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 11.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 19 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 11 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 19; Fuel System, Gasoline: 11; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 2; Steering: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 25 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 25; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 11 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2003: 15; 2004: 13; 2005: 6; 2006: 2; 2007: 5; 2008: 4; 2009: 6; 2010: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10008400 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
ABS FAILED. BRAKE PEDAL WOULD SINK TO FLOOR WHEN ROAD IS BUMPY. TAKES A VERY LONG DISTANCE TO STOP THE CAR. 2 NEAR-MISS INCIDENTS ALREADY. CAR IS BRAND NEW 2003 WRX. IT HAS 500 MILES ON IT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008400 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028374 · 2003-07-16 (July 16, 2003)
WHEN BRAKING OVER ROUGH SURFACES ON DRY PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE ENGAGED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKING THAT WAS NOT RESTORED UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND RE-APPLIED. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT A LARGE AMOUNT OF BRAKING FORCE BEING CALLED FOR.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028374 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152452 · 2006-03-11 (March 11, 2006)
1. FUEL LEAKS FROM THE FUEL RAIL WHEN DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. 2. FUEL LEAKS FROM FUEL RAIL AND RUBBER FUEL LINE THAT IS POSITIONED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHILE OPERATING IN COLD CLIMATE. THIS CONDITION CAUSES FUEL TO LEAK ON TO THE HOT ENGINE CAUSING SMOKE TO RISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND POSSIBLY IGNITE RAW FUEL, IT ALSO CAUSES THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT TO FILL WITH A STRONG GAS SMELL. 3. CORRECTION-REPLACEMENT OF FUEL RAIL AND RUBBER FUEL LINE AS INDICATED IN THE CAR MAKERS SERVICE BULLETIN. OLD PART NOT AVAILABLE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152452 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10180758 · 2007-01-25 (January 25, 2007)
GAS SMELL COMING THROUGH AIR VENTS OF 2003 SUBARU WRX WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED WITH OUTSIDE AIR VENTS OPEN. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. NHTSA HAS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM IN 2002-2003 WRX MODELS, AND A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF INTERNET AUTOMOTIVE WEBSITES DISCUSS THIS PROBLEM. SINCE GASOLINE IS FLAMMABLE, AND AUTOMOBILE FIRES ARE DANGEROUS, I AM REQUESTING NHTSA TO REOPEN ITS FILE ON THIS MATTER AND TO ISSUE A RECALL SINCE NHTSA HAS ALREADY FOUND THAT A FUEL HOSE ON THE ENGINE, IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE EXHAUST MANIFO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10180758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022749 · 2003-06-10 (June 10, 2003)
WHILE ACCELERATING VEHICLE STARTED MAKING LOUD NOISE AND WOULD NOT GAIN ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054622 · 2004-01-21 (January 21, 2004)
I HAVE A 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STATION WAGON WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE INCIDENT ON JANUARY 19, 2004 IS ONLY ONE OF AT LEAST FIVE EXAMPLES OF THE PROBLEM DETAILED BELOW. *AK HERE IS THE RECURRING PROBLEM: WHENEVER I BRAKE AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS (UNDER 30MPH AS FAR AS I REMEMBER) OVER EVEN MILDLY BUMPY SURFACES, THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSES COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DOES NOT BRAKE. THE CAR WILL NOT BEGIN BRAKING UNTIL I REALIZE WHAT IS GOING ON, RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THEN HEAVILY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN. I…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10239073 · 2008-08-20 (August 20, 2008)
AS I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE ENGINE DIED AND FLAMES ABOUT 2' TALL SHOT OUT FROM BETWEEN THE HOOD AND COWL AND OUT OF THE INTERCOOLER INLET IN THE CENTER OF THE HOOD. THE FLAMES WERE FOLLOWED BY ABOUT 10 SECONDS OF A HUGE SMOKE CLOUD. IT TOOK ME ABOUT 90 SECONDS TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND GET THE FIRE PUT OUT. I EXAMINED THE DAMAGE. THE PRESSURE SIDE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE SHEET METAL HEAT SHIELD OVER THE TURBOCHARGER. AFTER A WHILE, THE RELATIVE MOTION AND HEAT RUBBED A HOLE IN THE POWER STEERING HOSE. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 121,929 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239073 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10725033 · 2015-06-12 (June 12, 2015)
MY DREAM CAR DEMOLISHED IN SPLIT SECOND. COULD HAVE VERY EASILY DIED AS WELL AS MY PASSENGER. I LOOKED UP THE RECALLS WHEN I GOT THE CAR AND IT WAS NOT LISTED YET, THE STEEL FRONT CONTROL ARMS IN THE SNOW BELT STATES RUST OUT AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE CONTROL AND OR CRASH. WELL IT DID BOTH TO ME AS WELL AS EXCELERATE MY CAR. I WAS ON A DATE THAT NIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A WHILE. AND ON OUR WAY HOME, WE WERE COMING AROUND A SLIGHT BEND, I WAS GOING PROBABLY 35-40 MPH AND RIGHT WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL GOING AROUND THE BEND I HEAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 153,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10725033 at NHTSA ↗