2006 Subaru WRX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
66,870 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 14 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 14.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 7.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 1 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Power Train: 2; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1; Structure:Frame And Members: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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 10230156 · 2008-06-06 (June 6, 2008)
I STARTED MY CAR ON SATURDAY MAY 18TH AND COULD NOT DRIVE IT. CLUTCH WAS BAD. I'VE HAD THE CAR 13 MONTHS, IT HAS 13K MILES ON IT AND THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS MY FAULT-DRIVER ERROR. THIS IS MY 4TH CAR WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION (IRONICALLY THE FIRST NEW CAR) AND I HAVE NEVER, EVER HAD A CLUTCH PROBLEM WITH ANY OF THE OTHERS-RANGING FROM AN OLDER SATURN TO AN M SERIES BMW. ACCORDING TO SUBARU, THEY CAN'T/WON'T DO ANYTHING IF THE TECHNICIAN SAYS THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY DRIVER ERROR. THEY SAID ALL I CAN DO IS ASK THE SERVICE MANAGER TO GIVE ME …
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230156 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10460895 · 2012-06-07 (June 7, 2012)
AT 3500 RPM SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR AT LOW LEVEL ACCELERATION THE 3RD GEAR TEETH SHATTERED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE GEARSET. 3RD GEAR NEEDED TOTAL REPLACEMENT AND METAL DEBRIS FLOATING IN THE CASING UNTIL CAR COULD BE STOPPED. 2000 MILES LATER AFTER SUBARU DEALERSHIP REPAIR AND ALL NEW PARTS FROM THE FACTORY THE SAME SCENARIO OCCURS AGAIN 3RD GEAR CHIPPED ALL TEETH AND CAR NEEDED TO BE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. BOTH INCIDENTS LEFT THE CAR WITH LARGE AMOUNTS OF METAL DEBRIS WHICH NOT ONLY CAUSE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO OTHER PARTS BUT ALSO HAVE THE AB…
Owner-reported narrative. 111,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220248 · 2008-03-06 (March 6, 2008)
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN FIFTH GEAR MY CAR ENGINE BEGAN TO REV AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS AT 6,000RPMS. I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE CAR AND MAKE IT TO AN EXIT RAMP, BUT THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. I PULLED THE CAR OFF THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND IT STALLED OUT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO FAIRWAY SUBARU WHERE I WAS TOLD MANY DIFFERENT EXCUSES THAT WERE ALL "DRIVER RELATED." I WAS TOLD THAT "THE CLUTCH DISINTEGRATED UNDER EXTREME HEAT FROM REVVING THE ENGINE." THE CLUTCH WAS TAKEN APART AND THERE WERE NO "HEAT SPOTS." I WAS THEN TOLD…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220248 at NHTSA ↗