2017 Subaru WRX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
53 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
36,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 53 complaints (26.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 15.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 15.1% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 15.1% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 9.4% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Engine | 12 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
Electrical System: 14; Engine: 12; Power Train: 11; Steering: 6; Air Bags: 4; Exterior Lighting: 4; Visibility/Wiper: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 20 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2018: 9; 2019: 6; 2020: 8; 2021: 10; 2022: 6; 2023: 6; 2024: 3; 2025: 3; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 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 11120143 · 2018-08-15 (August 15, 2018)
CLUTCH ON MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS BURNED OUT TWICE IN 13000 MILES. DEALER BLAMES DRIVER AND IS NOT LOOKING HARD FOR OTHER CAUSES. WE ARE 100% POSITIVE THIS IS NOT CAUSED BY DRIVER ERROR. HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON HIGHWAY TWICE IN LESS THAN A YEAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11120143 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11122881 · 2018-08-28 (August 28, 2018)
STALLING. I HAVE A 2017 SUBARU WRX CVT. I WAS AT A RED LIGHT AND THE CAR IDLED HARD AND STALLED, AGAIN THIS IS A CVT NOT A MANUAL.
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11122881 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11407791 · 2021-04-12 (April 12, 2021)
I HAVE ISSUES WITH SURGING, AC SYSTEM, SUSPENSION, EXTREME TIRE WEAR, TIRES WEAR UNEVENLY, STEERING ASSIST, INABILITY TO ALIGN STEERING, WINDOWS ROLL DOWN FOR NO REASON AND WON'T ROLL BACK UP UNLESS YOU ROLL THEM ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THEN UP BUT THEY USUALLY JUST ROLL BACK DOWN HALF WAY AGAIN (IT'S A BATTLE!) WINDOWS SCRATCH JUST FROM DUST SO THEY LOOK HAZY AND WINDSHIELDS COST ALMOST $2000 WITH ALL SAFETY CAMERA JUNK. ONLY ONE AIRCON VENT BLOWS COLD AIR WHILE ALL OTHERS JUST BLOW AIR. THIS CAR WAS A LEMON BEFORE 2018 ENDED. SUBARU REFUSED TO A…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11407791 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11416644 · 2021-05-14 (May 14, 2021)
BATTERY DRAINED VERY QUICKLY. LEAVING CAR UNDRIVEN FOR 5 DAYS WOULD RESULT IN DEAD BATTERY. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP DEC 2019 AND THEY TESTED THE BATTERY, AND FOUND THAT BATTERY WAS BAD!AND REPLACED THE BATTERY.
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11416644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11205234 · 2019-05-02 (May 2, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU WRX. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED AND ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALSO, "EYESIGHT" NOT AVAILABLE WAS DISPLAYED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED HAND INJURIES, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE …
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11205234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11297868 · 2020-01-08 (January 8, 2020)
I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A STEERING RACK FAILURE DUE TO LEAKING SEALS ON THE GEAR ASSEMBLY ON MY CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2017 SUBARU STI. THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE BOTH IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY AND AT SLOW SPEEDS IN A PARKING LOT AND LOCAL STREETS. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SAFELY CONTROL AND CHANGE OF DIRECTION FOR THE VEHICLE. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AND THAT OF MANY OTHERS I KNOW IN THE SUBARU COMMUNITY THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE POINT ON THE LAST TWO GENERATIONS OF THESE CARS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW …
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11297868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11079919 · 2018-03-17 (March 17, 2018)
EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE. WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED EMERGENCY BRAKE BROKE AND VEHICLE ROLLED ONTO STREET CAUSING ACCIDENT. HAVE VIDEO OF INCIDENT AND CAN HEAR BRAKE CABLE BREAKING.
Owner-reported narrative. 23,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 11079919 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11500574 · 2023-01-07 (January 7, 2023)
I have a 2017 Subaru WRX that stalls while driving (including at highway speeds) 2 to 3 times every day on my commute to work through the mountains. This has led the vehicle to skid sideways and lose control. When I looked into this problem, I found that Subaru has a recall on its fuel pumps for 2018 to 2020 Subaru WRX vehicles but somehow my VIN does not appear to be considered AN affected vehicle. This issue is life-threatening, and I believe the model years eligible for recall, must not have captured one year earlier model with presumably th…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11500574 at NHTSA ↗