Subaru WRX engine problems
31 complaint narratives mention engine terms.
Key facts
974 owner complaints analyzed
23 distinct recall campaigns
45,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 to 2025 model years. Data snapshot: . 692 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Engine operation evidence
31 of 974 complaints match this topic (3.2%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
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 ↗
Owner report 10609441 · 2014-07-09 (July 9, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE HAD A LOSS OF POWER AS THE SPEED REDUCED TO 30 MPH INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH AND THE FLY WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10609441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10853049 · 2016-04-02 (April 2, 2016)
BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT CLUTCH FAILED AFTER 500 MILES. REPLACED AT NO COST, BUT DEALER ACCUSED 76-YEAR-OLD DRIVER OF BURNING RUBBER. SECOND CLUTCH GOOD, BUT STILL ENGAGES VERY HIGH AND QUICK. FREQUENT STALLS RESULT.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10853049 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11144668 · 2018-11-01 (November 1, 2018)
CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING (AKA THROW OUT BEARING) IN THE VEHICLE PREMATURELY WEARS OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. MY WRX MADE SQUEAKY NOISE IN THE COLD MORNING, BUT DISAPPEARS IN AFTERNOON. IT JUST COMES AND GOES, SO I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST NOISE AT FIRST. FEW DAYS LATER, I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AND AS SOON AS I STEPPED ON MY CLUTCH, I FELT SOME GRINDING NOISE, AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM MY FRONT HOOD. MY CLUTCH WAS NOT ENGAGING ANYMORE AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO CRUISE AND PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11144668 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10747992 · 2015-08-11 (August 11, 2015)
2015 WRX 2.0L MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN EVERYDAY SITUATIONS I HAVE HAD (3) DISTINCT PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENGINE/THROTTLE/IDLE. 1) GHOST BLIP: WHEN COMING TO A STOP, AROUND 5-15 MPH, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL COAST TO A STOP IDLE WILL INEXPLICABLY SPIKE FROM ~700RPM (IDLE) --> ~1.2-1.5K RPM (FOR A SECOND OR TWO...LIKE A GHOST BLIPPED THE THROTTLE). NO PRESSURE APPLIED TO ACCELERATOR. 2) ROUGH IDLE: WHILE SITTING AT A STOP, IN NEUTRAL, ~700RPM (IDLE) --> WILL DIP TO ~650-600RPM FOR A FRACTION OF SECOND & REOCCUR EVERY 2-…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10747992 at NHTSA ↗