Subaru WRX steering problems
29 complaint narratives mention steering 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.
Steering behavior evidence
29 of 974 complaints match this topic (3.0%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10058994 · 2004-02-25 (February 25, 2004)
THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS (DATE IS THE FIRST INCIDENT I RECALL). ON SURFACES THAT ARE WET, SNOWY OR ICY, I CANNOT BRAKE INTO A TURN. THE CAR DOES NOT TURN OR STOP, BUT MERELY SLIDES IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND EVENTUALLY STOPS AFTER IT GOES 3 FEET OR MORE, DEPENDING ON MY SPEED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THE TURN. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS, EVEN WHEN I AM GOING VERY SLOWLY (LESS THAN 5 MPH, FOR EXAMPLE, AS TO MAKE A 90-DEGREE TURN INTO A PARKING LOT). IN ORDER TO TAKE TWO TURNS ON MY DAILY COMMUTE, I MUST COME TO A COMPL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10282906 · 2009-09-04 (September 4, 2009)
2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX FUEL LEAKS AT TEMPERATURES UNDER ABOUT 20 DEGREES F FROM RUBBER HOSE CLAMPS TO STEEL PIPES UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD. PROBLEM MATCHES DESCRIPTION OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 09-36-03 AND SHOWN IN EXISTING REPORT EA09011. TRIED TO TIGHTEN CLAMPS BY REMOVING POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. PLANNING TO CONDUCT REPAIR WORK PER SUBARU TECH BULLETIN 09-36-03 BEFORE WINTER. CAR HAS ABOUT 75K MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10282906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10435011 · 2011-11-09 (November 9, 2011)
DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON I-55 FOR MORNING COMMUTE IN THE LEFTMOST LANE WHEN WITH NO DISCERNIBLE CAUSE THE CAR BEGAN TO DRIFT BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE CENTER LANE AND LEFT LANE. THE CAR MINIMALLY RESPONDED TO ANY STEERING INPUTS. I HAD TO CRANK THE WHEEL ALMOST A TURN AND A HALF TO GET MY CAR OVER TO THE SHOULDER. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO CARS NEAR ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED SO I DID NOT STRIKE ANY VEHICLES. I GOT THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP AND THE SERVICE PERSON QUICKLY GLANCED AROUND UNDERNEATH IT AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE CONTROL ARM HAD…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10435011 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 ↗