2003 Subaru WRX: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10022688 · 2003-06-09 (June 9, 2003)
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022688 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 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 10030250 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
2003 SUBARU WRX SEDAN - WHEN STOPPING ON SLIGHTLY BUMPY SURFACES THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM BECOMES INEFFECTIVE. THE DRIVER MUST LET OFF THE BRAKES AND REAPPLY IN ORDER TO GET ANY EFFECTIVE BRAKING. THIS IS DANGEROUS. I CAN REPEAT IT AT KNOWN PLACES ON MY DRIVE TO WORK EVERYDAY. I COMPENSATE. IF I HAD KNOWN I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR. THIS NEEDS TO BE "FIXED."*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030250 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031003 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)
WINSHIELD CHIPPED DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 2,170 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033096 · 2003-08-19 (August 19, 2003)
COMING AROUND CORNER ON A HILL DRIVER WAS IN MIDDLE OF ROAD AVOIDING POTHOLE I SWERVED AND BRAKED THEN SWERVED BACK. WHEN I SWERVED BACK MY BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR AND I PROCEDED TO DRIVE ONTO SOMEONES FRONT LAWN. THE ABS SHOULDNT HAVE DONE THAT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,554 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033096 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033514 · 2003-08-26 (August 26, 2003)
ABS FAILED. DRIVING ON ROAD, GOT CUT OFF, STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL. PEDAL DROPPED TO FLOOR, CALIPERS SEEMED TO RELEASE AFTER A SECOND CAUSING NO LOSS IN SPEED. REAR ENDED DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME. STOPPING DISTANCE MORE THAN DOUBLED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033514 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
09V468000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2009-12-04 (December 4, 2009)
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 IMPREZA WRX VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF SOUTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, MINNESOTA, IDAHO, IOWA, MONTANA, COLORADO, WISCONSIN, NEW YORK, WYOMING, MICHIGAN, ALASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, AND MAINE. DURING COLD STARTS, TYPICALLY UNDER EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES, FUEL LEAKS IN THE FUEL DELIVERY LINE COULD OCCUR WHERE THE LINE CONNECTS WITH A RUBBER HOSE.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKS, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL LINE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
NHTSA campaign record ↗