2018 Subaru WRX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
42 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
14,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 42 complaints (26.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 14.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 11.9% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 11.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 9.5% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 11 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Steering | 7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
Engine: 11; Electrical System: 10; Unknown Or Other: 8; Steering: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Power Train: 6; Visibility/Wiper: 4; Air Bags: 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 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 21 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2017: 1; 2018: 4; 2019: 6; 2020: 6; 2021: 4; 2022: 4; 2023: 2; 2024: 8; 2025: 4; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 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 11033086 · 2017-10-12 (October 12, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2018 SUBARU WRX. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 25 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL REMAINED IN A TURNED POSITION AFTER THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO STRAIGHTEN THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED A BROKEN NOSE AND A SWOLLEN EYE. THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TRANSFERRED TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,055 miles reported. Look up ODI 11033086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11097999 · 2018-05-25 (May 25, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU WRX. WHILE DRIVING AND AFTER SHIFTING THE GEAR, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB AND CRASHED INTO SOME BUSHES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUBARU OF SANTA FE (7511B CERRILLOS RD, SANTA FE, NM 87507), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11097999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11104249 · 2018-06-27 (June 27, 2018)
THIS ISSUE OCCURS ON ACCELERATION , MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN MERGING ONTO FREEWAY FROM ON RAMP 1/2 THROTTLE , THE VEHICLE STARTS TO ACCELERATE NORMAL THEN HITS AROUND 4200 RPM AND THE BOOST GAUGE GOES NUTS FLUCTUATING UP AND DOWN AND THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER , HESITATES , SURGES ( LIKE A FLAT SPOT ) THEN FINALLY GETS A LITTLE HIGHER IN RPM AND IT WILL PICK UP AGAIN THROUGH THE REST OF RPM GAUGE , MOST NOTICEABLE IN LOWER GEARS ( MINES A 6 SPEED MANUAL , I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO DEALER ON 5/30/18 WITH 1380 MILES ON THE ODOMETER , HUFFINES SUBARU DENT…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 11104249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11142978 · 2018-10-26 (October 26, 2018)
THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WAS SLAMMED ON MY 2018 SUBARU WRX. THIS CAUSED ALL OF THE SIDE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY- INCLUDING THE AIRBAG IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITH THE ENGINE ON. THERE WAS NO IMPACT ASIDE FROM THE DOOR BEING SLAMMED FROM THE OUTSIDE. THIS OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,920 miles reported. Look up ODI 11142978 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11154864 · 2018-11-29 (November 29, 2018)
VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS 7387 MILES. WHILE DRIVING SEVERAL CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INCLUDING TRACTION CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ABS, HILL DECENT ASSIST, CRUISE CONTROL ICON FLASHING. VEHICLE POWER WAS DRAMATICALLY REDUCED. MADE APPOINTMENT NEXT DAY WITH SUBARU DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED CODE P0016 SHOWED UP ON THE DIAGNOSIS. IT INDICATED CRANKSHAFT POSITION CAMSHAFT POSITION CORRELATION BANK 1 SENSOR A. VEHICLE WAS AT DEALERSHIP FOR CLOSE TO TWO WEEKS. NUMEROUS PARTS WERE REPLACED INCLUDING OIL VALVE ASSEMBLY, CAMSHAFT SPROCKET ASSEMBLY, …
Owner-reported narrative. 7,224 miles reported. Look up ODI 11154864 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11170277 · 2019-01-16 (January 16, 2019)
THE WHEELS LOCKED WHILE DRIVING ON A CLEAR DECEMBER DAY (I DON'T HAVE EXACT DAY) ON A WINDING MOUNTAIN ROAD FULL OF CLIFFS. 38 MPH AND FEET FROM GOING OFF A CLIFF SUBARU SAY ELECTRONIC MODULE FAILED THEN IN ANOTHER STATEMENT FROM HAK AT SUBARU AMERICA THEY SAY THE TWO OCCURRENCES NOT RELATED EVEN THOUGH THEY HAPPENED SIMULTANEOUSLY. WE TOOK THE CAR IN BECAUSE OF THE WHEEL LOCKING UP WHILE MOVING AND THEY DISCOVERED THE ELECTRONIC FAILURE. THEY MAINTAIN THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE "BECAUSE THEY CAN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEM". SUBARU FAIRFIELD HAS P…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11170277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11203037 · 2019-04-23 (April 23, 2019)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ADVISING CYLINDER MISFIRE ADVISING RINGLAND OISTON FAILURE SPARKNPLUG DESTROYED
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11203037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11203653 · 2019-04-25 (April 25, 2019)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. TOOK TO DEALER UNDER WARRANTY AND DENIED CLAIM.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11203653 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
21V587000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2021-07-29 (July 29, 2021)
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V522000 · Exterior Lighting:Back Up Lights:Switch
Reported: 2022-07-21 (July 21, 2022)
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2021 WRX vehicles. The backup light switch may corrode and become inoperative, which can result in the backup lights not illuminating and the rearview camera image not displaying when the vehicle is in reverse.
Consequence: Inoperative backup lights and an inoperative rearview camera can reduce vehicle visibility and driver awareness, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the backup light switch, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-22.
NHTSA campaign record ↗