Summary
The Subaru Impreza WRX has 8 recalls spanning 2002 through 2022, with the most serious being a Takata airbag inflator defect on 2004, 2009, and 2010 model years where heat and humidity degrade the propellant, causing the inflator to rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin during a crash.
Three of these eight recalls involve the passenger frontal airbag inflator. On 2004 models, excessive internal pressure during deployment can rupture the inflator and either project fragments toward occupants or prevent the airbag from deploying at all. On 2009 and 2010 models, the same long-term humidity and temperature exposure degrades the propellant, causing the bag to deploy with more force than intended and carrying the same rupture risk. On the 2015 model year, a separate electrical concern involves the factory-installed subwoofer in the trunk, where luggage can shift the wiring out of position, and a corroding backup lamp switch can leave the reverse lights dark, suppress the gear position display, and blank the rearview camera image when reversing. The 2008 model year has a brake lamp switch that can fail and leave brake lights dark, which also interferes with anti-lock brakes, stability control, and the EyeSight driver assistance system, and can prevent shifting out of park on some configurations. Going back to 2002, the earliest model year in the production run had a fuel line connection between the metal line and rubber hose that could seep fuel during cold-weather starts, raising the risk of a fire. The 2022 model year has a documentation issue where the owner's manual contains incorrect instructions for adjusting the sensitivity of the automatic high-beam assist, which can cause driver confusion about headlight behavior at night.
