Summary
The Subaru WRX has 7 recalls spanning 2005 through 2023, with the most serious being a front axle shaft defect on 2023 models where the shaft can break, cutting drive power to the wheels and, if the vehicle is parked without the parking brake applied, allowing it to roll away.
The 2022 model year has a documentation issue affecting vehicles equipped with the EyeSight driver assistance package: the owner's manual contains incorrect instructions for adjusting the high beam assist sensitivity, which can result in the headlights not being set as intended. On 2015-2021 models, the backup light switch can corrode and stop working, leaving the reverse lights dark and blanking the rearview camera image when backing up. The 2015-2016 model years have two separate issues: a turbocharger air intake duct that can crack and stall the engine, and on 2015 models equipped with an optional factory-installed subwoofer, cargo shifting in the trunk can pinch the subwoofer wiring against the metal frame, causing an electrical short that can overheat the amplifier and start a fire.
Going back to the 2008-2014 era, brake lines on these vehicles can corrode and leak fluid, extending stopping distances. Across the broader 2005-2014 span, vehicles with a replacement mechanical key ignition switch contain a ball spring inside the switch that can break and weaken the mechanism, causing the engine to shut off unexpectedly while driving; if a crash occurs under those conditions, the airbags may not deploy.
