2014 Subaru WRX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2014 Subaru WRX has 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: in *extremely* cold weather - below of - the vehicle will start successfully however the stability/traction control, anti-lock brakes, and "hill-assist" (part of the abs system) trouble indicator lights will light and stay lit. based on the instruction manual if this occurs, i should cycle the i.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

3 complaints

33%

• IN *EXTREMELY* COLD WEATHER - BELOW OF - THE VEHICLE WILL START SUCCESSFULLY HOWEVER THE STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, AND "HILL-ASSIST" (PART OF THE ABS SYSTEM) TROUBLE INDICATOR LIGHTS WILL LIGHT AND STAY LIT. BASED ON THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL IF THIS OCCURS, I SHOULD CYCLE THE I
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU WRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE EXACT REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CON
• WHILE DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH OR BRAKE PEDAL IN THE VEHICLE I SEE EXCESSIVE FLEX AT THE FIREWALL AND NOTICEABLE MOVEMENT OF BREAK AND CLUTCH CYLINDERS. MY SPOT WELDS DO NOT APPEAR BROKEN AT THIS TIME HOWEVER THEY ARE LIKELY TO FATIGUE AND BREAK. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR DEFECT WHICH IS A SAFETY CONC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“IN *EXTREMELY* COLD WEATHER - BELOW OF - THE VEHICLE WILL START SUCCESSFULLY HOWEVER THE STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, AND "HILL-ASSIST" (PART OF THE ABS SYSTEM) TROUBLE INDICATOR LIGHTS WILL LIGHT AND STAY LIT. BASED ON THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL IF THIS OCCURS, I SHOULD CYCLE THE I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

2 complaints

22%

• ENGINE EXPERIENCED ROD BEARING FAILURE ON TWO ROD BEARINGS. WAS TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY WHEN ENGINE DIED. COASTED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED. WHEN TRYING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WAS HARD TO TURN OVER, AND KNOCKED WHILE RUNNING AFTER IT STARTED.
• AT APPROXIMATELY 34,000 MILES WHILE IN A DRIVING TO WORK I STARTED HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE BY THE TIME I MADE THE 5 MILE JOURNEY TO WORK THE KNOCKING HAD GOTTEN SO BAD, THAT I HAD TO HAVE IT TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE OIL WAS JUST CHANGED AT THE DEALERSHIP TWO DAYS BEFORE AND WAS STILL FULL. TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ENGINE EXPERIENCED ROD BEARING FAILURE ON TWO ROD BEARINGS. WAS TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY WHEN ENGINE DIED. COASTED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED. WHEN TRYING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WAS HARD TO TURN OVER, AND KNOCKED WHILE RUNNING AFTER IT STARTED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

1 complaints

11%

• IN *EXTREMELY* COLD WEATHER - BELOW OF - THE VEHICLE WILL START SUCCESSFULLY HOWEVER THE STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, AND "HILL-ASSIST" (PART OF THE ABS SYSTEM) TROUBLE INDICATOR LIGHTS WILL LIGHT AND STAY LIT. BASED ON THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL IF THIS OCCURS, I SHOULD CYCLE THE I

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

1 complaints

11%

• IN *EXTREMELY* COLD WEATHER - BELOW OF - THE VEHICLE WILL START SUCCESSFULLY HOWEVER THE STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, AND "HILL-ASSIST" (PART OF THE ABS SYSTEM) TROUBLE INDICATOR LIGHTS WILL LIGHT AND STAY LIT. BASED ON THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL IF THIS OCCURS, I SHOULD CYCLE THE I

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

1 complaints

11%

• WHILE DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH OR BRAKE PEDAL IN THE VEHICLE I SEE EXCESSIVE FLEX AT THE FIREWALL AND NOTICEABLE MOVEMENT OF BREAK AND CLUTCH CYLINDERS. MY SPOT WELDS DO NOT APPEAR BROKEN AT THIS TIME HOWEVER THEY ARE LIKELY TO FATIGUE AND BREAK. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR DEFECT WHICH IS A SAFETY CONC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHILE DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH OR BRAKE PEDAL IN THE VEHICLE I SEE EXCESSIVE FLEX AT THE FIREWALL AND NOTICEABLE MOVEMENT OF BREAK AND CLUTCH CYLINDERS. MY SPOT WELDS DO NOT APPEAR BROKEN AT THIS TIME HOWEVER THEY ARE LIKELY TO FATIGUE AND BREAK. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR DEFECT WHICH IS A SAFETY CONC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 9 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: IN *EXTREMELY* COLD WEATHER - BELOW OF - THE VEHICLE WILL START SUCCESSFULLY HOWEVER THE STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, AND "HILL-ASSIST" (PART OF THE ABS SYSTEM) TROUBLE INDICATOR LIGHTS WILL LIGHT AND STAY LIT. BASED ON THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL IF THIS OCCURS, I SHOULD CYCLE THE I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: ENGINE EXPERIENCED ROD BEARING FAILURE ON TWO ROD BEARINGS. WAS TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY WHEN ENGINE DIED. COASTED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED. WHEN TRYING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WAS HARD TO TURN OVER, AND KNOCKED WHILE RUNNING AFTER IT STARTED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: IN *EXTREMELY* COLD WEATHER - BELOW OF - THE VEHICLE WILL START SUCCESSFULLY HOWEVER THE STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, AND "HILL-ASSIST" (PART OF THE ABS SYSTEM) TROUBLE INDICATOR LIGHTS WILL LIGHT AND STAY LIT. BASED ON THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL IF THIS OCCURS, I SHOULD CYCLE THE I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS: IN *EXTREMELY* COLD WEATHER - BELOW OF - THE VEHICLE WILL START SUCCESSFULLY HOWEVER THE STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, AND "HILL-ASSIST" (PART OF THE ABS SYSTEM) TROUBLE INDICATOR LIGHTS WILL LIGHT AND STAY LIT. BASED ON THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL IF THIS OCCURS, I SHOULD CYCLE THE I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)