NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2008–2019

Subaru WRX STI recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 19 owner complaints for the Subaru WRX STI, covering model years 2008 to 2019. The 2008, 2015 and 2016 model years drew the most complaints (3 each), and Engine is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Subaru WRX STI VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

2 recall campaigns on file
19 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
11 model years with data (2008–2019)

most complaints: 2008, 2015, 2016 (3 for that model year)
top component: Engine (5 complaints)
latest recall 14V830000 (reported Dec 31, 2014)

1 complaint reporting a crash (5.3%)
0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
1 complaint reporting an injury (5.3%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Subaru WRX STI complaints by model year

10 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2008, 2015 and 2016 model years share the highest count, 3 complaints each. Next come 2009 (2) and 2013 (2). The fewest are for 2019, with 1 complaint.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

Subaru WRX STI complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

Subaru WRX STI complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting an injury
2008	3	0	0
2009	2	0	0
2010	1	0	0
2011	1	0	0
2012	1	0	0
2013	2	0	0
2015	3	0	0
2016	3	0	0
2018	2	1	1
2019	1	0	0
All model years	19	1	1

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Subaru WRX STI components

top 13 · NHTSA categories

Engine is the component named most often, in 5 complaints (26.3% of all 19), followed by Structure (3) and Electrical System (2). Another 5 complaints are filed under NHTSA’s “Unknown or Other” category.

Components named most often in Subaru WRX STI complaints (top 13)

Components named most often in Subaru WRX STI complaints (top 13)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Engine	5	26.3%
Unknown or Other	5	26.3%
Structure	3	15.8%
Electrical System	2	10.5%
Exterior Lighting	2	10.5%
Power Train	2	10.5%
Service Brakes	2	10.5%
Air Bags	1	5.3%
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)	1	5.3%
Fuel System, Gasoline	1	5.3%
Fuel/Propulsion System	1	5.3%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	1	5.3%
Wheels	1	5.3%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Subaru WRX STI recalls

2 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name WRX STI, newest first. The 2 campaigns cover model years 2008 to 2014. 7 model years tie for the most campaigns (2 each).

2 recall campaigns

Subaru WRX STI recall campaigns covering each model year
Decade	Years ending in 0	Years ending in 1	Years ending in 2	Years ending in 3	Years ending in 4	Years ending in 5	Years ending in 6	Years ending in 7	Years ending in 8	Years ending in 9
2000s									2008: 2 campaigns	2009: 2 campaigns
2010s	2010: 2 campaigns	2011: 2 campaigns	2012: 2 campaigns	2013: 2 campaigns	2014: 2 campaigns

NHTSA campaign 14V830000
Reported Dec 31, 2014
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Model years 2008–2014
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Impreza, 2008-2014 WRX and STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia that were remedied under recall 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014. The brake lines may experience brake line corrosion due to salt water splashing on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector.
Consequence:
Brake fluid may leak due to the brake line corrosion and may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will apply an anti-corrosion wax to the four-way joint connector area of the brake line system, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQQ-52. Notes: This recall is specific to affected Forester, Impreza, WRX, and STI customers who had their car remedied under NHTSA recall no. 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014. Subaru has determined that this remedy was inadequate due to incomplete repair instructions provided to dealers. Affected Forester, Impreza, WRX, and STI vehicles that were not repaired under NHTSA recall no. 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014 will continue to be processed under NHTSA recall no. 14V-311. Affected vehicles not currently, or formerly, registered in the salt belt states identified in this recall are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.
Filed by Subaru of America, Inc.
NHTSA campaign 14V311000
Reported Jun 10, 2014
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Model years 2008–2014
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. Note that affected vehicles not currently, or formerly registered, in the salt belt states identified above are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.
Consequence:
Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will test the brake system by depressing the brake pedal and inspecting for brake fluid leaks. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected areas will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be replaced followed by rustproofing with anti-corrosion wax. These services will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 2014 and second notifications will run through November 2014. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQK-47. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V-110 which applied to certain 2005-2009 Legacy/Outback vehicles. Vehicles that were remedied under the previous campaign still need additional areas rust-proofed.
Filed by Subaru of America, Inc.

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Subaru WRX STI questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Subaru WRX STI have?

NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recall campaigns for the Subaru WRX STI, covering model years 2008 to 2019. The most recent, 14V830000, was reported on December 31, 2014 and is filed under “Service brakes, hydraulic”.

Which Subaru WRX STI model year has the most complaints?

The 2008, 2015 and 2016 model years tie, with 3 complaints each out of 19. The next are 2009 (2) and 2013 (2). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Subaru WRX STI complaint?

Engine is the component named most often: 5 complaints, or 26.3% of all 19. Structure (3) and Electrical System (2) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Subaru WRX STI?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Subaru dealer.

How many Subaru WRX STI complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 19 complaints, 1 report a crash, 0 a fire, 1 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The Subaru models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Subaru VIN decoder with every Subaru model page, WMI code and VIN note.

Subaru Outback 1995–2026 · 71 recalls · 9,746 complaints
Subaru Forester 1998–2026 · 43 recalls · 6,483 complaints
Subaru Legacy 1995–2025 · 76 recalls · 2,827 complaints
Subaru Impreza 1995–2026 · 52 recalls · 2,607 complaints
Subaru Crosstrek 2012–2026 · 13 recalls · 1,182 complaints
Subaru Ascent 2019–2026 · 13 recalls · 1,031 complaints
Subaru WRX 2002–2025 · 23 recalls · 974 complaints
Subaru XV CrossTrek 2013–2017 · 3 recalls · 262 complaints

All Subaru models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.