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NHTSA Federal Consumer Defect Registry

2021 Subaru WRX Owner Complaints (13)

Analysis of 13 verified consumer complaints submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Filtered and clustered by vehicle subsystem to identify genuine recurring mechanical and electrical flaws.

Total Complaints
13
Defect Clusters
5 Categories
Avg Failure Range
24k mi
Est. Repair Cost
$950 – $3,200
Defects & ProblemsSafety Recalls1Owner Complaints13
Switch WRX Model Year Complaints
20252 reports202413 reports20237 reports202225 reports202113 reports202017 reports201930 reports201842 reports201753 reports201634 reports201552 reports20146 reports
NHTSA Defect Subsystem Breakdown

2021 WRX Failure Distribution by Vehicle Subsystem

100% Normalized Telemetry
38%26%16%12%
Engine & Powertrain:38%
Electrical & Sensors:26%
Steering & Suspension:16%
Brakes & ABS Hydraulics:12%
Airbags & Body Structure:8%
Clustered Telemetry

Top Defect Complaint Groups (5)

Ranked by NHTSA Frequency
ENGINE & COOLING7 Verified Complaints

Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports

Medium Severity

Reported Symptoms: Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving, Abnormal oil burning / consumption, Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing, Engine overheating / coolant loss

Median Failure Mileage24,255 milesIQR: 17,383 – 31,128 mi
Estimated Repair Cost$950 – $3,200 (Source: MazicBay Repair Intelligence Model)
Associated Fault Codes
TRANSMISSION & DRIVETRAIN6 Verified Complaints

Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports

Medium Severity

Reported Symptoms: Hard gear shifts / delayed engagement into Drive/Reverse, Transmission shudder / jerking under acceleration, Transmission slipping between gears

Median Failure Mileage24,255 milesIQR: 17,383 – 31,128 mi
Estimated Repair Cost$1,400 – $3,800 (Source: MazicBay Repair Intelligence Model)
Associated Fault Codes
STEERING & SUSPENSION5 Verified Complaints

Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports

Medium Severity

Reported Symptoms: Sudden loss of electric power steering assist, Steering wheel pull or highway wander, Clunking / knocking noise over bumps

Median Failure Mileage47,000 milesIQR: 47,000 – 47,000 mi
Estimated Repair Cost$450 – $1,400 (Source: MazicBay Repair Intelligence Model)
Associated Fault Codes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM & BATTERY2 Verified Complaints

Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports

Low Severity

Reported Symptoms: Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight, Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts, Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings

Median Failure Mileage55,000 milesIQR: 35,000 – 75,000 mi
Estimated Repair Cost$280 – $850 (Source: MazicBay Repair Intelligence Model)
Associated Fault Codes
BRAKING SYSTEM & ABS1 Verified Complaints

Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports

Low Severity

Reported Symptoms: Spongy or hard brake pedal travel, ABS / Brake warning light illuminated, Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration

Median Failure Mileage47,000 milesIQR: 47,000 – 47,000 mi
Estimated Repair Cost$350 – $1,100 (Source: MazicBay Repair Intelligence Model)
Associated Fault Codes
Full Reliability Report2021 WRX Common ProblemsFederal Safety Recalls2021 WRX Recalls (1)All Generation YearsWRX Multi-Year Hub