2018 Subaru WRX
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Decode a VIN2 recalls and 42 owner complaints on record for this model year.
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TL* THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2018 SUBARU WRX. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 25 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL REMAINED IN A TURNED POSITION AFTER THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO STRAIGHTEN THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED A BROKEN NOSE AND A SWOLLEN EYE. THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TRANSFERRED TO BRUNSWICK SUBARU (2992 CENTER RD, BRUNSWICK, OH 44212) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PLANNED TO INVESTIGATE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,055.
THE WHEELS LOCKED WHILE DRIVING ON A CLEAR DECEMBER DAY (I DON'T HAVE EXACT DAY) ON A WINDING MOUNTAIN ROAD FULL OF CLIFFS. 38 MPH AND FEET FROM GOING OFF A CLIFF SUBARU SAY ELECTRONIC MODULE FAILED THEN IN ANOTHER STATEMENT FROM HAK AT SUBARU AMERICA THEY SAY THE TWO OCCURRENCES NOT RELATED EVEN THOUGH THEY HAPPENED SIMULTANEOUSLY. WE TOOK THE CAR IN BECAUSE OF THE WHEEL LOCKING UP WHILE MOVING AND THEY DISCOVERED THE ELECTRONIC FAILURE. THEY MAINTAIN THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE "BECAUSE THEY CAN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEM". SUBARU FAIRFIELD HAS PROMISED US HELP BUT HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT ISSUE THREATS WHEN NO ONE FROM SUBARU AMERICA EVEN CALLS US! THE CARS HAVE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NO ONE WANTS TO DRIVE IT INCLUDING THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN. THEY DROVE IT 20 MILES WHEN THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE TESTING IT. WE HAVE DATE/TIME STAMPED PHOTOS! WE WERE TOLD THIS IS A "RARE" SAFETY FAILURE YET THEY TREAT US LIKE NORMAL AND LIE ABOUT EVEN TEST DRIVING IT. THIS IS SO UNSAFE THAT A CAR WHEEL STOPS MOVING LIKE THE ENGINE IS OFF YET THE CAR IS RUNNINGT!!! SHE DECIDED TRY AND JERK THE WHEEL SUPER HARD AND FORTUNATELY IT FINALLY MOVED AND SHE DID NOT GO OVER THE CLIFF AND FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC COMING IN THE OPPOSING LANE AS SHE CROSSED THE YELLOW LINES ETC. SHE HAD A SORE BACK FOR MANY DAYS FROM THE FORCE OF JERKING THE WHEEL AND WAS LEFT SHAKEN AND DISTURBED WITH NO WHERE TO PULL OVER. SUBARU AMERICA REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER REQUESTED THE DETAILS AND WAS SUPPOSED TO CONTACT US BUT NO ONE HAS. WE NAIVELY BELOVED THE DEALER THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO HELP US INSTEAD TODAY I GET AN EMAIL SAYING THE WILL NOW CHARGE US STORAGE OF $175 X DAY IF WE DON'T COLLECT THE CAR. I SENT THEM NOTIFICATION THAT WE ARE SURRENDERING THE LEASE AS WE WILL NEVER GET IN THIS CAR AGAIN. DONT BUY A WRX!!!!!
DEFECTIVE THROW-OUT BEARING AND FORK IN THE SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY BURNING THE CLUTCH IN 3 MONTHS TO 3000 MILES AFTER REPAIR WITH REPLACEMENT PART. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE IN A BRAND NEW VEHICLE AFTER REPAIR AT DEALERSHIP. PURCHASED 2018 WRX WITH 13,000 MILES ON FEBRUARY 17, 2020 AND IT IS NOW JULY 2020 SINCE THEN, ON MY THIRD THROW OUT BEARING REPLACEMENT. I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, LET THE CLUTCH OUT ALL THE WAY OUT, PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR REVS UP AND SLIPS AND DOESNT MOVE IN MOVING TRAFFIC! IT COMPLETELY STOPS IN THE ROAD, I PHYSICALLY HAD TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD AND HAVE A TOW TRUCK TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP! THROW-OUT BEARING FORK BURNT OUT SMOKES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. A COMMON DEFECTIVE ISSUE ON THIS MODEL 2018 SUBARU WRX THE DEALERS KNOW THIS AND THROW OUT BEARING IN TRANSMISSION IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY MULTIPLE DUPLICATE SUBARU SERVICES PERFORMED WITH SAME DEFECTIVE THROW OUT BEARING THE MANUFACTURER HAS CREATED A NEW RELEASE OF BEARINGS AND INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN THE 2018 LEGACY, OUTBACK, IMPREZA, CROSSTREK AND FORESTER. BUT NOT THE WRX! FACT CHECK HTTPS://STATIC.OEMDTC.COM/TSB/MC-10150949-9999.PDF THROW OUT BEARING FORK IS RUSTED FROM MAJOR HEAT FRICTION AND CORRODED BURNT BLACK AND ORANGE RUST PARTICLES ON THE 3 MONTH OLD TRANSMISSION INTERIOR IN 3000 MILES OF DRIVING A BRAND NEW VEHICLE AND CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL ARE COMPLETELY BURNT TO HELL. THE THROW OUT BEARING MAKES A LOUD CHIRPING NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION WITHIN THE BELLHOUSING OF THE TRANSMISSION EVERY DAY. THOUSANDS OF WRX OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THROW-OUT BEARING ISSUE AND THE DEALER IS CHARGING CUSTOMERS FOR THESE REPAIRS OF THEIR FACTORY DEFECTIVE SLIPPING TRANSMISSION IN THE 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IT IS A RIP OFF AND LEMON
IN JANUARY 2019 AT AROUND 10PM PST MY 2018 SUBARU WRX EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION. AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIENT I WAS IN A SECLUDED, WOODED AREA WITHOUT CELLPHONE SERVICE, AS WELL AS BEING AT LEAST 30MINUTES TO THE NEAREST STORE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL AT 35MPH, IT WAS RAINY AND DIFFICULT TO SEE. AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS HILL WAS A SHARP TURN, AT THIS TIME THE SAFETY SYSTEM ACTIVED TAKING OVER ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE STEERING TO LOCK UP, PULLING TO THE FAR LEFT, TOWARDS A 15-20FOOT DROP INTO A LAKE. THE APPROACHING TURN I WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE WAS A SHARP RIGHT. STILL UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT INTO THE FAST APPROACHING LAKE. SHORTLY BEFORE THE ENDGE OF THE ROAD I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT. AGAIN STEERING LOCKED UP, NOW FORCING ME FAR RIGHT. AT THE RIGHT WAS DENSE TREES, BUSHES, AND SHRUBS. NARROWLY ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL BEFORE GOING HEAD-ON INTO A TREE, I FORCED THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE LEFT. I ENDED UP STRIKING SOME BUSHES AND A TREE STUMP. CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR, SCRATCHES TO BOTH PASSENGER DOORS, AND A DEEP DENT ON THE LOWER REAR DOOR AND QUARTER PANNEL. THIS IS WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE COLLIDED WITH A TREE STUMP, TAKING THE 35MPH BRUNT IMPACT THAT STOPPED THE CAR INSTANTLY. THE TIRE WAS SEPARATED FROM THE RIM BY A TREE BRANCH, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS BENT AND CRACKED, THE ENTIRE REAR DRIVE TRAIN WAS PUSH TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE ALIGNMENT OF THE DRIVER SIDE LEFT TIRE TO BE PUSHED OUT AS WELL. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS 100% IMMOBILE AT THIS POINT AS THE REAR TIRE WOULDN'T MOVE. AFTER SPENDING AN HOUR I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE OLD TIRED AND PUT ON THE DOUGHT. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT CASUED THIS MANY TIMES AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I AM SCARED OF THIS CAR AND WILL NEVER OWN A SUBARU AGAIN.
IN JANUARY 2019 AROUND 10PM PST MY 2018 SUBARU WRX EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION. AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIENT I WAS IN A SUCLUDED, WOODED AREA WITHOUT CELLPHONE SERVICE, AS WELL AS BEING ATLEAST 30MINUTES TO THE NEAREST STORE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL AT 35MPH, IT WAS VERY RAINY AND DIFFICULT TO SEE. AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS HILL WAS A SHARP RIGHT TURN, AT THIS TIME THE SAFETY SYSTEM ACTIVED TAKING OVER ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED STEERING TO LOCK UP, TURNING TO THE FAR LEFT. AT THE RIGHT WAS A 15-20FOOT DROP INTO A LAKE. THE TURN I WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE WAS A SHARP RIGHT. STILL UNABLE REGAIN CONTROL AND WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE FAST APPROACHING LAKE. SHORTLY BEFORE DROPOFF I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE STERRING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. BUT STEERING AGAIN LOCKED UP AND FORCED ME TO THE FAR RIGHT. OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT WAS HEAVLY WOODED. NAROWLY ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF STERRING I CRASHED THROUGH BUSHES. CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE FOLLOWING; PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR, SCRATCHES TO WHOLE PASSENGER SIDE, DEEP DENT ON LOWER REAR DOOR AND QUARTER PANEL. REAR PASSENGER TIRE COLLIDED WITH A TREE STUMP WITH IMPACT AT 35MPH STOPPING THE CAR INSTANTLY. TIRE WAS SEPARATED FROM THE RIM BY A TREE BRANCH, LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS BENT AND CRACKED, ENTIRE REAR DRIVE AXLE WAS PUSH TO THE RIGHT CAUSEING ALIGNMENT OF THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE TO BE PUSHED OUT. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I HIT MY HEAD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THE CAR WAS 100% UNDRIVABLE TIRE WOULDN'T MOVE. TAKING DAMAGE TIRE OFF AND PUTTING ON DONUGT TOOK OVER AN HOUR, I COULDN'T GET THE DAMAGED TIRE OFF. A LOT MORE TO THIS AS WELL. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE MANY TIMES AND DEALERSHIP DID NOTHING. I AM SCARED OF THIS CAR AND WILL NEVER OWN A SUBARU AGAIN. I WANT THIS CAR GONE!!!! SOMETHING OF THIS NATURE HAPPENS EVERYDAY WITH MY CAR. JUST ONCE IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT
IN JANUARY 2019 AROUND 10PM PST MY 2018 SUBARU WRX EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION. AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIENT I WAS IN A SUCLUDED, WOODED AREA WITHOUT CELLPHONE SERVICE, AS WELL AS BEING ATLEAST 30MINUTES TO THE NEAREST STORE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL AT 35MPH, IT WAS VERY RAINY AND DIFFICULT TO SEE. AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS HILL WAS A SHARP RIGHT TURN, AT THIS TIME THE SAFETY SYSTEM ACTIVED TAKING OVER ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED STEERING TO LOCK UP, TURNING TO THE FAR LEFT. AT THE RIGHT WAS A 15-20FOOT DROP INTO A LAKE. THE TURN I WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE WAS A SHARP RIGHT. STILL UNABLE REGAIN CONTROL AND WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE FAST APPROACHING LAKE. SHORTLY BEFORE DROPOFF I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE STERRING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. BUT STEERING AGAIN LOCKED UP AND FORCED ME TO THE FAR RIGHT. OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT WAS HEAVLY WOODED. NAROWLY ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF STERRING I CRASHED THROUGH BUSHES. CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE FOLLOWING; PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR, SCRATCHES TO WHOLE PASSENGER SIDE, DEEP DENT ON LOWER REAR DOOR AND QUARTER PANEL. REAR PASSENGER TIRE COLLIDED WITH A TREE STUMP WITH IMPACT AT 35MPH STOPPING THE CAR INSTANTLY. TIRE WAS SEPARATED FROM THE RIM BY A TREE BRANCH, LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS BENT AND CRACKED, ENTIRE REAR DRIVE AXLE WAS PUSH TO THE RIGHT CAUSEING ALIGNMENT OF THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE TO BE PUSHED OUT. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I HIT MY HEAD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THE CAR WAS 100% UNDRIVABLE TIRE WOULDN'T MOVE. TAKING DAMAGE TIRE OFF AND PUTTING ON DONUGT TOOK OVER AN HOUR, I COULDN'T GET THE DAMAGED TIRE OFF. A LOT MORE TO THIS AS WELL. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE MANY TIMES AND DEALERSHIP DID NOTHING. I AM SCARED OF THIS CAR AND WILL NEVER OWN A SUBARU AGAIN. THIS IS ONE OF DOZENS OF ISSUES I HAVE WITH THIS CAR. ITS GETTING WORSE BUT THE DEALER WONT CARE UNTIL I GET HURT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU WRX. WHILE DRIVING AND AFTER SHIFTING THE GEAR, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB AND CRASHED INTO SOME BUSHES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUBARU OF SANTA FE (7511B CERRILLOS RD, SANTA FE, NM 87507), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Refused to change the rear catalyst due to a modification. I said I would return it back to the original factory tune and they said it was impossible and refused to do it. The tune physically wouldn’t stop them from changing the catalytic converter. They said that the ecu would let them. I can put the factory CID on the vehicle for the work to be done. The catalyst threshold is below efficiency and it’s their mistake. This is now going to cost me out of pocket which is not fair. Again this tune can be ininstalled back to factory so they can reflash the ecu like they need to. They refused to answer my questions and sent me away. Now on this website they must have reported it being fixed but it has not absolutely.
Subaru Orange Coast and Ocean Subaru of Fullerton refused to work on my recall due to my car has aftermarket parts not related to the recall. The dealership is very keen in extorting money to the naïve customers instead of fixing the safety issue with my car.
2/17/2026 Mileage 96,000 Subaru case number Case # 260217-2101937 Vehicle intermittently indicates reverse gear while driving forward at speed. Backup camera activates and reverse lights illuminate while in forward motion. This condition matches NHTSA Recall 22V-522000. The recall repair was previously performed but the safety defect persists. Manufacturer was contacted and declined further repair despite active safety condition.
Oil changes always done, no modifications to vehicle. Driving down road lights all come one and car starts smoking. Rod broke and put hole in engine.
Shortly after purchase (within 1 month), a strong raw gasoline vapor odor began entering the passenger cabin, strongest near the driver’s side rear seat and rear wheel well area. The odor intensifies at idle and after short periods of driving, filling the interior cabin with fuel fumes. The smell is so strong that it causes dizziness and headaches when operating the vehicle. This is not an isolated occurrence — Subaru’s own service technicians were able to replicate the issue and confirmed the smell, but reported that smoke and pressure testing showed “no leaks.” Despite replacing the evaporative canister, purge valve, and fuel check valve, the problem persists. The dealership has admitted they cannot determine the source of the vapors. Safety Concern: This condition presents a serious safety hazard because: •Fuel vapors are toxic and pose an immediate health risk to occupants breathing them inside a closed cabin. •Gasoline vapors are highly flammable, creating a potential fire/explosion risk if vapors accumulate near ignition sources. •Subaru has suggested the condition is “normal under certain circumstances” and advised me to alter my driving habits (avoid idling, use engine braking). This is not an acceptable or safe resolution. Attempts to Remedy: •Vehicle has been at the Subaru dealership for over two weeks. •Multiple components in the evaporative emission system were replaced (canister, check valve, purge vent). •Subaru engineers have been contacted but no permanent fix has been provided. •Dealership admitted another customer reported a similar issue in a newer model, but stated it was “normal.” Summary: This is not normal vehicle operation. A car cabin filling with raw fuel vapor represents a defect affecting safety. Subaru has failed to remedy the issue despite multiple repair attempts, and is minimizing it rather than acknowledging it as a defect.
When accelerating from a stop, the car is having trouble accelerating despite having the accelerator fully depressed. The engine sounds like it is roaring, but hardly any power is being produced. When the vehicle hits about 35-40mph, the engine surges and then full power is produced. It feels like potentially an issue with the turbo or the transmsission. This is creating a significant safety hazard as the vehicle is behaving unpredictable and could lead to an accident when having to accelerate into traffic or merge. The vehicle has already had 3 CVT transmission replacements under factory warranty. The vehicle currently has approximately 47,000 miles but is outside factory warranty now.
I have been experiencing a strong fuel odor both inside and outside the cabin when starting the engine. After several months of experiencing this issue, I recently had my vehicle fully inspected by an authorized Subaru dealership, and they confirmed a critical fuel leak issue. The dealership discovered that the high-pressure fuel pipe is leaking, as confirmed by a camera inspection of the engine bay. They have deemed the vehicle unsafe to drive and have strongly advised against further use due to the potential fire hazard. It is important to note that my vehicle has never been involved in an accident, and no prior mechanical work has been performed in the affected area, which suggests this may be a manufacturing defect.
Cluth was replaced at a little over 50,000 miles and throw out bearing failed within 200 miles of the break in period. Took it back to dealer and they found that the throw out bearing was faulty and they replaced it. A year later same sound that was heard after replacement came back (almost like a chirping sound), took the car in for them to examine the car and determine if the throw out bearing waa faulty again. Associate who helped indicated that if it was the throw out bearing it would be covered, once the mechanic checked the car they found a front valve leak, at first indicated that the throw out bearing was fine and then changed that. They also indicated that the entire clutch needed to replace again even though it was just replaced a year ago. They indicated that there were hot spots on the clutch and that it was due to my driving. I did reach out to SOA but they indicated that the dealer told them that it was my fault and they shouldn't help me.
Filed by owners of this model year and unverified by NHTSA — one person’s account, not an established fact.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2021 WRX vehicles. The backup light switch may corrode and become inoperative, which can result in the backup lights not illuminating and the rearview camera image not displaying when the vehicle is in reverse.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the backup light switch, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-22.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
Published by model year, not by VIN — may not apply to this vehicle, or may already have been done. Confirm with a dealer.