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2016 Subaru WRX Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 3 NHTSA recalls and 34 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

C
69/100

Elevated Reported Activity — 2016 Subaru WRX

The 2016 Subaru WRX shows elevated recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Make sure any recall campaigns are resolved before purchase and have the vehicle inspected thoroughly.

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3
NHTSA Recalls
3 recalls on record
34
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
1
Crash Reports
2 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2016 Subaru WRX (3)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Subaru dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Forward Collision Avoidance: Crash Imminent Braking
If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783….
NHTSA #15V366000
🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine: Gasoline: Turbo/Supercharger
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct….
NHTSA #16V162000
🔧 Exterior Lighting: Back Up Lights: Switch
Inoperative backup lights and an inoperative rearview camera can reduce vehicle visibility and driver awareness, increasing the risk of a crash.
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….
NHTSA #22V522000
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Most Common Problems — 2016 Subaru WRX

Based on 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Electrical System
10
Engine
8
Unknown Or Other
6
Power Train
4
Steering
2
Exterior Lighting
2
Tires
1
Visibility
1
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Subaru WRX — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2016 model year is highlighted.

2010 1 complaint 2011 4 complaints 2012 2 complaints 2013 7 complaints 2014 6 complaints 2015 52 complaints 2016 34 complaints 2017 53 complaints 2018 43 complaints 2019 30 complaints 2020 17 complaints

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2015, 2017, 2018 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2011, 2013, 2014 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2016 Subaru WRX

Is the 2016 Subaru WRX reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 Subaru WRX has 3 recall campaigns and 34 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2016 Subaru WRX have?
The 2016 Subaru WRX has 3 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Subaru WRX?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2016 Subaru WRX are: Electrical System, Engine, Unknown Or Other, Power Train. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2016 Subaru WRX safe to buy?
The 2016 Subaru WRX has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 3 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Subaru WRX should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Subaru WRX are: 2011, 2013, 2014. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2015, 2017, 2018.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.