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2021 Subaru WRX Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 1 NHTSA recall and 13 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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This is one of the better years for the Subaru WRX

The 2021 model year shows below-average complaints compared to other years of this model — a good sign for reliability.

A
88/100

Low Reported Activity — 2021 Subaru WRX

The 2021 Subaru WRX shows low recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Review the details below and check any specific vehicle's VIN for open recalls.

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1
NHTSA Recalls
1 recall on record
13
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
0
Crash Reports
In NHTSA complaints
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NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Subaru WRX (1)

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

🔧 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 — 2021 Subaru WRX

Based on 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Power Train
6
Engine
2
Visibility/wiper
2
Electrical System
1
Seats
1
Steering
1
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Subaru WRX — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.

2015 52 complaints 2016 34 complaints 2017 53 complaints 2018 43 complaints 2019 30 complaints 2020 17 complaints 2021 13 complaints 2022 25 complaints 2023 8 complaints 2024 14 complaints 2025 3 complaints

→ Recently checked Subaru WRX VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.

→ Decode a Subaru VIN — free Subaru VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.

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

✅ Best model years: 2021, 2023, 2025 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Subaru WRX

Is the 2021 Subaru WRX reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Subaru WRX has 1 recall campaign and 13 owner complaints. This model year shows relatively low recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data.
How many recalls does the 2021 Subaru WRX have?
The 2021 Subaru WRX has 1 NHTSA recall. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Subaru WRX?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Subaru WRX are: Power Train, Engine, Visibility/wiper, Electrical System. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2021 Subaru WRX safe to buy?
The 2021 Subaru WRX has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 1 recallis 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: 2021, 2023, 2025. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2015, 2017.
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.