The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 10 of 34 complaints (29%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Engine include more crash reports (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 55 in 2015 to 34 in 2016.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 34
- Recall campaigns
- 3
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $3,350–$4,050
- Combined MPG
- 19–23
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | vs. 2016 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,200–4,050 | 3,350–4,050 | 3,350–4,050 | 3,350–4,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–24 | 19–23 | 19–23 | 18–23 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–21 / 23–28 | 17–20 / 23–27 | 17–20 / 23–27 | 16–21 / 22–27 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 374–459 | 385–459 | 385–458 | 383–477 | |
| Complaints filed | 55 | 34 | 53 | 45 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2016 Subaru WRX have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Subaru WRX?
Electrical: 10 of 34 NHTSA complaints (29%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Subaru WRX get?
EPA rates it 19–23 MPG combined across 3 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Subaru WRX?
EPA estimates $3,350–$4,050 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 20 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $3,350 (low) | 385 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 17 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $4,050 (high) | 459 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AV-S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 18 mpg | 24 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 420 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS:SWITCH
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-22.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
- Defect
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall.
- Consequence
- 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. The recall began April 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTA-62.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH; FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: CRASH IMMINENT BRAKING
- Defect
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufactured October 16, 2014, to April 15, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles manufactured March 23, 2015, and equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.
- Consequence
- 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. Subaru's number for this recall is WQS-54.