2016 Subaru WRX Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2016 Subaru WRX, and owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2016 Subaru WRX
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Switch (exterior lighting)
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.…
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Turbo/supercharger (engine and engine cooling)
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.
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…
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Crash imminent braking (forward collision avoidance) and switch (exterior lighting)
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,…
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…
31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2016 Subaru WRX have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 32,057 miles. Complaints peaked in 2022 with 7 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The Seconary Air Injection pump stayed on for days. Burnt a hole in the side, relay possibly damaged, and now setting off other components and computers.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 27, 2024 · Electrical system
“Driving and a loud explosion, sound, like a gunshot then a ton of pinging. The sunroof exploded and glass flew down my car and chipped a bunch of paint.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 1, 2024 · Unknown or other
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2016 Subaru WRX. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–23 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17–20 / 23–27 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2/2.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (AV-S8); Manual 6-spd |
Compare Subaru WRX model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Subaru WRX model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 Subaru WRX | 1 | 427 |
| 2003 Subaru WRX | 1 | 60 |
| 2004 Subaru WRX | 4 | 42 |
| 2005 Subaru WRX | 4 | 19 |
| 2006 Subaru WRX | 3 | 14 |
| 2007 Subaru WRX | 3 | 0 |
| 2008 Subaru WRX | 7 | 65 |
| 2009 Subaru WRX | 10 | 41 |
| 2010 Subaru WRX | 12 | 1 |
| 2011 Subaru WRX | 11 | 4 |
| 2012 Subaru WRX | 12 | 2 |
| 2013 Subaru WRX | 11 | 7 |
| 2014 Subaru WRX | 10 | 6 |
| 2015 Subaru WRX | 3 | 52 |
| 2016 Subaru WRX | 3 | 31 |
| 2017 Subaru WRX | 1 | 53 |
| 2018 Subaru WRX | 2 | 43 |
| 2019 Subaru WRX | 2 | 30 |
| 2020 Subaru WRX | 1 | 17 |
| 2021 Subaru WRX | 1 | 13 |
| 2022 Subaru WRX | 1 | 25 |
| 2023 Subaru WRX | 1 | 8 |
| 2024 Subaru WRX | 0 | 13 |
| 2025 Subaru WRX | 0 | 2 |
Checking a specific 2016 Subaru WRX
How do I know if my 2016 Subaru WRX has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2016 Subaru WRX; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Subaru dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 15V366000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Subaru models
- Outback9,756 complaints
- Forester6,498 complaints
- Legacy3,185 complaints
- Impreza2,651 complaints
- Crosstrek1,186 complaints
- Ascent1,033 complaints
- Svx291 complaints
- Xv Crosstrek264 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.