2003 Subaru Wrx: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 65 complaints
65
Total Complaints
31,000mi
Median Mileage
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Top Issue
16
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

7,017 25th Percentile
31,000 Median Mileage
82,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
19
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
11
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
STEERING
2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
2

Severity Assessment

16
Crashes
3
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"ABS FAILED. BRAKE PEDAL WOULD SINK TO FLOOR WHEN ROAD IS BUMPY. TAKES A VERY LONG DISTANCE TO STOP THE CAR. 2 NEAR-MISS INCIDENTS ALREADY. CAR IS BRAND NEW 2003 WRX. IT HAS 500 MILES ON IT. *NLM"
"ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK"
"WHILE ACCELERATING VEHICLE STARTED MAKING LOUD NOISE AND WOULD NOT GAIN ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28