2003 Subaru WRX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
65 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2003 Subaru WRX, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 5 defect investigations. It scores 25/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 11,000 miles.
Typical
Where 2003 sits among all WRX years
What owners report
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 52 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 32,518 miles. Half of those reports fall between 8,400 and 85,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 IMPREZA WRX VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF SOUTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, MINNESOTA, IDAHO, IOWA, MONTANA, COLORADO, WISCONSIN, NEW YORK, WYOMING, MICHIGAN,…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL LINE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.…
Fix: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 09V468000.
Technical service bulletins
109 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2003 Subaru WRX. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2003 Subaru WRX reliable?
The 2003 Subaru WRX drew 65 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 25/100, scored against the model's worst year (2002).
What are the most common 2003 Subaru WRX problems?
The top reported problems for the 2003 Subaru WRX are brakes & stability (20 complaints), fuel system (20), and engine (4).
At what mileage do 2003 Subaru WRX problems show up?
Owners most often report 2003 Subaru WRX problems around 32,518 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 8,400 and 85,000 miles.
Does the 2003 Subaru WRX have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2003 Subaru WRX. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.