2018 Subaru WRX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

63 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2018 Subaru WRX, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 21/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Engine leads the reports.

63Complaints
21/100Trouble index
2Recalls
14,500Typical trouble mileage

Typical

Where 2018 sits among all WRX years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Engine 11 complaints (17%)
Electrical 11 complaints (17%)
Other 9 complaints (14%)
Steering 7 complaints (11%)
Fuel system 7 complaints (11%)
Transmission & drivetrain 6 complaints (10%)

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 37 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 14,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 6,920 and 24,500 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (2)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 22V522000 2022

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…

Fix: 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…

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 21V587000 2021

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Fix: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614.…

Technical service bulletins

338 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2018 Subaru WRX. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2018 WRX TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2017peak 15 in 20192026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2018 Subaru WRX reliable?

The 2018 Subaru WRX drew 63 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 21/100, scored against the model's worst year (2002).

What are the most common 2018 Subaru WRX problems?

The top reported problems for the 2018 Subaru WRX are engine (11 complaints), electrical (11), and other (9).

At what mileage do 2018 Subaru WRX problems show up?

Owners most often report 2018 Subaru WRX problems around 14,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 6,920 and 24,500 miles.

Does the 2018 Subaru WRX have recalls?

2 recall campaigns apply to the 2018 Subaru WRX. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2017 WRX All WRX years 2019 WRX →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

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.