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2016 Subaru WRX

Gas
Compact Cars
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
76 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns3
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA31
Crash ratingNHTSA overall—
Fuel economybest combined, EPA23 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Subaru WRX is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the WRX, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 31 complaints, most often about the electrical system.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
WRXGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202723$3,350
WRXGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo182421$3,700
WRXGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl turbo172319$4,100

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36091, 36129, 36092.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Subaru WRX is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Exterior Lighting

WRE-22
59,934 vehicles
ProblemSubaru 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.RiskInoperative backup lights and an inoperative rearview camera can reduce vehicle visibility and driver awareness, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 22V522000reported Jul 21, 2022Subaru of America, Inc.
▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

WTA-62
18,187 vehicles
ProblemSubaru 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.RiskAn engine stall increases the risk of a crash.FixSubaru 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.
NHTSA campaign 16V162000reported Mar 21, 2016Subaru of America, Inc.
▲high

Exterior Lighting

WQS-54
71,710 vehicles
ProblemSubaru 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.RiskIf 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.FixSubaru 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.
NHTSA campaign 15V366000reported Jun 12, 2015Subaru of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
31complaints filed

1 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2015: 1 · 2016: 6 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 7 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 2

Most-cited components

Electrical System10
Engine8
Unspecified6
Power Train4
Service Brakes2
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)2

What owners describe

“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.”Aug 27, 2024 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“While driving, the clutch became stiff and unusable. Ultimately the car could not be shifted resulting in using a lower gear than normal to limp the car to safety. The car had to be towed to a mechanic. During the repair the mechanic identified that the cause of the failure was the clutch fork pivot ball punched throug…”May 10, 2023 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report
“I have faulty rear lights and a faulty rear view camera. According to MotorSafety.org there is currently a recall for this exact issue for WRX’s from 2015-2021. https://www.motorsafety.org/subaru-recalls-wrx-cars-over-faulty-rear-lights-rearview-camera-issue/”Feb 22, 2023 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Other WRX model years

A

2026 Subaru WRX

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2025 Subaru WRX

0 recalls · 2 complaints

A

2024 Subaru WRX

0 recalls · 13 complaints

A

2023 Subaru WRX

1 recalls · 8 complaints

A

2022 Subaru WRX

1 recalls · 25 complaints

A

2021 Subaru WRX

1 recalls · 13 complaints

A

2020 Subaru WRX

1 recalls · 17 complaints

B

2019 Subaru WRX

2 recalls · 30 complaints

B

2018 Subaru WRX

2 recalls · 44 complaints

A

2017 Subaru WRX

1 recalls · 53 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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