⌘K
Home›Subaru›WRX›2021
Subaru · Compact car

2021 Subaru WRX

Gas
Compact Cars
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
A
Safety Signal
92 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns1
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA13
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA23 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 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 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 13 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

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 turbo162218$4,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43628, 43629, 43630.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Subaru WRX is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

Compare coverage →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (1)

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.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
13complaints filed

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

Filed per year: 2022: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 1

Most-cited components

Power Train6
Engine5
Visibility/Wiper2
Unspecified2
Electrical System2
Steering1

What owners describe

“Car battery keeps dying and is inadequately charged resulting in loss of electronics. The problem is a faulty DCM system.”May 26, 2026 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“Manual (not power) Driver seat is loose-rocking car only has 47000 miles but this hardware failure will get worse over time definitely a safety concern if bolt breaks it appears that the plastic washer is wearing most likely poor material should be polyurethane or something like the form of a grommet that absorbs since…”Jun 22, 2025 · Seats · NHTSA owner report
“In October 2024, my vehicle, a 2021 Subaru WRX STI, was purchased from a Toyota dealership (Fort Bend Sterling McCall Toyota). The dealership sold the vehicle with an oil issue and a modified ECM. This issue caused catastrophic engine failure while driving. The vehicle stalled and could not be started. Subaru dealershi…”Jun 21, 2025 · Engine · 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
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

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

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

C

2016 Subaru WRX

3 recalls · 31 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.

JSON for this page · API