2023 Subaru WRX reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2023 Subaru WRX holds 8 complaints after 4 years, a rate of 2 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most WRX years here — under the median of the other years, which is 5. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Driveshaft.

2015 Subaru WRX — Photo by Zytonits, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 2.0

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (2 of 8), then Engine (2) and Service brakes (2). Those filings include 2 that report a crash.

Next to 2022 and 2024

The 2022 WRX has 25 complaints, 7 per year, and the 2024 has 13 complaints, 4 per year. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2024.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2023 Subaru WRX. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (1)

Recall Driveshaft 2023-11-09 · NHTSA campaign 23V754000

Summary Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.

Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the left and right front driveshafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRP-23.

Complaints by component (8 total)

Air bags

Engine

Service brakes

Suspension

Seat belts

Seats

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"The failing component system is the drivers side impact airbags. Subaru of America did their own inspection and has listed their findings in an email (it can be forwarded to you if needed). The vehicle is currently at a…"
Air bags, Seat belts, Seats · filed 2026-08-25
"Factory brake system is weak to slow down. The tree on the road stopped my car faster than the brakes did. Many videos and internet posts document this. Quick google search will provide a lot of information. Many owners…"
Service brakes · filed 2026-04-18
"I was heading to work on a stretch of road. I was traveling at about 45-50mph. A car pulled out in front of me and we had an accident. The airbags in the older Subaru of the person who collided with me went off and mine…"
Air bags · filed 2026-01-15
"My vehicle has a hand brake built into the vehicle and at 25,000 miles my hand brake started to fail and wouldn’t hold the car in place. I had it repaired under warranty and the whole emergency/handbrake assembly was…"
Service brakes · filed 2025-12-11
"I am reporting a potential safety-related defect involving the front suspension of my 2023 Subaru WRX. After installing aftermarket lowering springs, I began noticing loud popping, clicking, and cracking noises from the…"
Suspension · filed 2025-05-07

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2023 Subaru WRX 4 DR AWD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
WRX	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AV-S8)	All-wheel drive	19	25	21 MPG	$3800
WRX	2.4L, 4-cyl	Manual 6-speed	All-wheel drive	19	26	22 MPG	$3650

Specs and fitment

VB generation, 2022–present

Body styles Sedan

Oil 5W-30 synthetic (FA24 turbo) , 5.4 qt capacity

Tire size 245/40R18

Compare

Previous year 2022 Subaru WRX Next year 2024 Subaru WRX See every Subaru WRX model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Subaru WRX reliable?

What are common problems with a 2023 Subaru WRX?

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (2 of 8), then Engine (2) and Service brakes (2). Those filings include 2 that report a crash.

Is the 2023 Subaru WRX more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2022 WRX has 25 complaints, 7 per year, and the 2024 has 13 complaints, 4 per year. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2024.

Has the 2023 Subaru WRX been recalled?

The 2023 Subaru WRX has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2023 Subaru WRX?

Owners have filed 8 complaints about the 2023 Subaru WRX with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2023 Subaru WRX get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2023 Subaru WRX is 21.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Subaru WRX take?

VA (2015-2021 FA20 turbo) and VB (2022+ FA24 turbo) US models commonly use 5W-30 synthetic (about 5.1 qt VA; about 5.4 qt VB with filter).

Does NHTSA recall 22V522000 cover the Subaru WRX?

It covers certain 2015-2021 WRX vehicles: the backup light switch may corrode and prevent the reverse lamps from illuminating; dealers replace the switch.

What generation is a 2020 Subaru WRX?

VA generation (2015-2021). The VB redesign starts in 2022.