Last updated: 2026-10-10

RELIABILITY SCORE: 72/100 (GOOD)

2019 Subaru WRX Reliability Report

The 2019 Subaru WRX has a good reliability standing, but owners report dead batteries and sudden connecting rod engine failures.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

12.4per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$682

Annual Fuel Cost

$3,000–$3,650

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity65/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs70/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact80/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity83/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

Weaker than most WRX years, with frequent battery drain complaints and connecting rod engine failures reported at up to 77,000 miles.

Top Issues to Watch

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (11)
ENGINE (6)
POWER TRAIN (2)

Generation & Refresh (US)

Refresh Year

2019 received a mid-model improvements update for the Fourth generation (VA).

Changes: New Subaru STARLINK infotainment system; Available features were modified..
Year 5 in this generation (2015–2021).
4th generation WRX (US).

What this means for buyers

Refresh years bring updates but can also introduce new issues. Check early recall data before buying.

2015: Fourth generation (VA) Launch

Generation start — new platform.

2017: Mid-Cycle Refresh

Updated features and styling tweaks.

2019: This Model Year (Refresh)

2019 received a mid-model improvements update for the Fourth generation (VA).

Should You Buy the 2019 Subaru WRX?

This year holds up well against other sedans, with a good reliability standing and a rating above average for 2019 sedans. Within the WRX line, it is among the weaker of nine scored years. The 2018 rates about the same, and the 2020 rates better, with 17 complaints against 27 here. Model-wide repair costs run higher than the class average.

Battery drain is the most common complaint. Cars won't start after a day parked, and reports begin as early as 1,000 miles. Dealers often find nothing or replace the battery, and the drain returns. The engine problem is more serious. Owners describe a rod bearing or connecting rod breaking without warning, stalling or seizing the car at highway speed, sometimes with no dashboard lights. Connecting rod failures cluster from 61,700 to 77,000 miles. Federal recall records show two recalls, covering exterior lighting and the fuel system.

Ask for battery and engine repair records, and confirm both recalls were completed. The 2020 is worth comparing.

Compared to the 2020 Subaru WRX, which scored 3 points higher. See also the 2018 Subaru WRX for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Acceptable reliability score
+Infrequent unscheduled repairs
+Low major repair risk (14%)
+Low recall count

Cons

−Above-average repair costs for its class
−ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: Battery goes dead while the car sits, and this is the most common complaint (11 complaints)
−ENGINE: Rod bearing or connecting rod breaks without warning, and the car stalls or... (6 complaints)

Compare 2019 Subaru WRX With

2019 Volkswagen Golf

Reliability: 65/100

Good

2019 Mazda 3

Reliability: 78/100

Good

2019 Honda Civic

Reliability: 75/100

Good

2019 Hyundai Elantra

Reliability: 78/100

Good

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK

2 manufacturer recalls issued

Other

HIGH RISK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (11)
ENGINE (6)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

recalls on record

The 2019 Subaru WRX carries 2 recalls — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

12.4

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 19.1

LowAvgHigh

Moderate

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2019 Subaru WRX Recall Details

2 recalls have been issued for the 2019 Subaru WRX. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

22V5220002022-07-21

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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 in reverse.

Consequence

Inoperative backup lights and an inoperative rearview camera can reduce vehicle visibility and driver awareness, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-22.

21V5870002021-07-29

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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.

Consequence

Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2019 Subaru WRX? Check its history first

Electrical system problems lead owner complaints about the 2019 Subaru WRX, and 2 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

Accidents
Open Recalls
Title History
Odometer Rollback

2019 Subaru WRX NHTSA Safety Ratings

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Rollover risk: 0.0%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Advanced Belt Feature (Standard)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Curtain (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Torso/Pelvis (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Driver)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)LATCH Locations (Rear Seat)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Not Available)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Not Available)

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Subaru WRXRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

3.5

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$682

vs $526 avg for compact cars

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.3

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

14%

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

WRX

$682

Category Avg

$526

All Vehicles

$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

19–23 MPG

Running cost: $3,700–$4,350/yr

Fuel + repair

17–21 city / 22–27 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2019 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
WRX 2.0L 4-cyl	All-Wheel Drive	Manual 6-spd	21	27	23	$3,000
WRX 2.0L 4-cyl	All-Wheel Drive	Automatic (AV-S8)	18	24	21	$3,300
WRX 2.5L 4-cyl	All-Wheel Drive	Manual 6-spd	17	22	19	$3,650

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2019 Subaru WRX.

Ask the seller to leave the car parked overnight, then confirm it starts cleanly the next morning.
Have a shop run a parasitic battery draw test with the car fully off.
Ask for battery replacement records and note repeated new batteries in a short span.
Ask for engine or short block replacement records and full oil change history.
On the test drive, listen for popping or clunking sounds and watch for any stall or power loss.
Shift into every gear several times, especially second, and confirm each one engages smoothly.
Keep CarPlay connected for the whole test drive and watch for screen freezes, volume spikes, or sudden shutdowns.
Look closely at the radio screen for water spots or haze under the glass.

2019 Subaru WRX Common Problems by Component

27 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (11)ENGINE (6)UNKNOWN OR OTHER (2)POWER TRAIN (2)STEERING (1)AIR BAGS (1)FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1)FUEL SYSTEM (1)Other (2)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

11 complaints

The battery goes dead while the car sits, and this is the most common complaint. Some cars won't start after a day parked. Others drain within a week, or after a door stays open for about 20 minutes. Reports start as early as 1,000 miles and run to about 25,000. Dealers often find nothing wrong or just replace the battery, and the drain comes back. One owner traced a constant draw to the telematics unit. Separate reports describe the touchscreen freezing and the car briefly shutting off while driving, which locks the steering at highway speed.

11 complaints total

ENGINE

6 complaints

A rod bearing or connecting rod breaks without warning, and the car stalls or seizes while moving, often at highway speed. Drivers describe a popping sound or nothing at all, with no dashboard lights. Failures are reported from 9k miles up to 77,000. Some cars needed a full engine or short block, and one engine failed a second time after replacement. Stalling in traffic leaves drivers stranded in live lanes. One warranty claim was denied after the dealer cited the car's logged driving history.

6 complaints total

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2 complaints

The infotainment screen malfunctions. It freezes, goes black, or raises the volume to a blare without warning, usually while the car is moving. One car shows what look like water spots inside the radio screen, and the radio stops working properly. That report came in under 60,000 miles. The faults are an annoyance and a distraction, and none of these reports mention a crash or a loss of control.

2 complaints total

POWER TRAIN (2 complaints)

POWER TRAIN

2 complaints

The two reports describe different problems. In one car, the transmission sometimes won't go into second gear even though every other gear engages. In the other, a new car made a sudden loud clunk and lost all power. After 7 weeks the dealer still had not found the cause and had begun suggesting driver fault. Two complaints are too few to show a clear pattern.

2 complaints total

STEERING (1 complaints)

STEERING

1 complaint

2026-02-04

I'm driving down the road and unexpectedly the power steering completely goes out and the car is almost impossible to steer. When I shut the car off it usually resets sometimes for only a couple seconds, sometimes longer before the power steering fails again. It has happened in the middle of multiple turns, highways driving, city driving and is very dangerous. If you look online it is a very common issue amongst other Subaru models with the same steering system, as well as the wrx but not for my year. If you look online you will see multiple people complaining about it. Messaged Subaru and they said they weren't concerned with the safety issue, they were only concerned about it not being covered under warranty anymore. I did take it to a Subaru dealership and they even said it was very common and didn't even really look at the car to diagnose and its around 3000 to repair. This is going to cause an accident at some point if not in my car someone else's. It doesn't matter either what speeds you are going if it happens. It has happened multiple different days so I'm only putting today in since it happened today as well.

AIR BAGS (1 complaints)

AIR BAGS

1 complaint

2024-07-09

Mid-Drive the Airbag (SRS) light came on indicating here was a fault in the system. After some diagnostic testing it was determined that there was a fault in the Occupant detection system causing the vehicle to not activate the airbag regardless of the fact that someone was sitting in the seat. The issue was present in same type of seats (heated) that were previously recalled shortly before this vehicle was produced.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1 complaints)

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

2022-07-10

I've had two fuel pumps replaced under warranty after the 2nd fuel pump failed hours after the Subaru dealership installed it. They installed the 3rd which worked until a week ago when my car stalled at a red light. The car would not start back up and it has since been diagnosed as a fuel issue.

FUEL SYSTEM (1 complaints)

FUEL SYSTEM

1 complaint

2021-09-28

The contact stated owns a 2019 SUBARU WRX. The contact stated that while her spouse was driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle started making an abnormal sound as if the engine was sputtering. The driver was concerned that fuel was not running through the engine correctly. The vehicle began to fail to accelerate forward then lose motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated the driver was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle made a large popping sound and white smoke was coming from the tailpipe. The contact cooled off the timing belt to cool off the vehicle. There was no fire reported. No injuries or medical attention is needed. The vehicle was towed. The contact stated that earlier that day while starting the vehicle it had backfired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the engine was blown due to the failure related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V587000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure however, there was no response yet. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

VISIBILITY (1 complaints)

VISIBILITY

1 complaint

2020-04-10

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU WRX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED AT THE TOP WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU OF WICHITA (11610 E KELLOGG DR N, WICHITA, KS 67207; (316) 264-7777) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A STONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.

VISIBILITY/WIPER (1 complaints)

VISIBILITY/WIPER

1 complaint

2020-01-06

SMALL GLASS CHIP DEFECT OCCURRED IN THE CENTER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD. THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. THIS VEHICLE WAS ISOLATED IN THE PARKING LOT AND DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER VEHICLES NEAR IT. IT IS UNKNOWN WHETHER THE WINDSHIELD TEMPER OR COMPOSITION MAY BE DEFECTIVE AND EASILY PROPOGATED A DEFECT ON THE WAY TO THE PARKING LOT. THE WAY THE WINDSHIELD CHIPPED/DEVELOPED THE SMALL CRACK WOULD HAVE HAD TO OCCUR WITH EASE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW (350 MILES) AND HAD NO INTERACTIONS WITH FLYING DEBRIS ESPECIALLY WITH THE SHORTER DRIVE. THE CHIP/SMALL CRACK WAS SMALL ENOUGH TO BE REPAIRED BUT STILL IS VISIBLE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY EPOXIED THE SMALL CHIP TO MITIGATE MORE POTENTIAL CRACKING. DUE THE AFOREMENTIONED CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS APPEARS TO HAVE THE SAME OCCURRING INCIDENTS HAPPENING ACROSS ALL AFFECTED SUBARU MODELS.

When Do 2019 Subaru WRX Problems Start?

Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.

1,000–25,000 milesBattery drain, no-start

61,700–77,000 milesConnecting rod engine failure

Best & Worst Subaru WRX Years

Best Subaru WRX Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

Top Pick

Good

Subaru WRX Years to Avoid

No Subaru WRX years are statistical outliers in our data.

Scores stay between 71 and 81 across 9 scored model years.

See full Subaru WRX years-to-avoid analysis

Subaru WRX Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Subaru WRX reliability scores by year
Year	Score	Rating
2018	71/100	Good
2019	72/100	Good
2020	75/100	Good
2021	75/100	Good
2022	73/100	Good
2023	75/100	Good
2024	78/100	Good
2025	77/100	Good
2026	81/100	Excellent

Subaru WRX Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2026	81/100	+4	Excellent	0	0
2025	77/100	-1	Good	0	1
2024	78/100	+3	Good	0	13
2023	75/100	+2	Good	1	6
2022	73/100	-2	Good	1	23
2021	75/100	0	Good	1	12
2020	75/100	+3	Good	1	17
2019(selected)	72/100	+1	Good	2	27
2018	71/100	—	Good	2	40

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2019 Subaru WRX reliable?

It is reliable enough to earn a good standing, and it rates above average among 2019 sedans. It is still among the weaker of the nine scored WRX years. Owner complaints center on battery drain and engine failures, and repair costs run above the class average.

What are the most common problems with the 2019 Subaru WRX?

Electrical trouble leads, mainly a battery that goes dead while the car sits. Engine complaints come next, with broken rod bearings or connecting rods. Owners also report a touchscreen that freezes and a car that briefly shuts off while driving. Power train complaints are few and describe different problems.

Does the 2019 Subaru WRX have engine problems?

Some cars do. Owners report a rod bearing or connecting rod breaking with little warning, causing a stall or seizure, often at highway speed. Failures appear from 9k miles to 77,000. Some cars needed a full engine or short block, and one engine failed again after replacement.

Why does the 2019 Subaru WRX battery keep dying?

Owners do not point to one confirmed cause. Reports describe no-starts after a day parked, and drain after a door stays open about 20 minutes. Dealers often find nothing or replace the battery, and the drain comes back. One owner traced a constant draw to the telematics unit.

Is the 2019 Subaru WRX better than the 2020?

Not by this data. The 2019 has a good standing, but the 2020 rates better, with 17 complaints and one recall against 27 complaints and two recalls for the 2019. The 2018 rates about the same as the 2019, with 40 complaints.

Don’t buy a 2019 Subaru WRX without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2019 Subaru WRX

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2019 Subaru WRX does best on how many systems draw complaints (83/100) and worst on complaint severity (65/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

Get notified when new recalls or reliability data is added for the Subaru WRX.

No spam. Only data updates for this model.