Last updated: 2026-10-10
2021 Subaru WRX Reliability Report
The 2021 Subaru WRX rates good for reliability, but owners report engine failures, some ending in a new short block or full replacement.
Recalls
1
Complaints
12
Complaint Rate
4.4per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$682
Annual Fuel Cost
$3,000–$3,850
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Last year of the Fourth generation (VA), with good reliability, a middle ranking among WRX years, and engine failure at the center of owner complaints.
Top Issues to Watch
- POWER TRAIN (6)
- ENGINE (2)
- VISIBILITY/WIPER (2)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2021 is the last model year of the Fourth generation (VA).
- Final-year models are typically the most refined version of a generation.
- 2 years after the last refresh (2019).
- 4th generation WRX (US).
What this means for buyers
Final-year models are usually the most polished version of a generation, but resale value may dip as buyers anticipate the next redesign.
2015: Fourth generation (VA) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2017: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
2019: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
2021: This Model Year
2021 is the last model year of the Fourth generation (VA).
Should You Buy the 2021 Subaru WRX?
Good reliability puts this final year of the Fourth generation (VA) above the average 2021 sedan. Among the nine scored WRX years it lands in the middle, and 2020 and 2022 rate about the same. Repair costs run high, at about $682 a year against $526 for the class.
Engines are the main worry. Several owners report outright failure, with knocking on deceleration, rising oil temperature, jerking, and stalling, ending in a new short block or full replacement. Dealers denied warranty claims on cars with a cold air intake. Some owners say the transmission binds in gear in traffic. Two owners had windshields crack and spread fast, one from a pinhead-size chip. The single recall covers exterior lighting.
Ask for complete service records and look for modifications, such as an aftermarket intake or reprogrammed ECM. Confirm the lighting recall was done, and inspect the glass for chips.
Compared to the 2022 Subaru WRX, which scored 2 points lower. See also the 2020 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
- −POWER TRAIN: Engines fail outright in several reports (6 complaints)
- −ENGINE: Power drops and the car stalls while driving, and both reports describe... (2 complaints)
Compare 2021 Subaru WRX With
2021 Volkswagen Golf
Reliability: 75/100
2021 Mazda 3
Reliability: 70/100
2021 Honda Civic
Reliability: 81/100
2021 Hyundai Elantra
Reliability: 75/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 1 manufacturer recall issued
Other
HIGH RISK- POWER TRAIN (6)
- ENGINE (2)
Recall Overview
1
recall on record
The 2021 Subaru WRX carries 1 recall — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
4.4
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 16.7
Safety Incidents
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2021 Subaru WRX Recall Details
1 recall has been issued for the 2021 Subaru WRX. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
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.
Buying a used 2021 Subaru WRX? Check its history first
Power train problems lead owner complaints about the 2021 Subaru WRX, and 1 recall was 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
2021 Subaru WRX NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 10.1%
Safety Technologies
Subaru WRXRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
3.5Maintenance rating: 3.5 out of 5Based 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
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
MPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
18–23 MPG
Running cost: $3,700–$4,550/yr
Fuel + repair
16–20 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 2021 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WRX 2.0L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 20 | 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 | 16 | 22 | 18 | $3,850 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2021 Subaru WRX.
Look for a cold air intake or ECM tune, since these led to denied engine warranty claims.
Ask for oil change records and confirm the oil level and condition before buying.
On a highway test drive, listen for knocking when you lift off the throttle and watch the oil temperature.
Drive in stop-and-go traffic and confirm the car stays in gear and accelerates without the RPMs surging.
Check whether the shifter is aftermarket and feel for looseness or damage at the base.
Scan for MAP sensor or lean and rich fuel codes, and watch for stalling or power loss.
Inspect the whole windshield for chips or cracks, especially along the base on the driver's side.
Ask a Subaru dealer whether the clutch release bearing and ECM reprogramming bulletins were applied.
2021 Subaru WRX Common Problems by Component
12 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
POWER TRAIN
6 complaintsEngines fail outright in several reports. Symptoms include knocking on deceleration, rising oil temperature, jerking, and stalling, and the cars end up needing a new short block or a full engine replacement. Dealers deny warranty claims on cars with a cold air intake, and some miss engine problems across repeat service visits. Transmissions are also reported binding in gear in traffic. The RPMs surge, the car will not accelerate, and dealers cannot find the cause. Other filings cite service bulletins for a redesigned clutch release bearing and for ECM reprogramming, plus a broken aftermarket shifter.
ENGINE
2 complaintsPower drops and the car stalls while driving, and both reports describe catastrophic failure or warn of it. One report blames oil starvation from improper service and a modified ECM installed before the sale. The engine quits on a busy road, and the car sits at a dealer for over 6 months waiting on warranty repair. The other report cites excessive blow-by that contaminates the MAP sensors and makes the engine run lean or rich, causing power loss and stalling. It also calls the EGR system faulty.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
2 complaintsWindshields crack, and the cracks spread fast, sometimes all the way to the outer edge of the glass. One crack starts at the base of the driver's side during defrosting, with the car parked and nothing hitting it. Another grows from a pinhead-size chip that barely left a mark. Both cracks end in a full windshield replacement. Dealers blame rock chips even when the owner reports no impact, and owners worry about the windshield's structural integrity.
SEATS (1 complaints)
SEATS
1 complaintManual (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 vehicle has hard suspension NOTE: I have video however cannot create video < than 10mb
STEERING (1 complaints)
STEERING
1 complaintHello my name is [XXX], I'm the first time owner of this vehicle, purchased this vehicle new of the dealer with 5 miles, ever since I bought it the car has an issue that it steers to the right at any speed, road, condition very dangerous. Over the past months and years I told Subaru dealers, service department, sales guy and Subaru corporate about the issue, long story short I've gone to the service department to fix this issue at least 8 times, the last time an engineer from Subaru worked on the car but the car is not fixed and it continues to have this issue, I open a claimed with the Texas department of motor vehicle for a lemon claimed but Subaru has denied it as a lemon and they constantly ruined my lug nuts, studs, my alignment and now I need new tires. I need help to resolve this, I have multiple repair orders, video's and pictures to prove it all. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Best & Worst Subaru WRX Years
Best Subaru WRX Years to Buy
Based on reliability index score2024
2023
2021
(Current Model)
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.
Subaru WRX Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2021 Subaru WRX reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Subaru WRX?
Does the 2021 Subaru WRX have engine problems?
Has the 2021 Subaru WRX been recalled?
Is the 2021 Subaru WRX cheaper to repair than other sedans?
Don’t buy a 2021 Subaru WRX without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2021 Subaru WRX
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2021 Subaru WRX does best on recall impact (88/100) and worst on repair costs (70/100). 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.
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