Last updated: 2026-10-10

2022 Subaru WRX
RELIABILITY SCORE: 73/100 (GOOD)

2022 Subaru WRX Reliability Report

The 2022 Subaru WRX rates good for reliability, but owners report RTV sealant debris that can clog the oil pickup and risk engine failure.

Recalls

1

Complaints

23

Complaint Rate

12.3per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$682

Annual Fuel Cost

$3,150–$3,300

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity64/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs70/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact88/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity82/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

First year of the fifth generation, marked by owner reports of sealant debris in the oil pan and a weaker standing among WRX years.

Top Issues to Watch

  • ENGINE (12)
  • POWER TRAIN (3)
  • FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1)

Generation & Refresh (US)

Redesign Year

2022 is the first model year of the Fifth generation (VB).

  • First-year models may have unresolved issues from the new design.
  • Redesigned for the 2022 model year.
  • 5th generation WRX (US).

What this means for buyers

First-year models carry more risk — early production issues are common. Consider waiting for the second year if reliability is a priority.

Compare 2022 pricing and recall counts against 2023+ before deciding.

2022: Fifth generation (VB) Launch

Generation start — new platform.

Should You Buy the 2022 Subaru WRX?

Reliability is good, but this is one of the weaker years for the WRX. Owner complaints and independent repair-cost data put it above average among 2022 sedans, yet it ranks near the bottom of the nine scored WRX years. It is the first year of the fifth generation. The 2021 and 2023 both rate good and about the same. Federal crash testing gave it 5 of 5 stars.

Engine complaints lead the list. Owners say excess RTV sealant on the oil pan and timing cover breaks off inside the pan and can clog the oil pickup. The fear is oil starvation and sudden engine failure. Reports of this clog fall between 400 and 6,000 miles. One owner describes engine failure under 4,000 miles. Many found grey and black sealant after watching pan-drop videos. Cleaning it out is labor-intensive because the header and front timing cover must come off. One manual owner also reports the push-button start going dead after a stall. One federal recall in the Equipment area is on file.

Ask the seller whether the oil pan has been inspected or cleaned, and ask for the recall record. The 2023 has fewer complaints, but it has had less time to collect them.

Compared to the 2023 Subaru WRX, which scored 2 points higher. See also the 2021 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
  • −ENGINE: Excess RTV sealant on the oil pan and timing cover breaks off inside the pan... (12 complaints)
  • −POWER TRAIN: Silicone debris in the oil pan comes up again here (3 complaints)

Compare 2022 Subaru WRX With

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK
  • 1 manufacturer recall issued

Other

HIGH RISK
  • ENGINE (12)
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

1

recall on record

The 2022 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

12.3

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 17.8

LowAvgHigh
Moderate

Safety Incidents

2

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.

2022 Subaru WRX Recall Details

1 recall has been issued for the 2022 Subaru WRX. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

23V0160002023-01-23

EQUIPMENT

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 WRX vehicles equipped with the "Eyesight" feature. The owner's manual may contain incorrect instructions for adjusting the sensitivity of the High Beam Assist function. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence

Incorrect instructions for adjusting the sensitivity of the High Beam Assist function contained in the owner's manual may cause the lights to not be adjusted as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Subaru will mail an owner's manual insert containing the correct information, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 15, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRA-23.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2022 Subaru WRX? Check its history first

Engine problems lead owner complaints about the 2022 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.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

2022 Subaru WRX NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 9.0%

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, Rear Seat)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Curtain (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Torso/Pelvis (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Driver)Additional Air Bags (n/a)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)LATCH Locations (Rear Seat)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Standard)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)
View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Subaru WRXRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

3.5Maintenance rating: 3.5 out of 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

21–22 MPG

Running cost: $3,850–$4,000/yr

Fuel + repair

19 city / 25–26 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 2022 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims
TrimDriveTrans.CityHwyCombFuel Cost
WRX 2.4L 4-cylAll-Wheel DriveManual 6-spd192622$3,150
WRX 2.4L 4-cylAll-Wheel DriveAutomatic (AV-S8)192521$3,300

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2022 Subaru WRX.

  • Ask for records of any oil pan removal or pickup inspection, and what debris was found.

  • Check the dipstick cold and ask the seller how often oil needs topping up between changes.

  • After the test drive, sniff around the engine bay and tailpipe for a burning smell.

  • Listen at idle with the A/C off for rhythmic chugging or knocking from the compressor.

  • Inspect the sunroof glass for chips, cracks, or signs of replacement.

  • On manual cars, stall the engine on purpose and confirm the push-button start responds right away.

  • Have a Subaru dealer confirm all available software updates are installed.

2022 Subaru WRX Common Problems by Component

23 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

12
3
3
ENGINE (12)UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3)POWER TRAIN (3)FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1)STRUCTURE (1)SERVICE BRAKES (1)AIR BAGS (1)ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1)

ENGINE

12 complaints

Excess RTV sealant on the oil pan and timing cover breaks off inside the pan and can clog the oil pickup. The fear is oil starvation and sudden engine failure, which could cause a crash if it happens in traffic. One report describes engine failure under 4,000 miles, and another mentions a burning smell from the engine bay and exhaust. Most reports come from owners who saw pan-drop videos online, and some found grey and black RTV in the pan. Cleaning it out is labor-intensive because the header and front timing cover must come off.

12 complaints total

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

3 complaints

These are unrelated one-off problems. A sunroof shatters on its own while the car is parked. An A/C compressor makes a loud, rhythmic chugging or knocking at idle, even with the A/C off, and the noise changes but stays loud once the A/C is turned on. Another report covers a software update Subaru announced by email that could not be installed for weeks, and the owner says Subaru's phone lines and online ticket system went unanswered.

3 complaints total

POWER TRAIN

3 complaints

Silicone debris in the oil pan comes up again here. One report finds black silicone in both the upper and lower pans and a clogged oil screen. Another describes a low oil warning and a nearly dry dipstick soon after an oil change, with the owner blaming RTV. A separate problem affects a manual car: after a stall, the push-button start stops responding while the lights, gauges, and radio stay on. That owner reports it has happened three times.

3 complaints total
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1 complaints)

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint
2024-02-06

During driving, especially when it is cold outside, the Subaru Eyesight Pre-Collision system (automatic emergency braking) can be triggered by exhaust smoke from a vehicle in front of it. The braking system can be falsely activated, which could cause your vehicle to be hit from behind. There is no way to adjust the sensitivity of this system. It is only meant to be activated by objects, but since the system is camera-based it might think that a large cloud of exhaust is actually solid. In the specific instance when this happened, I was waiting at a red light behind a GMC Acadia. When the light turned green, a lot of exhaust came from that car, and the pre-collision braking was activated, causing the car to activate the brakes very abruptly. At the next light, the same thing happened, but the car didn't hit the brakes that time since I lifted off the accelerator, but the warning buzzer still activated. Video showing the problem: [XXX] The loud grinding noise after the pre-collision warning beeps is the sound of the brakes when they are applied by pre-collision. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Pre-collision prevention How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Vehicle can stop unexpectedly which could cause a rear-end collision. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

STRUCTURE (1 complaints)

STRUCTURE

1 complaint
2024-07-22

Hood vibration (visual) when driving and going over minor bumps.

SERVICE BRAKES (1 complaints)

SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaintSafety-related
2024-04-28Crash reported

My son moved my car onto the driveway, stopped it with the foot brake with the manual transmission in neutral. The hill assist was activated, so when he got out of the car the brake held long enough for him to get out of the car and walk away before the brake released, about 2 seconds. The car then rolled down the driveway into a tree. This could have been a disaster if the tree wasn’t there to stop the driverless vehicle.

AIR BAGS (1 complaints)

AIR BAGS

1 complaintSafety-related
2023-06-06Crash reported

The contact owns a 2022 Subaru WRX. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a front-end collision; however, the air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that there were no illuminating lights. The contact stated that his wife sustained no injuries. The vehicle was towed to a collision center, and the mechanic stated that the air bag sensors were installed incorrectly. The contact stated that the vehicle was awaiting repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 19,800.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1 complaints)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint
2023-02-04

Infotaiment system goes to a blank screen periodicaly. Sound frm radio works but screen is balnk, no way to reset. Wifi updates are up to date. Whenthis happens it disables the eye sight camera causes a safety concern with automatic branking/collision. When the car sits overnight, then the next day it seems to go back to normal. This has happened 4 times already in the 2 months I have oened this vechicle.

When Do 2022 Subaru WRX Problems Start?

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

400–6,000 milesRTV debris clogging oil pickup

Best & Worst Subaru WRX Years

Best Subaru WRX Years to Buy

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.

Subaru WRX reliability scores by year
YearScoreRating
201871/100Good
201972/100Good
202075/100Good
202175/100Good
202273/100Good
202375/100Good
202478/100Good
202577/100Good
202681/100Excellent

Subaru WRX Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
YearScorevs Prior YearRatingRecallsComplaints
202681/100+4Excellent00
202577/100-1Good01
202478/100+3Good013
202375/100+2Good16
2022(selected)73/100-2Good123
202175/1000Good112
202075/100+3Good117
201972/100+1Good227
201871/100—Good240

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2022 Subaru WRX reliable?
Mostly yes, with one serious caveat. It has a good reliability standing and ranks above average among 2022 sedans. Within the WRX line it is among the weaker years of the nine scored. Owners' engine complaints about sealant debris in the oil pan are the main reason.
What are the most common problems with the 2022 Subaru WRX?
Engine complaints are the biggest group, at 12 of 23. Owners describe RTV sealant breaking off in the oil pan and clogging the oil pickup. Three more complaints fall under the power train, including more silicone debris and a push-button start that stopped responding on a manual car after a stall.
Does the 2022 Subaru WRX have oil pan sealant problems?
Owners say yes. They report excess RTV sealant on the oil pan and timing cover breaking off inside the pan. Some found grey and black sealant, and one found a clogged oil screen. Reported mileage runs from 400 to 6,000 miles. Cleaning it out means removing the header and front timing cover.
Has the 2022 Subaru WRX been recalled?
Federal records list one recall for this model year, in the Equipment area. Check the recall status with a VIN lookup before buying. Owners' complaints mention sealant debris, but complaints do not tell us what was or was not recalled, so rely on the recall record itself.
How much does the 2022 Subaru WRX cost to repair?
Independent repair-cost data estimates $682 a year across the model, against $526 for its class. That is higher than typical for compact cars. A sealant cleanout would add labor, since the header and front timing cover must come off to reach the oil pan.

Don’t buy a 2022 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 2022 Subaru WRX

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2022 Subaru WRX does best on recall impact (88/100) and worst on complaint severity (64/100). 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.

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