Last updated: 2026-10-10

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
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
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)
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

2022 Volkswagen Golf
Reliability: 58/100

2022 Mazda 3
Reliability: 78/100

2022 Honda Civic
Reliability: 66/100

2022 Hyundai Elantra
Reliability: 74/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 1 manufacturer recall issued
Other
HIGH RISK- ENGINE (12)
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3)
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 soldSegment avg: 17.8
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.
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.
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.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2022 Subaru WRX NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 9.0%
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
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
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WRX 2.4L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,150 |
| WRX 2.4L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S8) | 19 | 25 | 21 | $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.
ENGINE
12 complaintsExcess 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.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3 complaintsThese 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.
POWER TRAIN
3 complaintsSilicone 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.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1 complaints)
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
1 complaintDuring 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 complaintHood vibration (visual) when driving and going over minor bumps.
SERVICE BRAKES (1 complaints)
SERVICE BRAKES
1 complaintSafety-relatedMy 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-relatedThe 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 complaintInfotaiment 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.
Best & Worst Subaru WRX Years
Best Subaru WRX Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreSubaru 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 2022 Subaru WRX reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2022 Subaru WRX?
Does the 2022 Subaru WRX have oil pan sealant problems?
Has the 2022 Subaru WRX been recalled?
How much does the 2022 Subaru WRX cost to repair?
Don’t buy a 2022 Subaru WRX without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
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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