Last updated: 2026-10-10

2024 Subaru WRX
RELIABILITY SCORE: 78/100 (GOOD)

2024 Subaru WRX Reliability Report

The 2024 Subaru WRX has good reliability, but two manual transmission failures, one in third gear, are the problem to check before buying.

Recalls

0

Complaints

13

Complaint Rate

7per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$682

Annual Fuel Cost

$3,150–$3,300

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity71/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs70/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact100/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity79/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

Good reliability with no recalls and a low complaint count, though two manual transmission failures stand out as the main risk.

Top Issues to Watch

  • POWER TRAIN (2)
  • STRUCTURE (1)
  • FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1)

Should You Buy the 2024 Subaru WRX?

Reliability is good for this model year, and it sits above average among 2024 sedans. Within the nine scored WRX years, it is among the stronger ones. Owners filed 13 complaints, and no federal recall covers it. The 2023 rates worse and has one recall. The 2025 rates about the same, with one complaint, though it has had less time on the road to collect more.

The problems that matter involve the manual transmission. In one report, third gear failed on the upshift from second. The driver heard a loud pop, then a grinding noise like gravel under the car, and the car lost power. A dealer teardown found almost none of the third-gear teeth left. Another owner described the shifter slipping past the sixth-gear detent toward reverse at highway speed. Both failures carry a risk of losing control. Repairs were slow, and one transmission stayed apart for weeks.

If you are looking at a manual car, ask for any transmission repair records. Budget for repair costs above the class norm.

Compared to the 2025 Subaru WRX, which scored 1 points lower. See also the 2023 Subaru WRX for an earlier comparison.

Pros

  • +Acceptable reliability score
  • +Infrequent unscheduled repairs
  • +Low major repair risk (14%)
  • +No recalls issued

Cons

  • −Above-average repair costs for its class
  • −Above-average complaint rate for Sedan
  • −UNKNOWN OR OTHER: Full-screen SiriusXM advertisement takes over the infotainment display while... (6 complaints)

Compare 2024 Subaru WRX With

Common Problem Categories

Other

HIGH RISK
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER (6)
  • POWER TRAIN (2)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

0

recalls on record

No recalls are on record for the 2024 Subaru WRX — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

7

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 5.4

LowAvgHigh
Low

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.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2024 Subaru WRX? Check its history first

Power train problems lead owner complaints about the 2024 Subaru WRX, and 0 recalls were 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

2024 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, 2nd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Driver)Additional Air Bags (n/a)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Standard)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)
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

18–19 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 2024 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)182521$3,300

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2024 Subaru WRX.

  • Shift from second to third under moderate throttle several times; listen for a pop or grinding and feel for lost power.

  • In sixth gear at highway speed, check that the shifter holds firmly in its gate and never drifts toward reverse.

  • Ask for service records showing any transmission teardown, third-gear repair, or pending manufacturer inspection.

  • Watch the infotainment screen on the test drive for full-screen SiriusXM pop-ups that block navigation and climate controls.

  • Turn the center display off before driving and confirm it stays off the whole drive.

  • Ask the dealer whether the in-car SiriusXM advertisements can be turned off on this car.

2024 Subaru WRX Common Problems by Component

13 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

6
2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER (6)POWER TRAIN (2)STRUCTURE (1)FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1)VISIBILITY (1)ENGINE (1)SERVICE BRAKES (1)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

6 complaints

A full-screen SiriusXM advertisement takes over the infotainment display while the car is moving. The pop-up blocks navigation, audio, and climate controls until the driver dismisses it by hand. Reports describe it appearing at city speeds and on snowy, icy roads. The screen can also switch itself on to show the ad after the driver has turned it off. Drivers describe the sudden pop-up as a serious distraction, and one sudden appearance led to a panic stop and a slide on ice. None of the reports give a mileage.

6 complaints total

POWER TRAIN

2 complaints

Third gear in the manual transmission can fail on the upshift from second. Drivers hear a loud pop, then a grinding noise like gravel under the car, and the car loses power. A dealer teardown found almost none of the third-gear teeth left. A separate report describes the shifter slipping past the sixth-gear detent toward reverse at highway speed. Both failures carry a risk of losing control. Repairs are slow. One transmission stayed apart for weeks while the owner waited on a factory engineer's report. In the third-gear case, a Subaru specialist's inspection ended in a denial.

2 complaints total

STRUCTURE

1 complaint
2025-12-17

The component failing is the side skirts or, as officially described in the Subaru parts diagram, the „Side Spoiler“. It can also be found as part numbers 96051, and 96051A. It can be easily visually inspected. This puts others at risk because it may end up dragging on the road, or falling off entirely which poses a major safety risk to other drivers because it is a piece of plastic nearly the length of the entire wheelbase. After talking with other owners, they have had the same issue, and in my case I had the issue a few months after purchasing the car. Then when the rear of the car was replaced and fixed due to an accident, they fixed this issue, but it came back a month after being repaired. I do not know if it has been inspected by Subaru or police or insurance, but they may see it as a recurring issue. There were know warning lamps or messages. I only noticed when inspecting my car before use or while washing it.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1 complaints)

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint
2025-09-26

I understand that every manufacturer is racing to get these vehicles autonomous or something similar to it and I can fully appreciate a world that would be as I'm sick of distracted drivers as it is these days and the police's complicity or the lack of enforcement doesn't help. That said, the pre-collision system in Subaru needs a bit of an overhaul or an option to shut it off permanently and not every single time we start the vehicle. There were two separate instances where the collision warning picked up "something" that caused it to brake unexpectedly and hard causing ABS to trigger and everything getting thrown off the seats. I have no idea what even caused it. One other instance is when the vehicle in front of me suddenly braked unexpectedly. Seeing as I do not tailgate, I had plenty of time to move over to the other lane. In the process of this, the car detected the braking vehicle in front and just slammed the pre-collision brakes on me causing all sorts of panic for myself and every driver around me. The car tried to stop on the parkway at 55 mph because I wanted to merge left (and had plenty of space to do so) whereas the car just wanted to stop. The lane I was merging to didn't have anyone so it was fine but the person behind me probably freaked out a bit. Subaru needs to give us the ability to adjust the sensativity of these systems or just the ability to turn them off permanently. I love this car and love the brand but I feel they could do better. I'd like to say these manufacturers need to stop trying to baby and coddle us but when I see the drivers these days, I can understand where they are coming from.

VISIBILITY (1 complaints)

VISIBILITY

1 complaint
2025-02-08

The Drivers side mirror (LEFT) When sitting still is distorted and wavy if you look around in the mirror. It makes the earth bend or any objects in the mirror bend, the best way to put it when driving or sitting still it looks like a funhouse mirror. And once at about 40 MPH the Same mirror also vibrates while driving. The retailer I choose has replaced the mirror glass twice and the mirror housing once, it had done nothing to fix it.

ENGINE (1 complaints)

ENGINE

1 complaint
2025-03-22

Driving my car as any person would, at the 3519 mile mark on the odometer the engine low oil light came on, it took (1.5Q) of oil to top it off. This is a brand new car no one buys a new car to add oil to it, then to get told by the dealership that it’s normal for up to (2Q) of oil to be added because it’s the only AWD boxer, but yet the 24 crosstreks have boxers and doesn’t burn oil?????

SERVICE BRAKES (1 complaints)

SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint
2025-01-03

The contact owns a 2024 Subaru WRX. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the ABS did not function as intended. The contact stated that while merging into another lane, the ABS independently activated, and the vehicle independently stopped. Additionally, the contact stated that due to the failure, the vehicle was almost rear-ended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150.

Best & Worst Subaru WRX Years

Best Subaru WRX Years to Buy

Top Pick
78
Good

2024

(Current Model)

0Recalls
13Complaints
75
Good

2023

1Recalls
6Complaints
75
Good

2021

1Recalls
12Complaints

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
2024(selected)78/100+3Good013
202375/100+2Good16
202273/100-2Good123
202175/1000Good112
202075/100+3Good117
201972/100+1Good227
201871/100—Good240

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2024 Subaru WRX reliable?
Yes, it has good reliability and rates above average against other 2024 sedans. Among the nine scored WRX years it is one of the stronger ones. Owners filed 13 complaints and there are no recalls. The main concern is a pair of serious manual transmission failures.
What are the most common problems with the 2024 Subaru WRX?
Power train complaints stand out. Two owners reported manual transmission failures: third gear breaking on the upshift from second, and the shifter slipping past the sixth-gear detent toward reverse at highway speed. Both carry a risk of losing control. The rest of the complaints do not form a clear pattern in the data.
Does the 2024 Subaru WRX have transmission problems?
Some cars do. One owner heard a loud pop, then grinding, and lost power after a second-to-third upshift. A dealer teardown found almost none of the third-gear teeth left. Another reported the shifter slipping toward reverse at highway speed. Repairs were slow, with one transmission apart for weeks.
Does the 2024 Subaru WRX have any recalls?
No. Federal recall records list no recalls for this model year. The 2023 WRX has one recall on record, and the 2025 has none. Check a specific car's VIN with the dealer or federal records before buying, since open repairs can still be tied to an individual vehicle.
How much does the 2024 Subaru WRX cost to maintain?
Independent repair-cost data puts the WRX at about $682 a year, compared with $526 for its class. That figure covers the model as a whole, not only 2024. Expect to spend more than you would on a typical compact sedan.

Don’t buy a 2024 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 2024 Subaru WRX

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2024 Subaru WRX does best on recall impact (100/100) 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.

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