2016 Subaru WRX Owner Complaints

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I KEPT GETTING "HEADLIGHT DISABLED" MESSAGE ON DASH, WITH CONDENSATION BUILDING UP ON THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT, BUT THE HEADLIGHT KEPT WORKING SO I GAVE IT A WEEK AND NOW PASSENGER SIDE IS COMPLETELY OUT. I TOOK IT TO SUBARU AND THEY SAID THEY WILL REPLACE THE BULB. AFTER TAKING MY CAR IN TO REPLACE THE BULB, THEY REALIZED MY CAR REQUIRES A FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE HEADLIGHT. IT'S ONLY BEEN TWO YEARS AND IT COSTS $840 FOR THE HEADLIGHT AND $1000+ WITH LABOR JUST TO FIX A LOW BEAM. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPLETE PACKAGE AND IT WASN'T COVERED. THERE IS A BAD SEAL AND A BAD DESIGN IN THESE MODELS. TWO YEAR OLD CAR SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THESE KIND OF ISSUES.

3/27/2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU WRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU OF JACKSONVILLE (10800 ATLANTIC BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32225) FOR THE FAILURES AT LEAST THREE TIMES AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS SERVICED, BUT THE FAILURES PERSISTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

6/27/2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 (NA) SUBARU WRX. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN RESET P CODES 1449, 1604, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOW UP TO SUBARU STANDARDS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,833.

8/24/2016

AFTER LEAVING WORK AND DRIVING LESS THAN ONE MILE, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE STALLED WHILE APPROACHING A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PLACED INTO PARK AND RESTARTED. THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS 80 DEGREES; MOST AUXILIARY SYSTEMS WERE NOT IN USE AT THE TIME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED EXCEPT FOR THE RADIO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING OPERATED IN ITS OPTIONAL "PADDLE SHIFTER" MODE--IT WAS IN THE STANDARD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SETTING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING ASSESSED AT A DEALERSHIP, ALTHOUGH PRELIMINARY DIAGNOSIS FROM A DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE INDICATES THERE IS "NOTHING WRONG." HOWEVER, A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH OF "2015+ SUBARU WRX CVT STALLING" YIELDS A NUMBER OF OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE--THE VEHICLE STALLING WHILE AT LOW SPEEDS. SOME OF THE OTHER OWNERS HAVE INDICATED THEY HAVE PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF OIL CONTROL VALVES FROM THEIR OWN POCKET TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. SINCE THE VEHICLE IS PRONE TO STALLING, THIS CREATES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE FOR WRX OPERATES AS WELL AS OTHER MOTORISTS.

5/26/2018

I WAS DRIVING MY 2016 SUBARU WRX DOWN A MAIN ROAD AT ABOUT 11PM. I WAS IN 3RD GEAR GOING 30MPH DRIVING STRAIGHT WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY CAME TO A GRINDING HALT. I DID NOT APPLY THE BRAKES AND SINCE I WAS ALREADY MOVING FORWARD IN 3RD, THE CLUTCH WAS NOT PRESSED. THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON ONCE THE CAR STOPPED AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED AT ALL, AND THE CAR STOPPED STILL CENTERED IN THE LANE AND FACING THE CORRECT DIRECTION 1/4-1/2 A BLOCK FROM WHEN IT STOPPED ITSELF WHILE I WAS STILL DRIVING IT. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THE BRAKE LIGHTS EVEN CAME TO POTENTIALLY WARN OTHER CARS THAT IT WAS SUDDENLY STOPPING. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF THE CAR COMPLETELY AND THEN RESTARTED IT AND DROVE STRAIGHT HOME. LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON A DIFFERENT ROAD AROUND 5:30PM. I WAS DRIVING IN 2ND HEAR GOING ABOUT 12 OR 13MPH IN TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WITHOUT ANY SPEED CHANGES OR PEDAL MOVEMENTS. AGAIN, THE CAR STOPPED CENTERED IN THE LANE WITH THE ENGINE STILL ON AND NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING HAD HAPPENED AT ALL. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE CAR.

3/30/2016

THE BLUETOOTH SYSTEM HAS A DEFECT. THE FIRST TIME A PHONE IS CONNECTED, THE CONNECTION WORKS. IF THAT PHONE IS DELETED FROM THE SUBARU'S SYSTEM, AN ATTEMPT TO RECONNECT FAILS. I HAVE TRIED THIS WITH AN IPHONE 5, IPHONE 6, AND BLACKBERRY. THE SERVICE REP AT THE DEALER ALSO CONFIRMS THE RE-CONNECT PROBLEM. THIS MEANS THAT HANDS-FREE CALLING IS IMPOSSIBLE, CREATING A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZZARD FOR DRIVERS WHO INSIST ON USING THE PHONE EVEN WHEN THE BLUETOOTH FUNCTION IS NOT AVAILABLE. SUBARU, TO WHOM I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM, CLAIMS IT IS A DEFECT WITH THE PHONES, EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER AND I HAVE REPLICATED THE PROBLEM WITH NO LESS THAN 4 DIFFERENT PHONES.

12/14/2016

I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION IN MY 2016 WRX AT 580 MILES. I WAS EXITING A HIGHWAY AND PULLED THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF 6TH. AS I WAS ABOUT TO SHIFT INTO 3RD TO GO THROUGH THE INTERSECTION I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR (STUCK IN NEUTRAL) WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED. I HAD TO PULL OVER TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT BEFORE I COULD GET THE TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 3500 MILES. THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY SHIFTING FROM 5TH INTO 6TH. I PRESSED THE CLUTCH PULLED THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF 5TH AND COULD NOT GET IT INTO 6TH OR ANY GEAR. I PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND STILL COULD NOT GET THE CAR INTO ANY GEAR. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WENT BACK TO RESTART, WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, WHEN I LET UP OFF THE CLUTCH THE CAR STALLED. I PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO 1ST, PRESSED THE CLUTCH AND STARTED THE CAR. WHEN THE CAR STARTED THIS TIME IT LUNGED FORWARD. I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK ON THE HIGHWAY. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THE CAN DO UNTIL THE ARE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SINCE THE SECOND OCCURRENCE I STARTED NOTICING A STRONG BURNT SMELL AT LOW SPEED (SHIFTING 1ST TO 2ND) AND AT CRUISING HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN 6TH GEAR. ABOUT 1000 MILES LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS TIME NOT ONLY COULD I NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR I COULD NOT GET THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO COME UP ALL THE WAY, THIS OCCURRED AT 35MPH. I HAD TO PRESS THE CLUTCH SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO GET IT TO COME UP FULLY, THEN I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR. THE BURNING SMELL WAS PRESENT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO CLAIM THEY CAN'T WORK ON THE CAR UNTIL THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE ISSUE.

12/9/2015

IN MY 2016 SUBARU WRX I HAVE HAD THE CONSISTENT PROBLEM OF GETTING IT FROM NEUTRAL INTO 1ST GEAR. IT IS EITHER EXTREMELY DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE CAR INTO FIRST FROM A (I.E. TRAFFIC LIGHT) STOP. IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING BLOCKING THE SLOT FOR THE GEAR- SOMETIMES THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT INTO 1ST IS TO COMPLETELY RESTART THE CAR. IF I DRIVE 30 MILES IN A DAY AROUND TOWN ON THE STREET, THIS 1ST GEAR STICKING ISSUE HAPPENS 6/10 TRAFFIC LIGHTS. I TOOK THE CAR INTO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP SHOP BUT THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE ISSUE DURING A TECHNICIAN TEST DRIVE.

3/31/2016

I WAS DRIVING MY 2016 SUBARU WRX DOWN A MAIN ROAD AT ABOUT 11PM. I WAS IN 3RD GEAR GOING 30MPH DRIVING STRAIGHT WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY CAME TO A GRINDING HALT. I DID NOT APPLY THE BRAKES AND SINCE I WAS ALREADY MOVING FORWARD IN 3RD, THE CLUTCH WAS NOT PRESSED. THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON ONCE THE CAR STOPPED AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED AT ALL, AND THE CAR STOPPED STILL CENTERED IN THE LANE AND FACING THE CORRECT DIRECTION 1/4-1/2 A BLOCK FROM WHEN IT STOPPED ITSELF WHILE I WAS STILL DRIVING IT. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THE BRAKE LIGHTS EVEN CAME TO POTENTIALLY WARN OTHER CARS THAT IT WAS SUDDENLY STOPPING. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF THE CAR COMPLETELY AND THEN RESTARTED IT AND DROVE STRAIGHT HOME. LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON A DIFFERENT ROAD AROUND 5:30PM. I WAS DRIVING IN 2ND HEAR GOING ABOUT 12 OR 13MPH IN TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WITHOUT ANY SPEED CHANGES OR PEDAL MOVEMENTS. AGAIN, THE CAR STOPPED CENTERED IN THE LANE WITH THE ENGINE STILL ON AND NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING HAD HAPPENED AT ALL. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE CAR.

3/30/2016

ABS, cruise control, and other driving assistance features are disabled while driving at night. I checked for recalls on Subaru WRXs and noticed a recall was issued for the same problems on 2011-2015 models. My vehicle is a 2016 model and demonstrates all the same failures observed from the recall of the 2011-2015 models.

2/9/2022

I WAS DRIVING MY 2016 SUBARU WRX DOWN A MAIN ROAD AT ABOUT 11PM. I WAS IN 3RD GEAR GOING 30MPH DRIVING STRAIGHT WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY CAME TO A GRINDING HALT. I DID NOT APPLY THE BRAKES AND SINCE I WAS ALREADY MOVING FORWARD IN 3RD, THE CLUTCH WAS NOT PRESSED. THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON ONCE THE CAR STOPPED AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED AT ALL, AND THE CAR STOPPED STILL CENTERED IN THE LANE AND FACING THE CORRECT DIRECTION 1/4-1/2 A BLOCK FROM WHEN IT STOPPED ITSELF WHILE I WAS STILL DRIVING IT. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THE BRAKE LIGHTS EVEN CAME TO POTENTIALLY WARN OTHER CARS THAT IT WAS SUDDENLY STOPPING. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF THE CAR COMPLETELY AND THEN RESTARTED IT AND DROVE STRAIGHT HOME. LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON A DIFFERENT ROAD AROUND 5:30PM. I WAS DRIVING IN 2ND HEAR GOING ABOUT 12 OR 13MPH IN TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WITHOUT ANY SPEED CHANGES OR PEDAL MOVEMENTS. AGAIN, THE CAR STOPPED CENTERED IN THE LANE WITH THE ENGINE STILL ON AND NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING HAD HAPPENED AT ALL. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE CAR.

3/30/2016

RECALL CLUTCH CHANGE BRAKES ELECTRICAL AND EMISSIONS SEEM TO BE FAILING TUCSON, AZ SUBARU PALM SPRINGS ,CA SUBARU IN MOTION SYSTEMS SYSTEMS FAILURE

5/26/2019

THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN MOVING LEFT TO RIGHT WHILE THE CAR IS STOP. IT ALSO MAKES A CLUNK NOISE WHILE GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STRUTS, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. I'M AFRAID THE STEERING WHEEL GETS LOOSE WHILE DRIVING AND GOD FORBID WHAT COULD HAPPEN. *TR

12/9/2016

My power steering one day lost all fluid out of no where. I have this awful sound and go buy new power steering fluid. It’s continuing to leak. I joined a Subaru Wrx/STi group on Facebook and found that this is a reoccurring problem for many Subaru sti owners around the year I have. It sounds faulty and defective and sucks that the customer is stuck paying for these issues instead of Subaru fixing their reoccurring issue with many customers. I baby my car to the highest extent and the power steering should not have just gone out after I parked in my drive way. There is a massive stain now due to the leakage, which is fine. But it’s inconvenient knowing I’ll have to fork up hundreds to over a thousand to get this properly fixed instead of a DIY where it has to do with such an important compartment of the car.

7/22/2022

RECALL CLUTCH CHANGE BRAKES ELECTRICAL AND EMISSIONS SEEM TO BE FAILING TUCSON, AZ SUBARU PALM SPRINGS ,CA SUBARU IN MOTION SYSTEMS SYSTEMS FAILURE

5/26/2019

I PURCHASED A 2016 SUBARU WRX (PREMIUM) USED FROM A SUBARU DEALER IN ALBANY, NY WITH UNDER 26K MILES FOR APPROXIMATELY $25K IN 2018. ON A DRIVE IN DECEMBER 2022 I EXPERIENCED HESITATION AND/OR STUTTERING UNDER LOAD OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, AND CAR BEGAN GETTING VERY HOT, AND CLOSE TO OVERHEATING, AND THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING LOUDLY. AFTER TURNING ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTARTING, THE KNOCKING (INTENSITY) WAS NOT AS NOTICEABLE AS THE INITIAL INCIDENT. INITIALLY I REPLACED ALL COIL OVER PLUGS, AS CYLINDER #4 INITIALLY WAS REPORTING A MISFIRE CODE AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS APPEARED TO RELIEVE THE MISFIRE BRIEFLY, BUT THE ISSUE IMMEDIATELY RETURNED, THIS TIME WITH PISTON #3 REPORTING MISFIRES AND ALSO EXHIBITING SIGNS OF A POSSIBLE FAILED RINGLAND, WITH OIL SEEPING PAST RINGS (ON TO / IN SPARK PLUG) CAUSING THE ENGINE TO RUN VERY POORLY. PRESENTLY UPON STARTUP WHITE SMOKE COMES FROM EXHAUST OUT THE TAILPIPE AND THE ENGINE IS HESITATING AND/OR MISSING, RUNNING POORLY AND I FEEL IT CANNOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY WITH THE DIMINISHED PERMORMANCE OR COMPLETE LACK OF ABILITY TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY LIKE A MOTOR VEHICLE SHOULD. I HAVE ENGAGED A MECHANIC TO INSPECT THE ENGINE, BUT HAVE NOT YET PROCEEDED WITH INSPECTION/REPAIRS DUE TO THE CLASS ACTION LITIGATION. CURRENT MILEAGE IS: 73563. THIS CAR HAS AN FA20 ENGINE.

4/10/2023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU WRX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,200. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

9/27/2016

VEHICLE DID NOT MEET INSPECTION / WHEEL ALIGNMENT VEHICLE WAS PARKED NEAR A HIGH VOLTAGE POWER LINE DURING WHICH ATMOSPHERIC / AND NATURAL OCCOURANACE ELECTRIC DISTURBANCE CAUSED A ELECTRIC DISTURBANCE VEHICLE IS BEEN RECALLED HOMELESS AT THE TIME OF THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE TURNED OVER TO DEALER SHIP FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE BEEN HELPFUL IN STORAGE I BELIEVE ITS SAFETY / NOT COMPLIANT WITH NTSB FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS IS NEEDED.

5/2/2021

While driving in below zero temperatures I received a warning "Headlights Disabled" and my headlights were inoperable. I was able to use the high beams otherwise, complete darkness causing an immanent safety concern and potential for financial loss in terms of legality and ticketing. The failure remained in effect for approximately 10 minutes and then the warning disappeared and the light regained full operation. Upon googling, this is a common issue with other owners. Please note, I am in Canada and have provided a state/zip code of the nearest US location. Sorry if not allowed :)

1/5/2022

ABS, cruise control, and other driving assistance features are disabled while driving at night. I checked for recalls on Subaru WRXs and noticed a recall was issued for the same problems on 2011-2015 models. My vehicle is a 2016 model and demonstrates all the same failures observed from the recall of the 2011-2015 models.

2/9/2022