- The problem
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2004-2005 Impreza and WRX vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.
- The risk
- An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect the passenger inflator and if necessary, install a new inflator kit, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 14, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRF-23.
Vehicle safety record
2005 Subaru WRX Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 19 complaints about the 2005 Subaru WRX with NHTSA, most often about the fuel system (12) and the engine & cooling (4). It is covered by 5 recalls, the latest in February 2023 for the inflator module. For comparison, the 2004 has 42 and the 2006 has 14.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical WRX year, for its age
#194 most complained-about 2005 vehicle
- Complaints
- 19
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2005 Subaru WRX problems
Share of all 19 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2005 Subaru WRX recalls 5
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- The risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- The fix
- Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
- The problem
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- The risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- The fix
- Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
- The problem
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- The risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- The fix
- Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
- The problem
- Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
- The risk
- Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash
- The fix
- Aai motorsports will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall began on august 1, 2006. Owners may contact aai motorsports at 909-923-9188.
What owners say
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19 complaints about the 2005 Subaru WRX
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
As I was driving this morning started smelling strong raw fuel odor. *Tr
2005 Sti, 42,000 miles..... Cold mn weather caused my fuel system under the hood leak gas all over. Inside of car smelt of gas very very bad. Popped the hood, even stronger gas smell, located fuel leaks under the intake manifold drivers side. Towed it to nearest subaru dealer do to fear of fire. Not covered under the 2 warranties I purchased when I bought the car or under subaru recall of 2003-2004 wrx/sti's for the same problem.....Charges will be $600+...... Bought the car from a subaru dealer here in mn, second owner, expensive low miles used car, just plain stupid subaru does not fix this..... *Tr
During cold weather, there is a strong fuel smell in the cabin. Rubber fuel lines on the passenger side leak, causing fuel to puddle on top of the engine block, creating an extreme fire hazard. *Tr
After investigating a small leak it was discovered that my front sway bar mount connected to my lower control arm( recall number "wvx-34 lower control arm) mount had snapped and separated. This could have cause serious injury to myself, family and others driving around me at the time is snapped. Subaru confirms that the lower control arm has a corrosion issue but refuses to cover this problem due to the location of the breakage. *Tr
Fuel smell inside passenger compartment in outside temperatures <20 degrees f. This is apparently a known problem, and a tsb was issued for 2002 and 2003 subaru wrx for a fuel leak, but not for the 2005. Have been told the owner is responsible for repair costs. Online search finds many identical complaints from other owners. *Tr
On cold days, the car smells like gas - many reports online about fuel leaks in cold weather for subaru. *Tr
Strong raw fuel smell in cabin when starting in temps <30 degrees. Fuel is clearly visible leaking from lines below manifold. *Tr
When I started my car the other morning (~14 degrees f) I smelled a strong fuel odor in the cabin. I opened the hood of the car and also smelled it there as well. I drove the car about 2 miles and the smell went away. Once stopped and idling, the odor returned. It is a very strong raw gasoline smell. Upon further research, I found that many other subaru owners are experiencing the same exact issue. It turns out to be a faulty clamp and/or hose, which results in leaking gasoline out of the fuel line. This concerns...
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me for numerous reasons, but the main reason is that it is leaking gasoline in the engine bay, which could result in a fire and ultimately injury/death. The smell it produces in the cabin is also something that concerns me, especially if children are in the car. This only happens when temperatures are very cold, probably below 20 or 25 degrees f. Please look into this issue and you will find many are experiencing the same thing with their vehicles. Thanks *tr
When started, temperatures under 20 degrees (f), vehicle will emit a strong gasoline odor under hood and will come in through heater vents. Dealer says they know of the problem, but no current recalls. The previous model years had a recall for the same exact problem. Subaru of america claims the model year I have has an update, but after researching this problem online and with subaru dealers, there is still a known problem. There is a rubber fuel line under the intake manifold that is the culprit. My dealer claims "they all do this when it's cold." I am not satisfied with this answer and subaru of america has been no help either. They claim it is up the ntsb to issue a recall. *Tr
Fuel smell inside passenger compartment in outside temperatures <20 degrees f. This is apparently a known problem, and a tsb was issued for 2002 and 2003 subaru wrx for a fuel leak, but not for the 2005. Have been told the owner is responsible for repair costs. Online search finds many identical complaints from other owners. *Tr
Strong gasoline odor smell inside car. Happens when the outside temperature is very cold, below 15 degrees. This issue is similar to that reported in earlier model wrxs. See recall nhtsa campaign number: 09v468000 which addressed leaking fuel lines at cold temperatures. Other complaints like this one have been filed for wrxs years not covered by the recall. *Tr
Gas leak that causes very strong gas fumes in the car during cold starts and significant gas loss overnight. Local subaru dealership determines it's faulty fuel line gaskets and $900 to repair. The fumes are so strong that I fear something will ignite the vapors and start a fire. *Tr
Gas leak causing strong odors inside car. This started with the cold weather. Most likely hoses became brittle or weak claiming force in cold weather allowed gas leakage. *Tr
Car: 2005 subaru impreza sti. Problem: factory defect in the turbo oil supply. The factory recommends immediate removal of the turbo inline oil filter. If this filter becomes clogged the turbo will be ruined. This is per subaru factory bulletin no. 02-103-07. Why is this not a factory recall? *Tr
Subaru will not replace/fix strut clunk noise coming from the rear. Many others have complain and there is still no solution. This can cause the owner $1350 for something that all 2004+ subaru sti cars experience. *Tr
I own a 2005 subaru impreza wrx sti. I am having problems shifting into 5th gear. The transmission grinds and resists going into gear. This is only a problem with 5th gear, all of the other gears are smooth and responsive. Since experiencing this problem, I have done quite a bit of research and discovered that this is a common problem in 2004 and 2005 stis. Apparently, subaru of america put an inferior synchro in 5th gear. 1St, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th all have upgraded synchros. Starting in 2006, subaru...
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began putting the upgraded synchros in all 6 gears. The car only has 34,000 miles on it and so it is still under factory powertrain warranty. I am in the process of submitting this for a warranty claim, but unfortunately it appears that it will most likely be denied. Subaru of america is notorious for denying claims on all stis on the basis that they were abused, regardless of the truth of this accusation. I am rather upset about this, as I recently purchased the car with the understanding that subaru would honor their warranty - especially because the car has not been abused or modified (other than a removal of the large, unattractive wing, a cosmetic modification only). There are several other people having these same problems, both with the failure of 5th gear in their 2004 or 2005 sti and with subaru denying their claim and charging them huge fees for disassembling and inspecting the engine. I can provide a link to the online record (on a subaru enthusiast website), as well as contact info for other owners affected. My main concern is that subaru obviously knows that there is a defect with the 5th gear synchro, evidenced by the fact that they had to upgrade the synchro in 2006+ models, and that they have not issued a recall or some sort of way to fix the problem for current subaru sti owners. *Tr
Normal city and highway commuting. While traveling on the highway vehicle had a violent drop in speed , and a metal clanking noise. Was heard. The engine died, as a result lost power steering. I managed to safely bring the car to a stop. It was as able to drive it despite the engine shutting off frequently to the dealer. They reported to me that the turbocharger failed, and I had 4 twisted axles, half-shafts replaced. They had to place a call to subaru to see about covering the failure. I heard nothing, but...
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after calling they said subaru would not cover the failure, but would not say why. I went in later and requested a written statement that they refused to cover it and why. It was then I found out that it was due to alleged abuse. The proof of this was the presence of club stickers and aftermarket parts which had no bearing on the defective parts. They stated the presence of these things implied abuse to the car. They refused to fix it unless I payed. They offered nothing , but a 800 number to complain to subaru of america. I am currently in the process with soa and everyone is being very uncooperative. I felt being discriminated against because of my age. I am younger , therefore, I must be abused or race the car.*Ak
Under normal city driving and highway commuting the transmission and clutch pedal stopped delivering power on the highway. I managed to safely get off the highway and had the car towed to dealership. Dealer refused to cover worn clutch under warranty despite wear items covered under the 3 year//36000 mile coverage. Car was around 20000 miles. Dealer gave me a feeling that I was discriminated against because I was a young man with a sporty car, therefore, I must race it and abuse it. I have old parts in my garage. They did, however, cover brake pads at another time.*Ak
There is a clunking noise at slow speed coming from the rear of the car. A lot of owner in the internet forums are having the same problem. This problem seemed to be the strut going bad after couple thousand miles. *Jb
Subaru WRX: every year compared
All WRX years2005 Subaru WRX vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Subaru WRX | 19 | 5 | C | |
| 2005 Ford Mustang | 0 | 9 | D | Compare |
| 2005 Chevrolet Corvette | 0 | 6 | D | Compare |
| 2005 Volkswagen GTI | 0 | 1 | A | Compare |
| 2005 Subaru Outback | 273 | 9 | C | Compare |
| 2005 Subaru Legacy | 184 | 9 | F | Compare |
| 2005 Subaru Forester | 93 | 1 | B | Compare |
| 2005 Subaru Impreza | 75 | 6 | C | Compare |
| 2005 Subaru Baja | 37 | 11 | C | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2005 Subaru WRX
Does the 2005 Subaru WRX have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2005 Subaru WRX: inflator module (February 2023); inflator module (January 2020); inflator module (January 2020); inflator module (January 2020) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Subaru WRX?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the fuel system (12), engine & cooling (4), suspension (4).
How many complaints has the 2005 Subaru WRX had?
19 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on March 30, 2007 and the latest on February 20, 2015. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2005 Subaru WRX a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 58 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Subaru WRX year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Subaru WRX years have the most complaints?
2002 (426), 2008 (65), 2003 (60). See every Subaru WRX year compared.
What should I do if my 2005 Subaru WRX has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data