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Engine & cooling

2019 Subaru WRX Engine problems

Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 2019 Subaru WRX's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 37% of all its complaints, most recently on June 4, 2026. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Electrical systemEngine & cooling

The cam carriers for my vehicle are leaking oil. This is an incredible common, seemingly almost guaranteed, issue with these vehicles from Subaru at the 75-90k mile mark. The carrier are dripping oil, so worse than seeping, but not pouring. This runs the risk of the engine bleeding oil fast and running dry without checking oil levels every week or so and carrying extra emergency oil. This is a huge safety risk and given the proliferation of this issue across subaru vehicles and the CVT it needs to be addressed by...

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SOA. There are no warning lights for this issue and this would not have been caught if I hadn't gone to the dealership for a general car inspection as I suspected something may be wrong. The problem has been reproduced at other shops/dealerships and is a very common almost guaranteed issue with these vehicles.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11742031
Electrical systemEngine & coolingFuel system

fuel pump cut off intermeeting mager loss off power tech at subaru refuse to repair car has 72000 miles on well manetane

Filed Incident Electrical system · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11733161
Engine & cooling

At 77,000 miles, my vehicle suffered a major failure where the #2 connecting rod and piston were destroyed, requiring a short block replacement. This repair was performed by Autonation West Subaru in Golden, Colorado and was covered under the SAS gold plan, certified pre-owned 7yr/100,00mi. warranty purchased with the vehicle. According to the technician's report at that time, the failure was so violent it cracked the engine block and contaminated the entire oiling system with metal shrapnel. A short 18,000 miles...

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after receiving the vehicle back at 95,335 miles the clutch went out, needing to be replaced. Keep in mind that this clutch had recently been replaced at 35,757mi. by this same dealership who at the time charged me $900 even though I had just bought the car in July of 2021 with 22,000mi on it. Now, I am at 128,000 miles - only 50,000 miles after the dealership repair - and the engine has failed again. Fortunately, just as I was pulling up to my friend's house, it stalled with an engine code of p0171 present and several dash lights illuminated. And all I've gotten it to do is crank but not start, since early September. In October I had it towed to Subie Smith in Thornton, Colorado. Who did an inspection and compression test, reporting low compression in 2 of the 4 cylinders. And recommended a full engine replacement, either used or new. I don't have the means to afford an engine replacement now out of warranty.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11712991
Engine & cooling

With 61,700 miles on the car the engine lost a rod bearing going around a sharp corner on and off ramp of interstate highway. If failure had caused block to crack or break it would have put oil down on the highway and would of caused loss of control of the car. From research done online it seems sharp corners cause engine catastrophic failure. Car is currently at Subaru dealership. Subaru will not do anything about the issue. Vehicle had fresh oil change 2 days before failure with no noise or warning before failure.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11613050
Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru WRX. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, there was an abnormal popping sound detected, and the engine seized. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who informed the contacts that the repair was not covered under the warranty. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The technician checked the black box, which indicated that the vehicle had been driven at 144 MPH, the turbo was spun, and the warranty was declined. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11564661
Engine & cooling

Engine failed while driving causing vehicle to stall

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11556424
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

at random, the vehicle will shut down for a second and start back up without pressing the start button. usually occurs while using carplay but has occurred without using the stereo. will happen back to back and cause the steering wheel to lock up at highway speeds, taking control of the vehicle away from me (driver). steering wheel has locked up several times when the car shuts off while driving. vehicle was taken to dealership for diagnostics and they were unable to pinpoint an issue.

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11493131
Engine & cooling

Rod bearing broke on engine at 9k miles, car shuts down. Replaced engine and turbo under warranty. Rod bearing broke again on engine at 38k, car shut down. Both times will traveling on highway posing major safety risk.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11467539
Fuel systemEngine & cooling

The contact stated owns a 2019 SUBARU WRX. The contact stated that while her spouse was driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle started making an abnormal sound as if the engine was sputtering. The driver was concerned that fuel was not running through the engine correctly. The vehicle began to fail to accelerate forward then lose motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated the driver was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle made a large popping sound and white smoke...

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was coming from the tailpipe. The contact cooled off the timing belt to cool off the vehicle. There was no fire reported. No injuries or medical attention is needed. The vehicle was towed. The contact stated that earlier that day while starting the vehicle it had backfired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the engine was blown due to the failure related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V587000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure however, there was no response yet. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed Incident Fuel system, gasoline · EngineNHTSA 11437131
Engine & cooling

The vehicle stalled at highway speed as I began to decelerate on the interstate highway. I attempted several times to restart the engine until the vehicle reach a rolling stop in the middle of the 4 lane highway. I turned on my hazard lights and after approximately a minute I managed engage the engine for a brief period to reach the shoulder of the highway before the engine stalled again. There were no indicators or warning lights on. I tried several times to start the engine with no success so I called for...

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service. After waiting for 30 minutes, I tried to start the car again; this time the rpms stayed normal. I drove to the car dealership for service. On the first day the technicians were able to replicate the issue but could not identify anything wrong with the vehicle. The technicians tested my fuel octane and electrical system. The technicians then ran a full diagnostic test on the car and still they could not find anything. My vehicle has been with the subaru technicians for 6 days and so far the problem is still unknown.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11375389
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

Very similar issues described in previous engine failures reported. New car, off the showroom floor, serviced on frequent. There was a sudden loud clunky noise and complete loss of power. 7 Weeks later still at subaru and dealership not able to identify the issue but not started to say it was driver fault?

Filed Incident Power train · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11268703

Subaru WRX engine complaints by year

WRX engine problems, every year

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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

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