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Engine & cooling

2022 Subaru WRX Engine problems

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 2022 Subaru WRX's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 60% of all its complaints, most recently on November 28, 2023. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Transmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

Low engine oil levels came on just last week. I had gotten my complimentary oil/rotate last month. I've heard and seen videos on this vehicle having excessive RTV sealant on the oil pan. Makes me very concerned seeing how the RTV clogs the oil pickup resulting in oil deprivation. Seeing how this is my only car I rely a lot on this vehicle. The engine could've seized up on me anytime. When the light had come on I checked my dipstick and found that there was hardly any oil in the engine. T dipstick was practically...

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dry. I have documentations to prove it as well. I've topped up my own oil and will be monitoring this problem. If I reproduce the same problem I will be back to complain again/headed to the dealership. This needs to be fixed ASAP. Seeing how my car only has 18,000 miles it's ridiculous. Recall the vehicles already and get this issue resolved before someone gets seriously injured. No way I'm paying for something production messed up on.

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 11557157
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

The electric pushbutton would not function. I have a standard transmission and I let the clutch out too soon by accident. It killed the engine but the electrical components stayed on, such as lights, interior dash gauge, air conditioning, radio, everything else functioned as if the car were on and running however, i couldn't start the vehicle and the push button did not generate any response from the vehicle. Opening and shutting the door did not work, getting out and locking the car did not do anything. It was...

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just like when a desktop computer freezes with the screen still functioning. This is the third time it has happened, the first 2 times it was 1. In a store parking lot 2. In my garage. 3. Today it happened as I was trying to leave the house, in my garage again. Each time, letting off the clutch too soon is what caused the car to behave this way. The first time I sat in the parking lot for about 15 minutes, same with the second time. This time I made sure to look at a clock and it happened at 10:50 am CST, it is 11:21 am CST currently and still no response from the car, it will not turn on. My safety so far has not been a concern as I was in a parking lot or garage each time this has happened but if this happens in traffic or in an intersection, it will be deadly. It will kill people both myself and other motorists. I have slipped off of the clutch before in this vehicle and this malfunction does not happen each time. It is sporadic. I don't know why it happens only sometimes. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle or component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or any other people. The first occurrences have been in the month of June 2023. There were no other warning lamps on to indicate any problems. The dash lights, air, etc remain on after it happens just like when you switch the car to the "Accessories" position however the engine will not Crank.

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11530306
Engine & cooling

Excessive RTV silicone was used on the oil pan on this year/make/model. This issue causes pieces of RTV to break off inside the oil pan and clog the oil pickup resulting in the engine being deprived of oil. I'm seeing more and more people document this issue online and worry the $33,000 car I just bought may have this issue. Subaru has not issued any recall knowing this is affecting many many vehicles.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11515307
Engine & cooling

The vehicle's oil pan has seal is made up of RTV silicone and it seems an excessive amount was placed around the oil pan. I've noticed that this has caused some of the silicone sealant to chip off into the oil pan causing it to flow into the oil pick up. Over time I've noticed a burning smell from the engine bay area and the exhaust. I know different models of Subaru have the same engine type and have all faced this issue causing catastrophic damage to the engine. And so far I have not heard Subaru making any...

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headway to fix the issue. This is my daily vehicle and I really do not want what could be a simple fix to destroy my car. But I'm sure a lot of other Subaru WRX owners are facing this issue! There have been many owners posting videos of them dropping the pan to show residue of the RTV silicone getting caught in the oil pick up filter. Subaru needs to fix this since it came from the factory with this defect!

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11514936
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & coolingFuel system

Car has some type of black silicone inside oil pan. Inside upper pan as well. Also has clogged a screen that oil passed through. I have seen many people online do this pan drop time and time again and still having big chunks blocking its path to engine. I'm afraid of oil deprivation. This with ultimately destroy the entire motor. This could lead to serious injury or death if the motor suddenly goes. I believe this needs to be looked into to help prevent this. More of these 2022 Subaru wrxs being manufactured in...

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this manner could ultimately destroy a 30,000$ vehicle and lead to crashing out unexpectedly. My phone number is [[redacted]] thank you for your time. ,[[redacted]] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Filed Incident Power train · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11509958
Engine & cooling

The fa24 engine for this car uses an RTV gasket to seal the oil pan. Subaru ended up using too much RTV sealant on this engine which ended up causing pieces of RTV to fall off inside of the oil pan. This can cause a clog in the oil pickup which may result in oil starvation for the engine. If this happens in traffic and the motor blows up, it could cause a collision. Subaru doesn't have any active service or recalls for this issue and it has been known to happen on the BRZ and Toyota 86 which both use the same...

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engine. You can see online that others have dropped the oil pans on their fa24s and found RTV fluid in their oil pan. Recently, RallySport Direct on YoutTube release a video detailing them dropping the oil pan on a 22 WRX and found large pieces of RTV clogging the oil pickup. If Subaru doesn't address this issue, it can affect many vehicles on the road.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11502121
Engine & cooling

The seal on the oil pan is chipping off and getting into the oil pan and oil pick up system and causing oil starvation.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11501885
Engine & cooling

There is a huge concern about excess RTV getting into the oil pick up that will cause oil starvation in the engine once enough particles of RTV have caused obstruction. The 2022 WRX has the same engine FA24 as the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86, both have had issues with excess RTV in the oil can and have caused catastrophic damage. There has been many articles, forum posts, and videos showing this issue. Lastly, removal of RTV is very labor intensive as the header must be dropped in order to get the oil pan off. You...

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can not remove the oil pick up without taking the entire front timing cover off either. In conclusion, most will not be able to have this cleaned out themselves and would only have the option to pay the dealership or an independent shop to do the work.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11501594
Engine & cooling

RTV sealant was over applied to the oil pan and timing cover which will result in a clogged oil pickup. Having a clogged oil pick up will starve the engine from oil which yields extremely catastrophic results, especially in a performance sports sedan. This is the same complaint as the others. Thank you.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11501330
Engine & cooling

There has been many credible reports with evidence that an excessive amount of RTV is used in the oil pan area, causing enough silicone to become lodged within the lines. This can and will cause the motor to fail as oil starvation can occur. Removing the oil pan would void the warranty and is not in a serviceable location. Subaru of America has been made aware of these reports but has not responded with a recall. Reported incident is the date in which this was first reported by body shops I could find. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFX1PrixUyg

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11501307
Engine & cooling

Excessive RTV used to seal engine and oil pan is clogging the oil pickup in the oil pan. Many 2022 Subaru WRX owners have had a technician take off the oil pan to inspect the oil pickup and inside the oil pan. They are finding lots of Grey RTV as well as black RTV. Both grey and black are used to seal the engine in different areas. This is very concerning especially since most of these cars are under the 1st oil change time and mileage. Under 6000k miles... Long term there will be a significantly greater...

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amount of floating RTV that will inevitably clog the oil pick up... My 2022 WRX only has 400 miles on it and I am already losing sleep over this very serious Global issue with this engine.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11501262
Engine & cooling

Subaru's negligence strikes again with the SAME problem their other cars have had in previous years. The RTV silicone, a substance utilized to seal various components in the engine block was excessively applied in surplus. Therefore, this RTV ends up clogging essential components of the engine block, such as, however not limited to, the tube used to draw and release oil from the oil pan. There is also potential evidence that other components and chambers in the engine block may also be affected. This RTV blockage,...

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if ignored, may cause oil starvation, damaging or outright DESTROYING various essential components of the engine block and therefore leaving the engine totaled and unrepairable. What I ask is we force a recall on Subaru's part as a standard required check-up for this issue to have these blockages cleared and excess removed. Otherwise, we'll be seeing a lot of blown motors as a result. Important to note: Subaru dealerships are not running this fix as a warranty, therefore checkups and repairs must be made out of pocket.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11500541
Engine & cooling

Excessive use of RTV is finding its way into oil pan and clogging oil pick up. Will most likely cause oil starvation to the engine. This needs to be addressed by Subaru ASAP.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11500530
Engine & cooling

Excessive silicone rtv at the oil pan is making its way into the oil pan and going up into the oil pickup and is starving the motor of oil. could be very dangerous if it happens on the road and it immediately needs to be looked at by subaru.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11499955
Engine & cooling

Oil pickup tube filled with bits of liquid gasket/RTV. Caused engine failure from oil starvation at under 4000 miles.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11499913

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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