Subaru WRX Engine problems by year

could not find anything. I inspected my garage where the vehicle was previously parked and there was no trace of leaking coolant prior to leaving. It was towed to the dealership the next day, and they noted the vehicle was overheating driving it from the lot to the service bay. The dealer claims it failed from an impact. I went and inspected it myself expecting to see a hole in the radiator or obvious damage and couldn't find anything. I had to be assisted by a tech who used phrases like "I think it was in this area" and "near impossible place to be hit by something, but I guess it did." The "diagnostic" video points out an area the size of a tennis ball for where the alleged damage occurred- yet the damage is no where to be seen, especially what you would expect from an "impact". I've had a case open with Subaru of America for nearly three weeks with zero correspondence. There are plenty of posts in social media groups talking about radiator failures in 2022+ WRX's. These types of failures can lead to the engine overheating and locking up causing immediate loss of power and extensive damage- not to mention the level of loss of control one would experience and potential catastrophic end.

full engine teardown found catastrophic internal damage concentrated in cylinders/rod bearings 2 and 3, including multiple holes in the engine block, while cylinders 1 and 4 were comparatively intact. The service advisor stated that the damage pattern did not appear consistent with generalized lack of oil and that recent over-revving was not indicated by the vehicle data. An independent inspection on September 17, 2026 confirmed catastrophic internal material failure involving cylinders 2 and 3, crankshaft damage, a deeply gouged cylinder wall, and metal debris associated with the failure. The inspector found no modifications, abuse, commercial use, or outside influence. This sudden loss of engine power and smoke while driving created a safety risk because the vehicle could no longer maintain normal power in traffic and there was concern about further mechanical damage or fire. The failed engine and disassembled components remain available for inspection, along with dealer teardown records, photographs, and the independent inspection report. The vehicle was stock and serviced through authorized Subaru dealerships. The exact initiating cause of the failure remains undetermined.

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.

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.

informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V522000 (Exterior Lighting); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

vehicle was towed to a certified Subaru dealership, where it has been detained since December 2024. Despite being under warranty, repairs have been delayed for over 6 months due to blame disputes between the dealership, the manufacturer, and the extended warranty provider. There were no prior dashboard warnings or messages before failure, only loss of power and engine noise at the time of the incident. The vehicle has been fully inspected and documented by the Subaru service center, and all evidence has been preserved. I have been without a primary vehicle for over 7 months.

hand, exposing me and my family to serious risk while driving. As a result of this negligence, the engine has now deteriorated to the point of needing a full replacement. Subaru of Ontario is attempting to charge me $3,000 for an engine replacement, despite warranty coverage that should fully apply. The dealership has refused to acknowledge their failure in prior inspections or take accountability for releasing an unsafe vehicle back onto the road. I am reporting this as a vehicle safety hazard and potential warranty fraud, as the dealership's actions directly led to unsafe operating conditions and are now being used as justification to deny coverage. I urge the NHTSA to investigate both this specific incident and whether this may reflect a larger pattern among Subaru service centers. I am prepared to provide service records, warranty documentation, dealership communications, and supporting evidence upon request.

fire hazard. It is important to note that my vehicle has never been involved in an accident, and no prior mechanical work has been performed in the affected area, which suggests this may be a manufacturing defect.

I purchased it. The dealership that I bought the car from, highline car connection/Yankee Auto sales, insisted we buy an extended warranty. Upon inspection at Dan Perkins Subaru, one of the biggest safety issues with this vehicle is the clutch, I was informed that the clutch cover was missing and there were aftermarket bolts used, I was informed that the clutch is a normal wear and tear item such as an oil change and because of these two issues my warranty will not cover fixing the clutch. As you can see in my documents I just recently purchased this vehicle and had it for 28 days. I also noticed that there was odometer tampering, I reviewed the paperwork the dealership gave me for the carfax report and I went online to retrieve my own carfax report, there are several discrepancies in which I included with my documents. My vehicle has been in the shop since December 6th 2024 it is not safe to drive on the road in the condition it is which is the same condition the car was sold to me in. For the last week I have been going back and forth with the original dealership the insurance company Allstate with the warranty and Dan Perkins Subaru trying to figure out a way to get my car safe on the road and no one is willing to assist me properly. Please review the documents and get back to me at your earliest convenience thank you for your assistance with these issues. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)