New Subaru WRX And STI Reliability - What To Know Before You Buy It

Clutch and throwout bearing issues isn't uncommon for Subaru. I've owned many cars and have putt over 200K miles on most with about 50% city/highway driving. I never had to replace any drive train components on any of them...except for my Subarus. On my 2008 Outback, the last Subaru I will ever buy, I was told that Subaru went through at least 3 throw out bearing variants. Mine went at about 100K but how it went caused the flywheel to be taken out as well (along with the clutch and pressure plate). Yes, it was $1600 to fix it. Subarus are a cult car and I can't figure out why. Unless you can do repairs yourself, they aren't inexpensive to maintain and they can't defy laws of physics with their AWD drive train. I'll take my Honda with a set of studded tires for winter.

While I love my ‘16 WRX the transmission was the biggest disappointment. One of the first upgrades purchased was a Raceseng 735g/1.62lbs weighted shift knob just to get thru the notchy gates. Then we come to the exploded throw out bearing at 58k miles. The transmission started to grind going into 3rd whether upshifting or downshifting unless you held in the clutch and waited for the RPMs to drop below 1000rpm with less than 10k miles The clutch however never slipped even while pushing 400whp but it was never dropped nor abused(mainly due to the grinding tranny) And doesn’t include the times the cable came loose, fighting, because it didn’t want to shift into 5th at all.

All those issues are in the distant past now with a swapped in STI 6mt DCCD with a twin disc Competition Clutch. Now the car shifts as it should, is quicker and really pulls.

This is how the car should have come from the factory

Owner of a 2020 WRX here. I have done extensive research before buying and even inquired with consumer reports about reliability. The issue with their ratings is that the reliability score for this and other year's models of the current generation is based on one model year - I believe it was 2016 - for which they have sufficient data from their user surveys. For all other year's, there is insufficient data. So that's to be taken with a grain of salt.

My 2014 had throwout bearing issues within 6K miles and my motor blew at 8K miles. $6k to replace?!...try $11K for a motor that is shipped from Japan and build in-house. Granted, I didn't tune it and only put new wheels on it, so I was covered, but I did see the bill. They also pull data to see if you have hit the rev limiter and I had never beat on it. I could understand if I drove it hard ever, just once, but I babied it and I drive like a teenager in the middle of a driver's test. I am a bit older, so I just wanted a pretty car. They said I had significantly low oil, but no leaks. I had the oil changed at the same dealership 5 weeks prior. I was in line with 3 STI's with the same issues...recent oil changes and bad rod bearings. The real issue is Subies customer service. They had the car for just under 60 days. Subaru gives you a rental for no more than 8 days. Start throwing the word "lemon" around and they respond. Sad, I grew up watching rally races and always wanted a WRX. I traded it and never looked back.

My 2020 STI that I purchased brand new last year may, from a Subaru dealer had both axles change at 4K miles. Clutch,throw out bearing,and fly wheel was changed at 13k due to some. Still go to the dealer for the samething reverse keep not engaging and pulling to the left..

I've owned 3 wrx. 2002, 2003, 2004. I never had a single issue with any of my cars. I was a older man and didn't beat on them, ( much). They were my daily driver. And I put a ton of miles on them. Not a single problem. I'm sorry to hear about all the problem others have been having. I wouldnt never have thought that about the car. But looking back from tha time to modern day it appears ( to me ) that Subaru got caught up in the money game instead of the quality game. And that a sad thing. But I'll still stand behind the car. Is still a grea car for the money. Nuff Said.

What is Suburu s response to all the negativity towards the new WRX? Are they going to rush to make any changes? Suburu have been a leader and on the cutting edge when it comes to listening to the custom. Lets hope were still on track. I, as well as many others WRX and STI fans have waiting a long time and are ready for more than the same torc and only 3 more horsepower.

The STI is one thing but the WRX has been severely lacking this last 6yrs. The WRX transmission is a box of rocks. My throw out bearing expIoded preventing any engagement. I had already installed the heaviest Raceng shift knob they make to overcome the $hitty gates. So I swapped out the POS WRX tranny in my '16 for an STI/ iWire DCCD set up with a twin disk clutch and couldn't been happier with the upgrade.

I strongly agree........ Only 3hp increase after 6yrs of R&D??? The stock Ascent 2.4T handles 500whp+ without issue. They could have easily made the WRX 325hp but then they'd had to upgrade their POS WRX tranny. Not sure why it's so difficult to make an STI tranny without DCCD to install in the WRX?

The STI better be pushing close to 400hp

Owner of a 2018 WRX Premium, no performance mods. Have a catback exhaust, and a short throw shifter. Purchased car at 16,000 miles and after having for 6months issues with the turbo inlet hose, then shortly after the cam gear ecm went out and need to perform a crank case cleaning, good thing subaru replaced everything but now at 47,000 miles was having clutch issues took it in and they said I need a complete clutch assembly replacement, flywheel and all. Told me it’ll cost 3,500 and it’s not covered under my extended warranty! I just say I love these cars but these issues have detoured me from buying another one! I want to trade my car in for a 2020 sti but have my doubts on the reliability of those at this point as well!

I have a 2013 WRX STI that has been a colossal disappointment. It threw the cam timing belt at 12k miles and the dealer claimed it wasn't covered under warranty because I changed the oil myself (which is illegal). The jerks finally compromised after a prolonged battle and I had to pay for 4000$ to get my car back. The thing has guzzled oil since new (I found out the oil control rings are too small). After a prolonged dead battery during the COVID lockdown, the ECM doesn't; work correctly. I keep reprogramming it, trying to get it running perfectly., It keeps throwing arbitrary error codes and misfires under acceleration. My car and Subaru have been a pain in the butt.