KnownCarProblems2017 Subaru Wrx Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 53 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Subaru Wrx, most often about the electrical (26% of complaints, typically around 37,000 miles). It is 4th of 23 Wrx model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Complaints53
Recalls1
Crashes reported8
Fires reported2
Injuries reported7
Most common 2017 Subaru Wrx problems
Electrical
14 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 37,000 miles.
Driving and on a turn between 35-40 MPH my Wrx freaked out. The dash light up like a christmas tree, the lane tracking along with the adaptive cruise control indicators flashed, and the dash said eyesight unavailable. It felt like I couldn't control the car and almost felt as if it accelerated on its own. I hit the…
Battery drained very quickly. Leaving car undriven for 5 days would result in dead battery. Took into dealership dec 2019 and they tested the battery, and found that battery was bad!and replaced the battery.
Engine
12 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 26,000 miles.
I have had the car multiple times idle hard then die both when stopped at stoplights and when coming to a stop. This is the CVT not the manual and I have contacted the dealer the first time it happened and they said "this is normal operation" which I don't think the car dying when I come to a stop is "normal…
Clutch on manual transmission has burned out twice in 13000 miles. Dealer blames driver and is not looking hard for other causes. We are 100% positive this is not caused by driver error. Have been stranded on highway twice in less than a year.
Transmission
11 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 42,500 miles.
Throw out bearing gave out twice at within few thousand miles in less than 1 year. Vehicle was less than 36,000 miles. Dealership repaired it twice. Symptom was rattling noise that resolved when clutch pedal was being pressed. Rattling noise present in gear and in neutral.
Throw out bearing has now gone out for the 3x. Subaru of america did everything to not replace under warranty. Grind in 3rd gear not due to driver error.
Steering
6 complaints · 11%The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Wrx. While driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and was uncontrollable. The brake pedal was applied, but the vehicle failed to respond. As a result, the vehicle accelerated and crashed into a ditch. The driver and passenger side air bags deployed and all the…
I recently experienced a steering rack failure due to leaking seals on the gear assembly on my certified pre-owned 2017 Subaru sti. The power steering failed to operate both in motion on the highway and at slow speeds in a parking lot and local streets. The loss of power steering assist makes it extremely difficult to…
Visibility and wipers
4 complaints · 8%The side mirrors shake at highway speeds rendering them useless. I've worked with the dealership to fix the issue only to be told that they all do this. I then had the mirror assembly replaced but still have the same issue. This severely inhibits my vision while driving.
I parked my car in the driveway after work without a cracked windshield. I went to go to work in the morning with a cracked windshield. No impact marks.... It is as if my windshield spontaneously cracked while parked in 50 degree weather. What if something actually hits my windshield??? Am I safe??? How often do I get…
Air bags
4 complaints · 8%Driving and on a turn between 35-40 MPH my Wrx freaked out. The dash light up like a christmas tree, the lane tracking along with the adaptive cruise control indicators flashed, and the dash said eyesight unavailable. It felt like I couldn't control the car and almost felt as if it accelerated on its own. I hit the…
Lights
4 complaints · 8%The contact owns 2017 Subaru Wrx. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 22v522000 (exterior lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse, the rear-view camera intermittently failed to operate. No warning light was…
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Wrx. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse, the rear-view camera and the back-up lights failed to operate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the reverse light switch and camera needed to be…
Suspension
3 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: front.
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Wrx. While driving at an unknown speed, an unusual noise was heard coming from the wheels without warning. The vehicle was taken to reeves Subaru tampa ([phone], located at 1111 n florida ave, tampa, fl 33612) where it was diagnosed that the bearings failed and needed to be replaced. The…
Driver seat cushioning has completely separated from the metal frame of the seat as well as the middle portion of the seat that is sat on has dropped and resting and the frame of the seat...very uncomfortable and hurts my back to sit in the seat. Also, suspension has become very rough over the smallest bumps. Mileage…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2017 Subaru Wrx recalls
Lights: switch
Risk: Inoperative backup lights and an inoperative rearview camera can reduce vehicle visibility and driver awareness, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the backup light switch, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed september 16, 2022. Owners may contact subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is wre-22.
Full defect summary
Subaru of america, inc. (subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2021 wrx vehicles. The backup light switch may corrode and become inoperative, which can result in the backup lights not illuminating and the rearview camera image not displaying when the vehicle is in reverse.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2017 Subaru Wrx
- What are the most common problems with the 2017 Subaru Wrx?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (14 complaints, typically around 37,000 miles); engine (12 complaints, typically around 26,000 miles); transmission (11 complaints, typically around 42,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2017 Subaru Wrx have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 21, 2022 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2017 a bad year for the Subaru Wrx?
- It is 4th of 23 Wrx model years by number of complaints, with 53 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.