2021 Subaru WRX: common problems and reliability

The 2021 Subaru WRX has 13 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 1 recall on record. The most-reported areas are power train and engine. Owners most often flag slow/unresponsive infotainment system: screen lag, slow boot-up, requires warm-up time for best operation. frequency: very frequent.

Safety record for the 2021 model year

13
Owner complaints
1
Recalls
0
Crash reports
0
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2021 Subaru WRX vehicles (US, public record).

Is 2021 a good year for the WRX?

Across the 5 WRX model years we track, complaint volume runs from 6 (2014) to 53 (2017). With 13 complaints, the 2021 WRX sits belowthe model's median of 31.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

power train
6
engine
5
electrical system
2
visibility/wiper
2
seats
1

Recalls affecting the 2021 WRX

exterior lighting:back up lights:switch

Campaign 22V522000

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 ima

What owners say across generations

Sentiment is highly dependent on generation and owner expectations. For the current VB generation (2022+), sentiment is mixed to positive, with a strong consensus that it offers an excellent, engaging, and analog driving experience,…

  • For VB Generation (2022+):
  • Slow/unresponsive infotainment system: screen lag, slow boot-up, requires warm-up time for best operation. Frequency: very frequent.

Owner insights cover all generations of the WRX. See the full WRX owner picture and every model year.

Typical used price

Used WRX listings typically run $21,700–$32,792 across 2015 to 2026 model years.

Other WRX model years

Compare every WRX year side by side to see how 2021 ranks against the rest.

Compare the WRX against its rivals