Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, engine, and transmission. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2019Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2019 Subaru WRX: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/4
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2019's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2019 checks
Worth adding to your 2019 checks
Worth adding to your 2019 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2019 Subaru WRX. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | AWD | 23 mpg |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | AWD | 19 mpg |
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Battery drain, no-start
1,000–25,000 miles
Connecting rod engine failure
61,700–77,000 miles
NHTSA complaints for the 2019 Subaru WRX, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
The battery goes dead while the car sits, and this is the most common complaint. Some cars won't start after a day parked. Others drain within a week, or after a door stays open for about 20 minutes. Reports start as early as 1,000 miles and run to about 25,000. Dealers often find nothing wrong or just replace the battery, and the drain comes back. One owner traced a constant draw to the telematics unit. Separate reports describe the touchscreen freezing and the car briefly shutting off while driving, which locks the steering at highway speed.
A rod bearing or connecting rod breaks without warning, and the car stalls or seizes while moving, often at highway speed. Drivers describe a popping sound or nothing at all, with no dashboard lights. Failures are reported from 9k miles up to 77,000. Some cars needed a full engine or short block, and one engine failed a second time after replacement. Stalling in traffic leaves drivers stranded in live lanes. One warranty claim was denied after the dealer cited the car's logged driving history.
The two reports describe different problems. In one car, the transmission sometimes won't go into second gear even though every other gear engages. In the other, a new car made a sudden loud clunk and lost all power. After 7 weeks the dealer still had not found the cause and had begun suggesting driver fault. Two complaints are too few to show a clear pattern.
Excerpts from complaints WRX owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Without warning, my brand new car at 1000 miles was found battery dead in my garage. Towed to dealership, I was told that "I got a bad battery". Again, at 7000 miles, car found dead in my garage.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2021
I was an hour into a 5-hour trip. I stopped the vehicle at a interstate rest area. I then went to start the car again after 5 minutes or so, and it would not start. After getting a jump start, I drove back to my dealership, and they informed me I needed to replace my battery. This vehicle is only 2 years old. I paid for a new battery.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2021
Rod bearing broke on engine at 9k miles, car shuts down. Replaced engine and turbo under warranty. Rod bearing broke again on engine at 38k, car shut down. Both times will traveling on highway posing major safety risk.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2022
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2019 ranks second for owner complaints among 8 WRX years, about 1.7 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2019 is the fifth model year of the WRX's fourth generation (2015–2021).
It is also the first year of a mid-cycle update.
What changed for 2019
Recall repairs are free at any Subaru dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
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.
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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
Cars shoppers compare with the Subaru WRX, with their own 2019 checklists.
2019 owner complaints, side by side
