Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the engine and transmission. The 8 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2022Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/8 checked
2022 Subaru WRX: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/1
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 2022's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2022 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2022 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | AWD | 22 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.
RTV debris clogging oil pickup
400–6,000 miles
NHTSA complaints for the 2022 Subaru WRX, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Excess RTV sealant on the oil pan and timing cover breaks off inside the pan and can clog the oil pickup. The fear is oil starvation and sudden engine failure, which could cause a crash if it happens in traffic. One report describes engine failure under 4,000 miles, and another mentions a burning smell from the engine bay and exhaust. Most reports come from owners who saw pan-drop videos online, and some found grey and black RTV in the pan. Cleaning it out is labor-intensive because the header and front timing cover must come off.
Silicone debris in the oil pan comes up again here. One report finds black silicone in both the upper and lower pans and a clogged oil screen. Another describes a low oil warning and a nearly dry dipstick soon after an oil change, with the owner blaming RTV. A separate problem affects a manual car: after a stall, the push-button start stops responding while the lights, gauges, and radio stay on. That owner reports it has happened three times.
Excerpts from complaints WRX owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Excessive RTV silicone was used on the oil pan on this year/make/model. This issue causes pieces of RTV to break off inside the oil pan and clog the oil pickup resulting in the engine being deprived of oil. I’m seeing more and more people document this issue online and worry the $33,000 car I just bought may have this issue. Subaru has not issued any recall knowing this is affecting many many vehicles.
Filed with NHTSA, April 2023
RTV sealant was over applied to the oil pan and timing cover which will result in a clogged oil pickup. Having a clogged oil pick up will starve the engine from oil which yields extremely catastrophic results, especially in a performance sports sedan. This is the same complaint as the others. Thank you.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2023
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2022 ranks third for owner complaints among 8 WRX years, about 1.4 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 2022 is the first model year of the WRX's fifth generation (2022–2023). First years of a redesign often carry teething problems that Subaru fixes in later years, so the checks above matter more than usual.
Should you avoid the first year of a redesign? See the 45-car study.
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 2022 WRX vehicles equipped with the "Eyesight" feature. The owner's manual may contain incorrect instructions for adjusting the sensitivity of the High Beam Assist function. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.".
Risk: Incorrect instructions for adjusting the sensitivity of the High Beam Assist function contained in the owner's manual may cause the lights to not be adjusted as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will mail an owner's manual insert containing the correct information, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 15, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRA-23.
Cars shoppers compare with the Subaru WRX, with their own 2022 checklists.
2022 owner complaints, side by side
