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2017 Subaru WRX problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
51% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Subaru WRX are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 68% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 8 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 43%).
Does the 2017 Subaru WRX have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 23 of 45 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Subaru WRX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (51%), and the largest group is filed under engine (12). For comparison, the 2016 scores 44% and the 2018 scores 50%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2017 compares with other Subaru WRX years
Of the 6 Subaru WRX years with enough complaints to score, the 2017 is the 3rd-worst on engine and transmission share (51%). The worst is the 2015 (71%), the best the 2016 (44%). By volume, the 2017 drew 53 complaints (23 drivetrain), against 34 for the 2016 and 44 for the 2018.
Subaru WRX years to avoid and best years →
2015 WRX problems · 2016 WRX problems · 2017 · 2018 WRX problems · 2019 WRX problems · 2022 WRX problems
The rest of the picture on the 2017 Subaru WRX
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 23 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2017 Subaru WRX engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2017 Subaru WRX, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2017 Subaru WRX? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2017 Subaru WRX have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 23 of 45 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Subaru WRX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (51%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Subaru WRX?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2017 Subaru WRX is electrical system: 14 of 53 complaints (26%) name it, followed by engine (12) and power train (11). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 51% of the relevant total.
Is the 2017 Subaru WRX reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 51% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 68% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 6 Subaru WRX years we score, it ranks 3rd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Subaru WRX?
No. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2017 Subaru WRX, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Subaru WRX years are better?
Among the Subaru WRX years we track, the 2016 (44%), the 2019 (45%) and the 2018 (50%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2017 (51%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/subaru-wrx
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.