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2018 Subaru WRX problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
50% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2018 Subaru WRX are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 6 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 43%).
Does the 2018 Subaru WRX have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 19 of 38 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru WRX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (50%), and the largest group is filed under engine (11). For comparison, the 2017 scores 51% and the 2019 scores 45%. 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 2018 compares with other Subaru WRX years
Of the 6 Subaru WRX years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (50%). The worst is the 2015 (71%), the best the 2016 (44%). By volume, the 2018 drew 44 complaints (19 drivetrain), against 53 for the 2017 and 30 for the 2019.
Subaru WRX years to avoid and best years →
2015 WRX problems · 2016 WRX problems · 2017 WRX problems · 2018 · 2019 WRX problems · 2022 WRX problems
The rest of the picture on the 2018 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 19 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2018 Subaru WRX fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Subaru WRX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total. 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.
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…
1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2018 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.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2018 Subaru WRX
Does the 2018 Subaru WRX have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 19 of 38 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru WRX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (50%). 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 2018 Subaru WRX?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Subaru WRX is engine: 11 of 44 complaints (25%) name it, followed by electrical system (10) and steering (7). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2018 Subaru WRX reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 50% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 6 Subaru WRX years we score, it ranks 3rd-best. 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 2018 Subaru WRX?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Subaru WRX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total: 21V587000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Subaru WRX years are better?
Among the Subaru WRX years we track, the 2016 (44%) and the 2019 (45%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (50%). 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. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.