2003 Subaru WRX problems
The 2003 Subaru WRX has 65 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (31%) concerns brakes. Next are fuel system (31%) and engine (6%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 65 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 31% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 16 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 8 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 31,000 miles 53 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 21 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 8 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 5 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 53 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 31,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 10,000 miles (16 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 16 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 8 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 94% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the Subaru WRX with enough data (49 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While driving 65 MPH driver lost control of the vehicle and rolled over several times. Upon impact, dual airbags did not deploy. Driver sustained severe back and neck injuries.
While at a full stop, I was struck from behind (the other vehicle was traveling ( 20MPH?) in my 2003 subaru wrx wagon- resulting in the collapse of the driver's seat back and in damage to the seat recliner mechanism and the 'seat frame' (the body shop's term).
Follow-up on previous complaint number: 04v342000.driver was restrained by a seat belt. Medical complaints: 2 cervical vertabrae fractures, patella (knee) fracture and pnuemothorax.
ABS failed. Brake pedal would sink to floor when road is bumpy. Takes a very long distance to stop the car. 2 near-miss incidents already. Car is brand new 2003 wrx. It has 500 miles on it. *nlm
Early ABS activation on rough or uneven surfaces (man hole covers, etc.) and following this a huge loss of braking force. Almost like the brakes completely failed until the pedal is released an reapplied which can take several seconds. This is not good when the car in front of me just stopped.