2004 Subaru WRX problems
The 2004 Subaru WRX has 46 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (76%) concerns fuel system. Next are engine (9%) and air bags (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 46 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Fuel system 76% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 1 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 74,000 miles 38 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 | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 2 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 5 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 12 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 7 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 2 |
What the data shows
Of the 38 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 74,000 miles. For fuel system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 74,000 miles (32 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 1 complaint mentions a crash; 2 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 11th most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the Subaru WRX with enough data (21 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
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.
As a result of a multi-vehicle traffic accident the passenger side airbag deployed causing the female occupant to have a frontal skull fracture from shrapnel like pieces and neuro trauma. These injuries lead her to be unconscious and on life-support for 6 days and ultimately her death......updated 11-24/14
When in freezing temperatures, my car is leaking gasoline in the engine compartment. Gasoline fumes are entering the passenger compartment causing nausea,dizziness and coughing (hence I am claiming/considering this as personal injury). I cannot always close the external vent because of fogging. This happens almost every time the temperature drops below freezing. Worse, I am afraid of the engine catching fire. I will take my car to the dealer for repairs. I just want to report this.
Starting car in cold weather causes interior cabin to fill with gas fumes. Apparent fuel leak in cold temperatures. Leak resolves after engine has warmed.
It has been much colder than usual here in tennessee and I have been having a very strong fuel smell inside the cabin of my 2004 subaru impreza wrx. It has happened every time I have driven over the past three days and does seem to go away when I accelerate but I have come to believe that is because the fuel vapor is being blown away by the moving of the air around the engine compartment while driving. As soon as I slow of come to a stop there is a strong raw fuel smell again.