2005 Subaru WRX Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Feb 14, 2023 · 19 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other WRX years
About as many complaints as other years 12th of 24 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Subaru WRX. That ranks 12th out of 24 WRX model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is fuel system, gasoline (6 complaints, 32%), typically at around 59,900 miles. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.

Subaru WRX
Subaru WRX S4 STI Sport R-Black Limited. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: TTTNIS, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

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Most common 2005 Subaru WRX problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Fuel System, Gasoline6 · ~59,900 mi
Fuel/propulsion System5 · ~95,000 mi
Suspension4 · ~48,800 mi
Engine2 · ~145,500 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling2 · ~37,000 mi
Power Train2 · ~27,125 mi
Fuel System, Other1 · ~33,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Fuel System, Gasoline632%59,900——
Fuel/propulsion System526%95,000——
Suspension421%48,800——
Engine211%145,500——
Engine and Engine Cooling211%37,000——
Power Train211%27,125——
Fuel System, Other15%33,000——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2014, with 5 complaints
2007: 3200732008: 1200812009: 2200922010: 3201032011: 1201112013: 1201312014: 5201452015: 320153

n = 19 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2005 Subaru WRX recalls (4)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleFeb 13, 2023 · NHTSA campaign 23V076000 · 130 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2004-2005 Impreza and WRX vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.

Risk: An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the passenger inflator and if necessary, install a new inflator kit, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 14, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRF-23.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJan 2, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V001000 · 258,813 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJan 2, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V002000 · 127,547 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJan 2, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V003000 · 111,562 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

As i was driving this morning started smelling strong raw fuel odor. *tr

Fuel/propulsion System · received Feb 20, 2015 · NHTSA complaint 10689645

2005 sti, 42,000 miles..... Cold mn weather caused my fuel system under the hood leak gas all over. Inside of car smelt of gas very very bad. Popped the hood, even stronger gas smell, located fuel leaks under the intake manifold drivers side. Towed it to nearest subaru dealer do to fear of fire…

Fuel/propulsion System · received Jan 12, 2015 · NHTSA complaint 10672009

During cold weather, there is a strong fuel smell in the cabin. Rubber fuel lines on the passenger side leak, causing fuel to puddle on top of the engine block, creating an extreme fire hazard. *tr

Fuel/propulsion System · received Jan 9, 2015 · NHTSA complaint 10671494

After investigating a small leak it was discovered that my front sway bar mount connected to my lower control arm( recall number "wvx-34 lower control arm) mount had snapped and separated. This could have cause serious injury to myself, family and others driving around me at the time is snapped…

Suspension · received Nov 19, 2014 · NHTSA complaint 10659591

Fuel smell inside passenger compartment in outside temperatures <20 degrees f. This is apparently a known problem, and a tsb was issued for 2002 and 2003 subaru wrx for a fuel leak, but not for the 2005. Have been told the owner is responsible for repair costs. Online search finds many identical…

Fuel/propulsion System · received Oct 2, 2014 · NHTSA complaint 10640973

Other Subaru WRX years

← 2004 WRX · 2006 WRX →

See all Subaru WRX problems by year, every Subaru model, or the Subaru VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Subaru WRX?

Owners most often report fuel system, gasoline, fuel/propulsion system, suspension problems. The top one, fuel system, gasoline, accounts for 6 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2005 Subaru WRX?

Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2005 Subaru WRX a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other WRX model years, the 2005 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.