Engine, electrical system, and bad service issues are the main cause of complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
The high-powered Subaru WRX has been on our roads for more than three decades. It has its pros and cons, with engine issues seeming to recur with many model years. But it just keeps going. However, engine-related problems are causing substantial concern for owners of the 2022 model. There are numerous complaints that RTV sealant contaminates 2022 Subaru WRX engines. Owners are also complaining that sunroofs shatter and the infotainment system screen blanks out.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2019 2020
Undoubtedly the most common problem with the 2022 Subaru WRX is excess RTV sealant clogging the oil pan causing oil starvation in the engine. In fact, more than 87% of the complaints by consumers to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) are about this problem. All but one of these is regarded as an engine issue. The other is filed as a powertrain and fuel/propulsion problem.
Nevertheless, this is not the only problem that owners are complaining to the NHTSA about. A complaint regarded as an electrical system and forward collision avoidance problem relates to the infotainment system. There are also complaints that owners don’t know how to categorize, filing them as unknown or other problems. These relate to software issues and sunroofs that shatter spontaneously.
There is also a recall for 4,615 2022 Subaru WRX vehicles that were produced between December 7, 2022, and February 25, 2022. Regarded as an equipment issue, it states that the recalled vehicles are all equipped with the EyeSight feature. The problem is that they have owners’ manual inserts that may contain incorrect instructions for adjusting the sensitivity of the High Beam Assist (HBA) function. The recall states that Subaru of America will mail the correct insert to owners.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | |
| Power Train | |
| Electrical System | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Air Bags | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | |
| Fuel/propulsion System |
The leaking RTV sealant issue is extremely serious, which is why we have a dedicated separate post regarding the problem, 2022 Subaru WRX Engine & Oil Problems. However, it’s not surprising that complaints to the NHTSA haven’t stopped since the post.
In a more recent complaint, an owner repeats the claims of many others. He describes how he noticed that silicone sealant chips off into the oil pan causing it to flow into the oil pickup. He has also noticed a burning smell from the engine bay area and the exhaust.
“I know different models of Subaru have the same engine type and have all faced this issue causing catastrophic damage to the engine. And so far, I have not heard Subaru making any headway to fix the issue. This is my daily vehicle and I really do not want what could be a simple fix to destroy my car. But I’m sure a lot of other Subaru WRX owners are facing this issue!”
He states, “Subaru needs to fix this since it came from the factory with this defect!”
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An owner from Connecticut has an issue with the infotainment system going blank from time to time. The complaint states that the sound from the radio works but the screen remains blank and there’s no way to reset it. It adds that the wifi updates are all up-to-date.
“When this happens it disables the EyeSight camera (and) causes a safety concern with automatic braking/collision. When the car sits overnight, then the next day it seems to go back to normal.”
This complaint was lodged 2 months after the purchase of the WRX and the problem had already occurred 4 times.
While there are a multitude of reports about shattering sunroofs in a wide variety of vehicles, including the Subaru Outback and Crosstrek, it isn’t a common problem in the Subaru WRX.
However, an owner from Texas states that the sunroof of his 2022 Subaru WRX shattered spontaneously when the car was not moving.
There is no feedback from the dealership quoted in the complaint. But more often than not, dealers maintain sunroofs are damaged by so-called “foreign” objects like rocks and stones, even when owners say this was not the case.
After buying a 2022 WRX, an owner from Texas was told by the dealership that the software in the sedan was not up to date, and possibly obsolete. Later, Subaru sent an email telling the owner to update the software. But, after trying to update the software for weeks, he eventually complained to the NHTSA.
Apart from not being able to access software, the complaint focuses on bad service. For example, the owner:
Stating that this is “extremely unacceptable,” the complaint continues. “Subaru charges for pre-installed equipment and subscriptions for access to roadside and support. Not only are they building in cost to the consumer, but they are not delivering what they are promising, and most importantly, not providing what you are paying for. The safety aspect of not being able to reach roadside assistance is very serious.”
Do you think that your 2022 Subaru WRX could be a lemon? Generally, if a problem recurs and affects your use of the vehicle and/or its value, it might be a lemon. But it’s a good idea to get an experienced lemon law attorney to assess the problem for you.
Lemberg Law has dealt with thousands of lemon law vehicle cases and we have negotiated settlements with manufacturers for many clients. We undertake to do a personal assessment free of charge because the law makes Subaru pay the legal costs for lemon law cases. All you have to do is call us or complete the contact form so that we can see what we can do to help you.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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