2016 Subaru Wrx Safety Report
2016 SUBARU WRX Safety Analysis
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Subaru Wrx
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Subaru Wrx. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (3) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (34) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 3 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Electrical System | Compare electrical system issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Subaru Wrx with 12 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Subaru Wrx before buying across this generation. |
Subaru Wrx Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Subaru Wrx years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Subaru Wrx | 51 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2015 Subaru Wrx | 52 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Subaru Wrx | 40 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Subaru Wrx | 27 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Subaru Wrx | 17 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Subaru Wrx | 12 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Subaru Wrx Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Subaru Wrx, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Electrical System
8 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Subaru onlyEngine
8 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Subaru onlyUnknown Or Other
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Subaru onlyPower Train
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Subaru onlySteering
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering issues Subaru onlyExterior Lighting
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Exterior Lighting issues Subaru onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Subaru Wrx
Reliability Score
The 2016 Subaru Wrx receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
Known Issues for the 2016 Subaru Wrx
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Subaru Wrx:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backup Light Switch Subaru is recalling certain 2015-2021 WRX vehicles for faulty backup light switches. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Engine Cooling Subaru is recalling certain 2015-2016 WRX vehicles for engine cooling issues. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Secondary Air Injection Pump A secondary air injection pump issue has caused damage and setting off other components. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Battery Drain Recurring battery drain issues have been reported, with multiple replacements needed. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Subaru Wrx:
Issues with the electrical system, including backup lights and battery drain, are common.
Engine cooling and secondary air injection pump issues are frequent.
Driver assistance features, such as ABS and cruise control, may malfunction.
Power steering fluid leaks and loss of fluid are reported.
Recall Details for the 2016 Subaru Wrx
The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2016 Subaru Wrx by NHTSA:
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2021 WRX vehicles. The backup light switch may corrode and become inoperative, which can result in the backup lights not illuminating and the rearview camera image not displaying when the vehicle is in reverse.
Consequence: Inoperative backup lights and an inoperative rearview camera can reduce vehicle visibility and driver awareness, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the backup light switch, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-22.
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall.
Consequence: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct. The recall began April 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTA-62.
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufactured October 16, 2014, to April 15, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles manufactured March 23, 2015, and equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, ...
Consequence: If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQS-54.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Subaru Wrx
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Subaru Wrx with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes. 2 involved fires.
The Seconary Air Injection pump stayed on for days. Burnt a hole in the side, relay possibly damaged, and now setting off other components and computers.
Driving and a loud explosion, sound, like a gunshot then a ton of pinging. The sunroof exploded and glass flew down my car and chipped a bunch of paint.
While driving, the clutch became stiff and unusable. Ultimately the car could not be shifted resulting in using a lower gear than normal to limp the car to safety. The car had to be towed to a mechanic. During the repair the mechanic identified that the cause of the failure was the clutch fork pivot ball punched through the stamped steel clutch fork. Looking online this seems to be a common fa...
I PURCHASED A 2016 SUBARU WRX (PREMIUM) USED FROM A SUBARU DEALER IN ALBANY, NY WITH UNDER 26K MILES FOR APPROXIMATELY $25K IN 2018. ON A DRIVE IN DECEMBER 2022 I EXPERIENCED HESITATION AND/OR STUTTERING UNDER LOAD OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, AND CAR BEGAN GETTING VERY HOT, AND CLOSE TO OVERHEATING, AND THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING LOUDLY. AFTER TURNING ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTARTING, THE KNOCKIN...
I have faulty rear lights and a faulty rear view camera. According to MotorSafety.org there is currently a recall for this exact issue for WRX’s from 2015-2021. https://www.motorsafety.org/subaru-recalls-wrx-cars-over-faulty-rear-lights-rearview-camera-issue/
recurring battery drain, which has happened before. subaru dealer replaced the battery for the same reason less than 2 years ago. now it needs it again. car is inoperable as is.
Started having issue with the engine making loud rattle noises and oil pressure was not consistent. Upon further investigating I removed the oil pan and removed the oil pickup. The oil pickup screen was full of RTV sealant causing the oil pickup to struggle with maintaining proper oil pressure and flow to the engine. I ended up having to change my timing belt tensioners because one went bad. Proba...
My power steering one day lost all fluid out of no where. I have this awful sound and go buy new power steering fluid. It’s continuing to leak. I joined a Subaru Wrx/STi group on Facebook and found that this is a reoccurring problem for many Subaru sti owners around the year I have. It sounds faulty and defective and sucks that the customer is stuck paying for these issues instead of Subaru fixing...
ABS, cruise control, and other driving assistance features are disabled while driving at night. I checked for recalls on Subaru WRXs and noticed a recall was issued for the same problems on 2011-2015 models. My vehicle is a 2016 model and demonstrates all the same failures observed from the recall of the 2011-2015 models.
Several batteries that have died prematurely, last one only 2 months since last use. Vehicle has refused to start on several occasions, despite the battery being okay. Suspect issues with controller area network.
The battery on my 2016 Subaru WRX has drained - twice - while parked for a week or less. This has occurred before and after replacing the battery at the dealership. Both times the battery was recharged by AAA and driven for 30-45 minutes to bring the battery back to full charge.
While driving in below zero temperatures I received a warning "Headlights Disabled" and my headlights were inoperable. I was able to use the high beams otherwise, complete darkness causing an immanent safety concern and potential for financial loss in terms of legality and ticketing. The failure remained in effect for approximately 10 minutes and then the warning disappeared and the light regained...
2016 WRX drains its battery while the vehicle is turned off. After 3 days of being outside in 20-40 degree Fahrenheit weather, the battery was completely flat and would not start. This has happened 2 winters in a row now.
VEHICLE DID NOT MEET INSPECTION / WHEEL ALIGNMENT VEHICLE WAS PARKED NEAR A HIGH VOLTAGE POWER LINE DURING WHICH ATMOSPHERIC / AND NATURAL OCCOURANACE ELECTRIC DISTURBANCE CAUSED A ELECTRIC DISTURBANCE VEHICLE IS BEEN RECALLED HOMELESS AT THE TIME OF THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE TURNED OVER TO DEALER SHIP FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE BEEN HELPFUL IN STORAGE I BELIEVE ITS SAFETY / NOT CO...
THE TURBO CHARGER INTAKE DUCT CRACKED ON MY CAR, THIS IS THE NEW ONE THAT REPLACED MY RECALLED ONE. BUT CLEARLY WAS NOT A SOLUTION. I POSTED THIS ON A FORM AND A LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE COMMENTED STATING THEY HAD THE SAME ISSUE. RANGING FROM 15 WRX TO 18 MAYBE EVEN NEWER. WHATEVER THEY USED TO GLUE THE AIR BYPASS CONNECTOR TO THE TURBO DUCT DOES NOT HOLD UP. IT CRACKED AND COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM...
WINDSHIELD KEEPS GETTING CHIPPED AND CRACKED. ALREADY HAS GONE THROUGH ONE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT. NOW THE SECOND ONE HAS TWO CHIPS ALREADY AND CAN PRETTY MUCH CRACK ANYTIME.
"TAKATA RECALL" TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL SHOP BECAUSE IT WAS LACKING POWER AND HAD LOW MPG READINGS. FOUND A BOOST LEAK IN THE TOP INTER-COOLER AND EXPRESSED THAT ALL THE 2016 WRX THAT COME IN THIS HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN. FORUMS AND ONLINE POSTS VERIFIED THIS PROBLEM, THE CAR IS A 2016 SO ITS FAIRLY NEW THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING.
RECALL CLUTCH CHANGE BRAKES ELECTRICAL AND EMISSIONS SEEM TO BE FAILING TUCSON, AZ SUBARU PALM SPRINGS ,CA SUBARU IN MOTION SYSTEMS SYSTEMS FAILURE
DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK IN KEY FOB PRESS. WILL BEEP CONTINIOUSLY, ONE DOOR WILL INTERMITTENTLY NOT OPEN. ONLY AFFECTS MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR.
FRONT END COLLISION VS DEER ON INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH. 4-5 MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. NO ONE WAS INJURED. WE ALL WERE OUT OF THE CAR AT THE TIME THE FIRE STARTED.
Showing 20 of 34 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Subaru Wrx
Has the 2016 SUBARU WRX been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 SUBARU WRX has 3 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 SUBARU WRX have?
The 2016 SUBARU WRX has 34 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 1 involved crashes. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 SUBARU WRX?
The 2016 SUBARU WRX does not have an NHTSA safety rating on file. This can happen for newer model years, specialty vehicles, or models that have not been crash-tested.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 SUBARU WRX?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 SUBARU WRX involve electrical system (8 complaints), engine (8 complaints), unknown or other (4 complaints). Other affected components include power train, steering, exterior lighting.
How many crash reports does the 2016 SUBARU WRX have?
There are 1 crash reports associated with the 2016 SUBARU WRX out of 34 total complaints (2.9% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 SUBARU WRX have?
There are 2 fire reports for the 2016 SUBARU WRX out of 34 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 SUBARU WRX?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 SUBARU WRX.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 SUBARU WRX?
No injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 SUBARU WRX.
Should I buy a 2016 SUBARU WRX?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 SUBARU WRX is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 34 complaints, 3 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 SUBARU WRX?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 SUBARU WRX are: 1. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (8 complaints), 2. ENGINE (8 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (4 complaints), 4. POWER TRAIN (4 complaints), 5. STEERING (2 complaints). ELECTRICAL SYSTEM is the single most-reported problem area with 8 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 SUBARU WRX?
Be aware of potential electrical and engine issues, and check for recalls before purchasing. The 2016 SUBARU WRX has 34 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record.
How reliable is the 2016 SUBARU WRX?
The 2016 SUBARU WRX receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 34 owner complaints, 3 recalls, and 3 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Backup Light Switch and Engine Cooling.
What are the known issues with the 2016 SUBARU WRX?
Known issues with the 2016 SUBARU WRX include: Backup Light Switch, Engine Cooling, Secondary Air Injection Pump, Battery Drain. These are based on patterns found across 34 NHTSA complaints. 3 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2016 Subaru WRX?
Yes, recalls have been issued for backup light switches and engine cooling issues.
What are common electrical system issues?
Common issues include battery drain and faulty backup lights.
Can driver assistance features fail?
Yes, features like ABS and cruise control may malfunction, especially at night.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of potential electrical and engine issues, and check for recalls before purchasing.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Subaru Wrx
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Subaru Wrx. The data includes 34 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 3 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 reported crashes, 2 fire incidents, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16