Subaru · WRX · 2005
5
Recalls
19
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2005 Subaru WRX has 5 recalls and 19 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: fuel system, gasoline (5 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy Status
AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
AS I WAS DRIVING THIS MORNING STARTED SMELLING STRONG RAW FUEL ODOR. *TR
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. NOT COVERED UNDER THE 2 WARRANTIES I PURCHASED WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR OR UNDER SUBARU RECALL OF 2003-2004 WRX/STI'S FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.....CHARGES WILL BE $600+...... BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A SUBARU DEALER HERE IN MN, SECOND OWNER, EXPENSIVE LOW MILES USED CAR, JUST PLAIN STUPID SUBARU DOES NOT FIX THIS..... *TR
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
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. SUBARU CONFIRMS THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAS A CORROSION ISSUE BUT REFUSES TO COVER THIS PROBLEM DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE BREAKAGE. *TR
ON COLD DAYS, THE CAR SMELLS LIKE GAS - MANY REPORTS ONLINE ABOUT FUEL LEAKS IN COLD WEATHER FOR SUBARU. *TR
STRONG RAW FUEL SMELL IN CABIN WHEN STARTING IN TEMPS <30 DEGREES. FUEL IS CLEARLY VISIBLE LEAKING FROM LINES BELOW MANIFOLD. *TR
WHEN I STARTED MY CAR THE OTHER MORNING (~14 DEGREES F) I SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE CABIN. I OPENED THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND ALSO SMELLED IT THERE AS WELL. I DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 2 MILES AND THE SMELL WENT AWAY. ONCE STOPPED AND IDLING, THE ODOR RETURNED. IT IS A VERY STRONG RAW GASOLINE SMELL. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. IT TURNS OUT TO BE A FAULTY CLAMP AND/OR HOSE, WHICH RESULTS IN LEAKING GASOLINE OUT OF THE FUEL LINE. THIS CONCERNS ME FOR NUMEROUS REASONS, BUT THE MAIN REASON IS THAT IT IS LEAKING GASOLINE IN THE ENGINE BAY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE AND ULTIMATELY INJURY/DEATH. THE SMELL IT PRODUCES IN THE CABIN IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT CONCERNS ME, ESPECIALLY IF CHILDREN ARE IN THE CAR. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE VERY COLD, PROBABLY BELOW 20 OR 25 DEGREES F. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND YOU WILL FIND MANY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING WITH THEIR VEHICLES. THANKS *TR
WHEN STARTED, TEMPERATURES UNDER 20 DEGREES (F), VEHICLE WILL EMIT A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR UNDER HOOD AND WILL COME IN THROUGH HEATER VENTS. DEALER SAYS THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM, BUT NO CURRENT RECALLS. THE PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS HAD A RECALL FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. SUBARU OF AMERICA CLAIMS THE MODEL YEAR I HAVE HAS AN UPDATE, BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND WITH SUBARU DEALERS, THERE IS STILL A KNOWN PROBLEM. THERE IS A RUBBER FUEL LINE UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT IS THE CULPRIT. MY DEALER CLAIMS "THEY ALL DO THIS WHEN IT'S COLD." I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS ANSWER AND SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS BEEN NO HELP EITHER. THEY CLAIM IT IS UP THE NTSB TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
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 COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS. *TR
GAS LEAK CAUSING STRONG ODORS INSIDE CAR. THIS STARTED WITH THE COLD WEATHER. MOST LIKELY HOSES BECAME BRITTLE OR WEAK CLAIMING FORCE IN COLD WEATHER ALLOWED GAS LEAKAGE. *TR
STRONG GASOLINE ODOR SMELL INSIDE CAR. HAPPENS WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS VERY COLD, BELOW 15 DEGREES. THIS ISSUE IS SIMILAR TO THAT REPORTED IN EARLIER MODEL WRXS. SEE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V468000 WHICH ADDRESSED LEAKING FUEL LINES AT COLD TEMPERATURES. OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS ONE HAVE BEEN FILED FOR WRXS YEARS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. *TR
GAS LEAK THAT CAUSES VERY STRONG GAS FUMES IN THE CAR DURING COLD STARTS AND SIGNIFICANT GAS LOSS OVERNIGHT. LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP DETERMINES IT'S FAULTY FUEL LINE GASKETS AND $900 TO REPAIR. THE FUMES ARE SO STRONG THAT I FEAR SOMETHING WILL IGNITE THE VAPORS AND START A FIRE. *TR
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 COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS. *TR
SUBARU WILL NOT REPLACE/FIX STRUT CLUNK NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAIN AND THERE IS STILL NO SOLUTION. THIS CAN CAUSE THE OWNER $1350 FOR SOMETHING THAT ALL 2004+ SUBARU STI CARS EXPERIENCE. *TR
CAR: 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA STI. PROBLEM: FACTORY DEFECT IN THE TURBO OIL SUPPLY. THE FACTORY RECOMMENDS IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF THE TURBO INLINE OIL FILTER. IF THIS FILTER BECOMES CLOGGED THE TURBO WILL BE RUINED. THIS IS PER SUBARU FACTORY BULLETIN NO. 02-103-07. WHY IS THIS NOT A FACTORY RECALL? *TR
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
NORMAL CITY AND HIGHWAY COMMUTING. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE HAD A VIOLENT DROP IN SPEED , AND A METAL CLANKING NOISE. WAS HEARD. THE ENGINE DIED, AS A RESULT LOST POWER STEERING. I MANAGED TO SAFELY BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. IT WAS AS ABLE TO DRIVE IT DESPITE THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF FREQUENTLY TO THE DEALER. THEY REPORTED TO ME THAT THE TURBOCHARGER FAILED, AND I HAD 4 TWISTED AXLES, HALF-SHAFTS REPLACED. THEY HAD TO PLACE A CALL TO SUBARU TO SEE ABOUT COVERING THE FAILURE. I HEARD NOTHING, BUT AFTER CALLING THEY SAID SUBARU WOULD NOT COVER THE FAILURE, BUT WOULD NOT SAY WHY. I WENT IN LATER AND REQUESTED A WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT THEY REFUSED TO COVER IT AND WHY. IT WAS THEN I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS DUE TO ALLEGED ABUSE. THE PROOF OF THIS WAS THE PRESENCE OF CLUB STICKERS AND AFTERMARKET PARTS WHICH HAD NO BEARING ON THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. THEY STATED THE PRESENCE OF THESE THINGS IMPLIED ABUSE TO THE CAR. THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT UNLESS I PAYED. THEY OFFERED NOTHING , BUT A 800 NUMBER TO COMPLAIN TO SUBARU OF AMERICA. I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS WITH SOA AND EVERYONE IS BEING VERY UNCOOPERATIVE. I FELT BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF MY AGE. I AM YOUNGER , THEREFORE, I MUST BE ABUSED OR RACE THE CAR.*AK
THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE AT SLOW SPEED COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. A LOT OF OWNER IN THE INTERNET FORUMS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE THE STRUT GOING BAD AFTER COUPLE THOUSAND MILES. *JB
UNDER NORMAL CITY DRIVING AND HIGHWAY COMMUTING THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH PEDAL STOPPED DELIVERING POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. I MANAGED TO SAFELY GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER REFUSED TO COVER WORN CLUTCH UNDER WARRANTY DESPITE WEAR ITEMS COVERED UNDER THE 3 YEAR//36000 MILE COVERAGE. CAR WAS AROUND 20000 MILES. DEALER GAVE ME A FEELING THAT I WAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE I WAS A YOUNG MAN WITH A SPORTY CAR, THEREFORE, I MUST RACE IT AND ABUSE IT. I HAVE OLD PARTS IN MY GARAGE. THEY DID, HOWEVER, COVER BRAKE PADS AT ANOTHER TIME.*AK
The 2005 Subaru WRX has 5 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 19 owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Subaru WRX.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2005 Subaru WRX.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2005 Subaru WRX are fuel system, gasoline (5 reports), fuel/propulsion system (4 reports), suspension (3 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 5 recalls on record for the 2005 Subaru WRX. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.