There are 1 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2009 Subaru WRXin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT 100 MILES FROM MY RESIDENCE. I DROVE IT HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND WITHIN 2 HOURS OF DRIVING I HEARD A LOUD WHIPPING NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. SOUNDED LIKE A BELT SNAPPED AND I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. AFTER THE INCIDENT THE FOLLOWING SENSORS AND OTHER ISSUES OCCURRED: -CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON -P0011 DIAGNOSTIC READING: 'A CAMSHAFT POSITION TIMING OVER ' ADVANCED SYSTEM PERFORMANCE BANK 1' -TURBO NOT WORKING CORRECTLY -WHITE SMOKE FROM EXHAUST -TRACTION CONTROL WON'T COME OFF -SAYS PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF -SOMETIMES HAS HARD TIME STARTING -- I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR APRIL 10TH AT A AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANICS DETERMINED THE TURBO CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE FAILED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED ($3000 DOLLAR ESTIMATE). I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND LEFT A MESSAGE AS DID SUBARU. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT RESPONDED BACK AND IS IGNORING MY MESSAGES. I FEEL EVEN THOUGH I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE "AS IS", IT WAS STILL UNDER AN IMPLIED WARRANTY OF BEING 'FIT FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE', THAT IS THAT IT WAS DRIVABLE AND OPERATIONAL AS IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT. SUBARU TOLD ME THERE IS NO WAY THE DEALER COULD NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF SUCH AN IMMENSE ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE. *JS
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026