Skip to content

Free public service · Official NHTSA & EPA data

2018 Subaru WRX

Verified August 31, 2026Sources: NHTSA · EPA · vPIC

Compare
Safety
not rated
Recalls
2
on record
MPG
21
combined

Open recalls on record

2 safety recalls. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.

Vehicle Summary

2018 Subaru WRX

2 recalls
42 complaints
21 MPG combined

Before You Buy

Confirm all 2 recalls were repaired — a dealer checks by VIN, free
Read the 5 complaints reporting a crash
Review the 42 owner complaints on record
Get a pre-purchase inspection
Check vehicle history report
Verify title is clean

Safety record at a glance

Recall campaigns
2
Owner complaints
42
Complaints citing a crash
5

These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalized by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.

2 Recalls on Record

These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.

Enter your VIN to check if specific recalls apply to your vehicle.

Safety recalls

2 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.

  • 21V587000high

    Fuel pump may fail

    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Consequence

    Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.

    Full campaign record
  • 22V522000high

    Lighting issue

    EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS:SWITCH

    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.

    Full campaign record

NHTSA crash-test ratings

NHTSA holds no crash-test rating for this model year.

Not every model year is tested. A missing rating is not a poor rating.

Fuel economy & emissions

EPA figures for the 2018 Subaru WRX, with tailpipe CO₂ and class context.

18

City

24

Hwy

21

Comb

Annual fuel cost
$3,600
Tailpipe CO₂
420 g/mi

How this compares

At 21 MPG combined, the 2018 Subaru WRX ranks 18th of 18 compact cars EPA rated for 2018 — 7.5 MPG short of the 28.5 MPG median for that group.

That places it among the thirstiest vehicles in its class. If annual mileage is high, the running-cost gap against a class-average rival compounds quickly.

EPA puts annual fuel spend at about $3,600, $1,350 more than the $2,250 typical for the class. Over five years at 15,000 miles a year that is roughly $18,000, a $6,750 difference against a class-median vehicle.

Tailpipe CO₂ is 420 grams per mile — about 6.3 metric tons over 15,000 miles of driving.

Consumer complaints

42 owner reports filed with NHTSA.

42
Total
5
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries

Most reported components

  • ENGINE16
  • ELECTRICAL6
  • STEERING5
  • OTHER4
  • FUEL SYSTEM3

Notable Issues

42 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 2 reports involve injuries. 5 reports involve a crash.

Most reported problems

engine problems (stalling, power loss, warning lights)16
electrical issues (battery, wiring, infotainment)6
steering issues (play, noise, loss of assist)5

Safety timeline

Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2018 Subaru WRX, newest first.

  1. Recall

    Recall 22V522000

    Inoperative backup lights and an inoperative rearview camera can reduce vehicle visibility and driver awareness, increasing the risk of a crash.

  2. Recall

    Recall 21V587000

    Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dates are the NHTSA report-received date for recalls and the ODI open/close date for investigations. Crash-test ratings are not shown here because the source does not provide a reliable publication date for them.

Specifications & ratings

Specifications

Body class
Compact Cars
Drive type
All-Wheel Drive
Engine
2L 4-cyl
Fuel type
Unknown
Transmission
Automatic (AV-S8)
Seats
0

Fuel economy

18

City

24

Hwy

21

Comb

Annual cost
$3,600
Fuel
Premium Gasoline

Explore related

Adjacent model years

All Subaru WRX years

Common problems

Subaru WRX problems

288 owner complaints analyzed

Systems recalled

Safety timeline

Full timeline
  1. Recall

    Recall 22V522000

    Inoperative backup lights and an inoperative rearview camera can reduce vehicle visibility and driver awareness, increasing the risk of a crash.

  2. Recall

    Recall 21V587000

    Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.