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Selling a junk Subaru WRX

Any WRX sells for scrap or parts, running or not. Below: what owners report most often for each model year, the recalls on file, and which of those change the offer. Enter your ZIP for a buyer near you.

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What owners report about the Subaru WRX

NHTSA has 1,207 owner complaints on file for the Subaru WRX, model years 2002 to 2022, the 255th-most of the 423 models in our data. The most-reported components are fuel system (379, 31%), transmission and drivetrain (177, 15%), brakes (140, 12%). 79 complaints involved a crash, 20 a fire, and 30 say the vehicle had to be towed. The median mileage when the problem was reported is 50,000 miles. The 2002 model year has the most complaints (461). Data as of 2026-10-12.

When the top complaint is fuel system, the question for a seller is whether a buyer will resell the car, pull the parts or scrap it. Read our guide to selling a car that doesn't run: it explains which offers assume the part works and how to describe the car so the price holds at pickup.

Subaru WRX by model year

YearComplaintsMost reportedCrashFireRecallsMedian miles
2002461Fuel system202242,500
200365Brakes163242,162
200446Fuel system10573,500
200524Fuel system00548,800
200614Fuel system004—
2008119Transmission and drivetrain02780,000
200972Transmission and drivetrain001074,301
20103Body and structure0012—
20115Brakes0011—
20124Speed control0012—
201311Transmission and drivetrain1011—
20149Brakes0010—
201573Transmission and drivetrain43328,000
201640Electrical system12330,000
201773Electrical system165137,000
201864Engine131214,500
201944Electrical system002—
202023Electrical system301—
202121Transmission and drivetrain001—
202236Engine421—

Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not confirmed defects. Median miles is the odometer reading owners gave when they reported a problem, shown only where 20 or more reports include it.

Subaru WRX recalls

NHTSA lists 23 recall campaigns across these model years, most often for air bags (11), lights (3), fuel system (2). Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer. Before you sell, check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a buyer who plans to resell the car will.

  • 2004 model year, air bags (campaign 23V076000, Feb 2023): 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 bee…
  • 2022 model year, equipment (campaign 23V016000, Jan 2023): Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 WRX vehicles equipped with the "Eyesight" feature. The owner's manual may contain incorrect instructions for adjusting the sensitivity of the High Beam Assist fu…
  • 2015 model year, lights (campaign 22V522000, Jul 2022): 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 ima…
  • 2018 model year, fuel system (campaign 21V587000, Jul 2021): 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 f…
  • 2004 model year, air bags (campaign 20V003000, Jan 2020): 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, …

What a Subaru WRX is worth as a junk car

Buyers price a junk WRX on four things: its weight at today's scrap steel price (the floor), the parts still on it that can be resold, whether it starts and drives, and how far they have to tow it. None of those come from a complaint database, so use this page to describe the car accurately and our junk car value guide to work out a ceiling for the metal. Then get more than one offer.

Guides for selling this car

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Questions people ask

What is a junk Subaru WRX worth?
What a yard can recover: the car's weight at the current scrap steel price, plus parts it can resell (the catalytic converter, engine, transmission and wheels if they're good), minus towing and processing. The same WRX gets different offers from different buyers, so compare at least two. Our value guide shows the public benchmark.
Will a junkyard buy a Subaru WRX that doesn't run?
Yes. Junkyards and junk car buyers take cars that don't start, and most arrange the tow. Tell them honestly whether it starts, whether the engine and transmission are still in it, and whether the catalytic converter is on; those are what change the price.
Should I fix an open recall before selling a Subaru WRX?
Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer for as long as the car exists. If the car is going for scrap, the repair won't change the scrap price. If a buyer might resell it or pull parts, a completed recall can help. Check your VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup first.
Where do these Subaru WRX numbers come from?
From the complaint and recall data NHTSA publishes for every make and model, counted by model year on 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and the count rises with how many of the model were sold.