Total Complaints
46 filings
SUBARU WRX · model year
46 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004SUBARUWRX carries 46 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 WRX is fuel system, gasoline with 26 filings, followed by fuel/propulsion system (8) and air bags (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 2004 WRX. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
46 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 26 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 8 |
| AIR BAGS | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2 |
| ENGINE | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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 ASSOCIA
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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,
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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 Columbi
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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, Hawai
HAVING RECENTLY MOVED TO A COLD WEATHER STATE, I DISCOVERED THAT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING THERE IS A SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE PASSENGER CABIN. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, SUBARU APPEARS TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IN FACT ISSUED A RECALL ON EARLIER MODEL VEHICLES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE FUEL LINES AND CLAMPS SHRINK IN COLD WEATHER ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK AT THE FUEL FILTER OR MORE PROBLEMATICALLY ONTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEAR THE TURBO. THIS HAS BEEN RESOLVED IN NEWER MODEL VEHICLES, BUT FOR SOME REASON SUBARU DECIDED NOT TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE 2004-2005 VEHICLES HAVING THIS PROBLEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE WARMS UP, THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE REDUCES OR ELIMINATES THE LEAKS. ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO TIGHTEN THE HOSE CLAMPS, I SUSPECT THAT NEXT WINTER I WILL BE FACING THE SAME ISSUE AND/OR A $500-1000 REPAIR BILL FROM THE DEALER.
Mileage: 60,000
DURING COLD WEATHER FUEL SMELL COMING FROM ENGINE AND IS LEAKING
DURING COLD WEATHER FUEL SMELL COMING FROM ENGINE AND IS LEAKING
I HAVE A 2004 WRX AND WHENEVER IT GETS COLD LOTS OF FUEL LEAKS FROM UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THERES A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE IN 2002 2003 BUT IT STILL DOES IT ON MY CAR
Mileage: 103,000
TAKATA RECALL/SUBARU RECALL CAMPAIGN WQR-53 NHTSA RECALL NO. 15V-323 RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN MAY 2015 EXPLAINING THAT THE AIRBAG WAS RECALLED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. LETTER STATES THAT UNTIL THE REPAIR IS PREFORMED, DO NOT ALLOW PASSENGERS TO RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I RECENTLY RECEIVED ANOTHER LETTER WITH THE SAME INFORMATION STATING THAT WHEN SUBARU ACQUIRES A SUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF PARTS TO PERFORM THE REPAIR, THEY WILL CONTACT ME ABOUT MAKING AN APPOINTMENT. I CALLED SUBARU 6 MONTHS AGO AND WAS TOLD THAT A DEALERSHIP SHOULD "LEND" ME A VEHICLE UNTIL THE REPAIR IS COMPLETE. I LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES WITH DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA AND NO ONE RETURNED MY PHONE CALL. IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND I AM NOT ABLE TO HAVE PASSENGERS IN MY VEHICLE. I USE MY CAR FOR WORK AND I NEED THIS FIXED. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR UNTIL IT IS FIXED.
DURING VEHICLE OPERATION IN COLDER WEATHER (32 DEG F OR COLDER), THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY. FUEL LINES ARE LEAKING IN AN AREA CLOSE TO THE AIR INTAKE. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN DURING WARMER WEATHER.
Mileage: 100,000
WAS NOTIFIED IN JULY 2015 OF DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WITH WARNING TO NOT USE THE PASSENGER SEAT.UPON FOLLOWUP WITH SUBARU ON 10-1-2015 WAS TOLD THAT PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL AFTER 12-1-2015. THIS MEANS 5 MONTHS WITHOUT FULL USE OF MY VEHICLE. THEIR LETTER REGARDING NHTSA RECALL 15V-323 INFORMED M TO CONTACT NHTSA AT THIS WEBSITE IF SUBARU FAILED TO REMEDY THE VEICLE WITHOUT CHARGE IN A TIMELY MANNER. 5 TO 6 MONTHS IS NOT A TIMELY MANER.
STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL COMING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DURING VERY COLD OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES. *TR
Mileage: 209,000
STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL COMING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DURING VERY COLD OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES. *TR
Mileage: 209,000
IN BELOW-FREEZING TEMPERATURES, THERE IS A FUEL SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY. IT SEEMS TO START AT APPROXIMATELY 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, AND BECOMES INCREASINGLY STRONG AT LOWER TEMPERATURES. ON A RECENT MORNING WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS 9 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, THE SMELL WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE A LIGHT-HEADED SENSATION. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM, WITH THERE ALREADY BEING A RECALL FOR SIMILAR VEHICLES. MANY VEHICLES EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL, INCLUDING MY OWN, SEEM TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. EVEN WORSE, SOME WHO HAVE HAD THE RECALL FIX PERFORMED HAVE STATED THAT THE FIX PRESCRIBED BY THE RECALL DOES NOT ALWAYS RESOLVE THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY. *TR
Mileage: 170,000
AS A RESULT OF A MULTI-VEHICLE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSING THE FEMALE OCCUPANT TO HAVE A FRONTAL SKULL FRACTURE FROM SHRAPNEL LIKE PIECES AND NEURO TRAUMA. THESE INJURIES LEAD HER TO BE UNCONSCIOUS AND ON LIFE-SUPPORT FOR 6 DAYS AND ULTIMATELY HER DEATH......UPDATED 11-24/14 *BF
FUEL LINES LEAK UPON COLD START UP IN THE WINTER. FUEL LEAKS ALL OVER ENGINE BLOCK, MY FEAR THAT THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE. SUBARU'S ANSWER IS TO BRING IT IN, SPEND MONEY TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT. ALL THE WHILE THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A COMP CAR AND THIS IS MY ONLY CAR. WITH WORK, SCHOOL AND TRYING TO MOVE AT THAT TIME IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO RELEASE THE CAR TO THEM AND HOPE IT LEAKED ON THAT DAY FOR THE TECH OR RISK HANDING OUT CASH EVERY TIME I TAKE IT IN FOR THEM TO LOOK AT. THEY KNOW THEY HAVE AN ISSUE THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX ANY LONGER. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR SOME WRX'S AND THEY SAY THE PROBLEM WAS TAKEN CARE OF IN 2004, OBVIOUSLY NOT. IT APPEARS MY CAR WAS BUILT IN MID 2003...... AND IS POSSIBLE IN MY OPINION THAT MY CAR COULD HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH THESE FAULTY PARTS. *TR
Mileage: 139,000
WHEN IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES, MY CAR IS LEAKING GASOLINE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. GASOLINE FUMES ARE ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSING NAUSEA,DIZZINESS AND COUGHING (HENCE I AM CLAIMING/CONSIDERING THIS AS PERSONAL INJURY). I CANNOT ALWAYS CLOSE THE EXTERNAL VENT BECAUSE OF FOGGING. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING. WORSE, I AM AFRAID OF THE ENGINE CATCHING FIRE. I WILL TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. I JUST WANT TO REPORT THIS. *TR
Mileage: 91,000
WHEN IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES, MY CAR IS LEAKING GASOLINE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. GASOLINE FUMES ARE ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSING NAUSEA,DIZZINESS AND COUGHING (HENCE I AM CLAIMING/CONSIDERING THIS AS PERSONAL INJURY). I CANNOT ALWAYS CLOSE THE EXTERNAL VENT BECAUSE OF FOGGING. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING. WORSE, I AM AFRAID OF THE ENGINE CATCHING FIRE. I WILL TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. I JUST WANT TO REPORT THIS. *TR
Mileage: 91,000
AFTER STARTING MY CAR IN COLD WEATHER, I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS. I FOUND THAT THERE WAS GAS POOLING ON TOP OF MY ENGINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THE GAS STOPPED LEAKING, BUT WHEN I TURNED IT ON AGAIN, I COULD SEE IT DRIPPING ON TO THE LOCATION THAT IT WAS POOLING. *TR
Mileage: 125,000
ON COLD MORNINGS LESS THAN 10 DEGREES A STRONG FUEL SMELL ENTERS THE VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE WAS SUBJECT TO RECALL ON 2002 AND 2003 MODEL CARS YET 2004 MODELS ALSO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A WIDE RANGING PROBLEM THAT EFFECTS MANY CARS ALL THE UP TO THE 2007 MODEL YEAR OF THE SUBARU IMPREZA. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED SINCE 2002 ON THE LARGEST SUBARU IMPREZA WEB FORUM. HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=131755. IT'S ABOUT TIME SUBARU FIXES THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Mileage: 75,000
WHEN I START MY CAR WHEN IT IS COLD OUT 20 DEGREES OR BELOW MY GAS LINE NEAR THE FUEL RAIL LEAKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE UNTIL THE CAR WARMS UP. IT LEAKS A LITTLE UP TO ENOUGH TO POOL ON THE ENGINE..IT WORRIES ME BECAUSE IT IS ON THE TURBO SIDE OF THE ENGINE WITH THE EXHAUST WHICH TEMPERATURES CAN REACH UP TO 1500 DEGREES. THE CAR COULD EASILY CATCH FIRE. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN SUBARU IMPREZA WRX MODELS 02-05 AND HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO SUBARUS ATTENTION MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR
Mileage: 88,090
WHEN I START MY CAR WHEN IT IS COLD OUT 20 DEGREES OR BELOW MY GAS LINE NEAR THE FUEL RAIL LEAKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE UNTIL THE CAR WARMS UP. IT LEAKS A LITTLE UP TO ENOUGH TO POOL ON THE ENGINE..IT WORRIES ME BECAUSE IT IS ON THE TURBO SIDE OF THE ENGINE WITH THE EXHAUST WHICH TEMPERATURES CAN REACH UP TO 1500 DEGREES. THE CAR COULD EASILY CATCH FIRE. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN SUBARU IMPREZA WRX MODELS 02-05 AND HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO SUBARUS ATTENTION MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR
Mileage: 88,090
STARTED VEHICLE AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT IN SUB-30 DEGREE WEATHER AND A VERY STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL WAS EVIDENT IN VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED ON MANY MORE OCCASIONS; IN ANY SITUATION WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS GIVEN TIME TO SIT IN COLD WEATHER. AFTER THE CLAMPS WERE TIGHTENED ON THE LINES, THE SMELL WAS DECREASED; BUT AFTER FEAR OF A FIRE THE LINES AND CLAMPS WERE THEN REPLACED BY MYSELF. AS SUBARU OF AMERICA WOULD NOT EXTEND THE RECALL TO MY 2004 VEHICLES AND I COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY RETAIL FOR THE REPAIR. THIS WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING, AS THIS IS MY FIRST SUBARU AND IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE DESIGN WAS FAULTY. AFTER REPLACING THE LINES AND CLAMPS, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED. HOWEVER, I CANNOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF REQUIRED REPAIR IN THE FUTURE. *TR
Mileage: 94,000
WHEN THE WEATHER WAS VERY COLD OUT, ABOUT 10F THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE GAS SMELL OUTSIDE THE CAR AND IN THE CABIN WHEN THE HVAC TURNED ON. THIS IS A FUEL LINE ISSUE WHICH IS KNOWN TO SUBARU - THERE IS A RECALL ON 2002-2003 WRX MODELS. HOWEVER THERE IS NO RECALL ON LATER MODELS SUCH AS MY 2004 WRX, WHICH ALSO SUFFER FROM THE PROBLEM. *TR
Mileage: 115,000
Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure
Passenger Front Air Bag Suppression
Front suspension control arm failure
FUEL PUMP LEAKS
FUEL LINE LEAK
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.