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2004 Subaru WRXProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 42 owner complaints about the 2004 Subaru WRX, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 20V-003 the manufacturer reports only 69% of affected cars repaired.

2004 Subaru WRX
59
CarFlaw IndexSolid year30% below the WRX median · #9 of 16 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Lowest repair rate 69%Owner complaints422 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage66kFuel system, gasoline, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 13, 2023. Updated daily. Photo: Indie102, CC0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2004 Subaru WRX has problems

42 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Fuel system, gasoline271
Fuel/propulsion system80
Air bags31
Engine and engine cooling21
Engine20
Suspension20
Power train10
Service brakes, hydraulic10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

2004 Subaru WRX recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

83%repaired · 2024 Q4

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 23V-076 · Feb 13, 2023 · 130 vehicles · 108 repaired

Risk. An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

82%repaired · 2023 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 20V-001 · Jan 2, 2020 · 258,813 vehicles · 212,286 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

73%repaired · 2023 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 20V-002 · Jan 2, 2020 · 127,547 vehicles · 93,276 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

69%repaired · 2023 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 20V-003 · Jan 2, 2020 · 111,562 vehicles · 76,616 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Subaru.

Mileage at failure

When do fuel system, gasoline problems start?

66kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 25 fuel system, gasoline complaints. 84% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
0under 30k miles21under 100k miles4100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2004 vs. every other WRX year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the WRX median. How we score

'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2004 Subaru WRX, and the recalls they led to.

  1. FUEL LINE LEAKPE09017 · closed Jul 2, 2009
    No recall
In owners' words

What WRX owners report

Recent fuel system, gasoline complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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…
Complaint 10671183 · Jan 8, 2015 · 170,000 miles
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.…
Complaint 10563930 · Feb 11, 2014 · 91,000 miles
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.…
Complaint 10561186 · Jan 23, 2014 · 75,000 miles

Own a 2004 WRX?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.