2015 Subaru WRX — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $16,000–$23,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.
Kestrel Take
The all-weather rocket — turbo boxer power, standard AWD, and a rally pedigree make the WRX endlessly fun and usable year-round. But it's a young enthusiast's car, so condition is everything: check for tuning, abuse, and the FA20's known appetite for oil. A stock, maintained WRX is a blast; a thrashed, tuned one is a money pit. Buy carefully.
What we checked
Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11
NHTSA holds 52 owner complaints for the 2015 Subaru WRX, across 3 recall campaigns.
A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. 35% of them are about one thing — the engine. That much concentration is a genuine pattern rather than background noise, and it is the first thing to check on any example you look at.
3 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.
Not written up yet: electrics and electronics (6 complaints). That group is in the public record and is not covered by the issues below. Treat it as something to ask about, not as absent.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2015 Subaru WRX
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
Many WRXs were tuned, launched hard, and driven aggressively. Inspect for aftermarket tunes, clutch/driveline wear, and accident history; a tuned engine is a big risk.
Repair cost: Not a repair — an ownership-cost warning, not a mechanical fault
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (18), the transmission and drivetrain (18).
The 2.0L turbo boxer can consume oil; check the level and ask about consumption. Keep it topped up.
Repair cost (estimate): $0-$2,500
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (18).
Hard launches wear the clutch and can stress the driveline; test-drive for slip and clunks.
Repair cost (estimate): $1,000-$2,500
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (18).
The turbo wants clean oil and healthy cooling; neglect shortens its life.
Repair cost (estimate): $1,000-$2,500 if failed
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (18).
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Aftermarket tune or piggyback
- ✗Oil consumption / low oil
- ✗Clutch slip, driveline clunks
- ✗Track/autocross or accident history
Good Signs
- ✓Stock, adult-owned car
- ✓Documented oil service, steady level
- ✓Healthy clutch, clean history
Found a specific Subaru WRX?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2015 Subaru WRX in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.
Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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