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2015 subaru WRX powertrain problems

moderate 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500

Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500

What owners are reporting 9 most recent

powertrain · filed 12/20/2023

The contact owns a 2015 Subaru WRX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed failures with the drive belt, front drive axles, rear axle differential seals, and windshield washer reservoir. The vehicle was not repaired. The manu…

powertrain · filed 12/19/2016

I AM A 44 YEAR OLD WOMAN, DRIVING A 2015 WRX. I HAVE ONLY OWNED AND DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS MY ENTIRE LIFE. MY LAST CAR, A MAZDA 3, I DROVE TO 110,000 MILES AND THE CLUTCH NEVER WENT OUT. MY 2015 WRX IS AT 22,000 AND THE CLUTCH IS BEING REPLACED. A BEARING WENT BAD AND DID DAMAGE TO THE CLUTCH. THE DEALERSHIP IS PUTTING A NEW CLUTCH IN THE VEHICLE. *TR

powertrain · filed 12/16/2017

AT 300 RPM CAR MADE LOUD SOUNDS AND DIED SIDE OF HIGHWAY. HAD TO BE TOWED 100 MILES. ALSO HAD OIL ISSUE - WENT THROUGH A LOT OF OIL

powertrain · filed 11/19/2014

SON HAD JUST PURCHASED CAR. TOOK THE CAR TO AN AREA WHICH HAD AN UNPLOWED PARKING AREA TO TEST THE HANDLING OF THE CAR IN THE SNOW. CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING AND THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE STRONG SMELL OF THE CLUTCH BURNING. COULD NOT START THE CAR WITH THE CAR IN GEAR AND THE CLUTCH PUSHED IN. CAR WOULD ONLY START IN NEUTRAL. WHEN CAR STARTED COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO GO INTO GEAR. WAS ABLE TO GE…

powertrain · filed 11/17/2022

I first noticed the car engine began making a loud ticking sound and significantly lost power as I exited the freeway heading toward my home after work. After towing the vehicle to the Subaru dealership, they tore apart the engine and found a connecting rod bearing had failed. It had slid out between the rod and crankshaft and shattered in the oil system sending shards of metal into the engine and…

powertrain · filed 11/16/2016

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR AND TRIED TO DOWNSHIFT (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) FROM 6TH GEAR TO 3RD SINCE TRAFFIC SLOWED DOWN BUT THE SHIFTER WON'T GO INTO GEAR AND I WAS GOING UP HILL. I TRIED 4TH, 5TH, 3RD AGAIN, 2ND, AND I'M SLOW ENOUGH TO TRY EVEN 1ST AND STILL WON'T GO INTO GEAR. FORTUNATELY I HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO GET TO THE SHOULDER GOING UP HILL IN THE FREEWAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO …

powertrain · filed 11/14/2016

MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR. ABOUT 28000 MILES WHEN THE ISSUE HAPPENED. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 10 MILES, WHILE COMING TO A STOP IN A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE CAR COULD NOT BE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL FROM 5TH GEAR. CLUTCH OPERATED NORMALLY SO I STOPPED USING THE CLUTCH, WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT OUT OF 5TH HEAR. AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. MOVING SLOWLY IN 5TH GEAR CAUSED CLUTCH TO SMELL, …

powertrain · filed 10/30/2018

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING UP A HILL AND MY SUBARU WRX WAS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. IT SMELLED LIKE BURNT RUBBER AND IT FELT LIKE MY VEHICLE DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER AT ALL SO I GOT OFF ON THE NEAREST EXIT. I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, PUT THE VEHICLE IN 1ST GEAR AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. I HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE ROAD WITH A STRANGERS HELP. THE CAR SMELLED LIKE BURNT RUBBER AND IT P…

powertrain · filed 10/20/2015

ONCE, THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING, AND A SECOND TIME EIGHT MONTHS LATER, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ENTER GEARS FROM NEUTRAL. IN THE FIRST EVENT, THE CAR WAS STILL WARMING UP, DRIVING QUICKLY. IN THE SECOND EVENT, THE CAR WAS AT RUNNING TEMPERATURE, DRIVEN FOR ONE HOUR, DRIVING CONSERVATIVELY. IN BOTH SITUATIONS, I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL A TOW. ~1 HOUR LATER, TH…

Common questions

How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2015 subaru WRX?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 18 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?

Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.

Are there any recalls related to powertrain?

No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.

Other problem areas on this vehicle

Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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