This bulletin announces the new procedure and Warranty Fail Code for FirstTime air conditioning (A/C) performance concerns possibly resulting from an undetected A/C refrigerant leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Subaru WRX electrical problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 10 electrical complaints filed for the 2016 Subaru WRX, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Subaru WRX in our records for electrical problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Electrical accounts for 29% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 3 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin contains information to help when attempting to complete the STARLINK Telematics subscription process, an Error Code 202 and / or 204 may occur preventing the process from completing successfully
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for 2026 model year vehicles exhibiting DTC B2A20 with gen 4 Telematics.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces the new procedure and Warranty Fail Code for FirstTime air conditioning (A/C) performance concerns possibly resulting from an undetected A/C refrigerant leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Subaru service and technical support line newsletter provides information on the next phase of TechShare.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a pattern of electrical problems starting early in the vehicle's life. Headlight failures involve condensation buildup and seal leaks, requiring full assembly replacement at $1800+ total cost. Battery drain is the most common complaint — vehicles go dead after a week of parking, even in mild weather, with issues recurring months after dealer replacement. One owner suspects controller area network failure.
Several owners report driving assistance features — ABS, cruise control — disabling at night, mirroring failures Subaru already recalled in 2011-2015 models. Check engine lights paired with cruise control failure led to one diagnosis of a faulty computer needing replacement, though the repair was never completed. Rear light and camera failures show up in existing recalls for the 2015-2021 generation.
One owner reported a secondary air injection pump that stayed on continuously, burning a hole in the housing and triggering cascading electrical faults.
Dealer responses have been mixed — some replace batteries or headlights without solving the underlying issue; one dealership diagnosed a faulty computer but didn't repair it. Extended warranty coverage has not applied. The timeline and nature of failures suggest potential design or manufacturing quality issues rather than owner neglect.
Same Subaru WRX electrical reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Headlight condensation and seal failure
Moisture builds up inside passenger-side headlight assembly, triggering 'Headlight Disabled' message on dash. Bulb replacement reveals full headlight unit requires replacement due to failed seal design.
When: 2 years after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Condensation visible in headlight lens; Headlight disabled warning on display; Headlight function loss
Repairs/costs cited: $840 headlight unit + $1000+ labor; not covered under extended warranty
Check engine light with cruise control failure
Check engine indicator illuminates and cruise control stops functioning. Dealer diagnosed faulty computer system needing replacement, but vehicle was not repaired despite three service visits.
When: 36,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminated; Cruise control inoperative
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed faulty computer system requiring replacement; repair not completed
Night-driving safety feature disablement
ABS, cruise control, and other driving assistance features disable while operating at night. Owner reports identical failures noted in recall issued for 2011-2015 WRX models, suggesting similar root cause affects 2016 model.
When: Unknown
Symptoms owners cite: ABS disabled at night; Cruise control disabled at night; Driving assistance features disabled at night
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued for 2011-2015 models with same symptoms
Battery drain while parked
Battery drains completely after parking vehicle for one week or less, occurring before and after dealer battery replacement. Multiple owners report same issue; one owner experienced battery drain after 3 days in cold weather (20-40°F) over two consecutive winters.
When: Various; cold weather pattern noted
Symptoms owners cite: Battery completely discharged after short parking periods; Vehicle will not start; Repeated battery failures
Codes mentioned: Controller area network suspected
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced battery; issue recurred within months on some vehicles
Rear lights and rearview camera failure
Rear light and rearview camera malfunction. Owner cites existing recall for 2015-2021 WRX models covering this exact failure.
When: Unknown
Symptoms owners cite: Rear lights inoperative; Rearview camera inoperative
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued for 2015-2021 models (same issue)
Secondary air injection pump stuck on
Secondary air injection pump remains activated for extended period, overheating and burning hole in pump housing. Relay possibly damaged; failure cascades to trigger other component and computer faults.
When: Unknown
Symptoms owners cite: Secondary air injection pump runs continuously; Visible burn damage to pump housing; Multiple downstream computer faults
Repairs/costs cited: Pump housing burned; relay suspected damaged
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
recurring battery drain, which has happened before. subaru dealer replaced the battery for the same reason less than 2 years ago. now it needs it again. car is inoperable as is.
2016 WRX drains its battery while the vehicle is turned off. After 3 days of being outside in 20-40 degree Fahrenheit weather, the battery was completely flat and would not start. This has happened 2 winters in a row now.
The Seconary Air Injection pump stayed on for days. Burnt a hole in the side, relay possibly damaged, and now setting off other components and computers.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Subaru wrx. The contact stated that the check engine indicator illuminated and the cruise control failed to function. The vehicle was taken to Subaru of jacksonville (10800 atlantic blvd, jacksonville, fl 32225) for the failures at least three times and the electrical system was serviced, but the failures persisted. The dealer stated that the sensor failure was due to…
Recall clutch change brakes electrical and emissions seem to be failing tucson, az Subaru palm springs ,ca Subaru in motion systems systems failure
Had electrical trouble with your 2016 Subaru WRX?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2016 Subaru WRX?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 44,300 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Subaru/WRX.
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.