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 ↗2017 Subaru WRX electrical problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
1crash
1fire
2injuries
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Subaru WRX in our records for electrical problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Electrical accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 7 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
The 2017 WRX shows a cluster of electrical complaints centered on battery reliability and system failures. Battery problems are most common: owners report batteries dying overnight, draining fully after five days of non-use, or requiring replacement within two years of installation. One owner had batteries replaced twice in four years; another's battery failed less than two years after installation. A dealership mentioned a class action settlement related to defective batteries.
One owner reported a secondary air injection pump that failed repeatedly (check engine code P2444), was replaced twice under warranty, and then the vehicle caught fire ten days after the final repair. Police and fire investigators examined the burned car.
EyeSight advanced driver assistance system failures also appear in reports: one owner experienced complete system malfunction while turning at 35–40 mph, with the dashboard lighting up, lane tracking and cruise control flashing, and a reported loss of vehicle control that led to a ditch crash. Front airbags failed to deploy despite frontal impact.
A separate complaint describes reverse lights and rear camera inoperative, with the transmission display showing first gear instead of reverse. Another owner reports subwoofer and amplifier overheating and wire damage creating fire risk, noting similarity to a 2015 model recall affecting roughly 10,000 vehicles.
Same Subaru WRX electrical reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Secondary air injection pump failure
Secondary air injection pump repeatedly fails, triggering check engine light. One owner reported the pump was replaced under warranty in November 2024, failed again by December 2024, was replaced again in March 2025, and the vehicle caught fire 10 days after the second repair. Police and fire investigators inspected the burned vehicle; the CEL had illuminated the morning of the fire.
When: November 2024, December 2024, March 2025; fire occurred 10 days after final repair
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light (P2444 code); Pump requires repeated replacement; Vehicle fire 10 days after final repair
Codes mentioned: P2444
Repairs/costs cited: Pump replaced twice under warranty at Romano Subaru (315-475-7933); vehicle totaled in fire
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Replaced under warranty twice; investigate with dealership for any TSBs or recalls
Premature battery failure and drain
Multiple owners report batteries dying prematurely or draining rapidly despite being relatively new or recently replaced. One owner's battery lasted less than 2 years from installation (installed 7/15/2019, failed within 2 years). Another had batteries replaced twice in 4 years (2019, 2022). A third reports leaving the car undriven for 5 days results in a dead battery. Dealerships have replaced batteries, with one dealer mentioning a class action settlement for defective batteries.
When: Within 2 years of battery installation; occurs after 2-5 days of non-use in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Battery dies overnight or after short idle periods; Rapid battery drain after 5 days without driving; Battery becomes progressively weaker over 3 days before failing; Multiple battery replacements required on same vehicle; Vehicle requires jump-start to reach dealership
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple battery replacements; dealership mentioned class action settlement for defective batteries
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Class action settlement for defective batteries reportedly mentioned by dealership
EyeSight camera system failure
EyeSight system malfunctions during normal driving, causing dashboard warning lights to illuminate, loss of lane tracking and adaptive cruise control, and reported loss of vehicle control. Owner experienced the failure while turning at 35-40 mph, felt car accelerated involuntarily after braking, lost control, and went into a ditch. Airbags deployed from side impact but front airbags did not deploy despite frontal collision with tree.
When: During normal driving at 35-40 mph on country road
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard lights up (described as 'like a Christmas tree'); Lane tracking indicators flash; Adaptive cruise control indicators flash; EyeSight system reports unavailable; Perceived loss of vehicle control; Perceived unintended acceleration after braking; Airbag deployment delay on passenger side; Front airbags failed to deploy despite frontal collision
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle involved in single-vehicle crash; front damage to brush and tree
Reverse lights and rear camera malfunction
Reverse lights fail to illuminate and rear camera does not activate when vehicle is in reverse. Dashboard incorrectly displays first gear instead of reverse.
When: Not specified in complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Reverse lights inoperative; Rear camera will not turn on in reverse; Dashboard displays first gear instead of reverse
Subwoofer and amplifier overheat fire hazard
Subwoofer and amplifier overheat during normal use, causing wires to burn and melt and creating a significant fire safety issue. Owner notes this is similar to issues that prompted a 2017 recall of approximately 10,000 2015 model year WRXs.
When: During normal use
Symptoms owners cite: Subwoofer and amplifier overheat; Wires burn and melt; Fire safety hazard
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2015 model year WRX recall (approximately 10,000 vehicles) reportedly issued for similar issue
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I own a 2017 Subaru WRX. On 8/10/2019 I had the battery replaced at the dealership because it does for no reason. The battery died overnight and I had to jump the car to get it to the dealership. This happened again and the battery replaced at the dealership on 9/29/2022. This time the battery got weaker each time I started the car over a period of 3 days then one day it didn't start. I had to…
Vehicle suffers from repeated battery drain issues - continue to replace top of the line batteries in the vehicle because they are constantly draining
Had electrical trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Subaru WRX?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 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 11 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 33,500 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/2017/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.