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 ↗2019 Subaru WRX electrical problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
When does it fail?
Of the 13 electrical complaints filed for the 2019 Subaru WRX, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Of the 6 model years of Subaru WRX we track for electrical problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 13.
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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 consistently report a parasitic battery drain that kills the battery over days or even hours of inactivity. The culprit appears to be the onboard telematics system (DCM), which one owner measured drawing approximately 135mA continuously—even when the car is powered off. Multiple owners confirmed the issue by pulling fuses one-by-one and comparing notes online with others experiencing identical symptoms.
The drain causes dead batteries with no warning lights beforehand, leaving owners stranded. One owner's vehicle failed to start after just 24 hours parked; another could only sit idle about a week before the battery was depleted. Dealership diagnostics showed battery and alternator tests passing, with no software updates or recalls offered.
Three owners also reported premature battery failures—batteries going dead within the first 2 years, requiring replacement or repeated jump starts. One owner had the battery fail twice under 10,000 miles.
A separate issue: the vehicle shuts down randomly while driving, sometimes without warning, and the steering wheel locks during these shutdowns—creating a serious safety hazard at highway speeds. Dealership diagnostics could not identify a cause.
The STARLINK multimedia system also malfunctions, becoming unresponsive and performing erratic actions like phantom radio scanning and song-skipping.
Same Subaru WRX electrical reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Parasitic Battery Drain (DCM Telematics)
The built-in telematics system (DCM) draws current even when the vehicle is powered off, causing the battery to discharge to dead over time. Owner #2 measured approximately 135mA constant drain and confirmed by pulling fuses and comparing with others online reporting identical symptoms.
When: Occurs continuously when vehicle is off; issues reported under 20,000 miles through 72,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Battery dead after 1 day to 1 week of not driving; No warning lights or messages before failure; Battery dies even without door left open; Rapid voltage drop beyond normal recharge capacity
Repairs/costs cited: Owner #2 confirmed issue by multimeter testing and fuse-by-fuse removal. Dealership diagnostics (owner #1) showed battery and alternator pass standard tests, no software updates available.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Class action lawsuit filed against Subaru for battery drain issue affecting WRX, Forester, and Legacy models. Owner #1 reported dealership offered only 'extended electrical diagnostics' with no recall or resolution provided.
Battery Failure (Early/Premature)
Batteries fail to hold charge or hold sufficient charge even after replacement in relatively new vehicles. Multiple owners report dead batteries within the first 2 years despite vehicle being brand new from dealer.
When: Less than 2 years ownership; under 20,000 to 25,000 miles initially; repeated at 7,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Battery cannot hold charge after jump start; Dead battery found without warning; Vehicle will not restart after engine shut-off unless jumped; Repeated battery failures requiring multiple replacements
Repairs/costs cited: Owner #6 paid out of pocket for battery replacement at 2 years old. Owner #8 had battery replaced at 1,000 miles, failed again at 7,000 miles. Owner #9 battery does not charge even when vehicle is driven.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership told owner #6 battery needed replacement (treated as part failure, not defect). Owner #8 was told customer received 'a bad battery' with no further action.
Dome Light Drain (No Off Switch)
Vehicle lacks a feature to shut off the dome/interior lights manually. Door-open condition causes rapid battery drain in as little as 20 minutes with no other systems running.
When: Occurs when any door is left open for extended time; 20-minute duration reported
Symptoms owners cite: Battery dead after leaving door open for 20 minutes; No manual dome light shut-off feature available
Repairs/costs cited: Owner #3 suspected dome light drain and linked it to class action lawsuit on battery drain.
Electrical System Shutdown While Driving
Vehicle experiences random electrical shutdown and restart cycles while in motion, occurring with or without multimedia system in use. Shutdown causes steering wheel to lock up, creating loss of driver control at highway speeds.
When: Occurs at random; usually during CarPlay use but can happen without stereo
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shuts down for 1-2 seconds then restarts without button press; Steering wheel locks up during shutdown; Shutdown occurs back-to-back multiple times; Loss of vehicle control at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Owner #5 took vehicle to dealership; diagnostics unable to pinpoint cause.
STARLINK Multimedia System Malfunction
The STARLINK 7-inch Multimedia Plus touchscreen unit becomes unresponsive, locks up, or behaves erratically including phantom radio scanning, song-skipping, and disconnecting phone calls.
When: Timing not specified by owner
Symptoms owners cite: Touchscreen unresponsive to touch input; Unit locks up completely; Phantom radio station scanning; Random song skipping; Phone call disconnection
Fuel Pump Power Loss
Fuel pump cuts off and vehicle loses power. Owner reports major power loss event. Details are limited due to narrative quality.
When: At 72,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel pump cuts off; Major loss of power
Repairs/costs cited: Technician at Subaru refused to repair.
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 10 most recent
at random, the vehicle will shut down for a second and start back up without pressing the start button. usually occurs while using carplay but has occurred without using the stereo. will happen back to back and cause the steering wheel to lock up at highway speeds, taking control of the vehicle away from me (driver). steering wheel has locked up several times when the car shuts off while driving.…
The battery in my 2019 Subaru WRX failed after buying it brand new from the dealer, after less than 2 years of owning the vehicle. Almost one year later, my car now won't start if I leave it off for more than 24 hrs. In 2019 I left the car powered off for over a week and it started right up no hesitation. This is a huge problem now as I work remotely and don't need to drive my car every day…
This vehicle has less than 20,000 miles on it and I’ve had the battery drain on me 3 different times from just leaving a door open with the car off while doing general maintenance things. The car lacks a feature to shut off the dome lights and I thought that was what the problem stemmed from. Each time the car died on me the door was open for no more than 20 minutes or so. Once I saw there’s a…
Battery cannot hold a charge even after jumping the car. Once jumped, the car will drive but when the engine is turned off, it cannot turn back on without a jump.
The STARLINK 7-inch Multimedia Plus unit gets locked-up, sometime not responsive to touch, skips around to different songs, in a phantom way scans different radio stations, disconnects phone calls.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru WRX. The contact stated that she was unable to start the vehicle. The contact stated that the battery warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that her father was able to jumpstart the vehicle. The contact stated the following morning she experienced the failure for a second time. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The…
Without warning, my brand new car at 1000 miles was found battery dead in my garage. Towed to dealership, I was told that "I got a bad battery". Again, at 7000 miles, car found dead in my garage.
I was an hour into a 5-hour trip. I stopped the vehicle at a interstate rest area. I then went to start the car again after 5 minutes or so, and it would not start. After getting a jump start, I drove back to my dealership, and they informed me I needed to replace my battery. This vehicle is only 2 years old. I paid for a new battery.
The cam carriers for my vehicle are leaking oil. This is an incredible common, seemingly almost guaranteed, issue with these vehicles from Subaru at the 75-90k mile mark. The carrier are dripping oil, so worse than seeping, but not pouring. This runs the risk of the engine bleeding oil fast and running dry without checking oil levels every week or so and carrying extra emergency oil. This is a…
The batterey drains within a week if the vehicle isnt driven
Had electrical trouble with your 2019 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 2019 Subaru WRX?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 23,500 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/2019/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.