Check a VIN

Subaru WRX check engine light comes on

19 of the 980 owner complaints about the Subaru WRX describe check engine light, most of them for the 2015 model year.

owner complaints
19
worst model year
2015
typical mileage
57,500
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2020
    1
  • 2018
    3
  • 2017
    2
  • 2016
    3
  • 2015
    5
  • 2012
    1
  • 2011
    1
  • 2009
    2
  • 2002
    1

Often reported together

Misfire 4Adaptive cruise 4Stalling 2Overheating 2Loss of power 2Fuel pump 2Engine failure 2ABS 2

Trouble codes mentioned

P2444 1P2441 1P2138 1P0420 1P0300 1P0016 1P0011 1

What owners say

Filed Oct 17, 2025 · Driver assistance, Engine · 30,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru WRX. The contact stated that while the transmission was shifted into neutral (N), the instrument panel displayed that the transmission was shifted in reverse (R), and the rearview camera image was displayed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact shifted the transmission to drive (D), but the instrument panel displayed that the transmission was still in reverse (R), and the rearview camera was displayed while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V522000 (Exterior Lighting); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

Filed Mar 27, 2025 · Electrical, Fuel system · NY · fire

Likely secondary air injection pump and/or its related relays, CEL P2444 came on 3 separate times. November 2024, brought it in to get replaced under warranty, came on again the day after picking her up in December 2024 due to faulty pump, didn’t get to bring her back in until March 1st 2025, fixed part again, brought her home [XXX]. Car engulfed in flames 10 days later on [XXX]. I do have the car’s ECU available for scan to check for previous codes. I could have been killed in a car fire, the building my car was in front of could have been turned to ash. No, the problem has not been reproduced, the car is totaled and in a pile of ash. Yes, the vehicle was inspected by police and fire force after the incident. The CEL light had come back on that morning. 9:11 am, came on, parked at 9:28am, car was on fire by 9:52am. I was parked and in an appointment when the cops came in in order to evacuate us because my car was in flames. Please contact Romano Subaru for information on my car, I do not have all of the paperwork available to me, but all of the work was done through that dealership. 315‑475‑7933 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 15, 2024 · Fuel system · TX

Started car up. Check engine light is on, cruise control flashing. Fuel tank level is flashing. Has gas but the meter is says it’s empty. Took it to a mechanic and they told me it is the fuel pump that’s bad. Called a Subaru dealership and they said there’s no recall for this car. You guys issued a recall for this make and model back in 2020 but for the production date of April. My car was produced in November. Anyway you guys can issue a recall fort car so I can get it fixed?

Filed Apr 10, 2023 · Engine, Fuel system · NY

I purchased a 2016 subaru wrx (premium) used from a subaru dealer in albany, ny with under 26k miles for approximately $25k in 2018. On a drive in december 2022 I experienced hesitation and/or stuttering under load or when attempting to accelerate, and car began getting very hot, and close to overheating, and the engine was knocking loudly. After turning engine off and then restarting, the knocking (intensity) was not as noticeable as the initial incident. Initially I replaced all coil over plugs, as cylinder #4 initially was reporting a misfire code after the check engine light came on. This appeared to relieve the misfire briefly, but the issue immediately returned, this time with piston #3 reporting misfires and also exhibiting signs of a possible failed ringland, with oil seeping past rings (on to / in spark plug) causing the engine to run very poorly. Presently upon startup white smoke comes from exhaust out the tailpipe and the engine is hesitating and/or missing, running poorly and I feel it cannot be driven safely with the diminished permormance or complete lack of ability to accelerate normally like a motor vehicle should. I have engaged a mechanic to inspect the engine, but have not yet proceeded with inspection/repairs due to the class action litigation. Current mileage is: 73563. This car has an fa20 engine.

Filed Mar 21, 2023 · Engine · WI

The secondary o2 pump will burn out or continue running causing unsafe risk to short circuit a fire. Recall has already been previously documented in the -2014 models however Subaru uses the same design and part number. My car Secondary o2 Pump was replaced under warrenty at 55k miles now at 90knmiles have the same CEL code.

Filed Jun 22, 2022 · Engine · AZ

-Engine Head Gasket (Blown), Yes. -Engine coolant created cloud of white vapor while driving, impairing ability to visually assess the road. Leaked hazardous fluid over freeway possibly contaminating soils and affecting local wildlife. -The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by Eastside Subaru in Kirkland, WA. -The vehicle has been inspected by Eastside Subaru in Kirkland, WA. -There was no warning (check engine lights) until the incident occurred.

Filed May 5, 2021 · Engine · 92,000 miles · CT

I own a 2015 wrx limited CVT. When I go to my car to go to work and I start it, the car sputters. I've only noticed this on cold starts only, once the car is warmed up it's fine. For some reason though when the car is sputtering on start ups it will trip my cel and basically put the car into 'get home' mode, but it only seems to trigger the cel when it wants to. The car will always sputter on start up but sometimes the cel will come on and I can't use the drive modes and sometimes it won't come on. No matter what I do I can't get the car to stop sputtering. I've cleaned pretty much every sensor I could and nothing worked. I scanned the obd2 port and got p0300 for random misfire, which tells me absolutely nothing.

Filed Dec 16, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 80,000 miles · KS · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2017 subaru wrx. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel seized, the contact stated that he then steer the wheel to the right, the steering wheel was ok, then the steering wheel became difficult to steer. The contact stated that he jerk the wheel a little bit to the right, the vehicle hit a pothole, the vehicle brushed a little of the godrail and run into cones and hit a concrete barrier, the vehicle came to a stop. The power steering warning light illuminated. The contact did not sustained injuries. The vehicle was able to drive normal. The vehicle was taken to subaru of wichita, 11610 e kellogg dr n, wichita, ks 67207, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle needed an alignment. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that while at a drive thru, the vehicle lost power, all the warning lights illuminated. The windshield wipers stop functioning. The contact called the same dealer and informed them of the failure and was advised to schedule an appointment for a diagnostic testing. Vehicle was not taken to the dealer due to the diagnostic and repaired fees. The contact also mention that the check engine warning light illuminated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Filed Dec 17, 2019 · Engine · FL

The RPM drop and the engine stalls, but no check engine lights come on. It only happens in first gear, from what I've noticed.

Filed Apr 23, 2019 · Engine · 9,000 miles · FL

Check engine light advising cylinder misfire advising ringland oiston failure sparknplug destroyed

Related recalls

Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/superchargerReported March 21, 2016 · 18,187 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall.
Risk
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct. The recall began April 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑800‑782‑2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTA-62.

Recall number 16V162000 · Recall details

Questions about the Subaru WRX check engine light

Why does the check engine light come on in the Subaru WRX?

Owners who report it most often also describe misfire or rough idle, adaptive cruise control problems and engine stalls while driving, and the codes they mention most are P2444, P2441 and P2138.

Which Subaru WRX years have check engine light problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2015 (5 complaints), 2016 (3 complaints) and 2018 (3 complaints).

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