Pre-purchase report
88,000 miles · asking $16,500 · 2.0L FA20DIT turbo boxer 4
6 known failure points for this generation · cost data pending verification
The VA-chassis WRX is the direct-injected turbo replacement for the old EJ25 car, sold with a 6-speed manual or a CVT. Money goes into driveline abuse (clutch, tranny), turbo/oiling health, and cleaning up mods left by previous owners, so buy the car and the owner history together.
AI-drafted profile
This failure-mode list was drafted by AI and cross-checked against this car’s real NHTSA complaint data. It has not yet been verified by our mechanics or owners, and it deliberately shows no cost figures: we never publish a dollar amount we can’t source. Own one? Your cost submissions below are what turn this into a verified teardown.
What you’ll notice: Knocking noise, oil consumption, or sudden engine failure.
FA20DIT engines are sensitive to tuning and oil starvation; ENGINE is the top complaint category, especially on flashed cars.
Typical window: 30k-100k miles
AI-drafted, unverified · cross-checked against NHTSA complaints · submit what you paid below to verify it
What you’ll notice: Shuddering, whining, or hesitation under load, or CVT limp mode.
CVT-equipped cars driven hard show valve body and torque converter issues; power train is a top complaint component for this car.
Typical window: 40k-100k miles
AI-drafted, unverified · cross-checked against NHTSA complaints · submit what you paid below to verify it
What you’ll notice: Slipping under boost, chatter, or difficult engagement.
The 6MT clutch is marginal for the torque and gets cooked by launches and rev-matching abuse.
Typical window: 30k-80k miles
AI-drafted, unverified · cross-checked against NHTSA complaints · submit what you paid below to verify it
What you’ll notice: Hard starts, stumbling, or check-engine fuel trim codes.
High-pressure fuel pump and injector complaints appear, and fuel/propulsion is a listed complaint component.
Typical window: 40k-100k miles
AI-drafted, unverified · cross-checked against NHTSA complaints · submit what you paid below to verify it
What you’ll notice: Rough idle, misfires, reduced power over time.
Direct injection means no fuel washes the intake valves, so carbon accumulates and needs walnut blasting.
Typical window: 60k-120k miles
AI-drafted, unverified · cross-checked against NHTSA complaints · submit what you paid below to verify it
What you’ll notice: Infotainment glitches, backup camera dropouts, headlight condensation or failure.
Electrical and exterior lighting both show up in complaints, including moisture in housings and starlink/head-unit faults.
Condition-driven: inspect, don't assume
AI-drafted, unverified · cross-checked against NHTSA complaints · submit what you paid below to verify it
AI-drafted for this chassis. Hand it to your inspector.
52 owner complaints and 3 recalls on file for the 2015 SUBARU WRX (public federal data). Failure mileages come from odometer readings owners filed with NHTSA.
failures cluster 40k-101k mi · median 86k (n=10) · this car is past the median
failures cluster 6k-50k mi · median 23k (n=14) · this car is past the median
failures cluster 27k-62k mi · median 37k (n=5) · this car is past the median
failures cluster 30k-96k mi · median 75k (n=5) · this car is past the median
failures cluster 4k-127k mi · median 11k (n=5) · this car is past the median
failures cluster 4k-20k mi · median 12k (n=5) · this car is past the median
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015 WRX and WRX/STI vehicles, equipped with an optional factory-installed subwoofer in the trunk. Items in the trunk may cause the subwoofer wiring to contact the subwoofer metal frame, possibly resulting in an electrical short.
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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2021 WRX vehicles. The backup light switch may corrode and become inoperative, which can result in the backup lights not illuminating and the rearview camera image not displaying when the vehicle is in reverse.
407 manufacturer service bulletins on file with NHTSA for this model year.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (143) · EQUIPMENT (128) · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (46) · POWER TRAIN (45)
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