There are 4 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2002 Subaru WRXin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
DRIVER'S SEATBELT OFTEN FAILS TO RETRACT AT TOP, LEAVING SLACK, WHICH SOMETIMES WRAPS ITSELF AROUND THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT LEVER. WHEN PULLING TO ADJUST BELT, LEVER CAN ABRUPTLY LET GO, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO DRIVER SUDDENLY LOSING SUPPORT OF SEAT. IT'S HAPPENED TO ME A FEW TIMES NOW, ALWAYS WITHOUT INCIDENT, AS I TEND TO GET MY SEATBELT SORTED OUT BEFORE I START DRIVING. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO TURN A CORNER TOO FAST AND VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A BRICK WALL. CONSUMER WAS THROWN AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD AND BROKE HIS NOSE. THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT WORN , AND FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS CITED BY THE POLICE FOR DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. *AK
THE VEHICLE SLID ON SOME SNOW AND ICE, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A POLE, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *PH *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026