Subaru · WRX · 2006
4
Recalls
14
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2006 Subaru WRX has 4 recalls and 14 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: power train (4 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
The 2006 Subaru WRX page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is power train with 4 reported complaints.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Remedy Status
Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Remedy Status
Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Remedy Status
Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy Status
AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP FAILED TO TURN OFF AND NEARLY CAUGHT FIRE. SUBARU HAS RECALLED THIS PART AND THE RELATED RELAY SWITCH FOR 2008-14 IMPREZAS, BUT THIS PROBLEM ALSO EXISTS WITH 2006 IMPREZAS. MY MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS VERY COMMON FAILURE POINT FOR MY MODEL.
VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A PUBLIC ROAD AT 30 MPH. ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON SO VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A BUSINESS PARKING LOT TO CHECK OIL LEVEL. OIL LEVEL WAS FULL. OWNER CHECKED ON INTERNET FOR POSSIBLE CAUSES OF THIS SYMPTOM AND DISCOVERED NUMEROUS REFERENCES TO A BRO...
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UPON START UP OF MY 2006 SUBARU WRX, THERE IS VISUAL EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE. THIS ONLY HAPPENS DURING TIMES OF COLD WEATHER. YOU CANNOT SEE THE LEAK AS IT IS UNDERNEATH COMPONENTS HOWEVER, YOU CAN SMELL RAW FUEL AND SEE ...
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STARTED MY 2006 SUBARU WRX THIS MORNING IN 5 DEGREE TEMP, AND THERE IS AN EXTREMELY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE CABIN. I HAVE A SHORT DRIVE TO WORK, BUT THE SMELL STAYED STRONG FOR A GOOD 10MINS. *TR
RAW FUEL SMELL OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE DURING AND AFTER COLD STARTS
AT 3500 RPM SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR AT LOW LEVEL ACCELERATION THE 3RD GEAR TEETH SHATTERED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE GEARSET. 3RD GEAR NEEDED TOTAL REPLACEMENT AND METAL DEBRIS FLOATING IN THE CASING UNTIL CAR COULD BE STOPPED. 2000 MILES LATER AFTER SUBARU DEALERSHIP REPAIR AN...
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CODE P1410 SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM SWITCHING VALVE STUCK OPEN. THIS IS A COMMON ERROR MANY 2006 AND UP SUBARU IMPREZA WRX OWNERS ARE HAVING. THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM IS PRONE TO FAIL DUE TO CARBON BUILDUP OR MOISTURE AND RUST CONTAMINATING VALVES, LEADING TO REPAIRS COSTI...
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STUD BOLT CONNECTING STRUT ARM FROM REAR HATCH TO CAR FRAME FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE STRUT ARM TO BECOME DISCONNECTED WITH THE REAR HATCH AND THE REAR HATCH DOOR NO LONG IS ABLE TO REMAIN AJAR WITHOUT MANUAL SUPPORT. DOOR WILL CLOSE ON USER WITHOUT NOTICE. *TR
1. OIL LIGHT FLICKERS ON AND THEN STAYS ON AT IDLE OR UNDER LOW REV'S 2. THE FAILURE IS THE OIL PICK UP LINE RESULTING IN A CRACKED LINE AND DAMAGED ENGINE. 3. USUALLY DAMAGE IS SUFFICIENT TO WARRANT A REPLACED LONG BLOCK AND TURBO FROM MANUFACTURER. HOWEVER NO SUFFICIENT REPLA...
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OIL PICK UP TUBE CRACKED. *TR
Showing 10 recent complaints from 14 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2006 Subaru models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 2006 Subaru WRX has 4 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 14 owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Subaru WRX.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2006 Subaru WRX.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2006 Subaru WRX are power train (4 reports), engine and engine cooling (3 reports), fuel/propulsion system (3 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 4 recalls on record for the 2006 Subaru WRX. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.