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What 7 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 Subaru WRX STI

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (7)Crash / fire / injury (2)Brakes (2)Engine (2)Suspension (2)Airbags (1)

2 of 7 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Apr 18, 2026BrakesCrash

Factory brake system is weak to slow down. The tree on the road stopped my car faster than the brakes did. Many videos and internet posts document this. Quick google search will provide a lot of information. Many owners with money upgrade calipers from tr model Amazon reviews purchasing brake pads provides stopping power. Subaru knows this and did it with 2007 wrx

NHTSA ODI 11732084

Jan 15, 2026AirbagsCrash

I was heading to work on a stretch of road. I was traveling at about 45-50mph. A car pulled out in front of me and we had an accident. The airbags in the older Subaru of the person who collided with me went off and mine did not. Surprisingly. My head was slammed against the B pillar and a small bruise on my leg. Insurance is saying my car is totaled. With an accident of that magnitude, my air bags should have deployed. If I was going any faster, I most likely wouldn't be here typing this message. This is a serious concern of mine. I have 0 interest getting back into another Subaru which Consumer Reports quotes as being the safest, most reliable brand.

NHTSA ODI 11711115

Working with the data? Download all 7 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 21, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2023 Subaru WRX STI verdict →