BumperScan
Powered byNHTSA|EPA|Community Reports
Your report: 3 of 4 steps complete75%
Car identifiedData collectedBasic analysisFull AI analysis

Free Preview

#BS-2003-SUBWRX-2D22

2003 Subaru Wrx

Based on reports from 65 owners and 2 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
65
Crashes
16
Fires
3
Recalls
2
TSBs
98
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 65 complaints, 16 crashes, 3 fires, and 2 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Preview: What's in your full report

Each card shows a real sample from your report — unlock all 10 sections from $1.20

Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited SlipHIGH

19 owners reported service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip issues — failures commonly reported around 31K miles.

!Inspect the Fuel SystemMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

26
0–30K
7
30–60K
9
60–90K
3
90–120K
4
120–150K
4
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (26 reports) • Median: 31K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip (19 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip19 (29%)
Fuel System15 (23%)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings4 (6%)
Engine3 (5%)
Visibility:windshield2 (3%)
Seats:front Assembly:recliner2 (3%)
Power Train:manual Transmission2 (3%)
Speed Control2 (3%)

2003 Subaru Wrx: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip Issues

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip complaints account for 29% of all reports filed for the 2003 Subaru Wrx, with 19 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 31,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 31K-mile mark.

Fuel System Issues

Fuel System complaints account for 23% of all reports filed for the 2003 Subaru Wrx, with 15 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings Issues

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2003 Subaru Wrx, with 4 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2003 Subaru Wrx, with 3 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

15
03
14
04
7
05
2
06
5
07
5
08
6
09
2
10
1
14
5
15
1
17
1
18
1
19

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2003 Subaru Wrx. Recent trend: stable.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

Get Report — From $1.20

Recall History (2 recalls)

06E060000Aug 2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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."

09V468000Dec 2009

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 IMPREZA WRX VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF SOUTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, MINNESOTA, IDAHO, IOWA, MONTANA, COLORADO, WISCONSIN, NEW YORK, WYOMING, MICHIGAN, ALASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, AND MAINE. DURING COLD STARTS, TYPICALLY UNDER EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES, FUEL LEAKS IN THE FUEL DELIVERY LINE COULD OCCUR WHERE THE LINE CONNECTS WITH A RUBBER HOSE.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

The worst model year for the Subaru Wrx is the 2015 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is clutch.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 65 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 2 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Subaru Wrx Model Years

2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002
View all Subaru Wrx years →

2003 Subaru Wrx: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2003 Subaru Wrx?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2003 Subaru Wrx is related to the service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, with 19 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2003 Subaru Wrx reliable?
The 2003 Subaru Wrx has 65 complaints, 16 crash reports, and 3 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 2003 Subaru Wrx problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2003 Subaru Wrx have any recalls?
Yes, the 2003 Subaru Wrx has 2 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Subaru Wrx problems start?
Based on 53 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 31,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
RaccoonEagleRoverCat

Get the Full 2003 Subaru Wrx Report

10 sections of AI analysis based on 65 owner reports. Know before you buy.

Get Full Report — From $1.20Money-back guarantee
Instant delivery|One-time purchase|No hidden fees