The 2005 WRX is a legendary platform with bulletproof transmission and suspension, but the EJ205 engine is a ticking time bomb if boost or heat is mismanaged. Expect engine internals to be the primary expense if the car was driven hard or modded.
EJ205 Ringland Failure (Piston #4)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: misfires on cylinder 4, rattling/knocking at idle, white smoke on cold start, loss of compression, check engine light with P0304
Fix: Piston #4 ringland cracks under detonation or sustained boost. Requires full engine teardown, new pistons (forged recommended), rings, bearings, and machine work. Budget 25-35 labor hours for short block replacement or full rebuild.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500
Head Gasket Failure (External Leak)
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: coolant weeping from head/block mating surface, oil and coolant mixing is rare on turbo models, overheating if left unaddressed, visible drips on driveway
Symptoms: turbo failure without warning, oil starvation noise, blue smoke on startup, loss of boost
Fix: Tiny filter screen in banjo bolt feeding turbo oil line clogs with debris, starving turbo bearings. Often discovered after turbo grenades. Replace banjo bolt with filterless version or upgraded oil feed line. Turbo replacement is 8-10 hours.
Estimated cost: $1,500-2,500
5-Speed Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 100,000+ mi
Symptoms: trans fluid dripping near front crossmember, low fluid level on dipstick, burnt smell if driven low, slipping under load
Fix: Hard lines and rubber hoses to external cooler crack or perish. Replace all cooler lines and top off fluid. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $300-600
Throwout Bearing / Clutch Chatter
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: squealing when clutch pedal depressed, chatter on engagement in 1st/reverse, hard shifting into gear
Fix: Throwout bearing wears or clutch disc glazes from abuse. While trans is out, replace full clutch kit and resurface flywheel. 6-8 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $1,200-1,800
Intercooler Y-Pipe Cracking
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: hissing under boost, loss of power above 3,000 RPM, turbo spooling but no acceleration
Fix: Plastic Y-pipe connecting intercooler to throttle body cracks at mounting tabs or seams. Replace with OEM or aftermarket aluminum unit. 1 hour labor.
Estimated cost: $200-400
Owner tips
Change oil every 3,000 miles with quality synthetic — the EJ205 is unforgiving with extended intervals
Replace timing belt and water pump at 60k-mile intervals without fail; interference engine will bend valves
Avoid cars with intake/exhaust mods unless professionally tuned — off-the-shelf tunes cause ringland failure
Use top-tier gas only; knock events accumulate and crack pistons over time
Check compression on all four cylinders before purchase — variance >10% indicates internal damage
Buy one if bone-stock with service records and compression test results in hand; walk away from modded examples unless engine has been built.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 23V076000
2023-02-13
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2004-2005 Impreza and WRX vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.
Consequence: An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the passenger inflator and if necessary, install a new inflator kit, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 14, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRF-23.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 20V001000
2020-01-02 · EA15001
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.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 20V002000
2020-01-02 · EA15001
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.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 20V003000
2020-01-02 · EA15001
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.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING · 06E060000
2006-06-29
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."
Consequence: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH
Remedy: 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.
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