The 2006 WRX is the hawkeye generation with the EJ255 2.5L turbo — a fun platform but notorious for ringland failures and head gasket weeps. Expect expensive engine work if it was beaten on or poorly maintained.
Ringland Failure / Piston #4 Cracked
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: misfires on cylinder 4, rattling/knock on cold start, white smoke from exhaust, loss of compression, CEL with P0304
Fix: EJ255 notorious for cracked ringlands on piston #4 due to lean conditions, knock, or poor-quality fuel. Requires engine-out short block replacement or full rebuild. 20-30 labor hours depending on shop thoroughness and ancillary refresh.
Estimated cost: $4,500-8,000
Head Gasket Weep / External Leak
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: oil seepage around head/block mating surface, coolant smell, slow coolant loss, no overheating until severe
Fix: Classic Subaru boxer issue, external leak more common than internal on turbo models. Engine-out job, resurface heads if warped, replace timing components while in there. 16-22 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,500
Turbocharger Failure (TD04)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 100,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: oil smoke on deceleration, whining/grinding from engine bay, loss of boost, oil in intercooler piping, blue smoke at startup
Fix: TD04 turbo seals wear, shaft play develops. Replacement turbo plus oil feed/return lines, often find debris in oil pan requiring cleanup. 6-10 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Corrosion
Common · medium severity
Symptoms: transmission fluid puddle under car, fluid dripping near radiator, burning smell, low trans fluid on dipstick
Fix: Steel hardlines rust through where they pass the subframe, especially in salt states. Replace with stainless aftermarket or OEM. 2-4 hours labor plus fluid.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Engine Knock / Rod Bearing Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: metallic ticking/knocking that increases with RPM, low oil pressure light, sudden catastrophic failure, metal shavings in oil
Fix: Insufficient oil flow or neglected intervals lead to spun bearings, usually #2 or #4. Requires crank inspection, possibly regrind, full bottom-end rebuild. 22-30 hours.
Estimated cost: $5,000-9,000
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: clunk on 1-2 shift, excessive drivetrain movement, vibration during acceleration, visible torn rubber on mount
Fix: Pitch-stop mount and rear trans mount tear from spirited driving. Relatively easy DIY or 1.5-2.5 hours shop labor.
Estimated cost: $300-550
Banjo Bolt Filter Clogging (Turbo Oil Feed)
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: turbo failure, oil starvation to turbo, no obvious external symptoms until turbo dies
Fix: Tiny filter screen in banjo bolt at turbo oil inlet clogs with debris, starves turbo. Remove banjo bolt, inspect/replace screen, common preventive step during any turbo work. 0.5 hours standalone.
Estimated cost: $50-150
Owner tips
Use quality 5W-30 synthetic and change every 3,750 mi — ringlands and bearings are unforgiving.
Replace banjo bolt filter screen preemptively at 60k to protect turbo.
Compression test and leak-down before buying used — EJ255 bottom-end issues often hidden until catastrophic.
Avoid tuned cars unless full build receipts prove forged internals — stock block is fragile over 300 whp.
Keep coolant fresh — corroded oil cooler lines and head gasket issues accelerate with old fluid.
Buy only with full service records and compression test results — budget $3k-5k for inevitable engine work if it's been driven hard.
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.
Be the first to unlock repairs for the 2006 Subaru WRX
Procedures haven't been generated for this vehicle yet. Become the founding sponsor and we'll generate expert-grade, step-by-step repair walkthroughs for every common job on it — free for every mechanic and DIYer who looks it up after, forever.
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.
Building an app?
Free API access to all this data — 50 requests/day, no card required.