The 2019 WRX with the FA20DIT is generally solid when maintained, but suffers from classic Subaru head gasket seepage, and more seriously, ringland failure if driven hard or modded. Transmission mounts fail early, and the fuel pump recall is critical to address.
Ringland Failure / Piston Cracking (Cylinder #4)
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Misfires on cylinder 4, often under boost, Loss of compression on one cylinder, Excessive blowby or oil consumption, Check engine light with P030X codes
Fix: Short block replacement or full rebuild required. Typically 18-25 labor hours depending on shop efficiency and whether you're doing pistons-only or going full short block. Common on cars that see aggressive driving, poor-quality fuel, or any tuning without proper supporting mods.
Estimated cost: $4,500-8,000
Head Gasket Seepage
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: External oil weeping at head/block mating surface, Slight coolant smell or residue around heads, No overheating or internal mixing in most cases
Fix: Unlike older EJ engines, the FA20 rarely blows head gaskets catastrophically, but seepage is common. Both heads off, resurface if needed, MLS gaskets, ARP studs recommended. 12-16 hours labor. Many owners defer this until it gets worse or they're doing other engine work.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,500
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severityTypical onset: 30,000-60,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive drivetrain clunk on 1-2 shifts or throttle lift, Vibration at idle in gear, Shifter slop or notchiness increase
Fix: The rear trans mount tears early, especially with spirited driving. Replace with OEM or upgraded polyurethane. 1.5-2 hours labor. Common enough that many owners upgrade preemptively around 40k.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid spots under car, driver-side front, Low trans fluid on dipstick, Burning smell or smoke from undertray area
Fix: Quick-connect fittings or lines themselves crack/corrode. Replace lines and fittings, top off fluid. 2-3 hours labor depending on line routing. Not catastrophic if caught early, but can cook the trans if ignored.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Fuel Pump Failure (NHTSA Recall 20V-654)
Rare · high severitySymptoms: No-start or stalling at any speed, Rough idle or hesitation under load, Check engine light with low fuel pressure codes
Fix: Denso low-pressure pump impellers can crack and cause sudden loss of fuel delivery. Subaru recall covers replacement. If not done, 3-4 hours labor to drop tank and swap pump. Do the recall immediately if not already completed.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall) or $800-1,200
Turbocharger Wastegate Rattle
Occasional · low severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Metallic rattle on cold start or light throttle, No performance loss initially, Rattle goes away once engine warms or under boost
Fix: IHI turbo wastegate actuator arm or flapper develops play. Often just annoying, but can lead to boost control issues long-term. Turbo replacement or rebuild. 6-8 hours labor. Many live with it until other issues arise.
Estimated cost: $1,800-2,800
Solid daily driver if stock and well-maintained, but avoid any modded examples or cars with aggressive driving history due to ringland risk.
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.