The 2005 WRX STI is a legendary performance platform built around the EJ257 boxer engine, known for brutal acceleration and rally heritage. However, these cars are often driven hard, and age-related failures of critical engine and drivetrain components are now the norm rather than the exception.
EJ257 Ringland Failure / Piston #4 Cracked Ring
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Misfires on cylinder #4, Loss of compression, Blue smoke from exhaust, Check engine light with P0304 code, Rough idle and power loss
Fix: Full engine rebuild required — pistons, rings, bearings, machine work on block and heads. Figure 25-35 labor hours for a complete teardown, inspection, and reassembly with upgraded forged internals if done right. Many owners opt for closed-deck block conversion at this point.
Estimated cost: $6,500-12,000
Head Gasket Failure (External Leaks)
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Oil seepage around head/block mating surface, Coolant weeping externally, Slight oil consumption increase, Burning oil smell after hard driving
Fix: Classic Subaru boxer issue — both heads need to come off. Expect 12-16 hours labor for head gasket replacement, includes resurfacing heads, new bolts, timing components while you're in there. Not an internal combustion failure like ringland, but still requires major disassembly.
Estimated cost: $2,500-4,000
Turbocharger Failure (IHI VF39)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 100,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive smoke on boost, Loud turbo whine or grinding noise, Significant oil consumption, Loss of boost pressure, Metal shavings in intake or exhaust side
Fix: Turbo seal failure or bearing wear from heat cycles and oil starvation. Replacement turbo plus oil/coolant lines, 6-8 hours labor. OEM IHI units are scarce; most go aftermarket. Critical to address oil starvation issues (banjo bolt screens) before installing new turbo.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,500
Timing Belt and Idler Pulley Failure
Common · high severity
Symptoms: Rattling noise from timing cover, Sudden loss of power, Engine won't start after belt snap, Metal debris in timing cover area
Fix: Interference engine — if the belt snaps, you're looking at bent valves and potentially complete head work. Preventive replacement every 60k-70k miles is non-negotiable. Full timing service includes belt, tensioner, idlers, water pump, seals — 4-6 hours labor. If it breaks, add cylinder head R&R and valve work.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 preventive; $4,000-7,000 if it fails
Transmission Syncro Wear (2nd and 3rd Gear)
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Grinds going into 2nd or 3rd gear, Difficulty downshifting under load, Crunching noise during spirited driving, Gear pop-out under deceleration
Fix: The 6-speed is strong but syncros wear from aggressive shifting and clutch dumps. Transmission needs to come out for rebuild — 10-14 hours labor plus internal parts. Many owners upgrade to brass syncros during rebuild. Half-measure fixes don't exist.
Estimated cost: $2,800-4,500
Banjo Bolt Filter Screen Clogging
Common · medium severity
Symptoms: Turbo oil starvation leading to early failure, No obvious symptoms until turbo damage occurs, Low oil pressure under boost (if monitored)
Fix: Factory banjo bolts feeding the turbo have tiny mesh screens that clog with carbon and debris, starving the turbo of oil. This is a known design flaw. Remove screens or install aftermarket banjo bolts during any turbo service — 0.5 hours if caught during other work, but the damage is discovering it after turbo failure.
Estimated cost: $50-150 preventive; adds to turbo replacement cost if ignored
Engine Oil Consumption (Piston Ring Glazing)
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 50,000+ mi
Symptoms: Burns 1 quart per 1,000-2,000 miles, Blue smoke on startup, Low oil light between changes, Fouled spark plugs
Fix: EJ257s are known oil burners even without catastrophic ringland failure. Glazed rings or worn valve guides. Many owners live with it and check oil religiously. True fix requires full engine rebuild. Band-aid: higher-weight oil and frequent top-offs.
Estimated cost: $0 if managed; $6,500+ for proper fix
Owner tips
Remove turbo banjo bolt screens immediately — this single $50 job prevents $3,000 turbo failures
Replace timing belt EARLY at 60k miles max — this is an interference engine and failure means bent valves
Use quality synthetic oil (5W-30 or 5W-40) and change every 3,000-4,000 miles religiously — these engines are hard on oil
Install an oil pressure gauge and boost gauge to monitor engine health in real-time
Budget $1,500-2,000/year for maintenance if buying used — these are 20-year-old performance cars driven hard
Buy it only if you're handy, have a $5k emergency fund for engine work, and can verify timing belt service history and lack of modifications — clean examples are rare and expensive to maintain, but the driving experience is unmatched in this price range.
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.
Performance
Horsepower
300hp
Torque
300lb-ft
0–60 mph
4.9sec
Quarter mile
13.5sec
Top speed
155mph
Capability & size
Curb weight
3,415lb
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2005 Subaru WRX STI 2.5L H4 Turbo EJ257 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.