SubaruWRX2016Overview/subaru/wrx/2016/base/

2016 Subaru WRX

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 WRX.

Body PASSENGER CAR

Classified as a passenger car, the 2016 Subaru WRX presents a specific reliability profile for researchers to consider, having logged 34 total owner complaints with the electrical system ranking as the top trouble spot and 3 separate recalls coloring its ownership experience. When contextualized within the model's broader complaint history spanning from 2002 to 2025, this model year sits firmly in the middle of the pack rather than at either extreme. It falls far below the problematic 2002 model year and its peak of 426 complaints, yet remains well above the exceptional reliability benchmark set by the 2010 model's single complaint, meaning researchers will find this to be a moderately troubled vehicle instead of a definitive outlier in either direction.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182016

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 55D23L · 490 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 55D23L · 490 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235/45R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8.0 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length180.7 in
Overall width70.1 in
Overall height56.7 in
Wheelbase104.3 in
Curb weight3269 lb
Track (front / rear)59.8 / 59.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the WRX of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

4.6–6.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 4.60 sec — 2015 STI Launch Edition
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2015STI Launch Edition 2.5L Turbo F-44.60 sec13.20 sec305 hpAWD
2015STI Launch Edition 2.5L Turbo F-44.60 sec13.10 sec305 hpAWD
2015STI Limited Sedan 2.5L Turbo F-44.70 sec13.40 sec305 hpAWD
2015STI Limited Sedan 2.5L Turbo F-44.70 sec13.20 sec305 hpAWD
2015Premium Sedan 2.0L Turbo F-44.80 sec13.60 sec268 hpAWD
2015STI Limited Sedan 2.5L Turbo F-44.80 sec13.30 sec305 hpAWD
2015STI Sedan 2.5L Turbo F-44.80 sec13.30 sec305 hpAWD
2015Premium Sedan 2.0L Turbo F-45.00 sec13.70 sec268 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine 75W-85 · 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 33.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidSubaru High Torque CVTF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity13.0
Brake FluidDOT 3
Clutch FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil75W-85 · 75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.5 qt
Engine CoolantUse Subaru coolant/antifreeze
Engine Coolant Capacity8.7

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs13.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18.4
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts31 ft/lbs.
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug33.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts20.0 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug17.0-20.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel HubInstall a new nut and torque to 162.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel HubInstall a new nut and torque to 140.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)600-800 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerSubaru
Spark Plug Gap.039 - .043 in
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerSubaru ( non turbo)
Spark Plug Gap.028 - .031 in
Spark Plug Torque12.5 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.00-1.15 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type100
Standard BCI Group Number55D23L
Standard BCI Cranking Performance490 cca

Service checks

Engine CompressionTURBO / psi 196-254 / variance 14 psi
Intake Valve Lash0.0039-0.0059 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.0081-0.0095 in

Brakes

Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 114; Rear: 48 /; Front: 59; Rear: 49
ABS Sensor Torque5.5 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.059; Rear: 0.059 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.100; Rear: .335
Maximum Drum DiameterParking Brake: 7.520

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 30-3522 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 6,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 6,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 12,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Clutch Assembly (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Clutch Hydraulic System (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 72,000 miFuel Filter (replace)
At 137,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Subaru WRX sits in the early phase of the VA generation (launched in 2015), where the federal record shows a clear shift: complaints jumped from single digits in 2014 to 52 in 2015, then settled to 34 in 2016, while recalls dropped sharply to just 3 per year compared to 10-12 in the preceding years. Technical service bulletins (TSBs) also surged to 419 in 2016, the highest in the entire dataset up to that point, indicating that Subaru was actively addressing numerous issues through service guidance rather than formal recalls. The top complaint areas for 2016 are Electrical System and Engine (8 each), plus 1 crash and 2 fire complaints, though the data does not specify root causes for these incidents. Compared to the 2015 model year, the 2016 shows a decline in total complaints, and it fares better than the 2017 model (53 complaints), placing it near the middle of the generation's complaint arc. Given the moderate complaint count, low recall frequency, and high TSB volume—which suggests known but manageable issues—the 2016 WRX is a reasonable buy if you are prepared to address common service bulletins, but it is not the most trouble-free year of the generation.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
419
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
34
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 34 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System8
Engine8
Unknown Or Other4
Power Train4
Steering2
Exterior Lighting2
Unknown Or Other,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Electrical System,Vehicle Speed Control,Service Brakes1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V366000Forward Collision Avoidance: Crash Imminent BrakingReported 12/06/2015

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles… Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at…

16V162000Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/SuperchargerReported 21/03/2016

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The… Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 419 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
02-193-24R2026-06-29EngineThis bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for…
09-74-21R2026-06-25EngineThis bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for…
SubaruNet Annoucement (E2026-06-11Unknown Or OtherThis announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood…
01-167-08R2026-05-18Unknown Or OtherThis bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the…
02-193-24R2026-05-13EngineThis bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific WRX. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 WRX have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.