Used car safety, rank #127 of 181
Subaru WRX Safety Rating (2017-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2017-20 Subaru WRX, a small car, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2017-20 Subaru WRX has an IIHS driver death rate of 38 per million registered vehicle years against a small cars average of 60.5, which is 37% below the class average. That places it #127 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 34.2/100.
What the Subaru WRX death rate means
At 38 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Subaru WRX beats the small cars average of 60.5 by 37%. The 95% confidence interval is 19 to 58, so even the pessimistic end of the range is no worse than the class average.
The other-driver death rate of 27 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Subaru WRX. It is no higher than the Subaru WRX's own driver death rate. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used cars
The safest small cars in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Subaru WRX highlighted. It ranks 3 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Chevrolet Bolt at a death rate of 8.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Bolt | 2017-20 | 8 (0 to 19) | 65.3 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Prius Prime | 2017-20 | 23 (0 to 45) | 52.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Subaru WRX (this page) | 2017-20 | 38 (19 to 58) | 34.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Prius | 2017-20 | 45 (23 to 67) | 29.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Subaru Impreza sedan | 2017-20 | 46 (18 to 74) | 28.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Honda Civic | 2019-20 | 49 (29 to 69) | 26.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Corolla | 2020 | 58 (31 to 86) | 19.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Honda Civic hatchback | 2019-20 | 78 (26 to 130) | 13.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Elantra | 2020 | 103 (48 to 157) | 10.1 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for small cars: 60.5 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Subaru WRX
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Subaru WRX we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Subaru WRX | No award | 67.0 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 34.2 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Subaru WRX
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
1 recall campaign on the 2020 model year, covering exterior lighting.
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Exterior lighting: back up lights, switch
Risk: Inoperative backup lights and an inoperative rearview camera can reduce vehicle visibility and driver awareness, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the backup light switch, as necessary, free of charge.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Subaru WRX: Common Questions
Is the Subaru WRX a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 38 per million registered vehicle years for the 2017-20 Subaru WRX, 37% below the class average (60.5 for small cars). That earns a used-car safety score of 34.2 out of 100 and rank #127 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Subaru WRX driver death rate?
38 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 19 to 58. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Subaru WRX died at a rate of 27 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2017-20 models.
How does the Subaru WRX compare with other small cars?
The small cars class averages 60.5 driver deaths per million; the Subaru WRX sits at 38. Among the 9 small cars compared above it ranks 3 by safety score; the top of that group is the Chevrolet Bolt with a death rate of 8.