Skip to content
Quelle Occasion
Menu

Photo: Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Subaru WRX STI VA faults

1 fault documented by at least two sources, listed by version then by mileage at onset when known.

Good choice, check first
Reliability
4.0/5

1 known fault

STI

  1. Piston ringland failure in the EJ257 engine

    Severity 3/3 · Serious

    The EJ257 2.5 turbo is known for the rupture of the piston ringland (the land between the rings), mainly triggered by knocking (detonation), a lean mixture, poor-octane fuel or aggressive tuning. Symptoms cited: loss of power, blue or grey smoke, irregular idling, metal particles in the oil, metallic noises. Buying guides recommend avoiding cars that have been remapped.

    Versions
    STI, STI S
    Onset
    not documented
    Repair
    not documented

STI S

  1. Piston ringland failure in the EJ257 engine

    Severity 3/3 · Serious

    The EJ257 2.5 turbo is known for the rupture of the piston ringland (the land between the rings), mainly triggered by knocking (detonation), a lean mixture, poor-octane fuel or aggressive tuning. Symptoms cited: loss of power, blue or grey smoke, irregular idling, metal particles in the oil, metallic noises. Buying guides recommend avoiding cars that have been remapped.

    Versions
    STI, STI S
    Onset
    not documented
    Repair
    not documented

Price and diagnose repairs

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of parts for the Subaru WRX STI VA (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

← Back to the Subaru WRX STI VA guide