2019 WRX and STI gripes/complaints/rattles

[Scorpius]

Originally Posted by jasonwrx86

SRH is speed based so your car needs to be moving for it to work.

5+mph for SRH to activate.

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[evan_sti]

For those of you struggling with Android Auto issues like I was, specifically with the volume control being stuck on "maps" when you plug your phone in / volume in rear speakers only, there's a beta update for Google Play Services that appears to fix the issue. You'll have to go into Settings > Apps > Google Play Services > More info, that takes you to the play store where you can opt-in for beta testing, then you'll receive the update to version 14.5.75.

Hope this helps others out there that were extremely frustrated with AA not working correctly.

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by Sideways

2019 Limited.... FM reception is absolutely garbage. Sat radio is fine thought.

BUT no rattles, granted I only have 1k miles, but this is my 8th WRX over the last 17 years and every other one were rattling well before.

LOVE the feel of the improved transmission over the 2016 and the steering responsive bi leds are so much better than the funky LEDs on the 15-17. And the LEDs fogs are a bonus.

And despite the horrible FM reception, finally having android auto is nice.

I'm in a 19 Limited, unoptioned (no HK, or blind spot detection), and FM reception is great, even where I can't get sat. Then again, I don't listen to radio or xm except when it's forced upon me when I turn the car off.

Only real gripe I've got is that the pushbutton is a little sluggish compared to my 14 BRZ Limited. That car you pushed in the clutch, hit the button and WHAM starter engages. Here, you have to first push the brake in (even if handbrake is on), THEN the clutch (otherwise you have to release then re-engage the clutch), then hit start and wait a second for the car to turn on. Minor issue, but my folks' 13 cx5 doesn't have this delay, just brake on, hit start and immediate starter engagement.

The door immediately unlocks upon touching it, so no delay there.

I do wish I could cycle through AA apps with the source button instead of having to use the touch screen. I REALLY like mute being a pause button in AA, as our outback has no pause button on the swc, and the borrowed cx5 requires you to use the touch screen to pause anything.

I wish the triple meter had a "avg trip mpg" option instead of odometer mpg and "mpg since ignition was last activated". It's on the eco meter, but I'd like to see oil temp, boost, and trip mpg all next to each other. Mpg since last turned on is meaningless to me, as is mpg since the car was made.

SRH is a dream, and the LED headlights and fogs are magnificent. We picked up the WRX yesterday after the sun had gone down and I had a 3hr drive home in a new car on an unfamiliar route. Those headlights were a life saver, and SRH was just too cool. I rarely needed high beams when I used to need them (like to see into corners with normal halogen or HID headlamps... Though I did dearly love the HIDs in my BRZ, and had wished its fogs hadn't been halogen), and the LED fog lamps illuminated the foreground without blinding.

I deliberately got this without the factory short shifter (I'm buying the boomba, just waiting for a black Friday deal on one), so the throws are what you'd expect. If they were long but crisp I wouldn't mind, or short but mushy I wouldn't mind either, but 1st to 2nd and 4th to 5th are long toss mush central and having come from a BRZ with a kb short shifter, white line Trans mount void filler, and kb rear shifter bushing, this is irksome. I'm installing the perrin brass bushing this Saturday maybe, and it was cheap enough to not bug me about "paying to fix".

Throttle is a little too aggressive, but after I run through this first tank (who knows if someone put 87 in it since the manual says that 87 is acceptable even though 91 is what's recommended) that it came with from the dealership, I'm putting stage 1 93 OTS on it. Not sure if I should use the Cobb ots or fork out $75 for the MAP stage 1 93 ots.

I had 17x8 w/ winter tires put on from the get go, and though we're going through a warm spell right now before winter really hits, the wheels and tires are doing great.

I'm right at about 200 miles on the odometer. Loving the car.

And the stereo isn't fantastic but it's my first AA hu and it's not really bugging me much. It certainly is good enough that I can wait a year before overhauling the stock audio.

[oichan]

Hmmm. My WRX Limited started rattling over rougher roads in colder weather near the steering column. It almost sounds like keys hitting the plastic steering column cover but my car is push button start.

I pushed on the bezel around the cluster and it might have stopped the noise. I ran out of rough roads before I could confirm, but my STI had a rattle from under the cluster bezel which I fixed a few weeks ago so hoping it's a similar issue. The rattle sound is different though in my Limited.

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by oichan

Hmmm. My WRX Limited started rattling over rougher roads in colder weather near the steering column. It almost sounds like keys hitting the plastic steering column cover but my car is push button start.

I pushed on the bezel around the cluster and it might have stopped the noise. I ran out of rough roads before I could confirm, but my STI had a rattle from under the cluster bezel which I fixed a few weeks ago so hoping it’s a similar issue. The rattle sound is different though in my Limited.

I've got severally miles of rough roads any time I take the WRX out and back and I've noticed no rattles. But the car is so new maybe it just needs time to start. Then again, my suspension is getting abused less than stock as I have lighter wheels and tires for it to support when the pothole drops out from under the rotating mass, and I've got more sidewall than stock.

[hicompb18c1]

1200 miles on my 2019 STI and still no rattles... and my roads suck.

The trunk is difficult to close and has the same crappy fitment issues as my 2018 did.

My phone still disconnects from Bluetooth all the time for no reason (and never had this issue with my 2018 base or my wife's Honda), which is a big pain in the ass.

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by hicompb18c1

1200 miles on my 2019 STI and still no rattles... and my roads suck.

The trunk is difficult to close and has the same crappy fitment issues as my 2018 did.

My phone still disconnects from Bluetooth all the time for no reason (and never had this issue with my 2018 base or my wife's Honda), which is a big pain in the ass.

We're having that BT issue with my wife's outback (2012 Limited with HK non nav) right now. But I don't think I'll see it with my WRX as I do phone and all audio (save radio) through AA, which uses the USB cable, not BT. It just uses BT to sync on think.

[oichan]

Originally Posted by SirBrass

I've got severally miles of rough roads any time I take the WRX out and back and I've noticed no rattles. But the car is so new maybe it just needs time to start. Then again, my suspension is getting abused less than stock as I have lighter wheels and tires for it to support when the pothole drops out from under the rotating mass, and I've got more sidewall than stock.

Yeah my car has about 3000 miles now and temps are down in the 30F’s. I’m hoping it was the bezel that was rattling cause it is an easy fix. Besides that I had a rattle in the driver door which I fixed. (loose harness bracket)

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by oichan

Yeah my car has about 3000 miles now and temps are down in the 30F's. I'm hoping it was the bezel that was rattling cause it is an easy fix. Besides that I had a rattle in the driver door which I fixed. (loose harness bracket)

It's only in the 30s at night here. That's going to change soon though, I think.

Edit: forecast says today is last day within ten days that's going to see high temps above the 45°F winter tire temp threshold, and snow showers starting Friday.

And winter tires are actually pretty good poor man's dirt tires too.

[oichan]

Well, the good thing is that the car wasn't rattling on the way home driving on the same rough roads I normally take so perhaps the bezel I pushed in this am was the culprit.

In my area it snows quite a bit, but we have good snow removal so I only run all seasons on my WRX (DWS06). I hate the driving feedback (tire squirm) of snow tires so unless it's a 2WD car like one of my other cars, I like to stay away from snows unless I absolutely have to run them.

[NGASubiNinja]

Has anyone had experience with the stock Dunlop's in heavy rain or even snowy conditions? Wondering how they would perform in all conditions.

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by NGASubiNinja

Has anyone had experience with the stock Dunlop's in heavy rain or even snowy conditions? Wondering how they would perform in all conditions.

They'll do fine in the rain. But below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, do NOT use them. They are summer tires and do not perform well at the all in cold weather (overall ambient at or below 45°F).

Again DO NOT use them in cold weather especially snow or ice. Otherwise you will discover that there's nothing fun and everything terrifying with a 3k pound car skating around on asphalt.

[NGASubiNinja]

Originally Posted by SirBrass

They'll do fine in the rain. But below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, do NOT use them. They are summer tires and do not perform well at the all in cold weather (overall ambient at or below 45°F).

Again DO NOT use them in cold weather especially snow or ice. Otherwise you will discover that there's nothing fun and everything terrifying with a 3k pound car skating around on asphalt.

Thanks this is good to know. I'm looking at picking up a 19 WRX in the next month or so and was wondering about that. Part of my draw towards Subaru is the AWD and how they perform in snow. Seemed a little weird to me that this car didn't come with an AS tire.

[Chas2]

Originally Posted by hicompb18c1

1200
...The trunk is difficult to close and has the same crappy fitment issues as my 2018 did...

I agree that the trunk does not close nicely...don’t slam it or it seems to distort and not latch

[SirBrass]

I'm noticing the outside temp being wildly off of what all other local weather sources say the outside temp actually is. 4 to 5 degrees high.

Maybe it's affected by engine heat? It's not due to sunlight as it's off by that much even at night.

Originally Posted by NGASubiNinja

Thanks this is good to know. I'm looking at picking up a 19 WRX in the next month or so and was wondering about that. Part of my draw towards Subaru is the AWD and how they perform in snow. Seemed a little weird to me that this car didn't come with an AS tire.

It does not come with with a/s tires because this is a sports car. You don't out all seasons as standard on a sports car.

If you're in a region that gets a good deal of winter weather, either wait till spring, or just order winter wheel/Tire combo when you order your car. A decent wheel/Tire package in base wheel sizing will cost you less than what any factory package will, or what the cvt option will cost you. So it's very reasonable.

Chaz2 & myself both ordered Motegi 17x8 +45s w/ 225/50R17 pirellli performance winter tires. I paid $1400 for it. Totally worth it and I have the stock wheels & tires for Spring - Fall.

[oichan]

I don't know but it's the same on my WRX as well. My STI showed the correct temp when compared to weatherchannel which was, as you said, 4-5F lower than my WRX. Been asking on my thread if anyone knew how to adjust it.

[jasonwrx86]

Originally Posted by NGASubiNinja

Has anyone had experience with the stock Dunlop's in heavy rain or even snowy conditions? Wondering how they would perform in all conditions.

They are summer tires. I don't recommend driving summer tires in below freezing or even snowy conditions. You are going to have difficulties or even crash.

[TifosiWA]

Originally Posted by hicompb18c1

The trunk is difficult to close and has the same crappy fitment issues as my 2018 did.

Same issue here. I had the dealership adjust the latch and with the Perrin trunk handle, it now closes easily without having to slam it shut.

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by TifosiWA

Same issue here. I had the dealership adjust the latch and with the Perrin trunk handle, it now closes easily without having to slam it shut.

I haven't used the trunk much yet so I can't tell if it has a latching issue but after the malibu having a trunk strap and the outback hatch having a recess to use to close it with, I want a trunk strap.

Another issue I have knew I'd have and plan to remedy is the shifter. I intentionally did not get it with the short shifter b/c all the possible short shift components put together are cheaper than the OEM short shifter cost.

But until I can get the boomba shifter and get it installed, ugh the shifts are long and notchy. At least it's not hard to get it into each gear. It's just slow to shift due to length and gate engagement feel.

I'm going to fix that with a Perrin brass bushing, Perrin shifter stop, and boomba short shifter.

I'm hoping to find a black Friday deal on the boomba.

[get_schwifty]

Originally Posted by NGASubiNinja

Has anyone had experience with the stock Dunlop's in heavy rain or even snowy conditions? Wondering how they would perform in all conditions.

I drove a WRX when car shopping on a day that happened to have a torrential downpour - I felt that they performed pleasingly well in the rain.

Originally Posted by NGASubiNinja

Thanks this is good to know. I'm looking at picking up a 19 WRX in the next month or so and was wondering about that. Part of my draw towards Subaru is the AWD and how they perform in snow. Seemed a little weird to me that this car didn't come with an AS tire.

Summer tires generally outperform ultra-high performance all-season tires by a substantial margin in both dry and wet (warm) conditions. As it was explained to me, certain design elements that add winter capability detracts from warm dry/wet capability. I've personally found it easier with the summer tires I have used to 'feel' when the vehicle is right about to be pushed past its limit. The UHP all-seasons I have used provided me with a limited amount of snow performance compared to winter tires, so this year I went in the direction of a high-performance all-weather tire for my winter set.

Of course then there are the downsides. Summer tires tend to wear quicker and may have much shorter treadlife warranties. As summer tires lack the siping patterns that provides a substantial portion of the snow traction, they should not be used at all during winter precipitation. Performance degrades as the temperature falls, and using summer tires in very bitter cold could risk damage to the tire. (While UHP all-seasons offer better cold performance than a summer tire, they can still lose quite a lot of performance in crazy cold - based on your location, I am guessing this is not a major risk for you.)

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by get_schwifty

Of course then there are the downsides. Summer tires tend to wear quicker and may have much shorter treadlife warranties. As summer tires lack the siping patterns that provides a substantial portion of the snow traction, they should not be used at all during winter precipitation. Performance degrades as the temperature falls, and using summer tires in very bitter cold could risk damage to the tire. (While UHP all-seasons offer better cold performance than a summer tire, they can still lose quite a lot of performance in crazy cold - based on your location, I am guessing this is not a major risk for you.)

Those aren't substantial downsides really. You can get 30k out of good max performance summers (the class of tire the WRX comes with). Paired with a winter wheel and tire set you can double the time you would otherwise have if you ran one set year round AND you don't give up performance.

UHP all seasons under perform in the cold compared to any winter tire, and under perform compared to any max performance summer tire in the warm. By performance I mean braking capability especially in the wet.

A/S's are compromise tires at best. If you've got a standard grocery getter, it's fine. But a performance car really does need the best gripping tires for your budget for the conditions. So you can't afford two sets of wheels and tires, you're going to be spending a good deal on the best all out A/S's out there.

I'd recommend Michelin A/S3+'s. But I hope you don't get more than very light snow.

[Chas2]

Originally Posted by get_schwifty

Performance degrades as the temperature falls, and using summer tires in very bitter cold could risk damage to the tire.

Really I would be more worried about you and those around you, as your car spins out of control in even the least bit of slush

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by Chas2

Really I would be more worried about you and those around you, as your car spins out of control in even the least bit of slush

This ^^^

However, I've found with tires that performance and safety go hand in hand, since the tires are used to gain and maintain traction, which = braking ability, thus = safety.

[hicompb18c1]

Originally Posted by TifosiWA

Same issue here. I had the dealership adjust the latch and with the Perrin trunk handle, it now closes easily without having to slam it shut.

Do you know what they did or what you asked them for? This is the 2nd STI that has the exact same fitment for me, so I just assumed it wasn't fixable.

[SirBrass]

Has anyone had an issue where in AA maps tries to interrupt with a muted message, audio you were listening to shifts to rear speakers only and never comes back to the fronts without turning the car off then on again?

It's only happened once and I have changed maps alerting to mute all so that even "alerts" won't get through audibly.