How To Subaru WRX Stereo Wiring Diagram

No matter what year your Subaru is, our comprehensive WRX Stereo Wiring guide can help you install, repair or restore your radio. Don’t waste any more time fiddling around with your WRX speaker wires or hunting for the stereo wire colors. No more taking your WRX into a professional who will charge you for an easy install, just refer to our handy car audio wiring schematic.

This comprehensive Subaru wiring tutorial will help any DIY stereo installer get the job done. We’ll be covering all the year ranges in this WRX Stereo Wiring guide, as well as the early model Imprezas. This allows you to install any aftermarket stereo or navigation unit into your Impreza WRX.

First Generation Subaru Impreza 1992–2000

The first Imprezas may not have been turbo but they still flexed incredible grip through Subaru’s AWD system. The factory Impreza stereo shared a double DIN and single DIN pocket, much like many of the Japanese cars of this era.

Radio Constant Wire 12V+: Blue/Yellow
Radio Switched Wire 12V+: Yellow/Red
Radio Ground Wire: Black
Radio Illumination Wire: Green

The Impreza speakers are mounted into the door panels, and use 6 1/2 inch units that use this speaker wiring.
Left Front Speaker Wire (+): Brown/White
Left Front Speaker Wire (-): Green/Black
Right Front Speaker Wire (+): Red/Yellow
Right Front Speaker Wire (-): White/Black

Installing a single DIN or double DIN aftermarket stereo is easy to do in this generation of Subaru.

Wiring up the rear speakers is easy as well when you have our car audio wiring schematic.
Left Rear Speaker Wire (+): White/Red
Left Rear Speaker Wire (-): Red/Green
Right Rear Speaker Wire (+): Blue/Green
Right Rear Speaker Wire (-): Red

Whether you are a professional stereo installer or not, this car stereo wiring guide helps to eliminate confusion.

Once you’ve wired up your stereo, you can simply choose a single DIN pocket configuration or use a mounting kit like the one shown to the left.

Installing an aftermarket stereo into the early Subarus is easy to do, however if you plan on using a motorized face or navigation unit, make sure to mount it properly so it doesn’t run into the climate controls.

Second Generation WRX Stereo Wiring Diagram – 2000–2007

Affectionately called the “bugeye” WRX, the second generation is what started it all. Ushering in the turbo AWD movement of the early to mid 2000’s, the Subaru WRX is today’s modern sport compact import. The ease in which you can install an aftermarket stereo carried over from the previous generation of Impreza as well.

Radio Constant 12V+ Wire: Blue/Red
Radio Ignition Switched 12V+ Wire: Yellow/Green
Radio Ground Wire: Black
Radio Illumination Dimmer Wire: Purple

If you are installing a motorized faceplate or navigation system, you need to be careful about the cup holder above your WRX stereo. You can of course just opt to never use it when the motorized aftermarket radio is being flipped up.
Left Front Speaker Wire (+): Brown/White
Left Front Speaker Wire (-): Green
Right Front Speaker Wire (+): Red/Yellow
Right Front Speaker Wire (-): White/Black
Much like the previous generation the front speakers are mounted into the door panels.

Installing a single DIN stereo is easy to do with an optional pocket or using an install kit that comes with the lower or upper stereo pocket setup.

Of course installing a double DIN stereo is easy to do. Because of the optional pocket and single DIN setup, you can simply ditch what’s there from the factory in your WRX, and go with a double DIN stereo install.

Because the climate controls moved underneath the stereo in this generation, there’s less to worry about unless you don’t care where your drinks go.
Left Rear Speaker Wire (+): White/Red
Left Rear Speaker Wire (-): Red/Black
Right Rear Speaker Wire (+): Blue/Yellow
Right Rear Speaker Wire (-): Red/White

Wiring up an aftermarket amplifier is also made simple because of the large area and space in the center console. This generation of WRX also underwent a revision halfway through the production run, but the stereo wiring remains largely unchanged.

Third Generation WRX Stereo Wiring Schematic 2007–2011

One of the first Subaru WRX models that will require an install kit if you are going aftermarket, the third generation changed quite a bit from the previous WRX.

The front plastic fascia opening is slightly different than the standard double DIN opening. You can make this work with a different mounting kit but this generation requires just a little bit more work than the previous year ranges.

Car Radio Battery Constant 12v+ Wire: Blue/Red
Car Radio Accessory Switched 12v+ Wire: Yellow/Red
Car Radio Ground Wire: Black/Blue
Car Radio Illumination Wire (+): Violet
Car Stereo Dimmer Wire (-): Black/White
Car Stereo Antenna Trigger Wire: Yellow/Black
This can be solved using a single DIN pocket much like the previous gen WRX. Stereo mounting brackets will be needed.

Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Blue/Orange
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): White/Black
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Brown/Yellow
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Green

Wiring up your WRX speakers is easy to do when you have this WRX Stereo Wiring guide. Don’t forget that the rear speakers are mounted into the rear passenger seat panels if you want to upgrade your factory 6 1/2 speakers. The WRX STI from the factory comes with an optional amplifier that’s mounted underneath your passenger side seat.

Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): White/Red
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Red/Black
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Gray/Green
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Red/White

Using a Subaru wiring harness makes install a breeze for this generation of WRX. But if you are planning on wiring up your WRX stereo on your own, this guide is what you need.

Fourth Generation WRX Stereo Wiring Schematic 2011+

The latest Subaru WRX is undoubtedly the king of the turbocharged AWD hill now that the Evolution is dead. The new Subaru WRX STI also has quite a bit of changes to the interior and how the stereo is mounted.

Car Radio Battery Constant 12V+ Wire: Blue/Red
Car Radio Accessory Switched 12V+ Wire: Yellow/Red
Car Radio Ground Wire: Black/Blue
Car Radio Illumination Wire: Violet
Car Radio Antenna Trigger Wire: Yellow/Black

Integration of the Subaru WRX tweeters also requires that you install an aftermarket crossover or amplifier that can block out the bass. You can also install or choose to install bass blockers inline to your speaker wires.
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): White/Black
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Blue/Orange
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Green
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Brown/Yellow
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Red/Black
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): White/Red
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Red/White
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Gray/Green

Have any questions about our WRX Stereo Wiring Guide? Leave us a comment below and let us know!