RoadVitals

2008 Subaru Impreza Sti

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
33
Latest Aug 7, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Apr 2, 2009
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 33 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Subaru Impreza Sti, most frequently naming the engine, powertrain (other) and body & structure categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 107 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine1532.6%
  • Powertrain (other)1123.9%
  • Body & structure613.0%
  • Brakes613.0%
  • Airbags48.7%
  • Driver assistance24.3%
  • Electrical12.2%
  • Exterior lighting12.2%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
09E011000

EQUIPMENT

Apr 2, 2009
2,323 units potentially affected
The defect: THULE, INC. IS RECALLING 2,323 OWNER-INSTALLED ROOF-MOUNTED FIT KITS, MODELS 3068 AND 3069, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2008 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2009 THAT ARE USED WITH THULE PODIUM FOOT PACKS, MODELS 460 AND 460R. THESE FIT KITS WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BOLT(S) USED TO SECURE THE FOOT TO THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED TO A HARDNESS THAT MAY CAUSE THE BOLT(S) TO BE BRITTLE AND POTENTIALLY BREAK UNDER STRESS.
The risk: THIS MAY RESULT IN THE BOLT(S) SNAPPING OFF DURING USE OR WITHOUT A LOAD. THE UNSECURED RACK AND LOAD CAN THEN COME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING CREATING A POTENTIAL ROAD HAZARD, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: THULE WILL MAIL A RETRO FIT KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS TO OWNERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 13, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THULE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-238-2388.
THULE, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 33
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 7, 2018

BOTH HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT TEN TIMES OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND NOW I HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE TRIED THREE DIFFERENT HEADLIGHTS IN THE LAST MONTH, THE FIRST TWO WORKED BRIEFLY AND THE LAST ONE FROM SUBARU DID NOT WORK AT ALL. FROM 2005 - 20011 SUBARU HAS RECALLED OTHER MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT AS I WAS TOLD, "THE IMPREZA IS THE CHEAP CAR"

NHTSA ID
11118348
Incident
Aug 2, 2018
Mileage
127,732 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 14, 2017

WHAT IS THE ISSUE? BASICALLY THE FIREWALL IS SO THIN THAT IT FLEXES TERRIBLY EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH OR BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. THE BIG PROBLEM IS THE WAY THE CLUTCH/BRAKE ASSEMBLY IS SECURED TO THE THIN FIREWALL. IT ONLY HAS 6 SMALL SPOT WELDS THAT RIP OFF THE FIREWALL AFTER TIME. THIS MAKES IT SO YOU CAN'T GET IN AND OUT OF GEAR. CLUTCH BECOMES USELESS. WHO? 2008-2014 GH/GR IMPREZA (2.5I/OBS/WRX/STI). I DON'T THINK THE ISSUE CAN BE LINKED TO A CERTAIN BATCH OF VEHICLES, CERTAIN CLIMATE/LOCATION, OR CERTAIN YEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED ALL OVER THE WORLD, ALL YEARS 08-14, AND ALL MODELS (WITHIN THE GH/GR CHASSIS).

NHTSA ID
11023561
Incident
Sep 14, 2017
Airbags
Filed Oct 26, 2016

WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE DEALER ABOUT REPLACING THE AIR BAG WE HAD AN EMAIL IN JULY 2016 CALLED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART IN THATS WHAT THEY WERE WAITING FOR THIS IS OCTOBER 2016 AND WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING YET. WERE SCARED TO DRIVE IT BUT WE NEED OUR CAR AND WE DON'T LET ANYONE SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.

NHTSA ID
10919096
Incident
Jul 27, 2016
Filed Oct 3, 2016

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2008 WRX MAKES A LOUD CREAKING NOISE EVERY TIME IT'S DEPRESSED. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THE NOISE, I NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY (ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL) SHIFTS APPROX 1/4 INCH EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. I FOUND THAT THE THREE SPOT WELDS SECURING THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL WERE BROKEN. FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE FIREWALL, JUST UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, I SAW THE SPOT WELDS PULLING AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS ALLOWS THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY TO MOVE, CAUSING THE CREAKING NOISE. IF THE BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATES FROM THE FIREWALL, THE CLUTCH MAY BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE - ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
10911396
Incident
May 15, 2016
Body & structure
Filed Mar 17, 2016

BROKEN FIREWALL WELDS/CLUTCH SQUEAK IM HAVING LOUD CREAKING NOISE WITH DEPRESSION OF CLUTCHPEDALOVER LAST FEW YEARS WHICH DID NOT RESPOND TOLITHIUMGREASELUBRICATIONAT PIVOT BOLT WHERECLUTCH PEDALHINGESON BRACKET ATTACHED TO FIREWALL. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC (SUBARUCERTIFIED) THERE IS A FAILURE OF A WELD ON THE FIREWALL NEXT TO CLUTCH BRACKET CAUSING A BOWING OUTWARD OF A PORTION OF THE FIREWALL AND CONSEQUENTIALLY A LOUD CREAKING NOISE.

NHTSA ID
10850132
Incident
Mar 28, 2013
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 29, 2015

CLUTCH SQUEAKS WHEN PEDAL IS PRESSED IN. SOUND COMES FROM INSIDE THE CABIN OR FIREWALL AREA.

NHTSA ID
10786900
Incident
Mar 1, 2015
Mileage
60,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 31, 2014

THE CLUTCH BRACKET ON THE FIREWALL HAS ONLY 4 SMALL TACK WELDS FROM THE FACTORY. THIS BRACKET TAKES ALL THE FORCE OF YOUR LEG PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH EVERY TIME YOU CHANGE A GEAR. IT APPEARS TO BE VERY COMMON ON THE SUBARU WRX STI FOR THESE SMALL TACKS TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL AND CAUSE ACCELERATED CLUTCH WEAR AND EVENTUALLY CLUTCH FAILURE. MY CLUTCH FAILED AND THE DEALER IS NOW TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM AND THE REPAIR FOR THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT WILL NOT BE COVERED BY SUBARU. TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE AND CHECKING THE STI FORUMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT SUBARU HAS PAID FOR FOR SOME PEOPLE. THEY ARE REFUSING TO COVER THIS FOR ME. *JS

NHTSA ID
10669278
Incident
Dec 31, 2014
Mileage
60,500 mi
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+1 more
Filed Dec 23, 2014

WELDS ON BRACKET THAT HOLDS CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL TO FIREWALL FAILING. CAUSING CLUTCH PEDAL INCONSISTENCY ALONG WITH BRAKE PEDAL MOVEMENT UPON CLUTCH PEDAL DEPRESSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10668065
Incident
Dec 18, 2014
Mileage
92,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SubaruNet Annoucement (E

This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood covers from Generation 4 EyeSight cameras.

01-167-08R

This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.

SubaruNet Announcement (R

POWER TRAIN

This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.

07-240-26R

This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for vehicles exhibiting DTC B2A20.

03-97-26

POWER TRAIN

This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.

01-167-08R

This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Subaru Impreza Sti by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2009310—
2008Viewing331034.9

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.