RoadVitals

2008 Subaru Impreza Sti Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints 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.
11
Latest Sep 14, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
33%
of 33 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Subaru Impreza Sti submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
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
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 9, 2014

CLUTCH AND BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS HAVE POOR DESIGN. MY CLUTCH PEDAL CURRENTLY SQUEEZE AND WOBBLES WHILE MY BRAKE PEDAL IS WOBBLEY. THE MINIMAL/POOR SPOT WELDS FOR THE MASTER CYLINDERS ON THE FIREWALL HAVE CRACKED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10663123
Incident
Dec 1, 2010
Mileage
19,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 27, 2014

THERE IS A LOUD SQUEAK NOISE WHEN THE CLUTCH IS BEING PRESSED, AND AT TIMES WHEN THE STRUCTURE FLEXES,IT INTERFERES WITH CHANGING GEARS. NOT ONLY DOES IT INTERFERE WITH CHANGING GEARS BUT,IT ALSO CAUSES THE BREAK PEDAL ASSEMBLY MOVES WHEN PRESSING THE CLUTCH. I HAVE VERIFIED THAT SOME WELD SPOT HAVE BROKEN OFF AND HAVE BECOME LOOSE. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM SEEING AS HOW IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN IT COMPLETELY SEPARATES, DUE TO SHOTTY WELDING, NOT ONLY COULD THE CLUTCH GO OUT WHILE DRIVING BUT IT COULD CAUSE THE BREAKS TO GO OUT AS WELL. THIS IS NOT WEAR AND TEAR, I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT A 1.5 YEARS. WELDS SHOULD NOT BUST THAT QUICKLY. I HAVE VERIFIED IN THE SUBARU COMMUNITY THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM MANUAL TRANSMISSION IMPREZAS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10661153
Incident
Nov 3, 2014
Mileage
78,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 30, 2014

FIREWALL SPOT WELDS BROKE, RESULTING IN MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THIS IS CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO NOT DISENGAGE FULLY AND ALSO MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT DUE TO THE FLEX. AS THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE DANGEROUS AND IS MOST DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, IT SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10651518
Incident
Aug 13, 2014
Mileage
65,453 mi
Body & structurePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 27, 2014

MY CLUTCH PEDAL BEGAN CLICKING AND CREAKING THIS SUMMER. I FINALLY FOUND OUT THAT THE WELDS THAT HELD THE CLUTCH TO THE FIREWALL WERE BROKEN. THE CLUTCH BRACKET HAS ONLY A COUPLE OF SPOT WELDS THAT ATTACH IT TO THE FIREWALL, AND THE FIREWALL IS VERY FLIMSY. THE WELDS TORE AWAY AND ALLOWED THE FIREWALL, CLUTCH ASSEMBLY,. BRAKE ASSEMBLY, AND DASH TO MOVE AND SHIFT WHENEVER I CLUTCHED IN, CAUSING PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE AND A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY GR/GV CHASSIS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND SUBARU NEEDS TO INSTITUTE A RECALL ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10566217
Incident
Feb 26, 2014
Mileage
40,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 1, 2013

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF, FLASHING CRUISE CONTROL, AND FLASHING DIFFERENTIAL SELECTION [S] CODE. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT. THE ERROR CODE IS P1410 WHICH TRANSLATES TO SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM. MOST LIKELY ONE OF THE VALVES (OR BOTH) THAT OPERATE WITH THIS SYSTEM IS RUSTED STUCK THE OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION (WORSE IF ITS STUCK OPEN). CHECKING MULTIPLE FORUMS THIS IS HAPPENING REGULARLY AND SUBARU IS CHOOSING NOT TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY AND/OR RECALL. THE PART WAS POORLY DESIGNED AND IS SUBJECT TO RUST/FAILURE IN HUMID, RAINY, OR SNOWY ENVIRONMENTS. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AS IT PUTS YOUR CAR IN A LIMP MODE TURNING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL UNEXPECTEDLY AND POSSIBLY FORCING YOUR CAR OUT OF ITS MULTIPLE DRIVING MODES (VIA SELECTOR IN THE CENTER CONSOLE NEAR THE ARMREST BELOW THE SHIFTER). I AM NOT SURE HOW DAMAGING THAT COULD BE TO HARD SWITCH THE MODE WHILE RUNNING AT HIGH SPEEDS BUT THERE IS THE POTENTIAL. WITH THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE SUBARU WRX STI (WHICH IS THEIR TOP DOG SPORTS CAR) THERE IS NO REASON FOR THERE NOT TO BE SOME KIND OF RESOLUTION/RECALL FOR THIS FAULTY PART/DESIGN. TO TOP IT OFF, THE REPAIR COSTS FOR THIS IS ASTRONOMICAL IN THE $1000+ RANGE FROM THE ESTIMATES I AM GETTING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10510201
Incident
Apr 23, 2013
Mileage
30,100 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 28, 2012

THE FIREWALL IS FLEXING UNDER CLUTCH PEDAL MOVEMENT OR BRAKING. UPON RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS CLAIMS BY 08/09 IMPREZA OWNERS OF SOFT WELDS ON THE FIREWALL CRACKING AND CAUSING THE FIREWALL TO FLEX UNDER OPERATION OF THE BRAKES OR CLUTCH. FURTHER FAILURE OF THE WELDS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF BRAKING OR CLUTCH OPERATION IS FURTHER DEGRADED. SUBARU OF AMERICA DENIES THAT THERE ARE CLAIMS TO THIS EFFECT THOUGH THERE IS DOCUMENTATION ON THE INTERNET TO THE CONTRARY. ISSUE SHOULD CAUSE A RECALL AS IT IS QUITE COMMON AND A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10490359
Incident
Dec 28, 2012
Mileage
47,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 10, 2010

MAIN ROD BEARING FAILED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO SUBARU REDESIGNING THEIR BEARINGS AND NOT USING COPPER. CAR HAS 30,000 MILES ON ENGINE. BETWEEN ALL THE PISTON FAILURES AND BEARING FAILURES SUBARU SHOULD OWN UP AND TAKE CARE OF ITS LOYAL CUSTOMERS AS I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL EVER BUY ONE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10348399
Incident
Jul 10, 2010
Mileage
30,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .