2008 Subaru Impreza Owner Complaints

There is a weakness in the cars firewall around the master cylinder where the weld inside is breaking and it is cracking all around the master cylinder and I am unable to shift the car. I have taken the car to two different shops and both say the same thing that the firewall is failing. The brake pedal is shifting when you push down on the slutch and could compromise your ability to safely find the brake pedal in a braking event. Secondly, in the event of a crash, the clutch/brake pedal assembly could move in a direction not orginally designed causing injury to the legs/feet. If it breaks through all the way it will permanently damage the car beyond repair. I have gone online and read that this is happening to many many many people and their are class action lawsuits going on. I just want to be able to drive my car safely and not worry about killing myself or my kids and no one can fix it. IT NEEDS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL!! This is what I read online as soon as I looked it up: Some Subaru models have had issues with their firewalls, including the 2008–2010 Impreza and WRX. These issues can include broken welds that cause other parts of the clutch system to wear out. Some symptoms of a Subaru firewall issue include: Failed clutch, Failing pedal assembly, Sheet metal tearing, Heavy clutch pedal, and Squeaky clutch. Some Subaru owners have reported that the firewall is cracked where the master cylinder is attached, causing problems when shifting. Others have reported that spot welds under the cowl are either cracked or deformed, and that there are little spaces in the firewall where the master cylinder flexes. I just put $13000 into my car and now I can't even drive it because of this issue and it was not my fault. It is the fault of the manufacturer. PLEASE HELP ME!!

NHTSA ID

11589791

Incident

Apr 15, 2024

2008 WRX started to make a sqeeking noise when engaging the clutch. The spot welds came apart from firewall and my clutch has gone out twice. The pedal when shifting sticks and while driving I have to put the pedal under my foot and pull upwards for it to work. Very dangerous and the welds are faulty, it should be a recall items. Subaru can request for a inspection anytime as it is very much needed to be addressed.

NHTSA ID

11544256

Incident

Jul 13, 2019

I was driving to work and the car was running funny after a few blocks when I saw smoke pouring out of the car I pulled over ad got out and watched the car burn to the ground. I cant get to work and the car contained my personal.belongings.

NHTSA ID

11542030

Incident

Aug 31, 2023

For the last few years, the reverse lights would intermittently work when the six-speed manual transmission was put into reverse. Lately, the lights fail to work more often than actually work. I have read other Subarus have a common reverse light switch failure and I think more of the older cars use a similar switch and design to recalled models.

NHTSA ID

11490792

Incident

Oct 25, 2022

FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR BURNT , GASOLINE IN CONNECTION AND PUMP STOPPED WORKING. NO START.

NHTSA ID

11316936

Incident

Mar 9, 2020

Mileage

138,000 mi

THE SPOT WELDS UNDER WINDSHIELD COWL BROKE CAUSING THE BRACKET HOLDING CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO BREAK. BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES, I CAN ONLY ENGAGE MY REVERSE GEAR HALF THE TIME AND WHILE SHIFTING GEARS IN MOTION, IT TENDS TO BE A BIT DIFFICULT. I'VE ALMOST CRASHED A COUPLE TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. MY CAR IS A 2008 SUBARU WRX SEDAN WITH ONLY 74,000 MILES AND I'M CURRENTLY MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE CAR. MONEY IS REALLY TIGHT DUE TO ME BEING A FULL TIME COLLEGE STUDENT AND FULL TIME WORKER SO I'M NOT SURE HOW TO GO ABOUT THIS REALLY BIG PROBLEM. MY CAR IS EVERYTHING TO ME RIGHT NOW AND IF IT FAILS ON ME, I HAVE NO MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I ALSO HAVE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN WHEELS, AND A BLOW OFF VALVE. THE VEHICLE TENDS TO GIVE ME THE MOST DIFFICULTY ENGAGING REVERSE EVERY MORNING.

NHTSA ID

11310395

Incident

Jan 24, 2020

Mileage

73,500 mi

SUBARU IS UNABLE TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE FOR ALMOST A MONTH, I USE MY VEHICLE FOR WORK AND THIS RECALL IS POTENTIALLY DEADLY.

NHTSA ID

11307107

Incident

Feb 4, 2020

SPOT WELDS ON FIREWALL THAT SUPPORT THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAVE CRACKED/BROKE CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO FLEX AND MOVE WHILE PUSHING DOWN ON THE CLUTCH.

NHTSA ID

11287844

Incident

Nov 19, 2019

Mileage

162,000 mi

BLEW 3 VALVE GASKETS WITHIN TWO WEEKS AFTER BUYING CAR. BLEW 2 TIRES WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF HAVING THE CAR. THEY 'FIXED' AN OIL CONTROL VALVE AND THEN IT NEEDED ANOTHER. SWAY BAR LINKS NEEDED REPLACED, CV JOINTS NEED REPLACED, BRAKE PADS ARE EXTREMELY LOW. AC DOESN'T WORK. HAD TO BUY ALL NEW TIRES.

NHTSA ID

11243155

Incident

Nov 22, 2018

TAKATA RECALL- I WAS DRIVING IN THE SLOW (RIGHT SIDE) OF THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 68 MPH (BETWEEN 65-70), THERE WAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC. THERE WAS AN EXTRA LANE (TEMPORARY 3 LANE FOR ENTRANCE, BUT NORMAL 2 LANE FREEWAY) TO MY RIGHT AND I BEGAN MERGING (OR POSSIBLY SWERVED FROM LOOKING OVER SHOULDER...AND A BEE FLEW INTO ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING ALSO CAUSING ME TO SWERVE A BIT). I ENDED UP IN THE FAST (LEFT) LANE THAT WAS GOING SLOWER DUE TO AN UNKNOWN REASON...WHICH CAUSED ME TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS, BUT I REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT AN ANGLE (MY DRIVER SIDE FRONT TO THEIR PASSENGER SIDE BACK) BECAUSE I SWERVED BACK INTO THE LUCKILY EMPTY SPOT NEXT TO ME, BUT IT WASN'T FAST ENOUGH TO NOT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I DIDN'T SEE MY EXACT SPEED WHEN I HIT THE CAR BUT I WAS GOING OVER THE DOCUMENTED (ON PREVIOUS PAGE) SPEED THAT THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED WITH THE AMOUNT OF IMPACT OUR CARS STRUCK...THIS VEHICLE WAS GOING LESS THAN 20 MPH AND I WAS GOING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 50-60 MPH AND THE IMPACT WAS ALL ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SO FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN READING THAT THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF....ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAD THE RECALL FIXED/SERVICED IN DECEMBER 2018, WHERE I HAD TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT AN HOUR LATER BECAUSE SOME "HOSING" WASN'T CORRECTLY REINSTALLED. SO I'M CURIOUS IF ANYTHING ELSE WASN'T INSTALLED CORRECTLY THAT CAUSED THE AIRBAG NOT TO GO OFF. I HAD JUST TAKEN FULL COVERAGE OFF MY INSURANCE TO SAVE MONEY THREE DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE I AM IN THE MOVING PROCESS-NOW WITH NO COVERAGE TO MY DAMAGE (WHICH MY INSURANCE QUOTED AROUND 2900$ HAD I HAD FULL COVERAGE STILL), AS WELL AS MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR MYSELF AND I SPENT ABOUT 8 HOURS IN THE ER. WHICH ALSO WON'T BE COVERED. I AM NOT 100% CERTAIN OF HOW THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE WHY TRAFFIC WAS SLOWED SO SUDDENLY; THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF?

NHTSA ID

11221633

Incident

Jun 17, 2019

Mileage

157,155 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME VERY WOBBLY AND ALMOST DETACHED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SENT HIM A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN EXTENDING THE CLUTCH ATTACHMENT COMPONENT; HOWEVER, THE DEALER (SUBARU SUPERSTORE OF CHANDLER, 1050 GILBERT RD, CHANDLER, AZ 85286) NEVER HAD THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11181097

Incident

Dec 19, 2018

Mileage

124,000 mi

3 OF 7 SPOT WELDS HAVE FAILED FOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY SUPPORT BRACKET. *TR

NHTSA ID

11173097

Incident

Jan 30, 2019

Mileage

47,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE VALVES. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN SNOWY WEATHER. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE AIR VALVES FAILED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE ENGINE AIR VALVES HIMSELF, BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ID

11164729

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

58,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN SNOWY WEATHER. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE AIR VALVE FAILED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE ENGINE AIR VALVES HIMSELF, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE VALVE DESIGN CAUSED THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ID

11164604

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

58,000 mi

MY SONS VEHICLE STARTED OFF WITH A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH. THIS WENT ON FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS HE IS NOW HAVING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING THE CAR INTO GEAR AND IT NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THE OTHER DAY. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, AND THE CLUTCH IS TOTALLY DEPRESSED IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET THE CAR INTO GEAR. WHEN DRIVING IT IS LESS DIFFICULT, BUT STILL VERY TRICKY TO GET INTO GEAR. WE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED, IF YOU RAISE THE HOOD, YOU CAN SEE THE FIREWALL FLEXING QUITE A BIT WHERE THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER IS LOCATED. WE REPLACED THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER AND IT DID NOT HELP THE ISSUE. IN MY READING ONLINE, I HAVE NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE RELATED TO THE FACTORY WELDS HOLDING THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL ARE FAILING. IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD ISSUE FOR SUBARU IMPREZAS 2008-2014. I WOULD EXPECT THIS TO BE A FACTORY RECALL. MY SON CAN NO LONGER USE THE CAR AND WE ARE UNSURE ON HOW TO FIX THE ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE..

NHTSA ID

11160774

Incident

Dec 10, 2018

Mileage

138,000 mi

FUEL LEAK , TANK NEED TO BE REPLACED. FIND THE LEAK IN MY GARAGE

NHTSA ID

11142148

Incident

Oct 18, 2018

Mileage

95,985 mi

THE FIRE WALL BROKE AND THE PISTONS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS THEN IT BLEW THE CRANK

NHTSA ID

11133481

Incident

Mar 8, 2018

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY 20,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (GRAND PRIX SUBARU, 500 S BROADWAY, HICKSVILLE, NY 11801) AND THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ID

11102175

Incident

May 16, 2018

Mileage

79,000 mi

PROBLEM BEGAN WITH A SQUEAKING SOUND AND WOULD CLICK WHEN DEPRESSING CLUTCH. THEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD STICK AND NOT COME BACK UP. CLUTCH PEDAL UNABLE TO COMPLETELY ENGAGE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO GET THE CAR INTO GEAR. MOVEMENT IN CLUTCH/BRAKE PEDAL CAUSING HAZARD WHILE DRIVING DUE TO DISPLACEMENT. WELDS IN CLUTCH/BRAKE ASSEMBLY AT THE FIREWALL ARE BROKEN.

NHTSA ID

11085129

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

Mileage

112,000 mi

TAKATATA AIRBAG RECALL I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THE TK HOLDINGS INC. WAS FILING A CHAPTER 11 AND DOING AN AIRBAG RECALL THAT MAY AFFECT MY CAR. I LOOKED IT UP ON AIRBAGRECALL.COM AND WAS THEN DIRECTED TO THIS WEBSITE. THERE IS NO EXTERIOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR NOR WAS IT DAMAGED AT ALL WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS ALL TO CHECK IF I NEED MY AIRBAGS REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

11041328

Incident

Oct 23, 2017

TAKATA AIRBAG. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SUBARU OF RICHMOND LOCATED AT 9177 WEST BROAD STREET 23294, WHERE TRIED TO GET THE AIRBAG REPLACED. THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS FLASHING AND THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T REPLACE THE AIRBAG WITH THE SENSOR BLINKING, SAYING THAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR AND THE AIRBAG RECALL HAD NO CORRELATION. THEY THEN PROCEEDED TO TRY AND CHARGE $1700 FOR THE SENSOR TO GET FIXED.

NHTSA ID

11040624

Incident

Apr 3, 2017

Mileage

80,000 mi

HAVING SAME ISSUE AS MOST WITH 08 WRX . FIREWALL BRACKETS HAVE COME LOOSE AND CLUTCH WILL NOT ACTUATE PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID

11023865

Incident

Sep 17, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11022641

Incident

Jun 10, 2016

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ID

11022092

Incident

Sep 7, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED A NOTICE MONTHS AGO THAT MY VEHICLE IS AFFECTED BY THE AIRBAG RECALL. THE NOTICE STATES THAT CURRENTLY, PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE AND THAT SUBARU IS IN THE PROCESS OF ACQUIRING PARTS NECESSARY TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. I AM STILL WAITING TO SEE WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. ANY IDEA WHEN THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

NHTSA ID

11014985

Incident

May 4, 2017