Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Subaru Impreza submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 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.
The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words
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.
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.
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.
THE FIRE WALL BROKE AND THE PISTONS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS THEN IT BLEW THE CRANK
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.
VEHICLE WAS NOT STATIONARY, IT WAS BEING TUNED AND THE FIRE WALL GOT TO HOT AND STARTED TO SMOKE. IN ADDITION THE THIRD CYLINDER IN THE MOTOR WENT BAD AS WELL AND THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED DUE TO A ROD KNOCK AND THE 3RD CYLINDER GOING BAD. THE VEHICLE HAS 80000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT THEN REPLACED THE CLAMPS ON THE OIL RETURN LINE HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT THEN DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL FEED LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V460000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIRS, WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000. UPDATED 7/1/15*CN
OIL LEAKING FROM PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. OIL LEAKING ON A HOT ENGINE CAN CAUSE A FIRE. THIS IS COMMON FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR, DUE TO INCORRECT SIZING OF THE GASKET. IT IS DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY AND MAY RESULT IN A FIRE. *TR
HEAD GASKET PREMATURELY LEAKING OIL. LEAK FINDS ITSELF NEAR EXHAUST. A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH FINDS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON UP UNTIL 2010 AND THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEWEST ENGINE. AN IMPROVED GASKET IS AVAILABLE, BUT REPLACEMENT IS VERY EXPENSIVE. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PART AND THE AFFECTED CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING. THIS WILL COST OVER $2000 TO FIX. THIS SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING. *TR
ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN MY 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA HAS PREMATURELY FAILED. THE VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WENT INTO "LIMP" MODE WHILE DRIVING, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING VERY POOR GAS MILEAGE FOR THE LAST MONTH. THE DEALERSHIP HAS QUOTED ME OVER $2000 FOR THE REPAIR OF MY CAR. IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT SEVERAL OTHER SAME MODEL YEAR SUBARU'S HAVE RECALLS DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NOT PERFORMING TO EMISSION STANDARDS. SOME OF THESE CARS HAVE THE EXACT CATALYTIC CONVERTER PART NUMBER AS MY CAR, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY CAR WOULD NOT BE RECALLED ALSO. *TR
THIS 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA HAS BEEN PLAGUED AS HAVE MANY OTHERS BY A MANUFACTURER CHASSIS DEFECT. THE FIREWALL/BULKHEAD BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND ENGINE HAS 5 SPOT WELDS BROKEN WHICH INITIALLY ARE MEANT TO SECURE THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY. THESE WELD BREAKS ARE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THEY ARE CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN ENGAGING CLUTCH AND BRAKES, AS WELL AS A SQUEAK NOISE EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. AS THIS IS NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT WEAR ITEM BUT PART OF THE CHASSIS/FRAME WHICH IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AS COMPLETE FAILURE DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTS, FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ACTION ON THIS MATTER SHOULD BE TAKEN BY THE NHTSA. THIS IS CERTAINLY A RECALL ISSUE. *TR
THIS 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA HAS BEEN PLAGUED AS HAVE MANY OTHERS BY A MANUFACTURER CHASSIS DEFECT. THE FIREWALL/BULKHEAD BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND ENGINE HAS 5 SPOT WELDS BROKEN WHICH INITIALLY ARE MEANT TO SECURE THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY. THESE WELD BREAKS ARE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THEY ARE CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN ENGAGING CLUTCH AND BRAKES, AS WELL AS A SQUEAK NOISE EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. AS THIS IS NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT WEAR ITEM BUT PART OF THE CHASSIS/FRAME WHICH IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AS COMPLETE FAILURE DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTS, FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ACTION ON THIS MATTER SHOULD BE TAKEN BY THE NHTSA. THIS IS CERTAINLY A RECALL ISSUE. *TR
2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AFTER PRESSING DOWN ON ACCELERATOR. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HER HUSBAND ADJUSTED HIS PANT LEG, IT CAUSED HIM TO PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR. WHEN THAT HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE LET OUT A LOUD SHUDDERING AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. ALL THE LIGHTS STAYED ON AND THE VEHICLE STARTED RIGHT BACK UP. THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT HAPPENED TWICE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THEY DID FIND A VALVE WAS LEAKING OIL, WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
MY CLUTCH BRACKET BROKE ON THE WELDS. THIS IS AN OEM PRODUCT THAT HAS A DEFECT AND IT IS WELL KNOWN ON THE INTERNET AND FORUMS. SUBARU OF NEWTON NJ REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND WAS WELL AWARE. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME SINCE IT HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH. THE BRACKET IS BROKEN AND THE CLUTCH WILL NOT ENGAGE. I HAVE NOTICED THE FIREWALL IS CRACKING ALSO. THE BRAKE PEDAL MOVES INCHES TO THE SIDE WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PRESSED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH SUBARU AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 73K MILES ON IT. I ALSO FILLED WITH SUBARU AND I AM AWAITING ANSWERS. *TR
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
A LOUD SQUEAK IS OCCURRING WHEN I PRESS AND RELEASE MY CLUTCH. I HAD MY CLUTCH REPLACED ABOUT 10K MILES AGO DUE TO A SEIZED THROWOUT BEARING. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, THEY LUBED IT ALL UP BUT SQUEAK IS STILL THERE. THE TECH SAID THE NOISE IS ACTUALLY COMING FROM THE BRACKET THAT IS MOUNTED TO THE FIREWALL UNDER THE DASH. AFTER A FEW HOURS OF RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS POSTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND IT LIES WITH THE WELDS HOLDING THE BRACKET BEING FAULTY AND BREAKING. THIS CAUSES THE FIREWALL TO FLEX AND YOUR WHOLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY, CLUTCH AND BRAKE, TO MOVE AROUND WHILE IN OPERATION. *TR
CAR BEGAN 'STUMBLING' AT 3K RPM UNDER VERY LIGHT LOAD/THROTTLE. HAD SUBSTANTIALLY LESS POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SMALL TRACE OF WHITE SMOKE DURING STARTUP, ONLY HAPPENED ONCE. COMPRESSION/LEAKDOWN RESULTS; CYL1 = 115 / 10%, CYL2 = 125 / 10%, CYL3 = 117 / 18%, CYL4 = 100 / 23%. DRIVING HABITS ARE MILD, I-MODE 90% OF THE TIME, SHIFTING AT 2800-3200 RPM... CAR IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER, THEY HAVE CONFIRMED AN ISSUE AND WE'RE AWAITING RESPONSE FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA ON WHETHER OR NOT THIS WILL BE WARRANTIED. *TR
2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE CLUTCH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A SCREECHING/RUBBING NOISE WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS APPLIED AND A LOUD POP NOISE FROM NEUTRAL TO 1ST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WOULD POP OUT OF 6TH GEAR AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD RATTLE NOISE ON COLD STARTS, THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW WASHER WAS INOPERABLE, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OCCASIONALLY DID NOT RECOGNIZE A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE HOOD WAS LOOSE AND RATTLED, THE RIGHT REAR DOOR WAS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL STUDS WOULD NOT SECURE THE LUG NUT, THE BATTERY AND POWER STEERING PUMP WAS PUMPING. *JB
2008 SUBARU WRX MANUAL TRANS. 22,500 MILES. BETWEEN THE TIME THE ENGINE COMES OFF HIGH IDLE (AFTER BEING STARTED COLD) AND WHEN IT IS COMPLETELY WARMED UP, THE ENGINE WILL DROP ITS RPM TO 0 CAUSING AN ENGINE STALL WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED IN ORDER TO CHANGE GEARS. THIS RECENTLY HAPPENED WHEN ENTERING A ROUNDABOUT WHEN I WAS GOING TO SHIFT DOWN FROM 3RD TO 2ND GEAR. AT THIS POINT I ONLY HAVE MY LEFT HAND ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND RIGHT ON THE SHIFT LEVER. THE ENGINE STALLS AND I LOOSE POWER STEERING. POWER BRAKING ALSO SEEMS DECREASED AS I WAS UNABLE TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM RUNNING INTO THE CENTRAL ISLAND OF THE ROUNDABOUT. THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY IN COLD WEATHER. DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED REPAIRS, BUT IS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG (3 SEPARATE ADMISSIONS FOR SERVICE FOR THIS PROBLEM OVER LAST 9 MONTHS). COMPUTER ERROR CODES RETURNED WERE 301,302,303,304. AS OF TODAY THE CAR IS AT THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER FOR THE SECOND DAY THIS EPISODE. *JB
SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST, ROUGH IDLE, OIL CONSUMPTION WERE MY FIRST SIGNS. THE DEALER WOULDN'T DO A COMPRESSION CHECK ON THE MOTOR SINCE THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, SO I HAD TO PAY WITH MY OWN CASH AND TAKE IT TO A PRIVATE SHOP AND FOUND OUT THAT IN FACT CYLINDER #2 HAD A SHOT RINGLAND. THEY REPLACED THE PISTON BUT THE MOTOR DOESN'T SEEM TO BE RIGHT STILL SINCE I HAVE A CAR THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A "STOP SALE" THAT INVOLVED SOME ENGINES HAVING SOME DEBRIS IN THE MOTOR AND WAS CAUSING KNOCKING AND THROWING BEARINGS. SUBARU SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE SHORT BLOCK BUT DIDN'T. *TR
ENGINE STARTED STUTTERING AND WOULD ALMOST DIE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THEN STARTED BLOWING SMOKE OUT TALE PIPE. CAR HAD 3400 MILES. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS RINGLAND/PISTON FAILURE. *TR
I OWN A 2008 WRX STI SUBARU THAT HAD COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FACT THE DEALER COULD NOT PERFORM A CRITICAL ECM RECALL THAT WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF ENGINE FAILURE. SUBARU REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER WARRENTY. THE CAR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE START ALSO HAD BRAKE SYSTEM ISSUES THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR. *TR
I OWN A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA STI WHICH I PURCHASED IN FEB. OF 08'. 2 MONTHS AGO THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THEY SAID IT ONLY HAD 1 1/2 QUARTS OF OIL IN IT. I HAD CHECKED THE OIL THE PREVIOUS WEEK AND IT HAD SHOWN FULL. THEY REQUESTED THAT I GIVE THEM RECORD OF MY PREVIOUS OIL CHANGE SO I DID. UNFORTUNATELY, IT DID NOT HAVE MILEAGE DOCUMENTED BECAUSE IT WAS A SMALL SHOP THAT DID IT FOR ME. THEY REFUSED MY CLAIM ON THE GROUNDS THAT I DID NOT MAINTAIN THE CAR. THEY THEN SENT ME A RE-CALL FORM IN WHICH IT STATED THAT THE ECU WAS CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN DANGEROUSLY LEAN AND WAS CAUSING RING FAILURES. I TOLD MY LAWYER ABOUT THIS AND SENT HIM A COPY OF THE LETTER. WHEN HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS NECESSARY AND THAT IT WAS MY ISSUE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO 2,500 RPM'S. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE. IT HAS SINCE IMPROVED, BUT THE ENGINE STILL REVS FROM 1,500 TO 2,000 RPM'S. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WILL WORSEN IN THE WINTER. SHE FILED CASE NUMBER [XXX] WITH SUBARU. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,107 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400. UPDATED 07/17/08 INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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