2008 Subaru WRX Problems

CLUTCH/BRAKE ASSEMBLY BROKE AWAY FROM FIRE WALL. MAKING CAR UNDRIVABLE

THE WELDS THAT ATTACH THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDDLE TO THE VEHICLE BRAKE AND ALLOW THE WHOLE PEDDLE ASSEMBLY TO MOVE. BECAUSE OF THIS, BRAKING EFFICIENCY AND DRIVE GEAR ENGAGEMENT BECOME COMPROMISED. IN THE EVENT THAT A HARD STOP IS NEEDED, THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY COULD BRAKE AND KEEP THE DRIVER FROM BEING ABLE TO STOP. THIS ISSUE IS A HUGE HAZARD! THIS IS NOT A CONVENIENCE ISSUE, THIS IS A LIFE AND SAFETY ISSUE TO NOT ONLY THE OCCUPANTS OF THE SUBARU BUT EVERYONE ON THE ROAD! I HAVE CONTACTED SOA, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE REPAIR MYSELF. THIS REPAIR IS NOT JUST SOME NUTS AND BOLTS COMING LOOSE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THIS IS A HUGE REPAIR THAT IS STRUCTURAL TO THE VEHICLE. AT COSTS OF WELL INTO THE THOUSANDS! SOA KNOWS OF THE ISSUE AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY SITS AT 92K MILES BECAUSE OF THE POOR CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT I HAD TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH AT 78K. I HAVE VIDEO AND PHOTO EVIDENCE TO GO ALONG WITH EVERYTHING THAT IS STATED ABOVE, BUT A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH WILL SHOW YOU THAT THOUSANDS OF SUBARU WRX AND STI OWNERS FROM 2008 TO 2014 ARE OR WILL EXPERIENCE THIS EXACT ISSUE!

THE WELDS THAT ATTACH THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDDLE TO THE VEHICLE BRAKE AND ALLOW THE WHOLE PEDDLE ASSEMBLY TO MOVE. BECAUSE OF THIS, BRAKING EFFICIENCY AND DRIVE GEAR ENGAGEMENT BECOME COMPROMISED. IN THE EVENT THAT A HARD STOP IS NEEDED, THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY COULD BRAKE AND KEEP THE DRIVER FROM BEING ABLE TO STOP. THIS ISSUE IS A HUGE HAZARD! THIS IS NOT A CONVENIENCE ISSUE, THIS IS A LIFE AND SAFETY ISSUE TO NOT ONLY THE OCCUPANTS OF THE SUBARU BUT EVERYONE ON THE ROAD! I HAVE CONTACTED SOA, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE REPAIR MYSELF. THIS REPAIR IS NOT JUST SOME NUTS AND BOLTS COMING LOOSE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THIS IS A HUGE REPAIR THAT IS STRUCTURAL TO THE VEHICLE. AT COSTS OF WELL INTO THE THOUSANDS! SOA KNOWS OF THE ISSUE AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY SITS AT 92K MILES BECAUSE OF THE POOR CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT I HAD TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH AT 78K. I HAVE VIDEO AND PHOTO EVIDENCE TO GO ALONG WITH EVERYTHING THAT IS STATED ABOVE, BUT A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH WILL SHOW YOU THAT THOUSANDS OF SUBARU WRX AND STI OWNERS FROM 2008 TO 2014 ARE OR WILL EXPERIENCE THIS EXACT ISSUE!

FIREWALL SPOT WELDS HAVE FAILED, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT LATERAL PLAY IN THE CLUTCH PEDAL. I HAVE HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT TROUBLE TRYING TO GET IT INTO GEAR. SO I HAVE HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAVE HAD TROUBLE GETTING IT IN REVERSE IN ORDER TO PULL OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NEXT IN-LINE TO BE AFFECTED BY THE SHEET METAL TEAR. I KEEP HEARING THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALL. NOR IS IT A WARRANTY ITEM AT THIS YEAR AND MILEAGE (105,000). THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE AND WILL COST A GREAT DEAL (OVER $1000) TO FIX. THIS BEING A WELD ISSUE AND NOT A WEAR ISSUE MAKES ME THINK THAT THE FACTORY OUGHT TO COVER THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. BUT I HAVE ONLY RECENTLY DISCOVERED THE TRUE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM.

THE WELDS THAT ATTACH THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDDLE TO THE VEHICLE BRAKE AND ALLOW THE WHOLE PEDDLE ASSEMBLY TO MOVE. BECAUSE OF THIS, BRAKING EFFICIENCY AND DRIVE GEAR ENGAGEMENT BECOME COMPROMISED. IN THE EVENT THAT A HARD STOP IS NEEDED, THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY COULD BRAKE AND KEEP THE DRIVER FROM BEING ABLE TO STOP. THIS ISSUE IS A HUGE HAZARD! THIS IS NOT A CONVENIENCE ISSUE, THIS IS A LIFE AND SAFETY ISSUE TO NOT ONLY THE OCCUPANTS OF THE SUBARU BUT EVERYONE ON THE ROAD! I HAVE CONTACTED SOA, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE REPAIR MYSELF. THIS REPAIR IS NOT JUST SOME NUTS AND BOLTS COMING LOOSE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THIS IS A HUGE REPAIR THAT IS STRUCTURAL TO THE VEHICLE. AT COSTS OF WELL INTO THE THOUSANDS! SOA KNOWS OF THE ISSUE AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY SITS AT 92K MILES BECAUSE OF THE POOR CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT I HAD TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH AT 78K. I HAVE VIDEO AND PHOTO EVIDENCE TO GO ALONG WITH EVERYTHING THAT IS STATED ABOVE, BUT A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH WILL SHOW YOU THAT THOUSANDS OF SUBARU WRX AND STI OWNERS FROM 2008 TO 2014 ARE OR WILL EXPERIENCE THIS EXACT ISSUE!

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED WHILE DEPRESSING MY BRAKES OR CLUTCH, I WOULD HEAR A "POPPING SOUND." ALSO I NOTICED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD MOVE TOWARDS THE LEFT TOGETHER (OPPOSE TO JUST UP AND DOWN) WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. IT SEEMS LIKE THE WHOLE FIREWALL WHERE THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE ATTACHED TOO IS MOVING WHEN DEPRESSED. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME NOW WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

BASICALLY THE WELDS ON THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY BROKE LOOSE AND HAS CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE CLUTCH AND BRAKES. SUBARU DID TRY TO FIX THIS BUT IS FAILING AGAIN AND BELIEVE THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THIS FAILED THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE MOVE ABOUT 1.5" WHEN DEPRESSED.I AM PART OF A CLASS ACTION LAW SUITE AND NEED YOUR HELP BEFORE SOMEONE LOSSES A LIFE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU WRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH, THE BRAKE PEDAL BRACKET MOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH PLATE WAS LOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED WHILE DEPRESSING MY BRAKES OR CLUTCH, I WOULD HEAR A "POPPING SOUND." ALSO I NOTICED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD MOVE TOWARDS THE LEFT TOGETHER (OPPOSE TO JUST UP AND DOWN) WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. IT SEEMS LIKE THE WHOLE FIREWALL WHERE THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE ATTACHED TOO IS MOVING WHEN DEPRESSED. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME NOW WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2008 WRX MAKES A SQUEAKING NOISE EVERY TIME IT'S ENGAGED. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THE NOISE, I NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY (FORWARD FIREWALL) SHIFTS APPROX 1/4 INCH EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS ENGAGED. I FOUND THAT THE THREE SPOT WELDS HOLDING THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL WERE BROKEN. FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE FIREWALL, JUST UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE SPOT WELDS ARE SEPARATING AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS ENGAGED. THIS ALLOWS THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY TO MOVE,MAKING THAT SQUEAKING NOISE. IF THE BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATES FROM THE FIREWALL, THE CLUTCH WILL NOT WORK. THIS IS SUPER SUPER DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, CAR OFF. VEHICLE OWNER IN GYM WORKING OUT WHEN AN EMPLOYEE ALERTED HIM HE HAD SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDERHOOD. OWNER WENT OUT AND FOUND FLAMES COMING OUT OF HOOD SCOOP. OPENED HOOD AND FOUND WHAT APPEARED TO BE SECONDARY AIR PUMP ON FIRE. EXTINGUISHED WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER. TOWED CAR TO SHOP AND INITIAL INSPECTION APPEARS THAT THE PLASTIC SECONDARY AIR PUMP CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS STARTING TO BURN AND DO DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING UNDERHOOD COMPONENTS. VEHICLE CURRENTLY IN SHOP (SMART SERVICE 206-417-0880) HAVING DAMAGE PARTS REPLACED. IT APPEARS THAT IF THIS FIRE WAS NOT EXTINGUISHED IT WOULD HAVE BURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE GROUND AND ANYTHING SURROUNDING IT. MORE PICTURES ARE AVAILBLE BY CALLING SHOP LISTED ABOVE AS WELL AS ALL OLD PARTS WILL BE SAVED FOR INSPECTION IF NEEDED.

MY CLUTCH STARTED SQUEAKING FOR A MONTH AND HALF. WHEN THE SQUEAKING STOPPED, IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT THE SQUEAKING STOPPED ONLY BECAUSE THE WHOLE FIREWALL HAD BROKEN. THE CAR IS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED TOMORROW, AND I AM OUT OF WARRANTY FOR MY 2008 STI. I AM WRITING TO YOU BECAUSE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, WHICH INCLUDES THE CLUTCH AND THE BRAKING AND THE TRANSMISSION. THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX IT FOR ME AND HAS REFERRED ME TO A COLLISION SHOP BUT I AM NOW BEING FORCED TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS OUT-OF-POCKET. *TR

BRAKE/CLUTCH BRACKET WELD FAILURE. BRAKE/CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS LOSE. 3 OF THE 5 SPOTWELDS HOLDING THE BRAKE/CLUTCH ASSEMBLY HAVE FAILED. THIS CAUSES THE BRAKES TO FEEL MUSHY AND THE CLUTCH DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS AND DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH. THE BRAKES MAY FAIL IF THE OTHER TWO WELDS BRAKE. *TR

FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO I HAD SMELLED GAS FUMES PERIODICALLY WHEN THE MY CAR WAS IDLING. A FEW DAYS AGO THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I HAD THE ECU CODE READ AT A LOCAL STORE AND THE TECHNICIAN THERE STATED THAT THE ENGINE CODE WAS "P0171 SYSTEM TOO LEAN (BANK 1)". ON MONDAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS DETERIORATING AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING. THEIR EXPLANATION FOR THE ENGINE CODE WAS THAT WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING THE FUEL PRESSURE EXPANDED THE FUEL LINE. THIS EXPANSION EVENTUALLY REDUCED THE FUEL PRESSURE TO THE POINT THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE NOT RECEIVING ADEQUATE FUEL AND THE ECU THREW A CODE. WHILE I DO NOT KNOW WHY THE FUEL LINE DEGRADED, AND THERE COULD BE A NUMBER OF CAUSES, IT DOES SEEM PREMATURE. *TR

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, CAR OFF. VEHICLE OWNER IN GYM WORKING OUT WHEN AN EMPLOYEE ALERTED HIM HE HAD SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDERHOOD. OWNER WENT OUT AND FOUND FLAMES COMING OUT OF HOOD SCOOP. OPENED HOOD AND FOUND WHAT APPEARED TO BE SECONDARY AIR PUMP ON FIRE. EXTINGUISHED WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER. TOWED CAR TO SHOP AND INITIAL INSPECTION APPEARS THAT THE PLASTIC SECONDARY AIR PUMP CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS STARTING TO BURN AND DO DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING UNDERHOOD COMPONENTS. VEHICLE CURRENTLY IN SHOP (SMART SERVICE 206-417-0880) HAVING DAMAGE PARTS REPLACED. IT APPEARS THAT IF THIS FIRE WAS NOT EXTINGUISHED IT WOULD HAVE BURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE GROUND AND ANYTHING SURROUNDING IT. MORE PICTURES ARE AVAILBLE BY CALLING SHOP LISTED ABOVE AS WELL AS ALL OLD PARTS WILL BE SAVED FOR INSPECTION IF NEEDED.