2009 Subaru WRX Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 Subaru WRX, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Powertrain (other)3348.5%
- Body & structure1319.1%
- Brakes1116.2%
- Engine45.9%
- Driver assistance34.4%
- Transmission11.5%
- Fuel system11.5%
- Other / unspecified11.5%
- Airbags11.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
FAILED WELDS CONNECTING PEDAL PANEL TO THE FIREWALL. RESULTS IN LOUD SQUEAKING WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED/RELEASED AND CAR IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET IN OR OUT OF GEAR. CAUSES MOVEMENT OF BRAKE PEDAL AS WELL WHICH COULD CAUSE MAJOR ISSUES. THIS HAPPENS MOVING AND PARKED
THE WELDS WHERE THE CLUTCH PEDAL ATTACHES TO THE FIREWALL ARE BREAKING. THE SAME BRACKET IS ATTACHED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ENTIRE BRAKE & CLUTCH ASSEMBLY COULD BREAK OFF OF THE FIREWALL. THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
FAILED WELDS CONNECTING PEDAL PANEL TO THE FIREWALL. RESULTS IN LOUD SQUEAKING WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED/RELEASED AND CAR IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET IN OR OUT OF GEAR. CAUSES MOVEMENT OF BRAKE PEDAL AS WELL WHICH COULD CAUSE MAJOR ISSUES. THIS HAPPENS MOVING AND PARKED
THE WELDS WHERE THE CLUTCH PEDAL ATTACHES TO THE FIREWALL ARE BREAKING. THE SAME BRACKET IS ATTACHED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ENTIRE BRAKE & CLUTCH ASSEMBLY COULD BREAK OFF OF THE FIREWALL. THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
FAILED WELDS CONNECTING PEDAL PANEL TO THE FIREWALL. RESULTS IN LOUD SQUEAKING WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED/RELEASED AND CAR IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET IN OR OUT OF GEAR. CAUSES MOVEMENT OF BRAKE PEDAL AS WELL WHICH COULD CAUSE MAJOR ISSUES. THIS HAPPENS MOVING AND PARKED
THE WELDS WHERE THE CLUTCH PEDAL ATTACHES TO THE FIREWALL ARE BREAKING. THE SAME BRACKET IS ATTACHED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ENTIRE BRAKE & CLUTCH ASSEMBLY COULD BREAK OFF OF THE FIREWALL. THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT 100 MILES FROM MY RESIDENCE. I DROVE IT HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND WITHIN 2 HOURS OF DRIVING I HEARD A LOUD WHIPPING NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. SOUNDED LIKE A BELT SNAPPED AND I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. AFTER THE INCIDENT THE FOLLOWING SENSORS AND OTHER ISSUES OCCURRED: -CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON -P0011 DIAGNOSTIC READING: 'A CAMSHAFT POSITION TIMING OVER ' ADVANCED SYSTEM PERFORMANCE BANK 1' -TURBO NOT WORKING CORRECTLY -WHITE SMOKE FROM EXHAUST -TRACTION CONTROL WON'T COME OFF -SAYS PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF -SOMETIMES HAS HARD TIME STARTING -- I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR APRIL 10TH AT A AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANICS DETERMINED THE TURBO CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE FAILED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED ($3000 DOLLAR ESTIMATE). I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND LEFT A MESSAGE AS DID SUBARU. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT RESPONDED BACK AND IS IGNORING MY MESSAGES. I FEEL EVEN THOUGH I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE "AS IS", IT WAS STILL UNDER AN IMPLIED WARRANTY OF BEING 'FIT FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE', THAT IS THAT IT WAS DRIVABLE AND OPERATIONAL AS IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT. SUBARU TOLD ME THERE IS NO WAY THE DEALER COULD NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF SUCH AN IMMENSE ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE. *JS
ON DECEMBER 23RD, I HAD MY SON, TAKE HIS SUBARU WRX TO BROWN'S SUBARU IN MANASSAS, VA FOR AN OIL & FILTER CHANGE AND TO HAVE FIXED AN ANNOYING CLICK SOUND WHICH OCCURS EACH TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. BROWN'S DETERMINED THAT THE CLUTCH MOUNTING TO THE FIREWALL WAS CRACKED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE FIXED OR THE CLUTCH & BRAKE PEDALS WOULD BREAK AWAY. I RESEARCHED THE CLUTCH PROBLEM LAST NIGHT. THE CRACK IN THE MOUNTING OF THE CLUTCH TO THE FIREWALL IS A DEFECT KNOWN TO SUBARU OF AMERICA. ALL WRX'S FROM 2008 FORWARD HAVE THIS ISSUE NO RECALL. IF IT IS NOT FIXED, THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND BRAKE WHICH ARE ON THE SAME MOUNTING WILL BREAK AWAY COMPLETELY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE'S GAS PEDAL STICKS IN THE ACCELERATED POSITION CAUSING THE CAR TO SPEED UP ON IT'S OWN SOMETIME NOT ALLOWING ME TO REMOVE IT FROM GEAR(MANUAL TRANSMISSION). THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE AND ON CITY STREETS ALMOST CAUSING A ACCIDENT EVERY TIME. AFTER HAVING LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IT PROMPTED ME TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE, PAID THE DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT IT, AND ALSO PAID A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO LOOK AT IT. WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED AND WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANICS ARE THE SAME THING, THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS BROKE FROM THE FIREWALL. AFTER DOING FURTHER RESEARCH, THE FIREWALL AND PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS A WELL KNOWN MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE THAT SUBARU HAS NEVER ADDRESSED. I JUST HOPE I AM ABLE TO GET THE CAR FIXED BEFORE IT KILLS ME. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THAT SUBARU HAS NOT STEPPED UP AND OFFERED TO FIX THE ISSUE AS IT'S A WIDESPREAD SAFETY CONCERN.
ON DECEMBER 23RD, I HAD MY SON, TAKE HIS SUBARU WRX TO BROWN'S SUBARU IN MANASSAS, VA FOR AN OIL & FILTER CHANGE AND TO HAVE FIXED AN ANNOYING CLICK SOUND WHICH OCCURS EACH TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. BROWN'S DETERMINED THAT THE CLUTCH MOUNTING TO THE FIREWALL WAS CRACKED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE FIXED OR THE CLUTCH & BRAKE PEDALS WOULD BREAK AWAY. I RESEARCHED THE CLUTCH PROBLEM LAST NIGHT. THE CRACK IN THE MOUNTING OF THE CLUTCH TO THE FIREWALL IS A DEFECT KNOWN TO SUBARU OF AMERICA. ALL WRX'S FROM 2008 FORWARD HAVE THIS ISSUE NO RECALL. IF IT IS NOT FIXED, THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND BRAKE WHICH ARE ON THE SAME MOUNTING WILL BREAK AWAY COMPLETELY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE HAD A LOSS OF POWER AS THE SPEED REDUCED TO 30 MPH INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH AND THE FLY WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
RECALL NO 16V738 I HAD MY CAR SERVICED TODAY BY THE DEALER FOR THE IDENTIFIED RECALL FOR THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP RELAY WHICH COULD CAUSE THE PUMP TO OVERHEAT. ADDITIONALLY, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON INDICATING AN ISSUE WITH THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP. WHILE THE DEALER REPLACED THE RELAY, THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM TO CHECK THE PUMP AND FOR ANY REPAIRS ON IT EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL ISSUE COULD CAUSE THE PUMP TO FAIL AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS INDICATING AN ISSUE WITH IT. THE RECALL NOTICE I RECEIVED MENTIONED THAT PUMP REPLACEMENT MAY BE NECESSARY. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A REPAIR CAUSED BY A RECALL? THANK YOU.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT 100 MILES FROM MY RESIDENCE. I DROVE IT HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND WITHIN 2 HOURS OF DRIVING I HEARD A LOUD WHIPPING NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. SOUNDED LIKE A BELT SNAPPED AND I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. AFTER THE INCIDENT THE FOLLOWING SENSORS AND OTHER ISSUES OCCURRED: -CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON -P0011 DIAGNOSTIC READING: 'A CAMSHAFT POSITION TIMING OVER ' ADVANCED SYSTEM PERFORMANCE BANK 1' -TURBO NOT WORKING CORRECTLY -WHITE SMOKE FROM EXHAUST -TRACTION CONTROL WON'T COME OFF -SAYS PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF -SOMETIMES HAS HARD TIME STARTING -- I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR APRIL 10TH AT A AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANICS DETERMINED THE TURBO CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE FAILED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED ($3000 DOLLAR ESTIMATE). I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND LEFT A MESSAGE AS DID SUBARU. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT RESPONDED BACK AND IS IGNORING MY MESSAGES. I FEEL EVEN THOUGH I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE "AS IS", IT WAS STILL UNDER AN IMPLIED WARRANTY OF BEING 'FIT FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE', THAT IS THAT IT WAS DRIVABLE AND OPERATIONAL AS IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT. SUBARU TOLD ME THERE IS NO WAY THE DEALER COULD NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF SUCH AN IMMENSE ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE. *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT 100 MILES FROM MY RESIDENCE. I DROVE IT HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND WITHIN 2 HOURS OF DRIVING I HEARD A LOUD WHIPPING NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. SOUNDED LIKE A BELT SNAPPED AND I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. AFTER THE INCIDENT THE FOLLOWING SENSORS AND OTHER ISSUES OCCURRED: -CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON -P0011 DIAGNOSTIC READING: 'A CAMSHAFT POSITION TIMING OVER ' ADVANCED SYSTEM PERFORMANCE BANK 1' -TURBO NOT WORKING CORRECTLY -WHITE SMOKE FROM EXHAUST -TRACTION CONTROL WON'T COME OFF -SAYS PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF -SOMETIMES HAS HARD TIME STARTING -- I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR APRIL 10TH AT A AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANICS DETERMINED THE TURBO CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE FAILED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED ($3000 DOLLAR ESTIMATE). I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND LEFT A MESSAGE AS DID SUBARU. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT RESPONDED BACK AND IS IGNORING MY MESSAGES. I FEEL EVEN THOUGH I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE "AS IS", IT WAS STILL UNDER AN IMPLIED WARRANTY OF BEING 'FIT FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE', THAT IS THAT IT WAS DRIVABLE AND OPERATIONAL AS IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT. SUBARU TOLD ME THERE IS NO WAY THE DEALER COULD NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF SUCH AN IMMENSE ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE. *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .