2008 Subaru WRX

65 complaints on file, page 1 of 4.

1. Filed Apr 2, 2019Failure Mar 20, 201990,000 milesTimnath, COPower train

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

   NHTSA complaint 11193418
2. Filed Feb 20, 2019Failure Feb 20, 2019Anaheim, CAUnknown or other

   THE DRIVER LOOKS HIGH. CUTTING PEOPLE OFF AND RUNNING THROUGH STOP SIGNS

   NHTSA complaint 11181448
3. Filed Jan 21, 2019Failure Dec 28, 201862,000 milesHillsboro, ORPower train, Service brakes, Body

   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!

   NHTSA complaint 11171257
4. Filed Dec 17, 2018Failure Dec 17, 2018100,000 milesLakewood, COPower train, Body

   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.

   NHTSA complaint 11162027
5. Filed Nov 12, 2018Failure Jun 1, 2018105,000 milesSaddle Brook, NJBody

   THERE ARE 3 WELD SPOTS ON MY FIREWALL THAT ARE SNAPPED. BECAUSE OF THIS I CONSTANTLY HEAR SNAPPING SOUNDS AND MY BREAK PEDAL MOVES WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. THIS WAS A RECALL ON THE CAR BUT SUBARU OF AMERICA SAYS THAT I CANT GET IT FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM A SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN RAMSEY NJ PRE-OWNED CERTIFIED AND THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR. IVE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS OR SO. THE SOUND IS DRIVING ME CRAZY AND THE CRACKS ARE GETTING WORSE.

   NHTSA complaint 11150894
6. Filed Oct 11, 2018Failure Oct 4, 201888,500 milesGillett, WIPower train

   FIREWALL WELDS BROKE AND CLUTCH NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT 88,000 MILES. THE CLUTCH IS STILL STIFF AND MAKES A CREAKING NOISE DESPITE THE FIREWALL WELDS BEING REPAIRED.

   NHTSA complaint 11139861
7. Filed Jun 2, 2018Failure May 30, 201894,600 milesNorth Bergen, NJBody

   CREAKING CLUTCH PEDAL REALLY IS THE FIREWALL PEDAL MOUNTING BRACKET THAT IS FACTORY SPOT WELDED ONTO THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH SECTION OF THE FIREWALL UNDER THE DASH BOARD HAS ITS WEAK FACTORY SPOT WELDS BROKEN. I HAD REPLACED THE CLUTCH ON MY CAR AS IT WAS WEAK AND THOUGHT REPLACING IT WOULD MAKE THE CREAKING SOUND GO AWAY. REPLACING THE CLUTCH MADE THE SQUEAKING NOISE LOUDER AND NOW MY BRAKE PEDAL MOVES RIGHT INTO THE PATH OF THE CLUTCH WHEN IT IS PRESSED AND BACK TO ITS PLACE WHEN DEPRESSED. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS I AM A FATHER AND CANNOT GUARANTEE THIS CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE AT ALL. I SPENT $1,200 ON THE INSTALLATION AS I PROVIDED THE PARTS TO THE SUBARU DEALER. AFTER RECEIVING MY CAR BACK, THE CAR BECAME INOPERABLE AS THE CLUTCH IS DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE SAFELY INTO ANY GEAR. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AS PER THE DEALERS ADVICE AND WAS DENIED ANY COMPENSATION FOR STRUCTURAL REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE.

   NHTSA complaint 11099309
8. Filed Feb 19, 2018Failure Feb 14, 2018114,000 milesLafayette, INPower train

   I PURCHASED A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGED OR DISENGAGED A CREAK/POP NOISE CAN BE HEARD. YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL MOVE SIGNIFICANTLY. THE SPOT WELDS ON THE FIREWALL/BULKHEAD HAVE SEPARATED MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO GET INTO GEAR AND MAKING THE CLUTCH VERY FIRM. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. PEOPLE CAN NOT AFFORD THIS VERY EXPENSIVE WHILE MAKING PAYMENTS ON THEIR VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR ON TRANSMISSION PARTS AS WELL. I HAVE 4 SUBARUS AND IF THEY DON'T MAKE THIS RIGHT I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER. VERY SAD TO SAY CONSIDERING I WORK FOR THEM BUILDING ENGINES.

   NHTSA complaint 11073524
9. Filed Feb 6, 2018Failure Jan 24, 201880,000 milesSAN Antonio, TXBody

   THE FIREWALL IS CRACKING WHICH CAN CAUSE THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO BECOME INOPERABLE. AFTER I HAD WORK DONE ON MY CAR THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE FIREWALL WAS CRACKING AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO CONTACT SUBARU OF AMERICA FOR POSSIBLE COVERAGE. THEY DENIED ME COVERAGE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE TOO COSTLY DESPITE THE FIREWALL BEING A KNOWN ISSUE ON THE WRX FROM 2008-2014

   NHTSA complaint 11067358
10. Filed May 10, 2017Failure Jul 16, 201672,000 milesSUN Prairie, WIUnknown or other

    CLUTCH BRACKET SPOT WELDS LET GO OF FIRE WALL. MAKING THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL MOVE AND SQUEAK WHEN CLUTCH IS ENGAGED.

    NHTSA complaint 10984665
11. Filed Mar 5, 2017Failure Mar 4, 2017130,000 milesWhittier, CABody, Unknown or other

    I BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL SQUEAKING. IGNORED IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT JUST NEEDED GREASE. I WAS DRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL GOT STUCK PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN. I STARTED RESEARCHING AND FOUND MANY POSTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SQUEAKING WAS CAUSED BY THE CLUTCH PEDAL MOUNTING BRACKET SEPARATING FROM THE FIRE WALL. I CRAWLED UNDER THE DASHBOARD TO LOOK, AND SURE ENOUGH IT IS BROKEN.

    NHTSA complaint 10958678
12. Filed Nov 11, 2016Failure Sep 6, 2016115,000 milesSAN Diego, CAPower train, Service brakes, Vehicle speed control

    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.

    NHTSA complaint 10925474
13. Filed Sep 22, 2016Failure Sep 18, 2016Oxford, OHService brakes, Unknown or other

    I RECENTLY DISCOVERED A KNOWN ISSUE IMPACTING MY PARTICULAR CAR AND CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AFTER INSPECTING MY VEHICLE MYSELF. THE FIRST 130K MILES WERE SPENT COMMUTING TO MY JOB 84 MILES A DAY AT OVER 90% HIGHWAY DRIVING (VERY LITTLE CLUTCH/BREAK ACTION REQUIRED), AND THE LAST 9K WERE PUT ON OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS - CAR MOSTLY SAT SINCE I STARTED WORKING FROM HOME. OVER TIME SPOT WELDS WHICH HOLD THE CLUTCH/BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL HAVE BROKEN AND ASSEMBLY IS AT RISK OF DETACHING WHILE DRIVING MY CAR. NUMEROUS CARS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED OVER MULTIPLE MODEL YEARS AND HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED SEE NASIOC OWNERS - HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=2700583. SUBARU HAS HISTORY OF DENYING CLAIMS DESPITE ISSUING EXTENDED WARRANTIES. THEIR INCONSISTENT TREATMENT OF THIS ISSUE AN UNWILLINGNESS TO ADDRESS THIS CLEAR DESIGN/ENGINEERING FLAW NEEDS TO BE HANDLES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. I HAVE NOT REQUESTED A DEALERSHIP INSPECTION OR REPAIR DUE TO MY CARS AGE AND SUBARU'S PAST HISTORY OF DENYING CLAIMS.

    NHTSA complaint 10908832
14. Filed May 27, 2016Failure Nov 15, 2015140,000 milesHuntington Beach, CAService brakes, Body, Unknown or other

    I HAD AN ISSUE PREVIOUSLY WITH THE WELDS FOR THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY CRACKING ON THE FIREWALL. IT GOT SO BAD THAT THE WHOLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL SHIFTED LEFT EVERY TIME I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH. IT EVENTUALLY CAUSED THE CLUTCH TO NOT DISENGAGE ENTIRELY AND BURN OUT. SUBARU OF AMERICA FIXED THE PROBLEM BY SENDING IT TO A BODY SHOP TO RE-WELD THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL BUT NOW, JUST A FEW YEARS LATER, THE PEDAL IS SQUEAKING AGAIN JUST LIKE IT DID LAST TIME THE WELDS BROKE. I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT IN YET BUT IT IS AN UNMISTAKABLE SOUND.

    NHTSA complaint 10871148
15. Filed May 4, 2016Failure Apr 27, 201692,000 milesRaceland, LAService brakes, Vehicle speed control

    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.

    NHTSA complaint 10863136
16. Filed Mar 25, 2016Failure Mar 21, 2016115,000 milesTucson, AZPower train, Service brakes, Body

    A COUPLE YEARS AGO MY CLUTCH STARTED TO CREAK. I ASKED THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER TO CHECK IT WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR A SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. I GOT TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. SO I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. I JUST TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND GOT TOLD THE SPOT WELDS ON THE FIREWALL. SUBARU OFFERED TO FIX THE WELDS BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. IF THE WELDS TOTALLY FAIL THIS COULD BECOME A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS IT WILL AFFECT THE BRAKE MOTION ALSO.

    NHTSA complaint 10851681
17. Filed Jan 13, 2016Failure Dec 22, 2015130,000 milesMonroe, WAElectrical system, EngineFire

    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.

    NHTSA complaint 10819981
18. Filed Nov 3, 2015Failure Jan 30, 201480,000 milesPico Rivera, CAPower train

    AS VERIFIED BY THE DEALERSHIP: THE FIREWALL WELDS KEEPING THE CLUTCH BRACKETS IN PLACE ARE CRACKED. THIS CAUSES THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO HAVE PLAY AND MOVE AS UNINTENDED. IF THE PEDAL BRACKET WERE TO BECOME MORE UNSTABLE THE VEHICLE COULD BE UNCONTROLLABLE DURING USE.

    NHTSA complaint 10787965
19. Filed Oct 14, 2015Failure Aug 12, 201573,000 milesCitrus Heights, CABody, Unknown or other

    THE SPOT WELDS THAT HOLD MY CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY ON THE FIRE WALL ARE BREAKING AND CAUSING PROBLEMS GETTING CAR INTO 1ST AND REVERSE

    NHTSA complaint 10782125
20. Filed Oct 1, 2015Failure Oct 1, 2015100,000 milesGurnee, ILPower train, Service brakes

    I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED FROM A DEALERSHIP IN JANUARY OF 2015 WITH OVER 100,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF DRIVING IT I BEGAN TO HEAR A CLICK EVERY TIME I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL. I LOOKED INTO THE ISSUE TO SEE IF IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IF THERE WAS AN EASY FIX TO IT. TURNS OUT SIX OF THE SEVEN SPOT WELDS THAT HOLD MY CLUTCH AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL WERE CRACKED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ALREADY BUT THEY WONT SERVICE VEHICLES PAST 40,000 MILES.THIS DOES NOT HELP ME SEEING AS THE CAR IS FAR PAST 40,000. NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT IS ALSO CAUSING OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR TO PREMATURELY WEAR OUT SUCH AS THE CLUTCH AND THE RELEASE BEARING. I NEED HELP.

    NHTSA complaint 10779146