2009 Subaru WRX

41 complaints on file, page 1 of 3.

1. Filed Nov 22, 2018Failure Oct 1, 2018125,000 milesWindsor, COVehicle speed control

   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.

   NHTSA complaint 11153208
2. Filed Jan 14, 2018Failure Jan 1, 2018120,000 milesBeacon, NYPower train, Service brakes, Body

   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

   NHTSA complaint 11062717
3. Filed Mar 18, 2017Failure Dec 1, 201390,000 milesCharlton, MAPower train, Service brakes, Body

   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.

   NHTSA complaint 10966672
4. Filed Feb 23, 2017Failure Feb 23, 201790,800 milesFoster City, CAFuel/propulsion system

   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.

   NHTSA complaint 10956645
5. Filed Feb 20, 2017Failure Feb 20, 2017109,000 milesCalcium, NYBody

   THE FIREWALL ON MY SUBARU WRX HATCHBACK IS FLEXING SO BAD THAT MY CLUTCH WILL NOT FULLY ENGAGE NOR DISENGAGE. I FEEL THAT IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUES TO MYSELF AND MY FAMILY/FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY BRAKE PEDAL OR CLUTCH PEDAL COULD PENETRATE THE FIREWALL DUE TO THE FLEXING/CRACKING. THE FIREWALL FLEX IS PREVENTING MY CAR FROM GETTING ROUTINE SERVICE THAT IS SCHEDULED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. I WENT TO GET MY CLUTCH LOOKED AT TODAY (FEBRUARY 20 2017) AT AAMCO TRANSMISSIONS IN WATERTOWN, NY AS THE CLUTCH WAS NOT ENGAGING NOR DISENGAGING FULLY AND THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT THEY FOUND THE FIREWALL WAS FLEXING TO THE POINT THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY MOVING AND COULD NOT COMPLETE ITS REQUIRED ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT POINTS.

   NHTSA complaint 10955642
6. Filed Feb 19, 2017Failure Nov 1, 201680,000 milesSandy, ORService brakes

   MY CAR HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A LOUD SQUEAKING AND CLICKING WHEN SHIFTING AND BRAKE PEDAL MOVES WHEN CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT IN THE FIREWALL IN WHICH THE FIREWALL IS VERY THIN AND FLEXES WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED CAUSING THE SPOT WELDS THAT HOLD THE CLUTCH/BRAKE BRACKET TO SEPARATE FROME THE FIREWALL. THIS CAUSES THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MOVE. IT ALSO CAN POTENTIALLY PREVENT THE CLUTCH FROM DISENGAGING WHILE DRIVING. SUBARU IS NOT RECALLING THIS KNOWN DEFECT BUT THEY DID ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AS IT WAS THE MECHANIC THAT INFORMED ME OF THIS ISSUE.

   NHTSA complaint 10955555
7. Filed Jun 19, 2016Failure Jun 13, 201694,600 milesElgin, ILPower train

   WHEN I BOUGHT MY CAR USED AT A DEALERSHIP, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD DRIVEN A SUBARU WRX. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE BRAKE TO MOVE SLIGHTLY WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE CLUTCH. THEN, RECENTLY, I STARTED GETTING A CLICKING SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR, TOWARDS THE ENGINE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE WRX OWNER FORUMS. I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT MANY PEOPLE WERE AND ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR WRX. AND, THAT THE SOURCE OF THEIR PROBLEMS WERE THE FIREWALL WELDS FOR THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE WOULD GET LOOSE AND CAUSE THE CLUTCH TO NOT ENGAGE FULLY.

   NHTSA complaint 10875098
8. Filed Aug 3, 2015Failure Aug 3, 201574,722 milesCumming, GAPower train

   **CLUTCH SPOT WELDS** AFTER REPLACING 2 CLUTCHES AND HEARING A CLICKING NOISE I TOOK IT TO A SUBARU SHOP. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE SPOT WELDS ON THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE ARE STARTING TO BREAK LOOSE FROM THE FIREWALL. I THEN RECEIVED A SAFETY BULLETIN FROM SUBARU ABOUT THE SPOT WELDS. SUBARU EXPECTS THE OWNERS TO PAY FOR THIS HAZARDOUS WELL KNOWN SAFETY PROBLEM.

   NHTSA complaint 10745730
9. Filed Jun 19, 2015Failure Jun 15, 201594,300 milesDenver, COPower train, Service brakes, Unknown or other

   THE WELDS CONNECTING THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL HAVE BROKEN. VERIFIED WITH PHOTO PROOF.

   NHTSA complaint 10726306
10. Filed Jun 8, 2015Failure Aug 9, 201234,000 milesPatuxent River, MDUnknown or other

    THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2009 WRX MAKES A LOUD CREAKING NOISE EVERY TIME IT'S DEPRESSED. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THE NOISE, I NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY (ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL) SHIFTS APPROX 1/4 INCH EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. I FOUND THAT THE THREE SPOT WELDS SECURING THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL WERE BROKEN. FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE FIREWALL, JUST UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, I SAW THE SPOT WELDS PULLING AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS ALLOWS THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY TO MOVE, CAUSING THE CREAKING NOISE. IF THE BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATES FROM THE FIREWALL, THE CLUTCH MAY BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE - ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING.

    NHTSA complaint 10724146
11. Filed May 15, 2015Failure Mar 1, 201350,000 milesAnchorage, AKPower train, Unknown or other

    WHEN I DEPRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL THERE IS A VERY NOTICEABLE, AUDIBLE, "CLICKING" NOISE, AND A STIFF CLUTCH PEDAL. IT APPEARS TO BE BROKEN SPOT WELDS AND A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH. HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE REPAIRED BY SUBARU ONCE BUT HAS RETURNED MULTIPLE TIMES. IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE CLUTCH ASSEMPLY IS DIRECTLY TIED TO BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS, AND WHEN THE WELDS FAIL COMPLETELY IT IS A POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. IF YOU DO A SIMPLE GOOLGE SEARCH FOR SUBARU CLUTCH CLICKING IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND MANY MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERINCING THIS ISSUE WITH THERE CLUTCH'S. IT APPEARS A RECALL IS NEEDED TO FIX THIS.

    NHTSA complaint 10716685
12. Filed Apr 7, 2015Failure Aug 1, 201485,000 milesAvon, OHPower train

    ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS AGO I HAD MY WRX IN FOR WORK AND POINTED OUT A LOUD CLUNK THAT WAS HAPPENING AS I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NO CONCERN BUT THAT THEY COULD DIAGNOSE IT FURTHER FOR A COST. THINKING IT WAS FINE I CONTINUE USE, AND EVENTUALLY THE NOISE WENT AWAY. RECENTLY, MY CAR WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND MY CLUTCH FELT RATHER STIFF. HAVING LOOKED AT IT THE SPRING BEHIND MY PEDAL WAS BENDING SIDEWAYS AND MY ENTIRE FIREWALL WAS FLEXING AS I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH. I TOOK THIS BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT TOLD ME THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED. TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH, THEY NEEDED TO R&R MY DASH TO LOOK FOR BROKEN WELDS AND POSSIBLE REPLACE THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY. TO THE PRICE OF $3500.00. I THEN CAME ONLINE TO SEE QUITE A FEW POSTS IN MULTIPLE PLACES OF THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10704309
13. Filed Mar 4, 2015Failure Mar 17, 201470,000 milesJunction City, KSPower train, Body

    I GOT OFF WORK AND WAS ON MY WAY HOME, PUSHED THE CLUTCH IN TO HEAR A WONDERFUL SNAP AND I HAD ZERO CONTROL OF MY CLUTCH CAUSING ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT INTO OR OUT OF ANY GEAR. CHASSIS FATIGUE AND CRACKING RESULTING IN DAMAGE/POTENTIAL COMPROMISE OF DRIVER CONTROLS. WELDS ON THE FIREWALL ARE POOR AND ITS A MANUFACTURER FAULT THAT MANY HAVE BROUGHT TO SURFACE WITH THE NHTSA AND THE SOA (SUBARU OF AMERICA) BUT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH OF THE CARS PRODUCED FOR ANYONE TO TAKE ACTION OR FOR SUBARU TO CARE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE. LOSING COMPLETE OPERATION OF THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY DUE TO THE WELDS OF THE VERY POOR SPOT WELDED FIREWALL GOING OUT IS A MAJOR CONCERN AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A HIGH RISK SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE OPERATOR AND OTHERS ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS. I NEED SUBARU TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT THEY CAUSED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE MANUFACTURE PROCESS OF MY VEHICLE. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10692170
14. Filed Feb 25, 2015Failure Oct 15, 201478,500 milesOgden, UTPower train, Body, Unknown or other

    THIS IS THE WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED FIREWALL WELD ISSUE FOR THE PEDAL BRACKET. THE WELDS HAVE BROKEN AND THE PEDAL BRACKET NOW SHIFTS WHEN I PRESS DOWN ON THE CLUTCH. IT MAKES A LOUD POPPING NOISE AS WELL AS CREAKING AND SQUEAKING. IF LEFT UNCHECKED, THE ISSUE WILL WORSEN AND THE ENTIRE BRACKET MAY BREAK OFF WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. SUBARU NEEDS TO BE FORCED TO RECALL THIS AND PAY TO FIX ALL OF THEM.

    NHTSA complaint 10690565
15. Filed Feb 9, 2015Failure Feb 6, 201562,000 milesHarwood HTS, ILPower train

    I PURCHASED MY WRX IN 2009 FROM THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER HERE IN CHICAGO. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. A YEAR AGO I FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL. WHEN FULLY PRESSED IT MADE A LOUD CREAKING NOISE. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THE NOISE I NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE CLUTCH + PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY MOVES AND SHIFTS APPROXIMATELY 1/4 INCH. WHEN I REMOVED WINDSHIELD WIPERS I NOTICED THAT 4 SPOT WELDS THAT SECURE THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL ARE BROKEN. I CAN SEE HOLES IN THE FIREWALL SHEET METAL EVERY TIME I PRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THE ENTIRE CLUTCH BRACKET ASSEMBLY MOVES OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING THIS CRACKING NOISE. FINALLY TWO WEEKS AGO THE NOISE WENT AWAY ALL BY ITSELF. I NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY SHIFTS EVEN MORE TO ONE SIDE WHEN CLUTCH IS PRESSED AND I HAVE EXTREME TROUBLE SHIFTING INTO A GEAR. I THINK THAT ENTIRE BRACKET SEPARATED FROM THE MOUNTING POINTS. I FEAR THAT CLUTCH MAY BECOME INOPERABLE. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10682224
16. Filed Nov 13, 2014Failure Apr 15, 201472,000 milesGardena, CAPower train, Service brakes, Body

    WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE USED CAR LOT I NOTICED THE CLUTCH PEDAL WHEN BEING PRESSED AND DEPRESSED MADE A SQUEAKING NOISE. I FIGURED IT WAS PROBABLY LACK OF LUBRICATION SO I WENT AHEAD AND LUBRICATED THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND THE NOISE STAYED THE SAME. COUPLE MONTHS GO BY AND THE NOISE GOT MUCH LOUDER AND SOMETIMES A LOUD POP WOULD OCCUR. RECENTLY I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY OTHER WRX OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. SO I FOLLOWED THE PROCEDURES TO CHECK THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE AND IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THE WELDS ON THE FIREWALL HAVE BEEN BROKEN AND ARE CAUSING THE NOISE.I ALSO NOTICED MY BRAKE PEDAL SHIFTS EVERY TIME I PRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL. AS TIME PROGRESSES IT FEELS AS IF ITS GETTING HARDER TO SHIFT. I'M AFRAID THAT THIS ISSUE IS CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OF THE TRANSMISSION. EVERY TIME I PRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL I FEAR THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS GOING TO RIP OFF THE FIREWALL. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10654643
17. Filed Jul 9, 2014Failure Jul 8, 201477,000 milesGallatin, TNClutch assembly, Power train

    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.

    NHTSA complaint 10609441
18. Filed Jun 26, 2014Failure Jun 19, 201429,000 milesVernon Hills, ILPower train

    I RECENTLY STARTED HAVING A CREAKING NOISE EVERY TIME I WOULD DEPRESS THE CLUTCH ON MY 2009 WRX SEDAN. WHEN I PUSH THE CLUTCH IN I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD ALSO MOVE APPROXIMATELY A OF AN INCH. WHAT REALLY GOT ME WORRIED WAS SEEING THE FIREWALL FLEXING AND MOVING. THE MASTER CYLINDER BRACE WAS ALSO MOVING AROUND AS THE CLUTCH WAS BEING PRESSED. I WAS ABLE TO SEE BOTH BY HAVING THE WINDOW COWL OFF AND HOOD OPENED. AFTER THAT HAPPENED I WENT ONLINE AND SAW THAT OTHER 2008+ WRX OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS FAILING/BROKEN FIREWALL SPOT WELDS. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10606250
19. Filed Jun 11, 2014Failure Jun 9, 201450,000 milesChatham, NJPower train, Body

    I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF A 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX SEDAN. I NOTICED MY CLUTCH SQUEAKING ABOUT 10,000 MILES AGO. I BROUGHT IT INTO A SUBARU DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECK OUT AT THE TIME OF OCCURRENCE AND THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG. ABOUT 3000 MILES AGO, THE CLUTCH STARTED TO "CLICK" INSIDE THE VEHICLE. FOR MY 50,000 MILE SERVICE, I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO CHECK OUT THE NOISE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAME BACK TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT MY FIREWALL HAS TORN. THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE AND THAT IT WAS A RESULT OF POOR SPOT WELDS ON THE FIREWALL DONE BY THE FACTORY. AS A RESULT, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID MY CLUTCH WILL NEED REPLACING BECAUSE THE TEAR IN THE FIREWALL HAS MESSED UP THE CLUTCH ALIGNMENT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ALSO TOLD ME THAT I AM LUCKY I CAUGHT THIS PROBLEM EARLY BECAUSE IN A SIMILAR CASE THEY SAW IT DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION OF A DIFFERENT WRX. CURRENTLY, SUBARU IS TRYING TO BRUSH THIS UNDER THE RUG OFFERING TO FIX THE FIREWALL FOR FREE BUT WANTS TO CHARGE ME $1000 TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH. I HAVE CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA TO REPORT THE ISSUED AND TO SEE IF THEY WILL COVER THE REPAIR. SUBARU OF AMERICA SAID THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS BEING AN ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLES AND WILL INVESTIGATE THIS SPECIFIC CASE. I AM AN AVID SUBARU ENTHUSIAST AND HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT HUNDREDS OF OTHER IMPREZA OWNERS FACING THE SAME ISSUE AS MINE. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10597713
20. Filed Jun 9, 2014Failure Jun 5, 2014108,000 milesNyack, NYPower train

    CLUTCH PEDAL STARTING SQUEAKING AND GEARS WOULD NOT SYNCH WELL DURING SHIFTING WHICH INDICATED THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT FULLY DISENGAGE. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL MOUNTING BRACKET HAS BROKEN FREE OF THE FIREWALL, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FIREWALL AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE INOPERABLE. SUBARU WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON FILE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10597041