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2008 Subaru Impreza Sti

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

29 reports with mileage · 4 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

33 reports
65,453 miles · Oct 30, 2014
Power TrainService BrakesStructure

FIREWALL SPOT WELDS BROKE, RESULTING IN MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THIS IS CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO NOT DISENGAGE FULLY AND ALSO MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT DUE TO THE FLEX. AS THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE DANGEROUS AND IS MOST DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, IT SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL.…

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FIREWALL SPOT WELDS BROKE, RESULTING IN MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THIS IS CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO NOT DISENGAGE FULLY AND ALSO MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT DUE TO THE FLEX. AS THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE DANGEROUS AND IS MOST DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, IT SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651518

77,000 miles · Sep 29, 2014
Engine

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. AFTER PULLING IT OVER IT WOULDN'T START. DEALERSHIP SAYS THE ENGINE IS TOAST AND IT WILL COST 10K. I HAVE DONE ALL THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES. AN ENGINE SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 77K MILES. MY TOYOTAS HAVE LASTED FOREVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639942

40,000 miles · Feb 27, 2014
Power TrainStructure

MY CLUTCH PEDAL BEGAN CLICKING AND CREAKING THIS SUMMER. I FINALLY FOUND OUT THAT THE WELDS THAT HELD THE CLUTCH TO THE FIREWALL WERE BROKEN. THE CLUTCH BRACKET HAS ONLY A COUPLE OF SPOT WELDS THAT ATTACH IT TO THE FIREWALL, AND THE FIREWALL IS VERY FLIMSY. THE WELDS TORE AWAY AND ALLOWED THE FIREWALL, CLUTCH ASSEMBLY,. BRAKE AS…

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MY CLUTCH PEDAL BEGAN CLICKING AND CREAKING THIS SUMMER. I FINALLY FOUND OUT THAT THE WELDS THAT HELD THE CLUTCH TO THE FIREWALL WERE BROKEN. THE CLUTCH BRACKET HAS ONLY A COUPLE OF SPOT WELDS THAT ATTACH IT TO THE FIREWALL, AND THE FIREWALL IS VERY FLIMSY. THE WELDS TORE AWAY AND ALLOWED THE FIREWALL, CLUTCH ASSEMBLY,. BRAKE ASSEMBLY, AND DASH TO MOVE AND SHIFT WHENEVER I CLUTCHED IN, CAUSING PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE AND A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY GR/GV CHASSIS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND SUBARU NEEDS TO INSTITUTE A RECALL ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566217

30,100 miles · May 1, 2013
Power Train

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF, FLASHING CRUISE CONTROL, AND FLASHING DIFFERENTIAL SELECTION [S] CODE. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT. THE ERROR CODE IS P1410 WHICH TRANSLATES TO SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM. MOST LIKELY ONE OF THE VALVES (OR BOTH) THAT OPERATE WITH THIS SYSTEM IS RUST…

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF, FLASHING CRUISE CONTROL, AND FLASHING DIFFERENTIAL SELECTION [S] CODE. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT. THE ERROR CODE IS P1410 WHICH TRANSLATES TO SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM. MOST LIKELY ONE OF THE VALVES (OR BOTH) THAT OPERATE WITH THIS SYSTEM IS RUSTED STUCK THE OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION (WORSE IF ITS STUCK OPEN). CHECKING MULTIPLE FORUMS THIS IS HAPPENING REGULARLY AND SUBARU IS CHOOSING NOT TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY AND/OR RECALL. THE PART WAS POORLY DESIGNED AND IS SUBJECT TO RUST/FAILURE IN HUMID, RAINY, OR SNOWY ENVIRONMENTS. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AS IT PUTS YOUR CAR IN A LIMP MODE TURNING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL UNEXPECTEDLY AND POSSIBLY FORCING YOUR CAR OUT OF ITS MULTIPLE DRIVING MODES (VIA SELECTOR IN THE CENTER CONSOLE NEAR THE ARMREST BELOW THE SHIFTER). I AM NOT SURE HOW DAMAGING THAT COULD BE TO HARD SWITCH THE MODE WHILE RUNNING AT HIGH SPEEDS BUT THERE IS THE POTENTIAL. WITH THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE SUBARU WRX STI (WHICH IS THEIR TOP DOG SPORTS CAR) THERE IS NO REASON FOR THERE NOT TO BE SOME KIND OF RESOLUTION/RECALL FOR THIS FAULTY PART/DESIGN. TO TOP IT OFF, THE REPAIR COSTS FOR THIS IS ASTRONOMICAL IN THE $1000+ RANGE FROM THE ESTIMATES I AM GETTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510201

47,000 miles · Dec 28, 2012
Power TrainService Brakes

THE FIREWALL IS FLEXING UNDER CLUTCH PEDAL MOVEMENT OR BRAKING. UPON RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS CLAIMS BY 08/09 IMPREZA OWNERS OF SOFT WELDS ON THE FIREWALL CRACKING AND CAUSING THE FIREWALL TO FLEX UNDER OPERATION OF THE BRAKES OR CLUTCH. FURTHER FAILURE OF THE WELDS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF BRAKING OR CLUTCH OPERATI…

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THE FIREWALL IS FLEXING UNDER CLUTCH PEDAL MOVEMENT OR BRAKING. UPON RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS CLAIMS BY 08/09 IMPREZA OWNERS OF SOFT WELDS ON THE FIREWALL CRACKING AND CAUSING THE FIREWALL TO FLEX UNDER OPERATION OF THE BRAKES OR CLUTCH. FURTHER FAILURE OF THE WELDS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF BRAKING OR CLUTCH OPERATION IS FURTHER DEGRADED. SUBARU OF AMERICA DENIES THAT THERE ARE CLAIMS TO THIS EFFECT THOUGH THERE IS DOCUMENTATION ON THE INTERNET TO THE CONTRARY. ISSUE SHOULD CAUSE A RECALL AS IT IS QUITE COMMON AND A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490359

20,000 miles · Jan 30, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING ON COLD START UP. COMPRESSION TEST WAS PERFORMED AND CYL 4 RESULTED IN ~50-70 PSI, WHICH IS LESS THAN HALF THE SUBARU SPECIFICATION. SHORTBOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT APPROX 20,000 MILES. NO ROOT CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10445947

18,400 miles · Nov 4, 2011
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

ON THE MORNING OF NOVEMBER 4, 2011 , I PULLED INTO THE PARKING AREA BEHIND A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I APPLIED MY BRAKES, THE CAR STILL CONTINUED TO GO FORWARD OVER THE CEMENT BUMPER AND INTO THE BUILDING. THE ONLY THING TO STOP MY CAR WAS PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I WENT TWO FEET INTO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILD…

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ON THE MORNING OF NOVEMBER 4, 2011 , I PULLED INTO THE PARKING AREA BEHIND A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I APPLIED MY BRAKES, THE CAR STILL CONTINUED TO GO FORWARD OVER THE CEMENT BUMPER AND INTO THE BUILDING. THE ONLY THING TO STOP MY CAR WAS PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I WENT TWO FEET INTO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDING. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR AND THE BUILDING RECEIVED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434291

45,000 miles · Aug 19, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR THE NEXT DAY. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER THE KNOCKING GOT WORSE AND THE ENGINE STARTED SQUEALING AND LOSING POWER. ENGINE SEIZED UP AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10420784

18,000 miles · Aug 17, 2011
Structure

BROKEN SPOT WELDS ON REAR HATCH OPENING. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10419921

33,260 miles · Aug 3, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CAR WAS SMOKING ON COLD STARTS ONLY. PISTON # 4 RINGLAND CRACKED AT 33,000 MILES ON THE CAR. SHORTBLOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10416892

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.