2008 Subaru Wrx

CLUTCH STARTED MAKING A CREAKING NOISE WHEN PRESSING IN AND OUT. SHIFTING GEARS HAS ALSO BECOME MORE DIFFICULT LIKE THE CLUTCH ISN'T FULLY ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING. I ALSO NOTICED THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY SHIFTS (CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDALS) WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE CLUTCH. TURNS OUT THE SPOT WELDS ON THE BRACKET THAT HOLD THE ASSEMBLY ARE COMPLETELY BROKEN, CAUSING FLEX TO THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY. IF THAT BRACKET RIPS OFF, COULD LOSE BRAKING POWER. THIS IS UNSAFE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2008 WRX MAKES A CREAKING AND POPPING NOISE WHEN THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED/RELEASED. I AM NOT ENTIRELY SURE HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN MAKING THIS NOISE, AND ORIGINALLY I HAD THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. AFTER READING SOME FORUMS ONLINE, I BEGAN TO SUSPECT THAT THE SPOT WELDS ON THE FIREWALL WERE BROKEN. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF CAR. I CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND TRY TO GET THE ISSUE RESOLVED. WHEN I SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE ON THE PHONE, HE INFORMED ME THAT HE WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND REQUESTED THAT I TAKE THE CAR IN TO A DEALERSHIP TO CONFIRM THAT THIS WAS INDEED THE PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT MY SPOT WELDS WERE BROKEN. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AS THE FIREWALL IS FLEXING EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS ENGAGED. THE BRAKE PEDAL MOVES TO THE LEFT DUE TO THE WAY THE FIREWALL FLEXES WHEN THE PEDAL IS ENGAGED. IF THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY SEPARATES FROM THE FIREWALL ENTIRELY, THIS COULD CAUSE THE CLUTCH TO BECOME INOPERABLE, WHICH COULD BE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS IF IT OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE. REFERENCE LINKS: HTTP://CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/SUBARU/IMPR...S-PROBLEMS.PHP HTTP://WWW.FAQS.ORG/CAR/SUBARU-IMPRE...POWER-TRAIN/#B HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/84-D...ON-NEEDED.HTML HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/37-C...INKAGE-45.HTML HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/84-D...EWALL-FIX.HTML HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/37-C...BLY-ISSUE.HTML HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/84-D...S-STORY-2.HTML HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/84-D...L-PROBLEM.HTML HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/84-D...OLT-STYLE.HTML HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOW....PHP?T=2128617 HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOW....PHP?T=2184210 HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOW....PHP?T=2305937. *TR

THE WELDS SUPPORTING THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAVE BROKEN. THE RESULT IS A PROMINENT SQUEAKING SOUND AND A NOTICEABLE LATERAL MOVEMENT OF THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO THE LEFT. THIS IS A REOCCURRING ISSUE AS IT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ADDRESSED AND REPAIRED BACK IN JUNE OF 2014. AT THE TIME SUBARU OF AMERICA AGREED TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPAIRS AS THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY COVERAGE. THE NEW ISSUE ARE FROM BROKEN WELDS IN ANOTHER AREA THAT WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DID NOT APPEAR TO NEED REPAIR AT THE TIME. MILEAGE AT TIME OF REPAIR WAS 74,839, CURRENT MILEAGE IS 84,420 (3/16/2015). HOWEVER, FURTHER RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE INDICATE THAT IT IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE THAT HAS AFFECTED MANY OTHER SUBARU IMPREZA OWNERS WITH MODEL YEARS 2008 THROUGH 20012. THIS IS NOT THE RESULT OF OWNER NEGLECT, MISUSE, OR IMPROPER MAINTENANCE. MY SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT THIS DOES APPEAR TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE FUNCTIONALITY OF CLUTCH PEDAL AND BRAKES UNDER ALL NORMAL CONDITIONS OF USE. FULL BREAKAGE OF THE ASSEMBLY COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL, INJURY, AND OR DEATH. ORIGINAL CLAIM TO SOA WAS #[XXX], REPRESENTED BY RICH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE PART OF THE STEEL BODY UNDER THE DASH THAT SUPPORTS THE CLUTCH PEDAL SHAFT ASSEMBLY FRACTURES INTO TWO PIECES DUE TO FLEX FORCES OVER TIME. THIS RESULTS IN THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER FLEXING AT ITS MOUNTING POINT ON THE FIREWALL WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. SEVERED SQUEAKING AND NOISE IS HEARD EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED AS A RESULT. WELDING IS NOT FEASIBLE AS IT IS LOCATED UN THE DASH (ABOVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL) AND WOULD CAUSE FIRE AROUND FLAMMABLE MATERIALS. THIS CAN BE SEEN ON YOUTUBE VIDEOS SUBMITTED BY SUBARU WRX OWNERS AND AFFECTS 2008-2014 WRX IMPREZA VEHICLES. SHOULD FIREWALL FRACTURE DUE TO THIS FLEX OVER TIME, ABILITY TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH BY PRESSING THE PEDAL WOULD RESULT AND PRESENT A VERY HIGH PROBABILITY OF CRASH OR ACCIDENT AS A LACK OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND ABILITY TO STOP VEHICLE. FOR ONE VIDEO OF THIS, SEE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=ZR6UMGZ5UTC. *TR

I OWN A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WITH A STOCK CLUTCH. FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS I HAVE BEEN HEARING CREAKING AND/OR CLICKING NOISES WHEN ENGAGING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. BEGAN TO LOOK ONLINE FOR A SOLUTION AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE SPOT WELDS THAT BREAK BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND THE MOUNTING BRACKET THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS ATTACHED TO (HTTPS://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/?GWS_RD=SSL#Q=WRX+SPOT+WELDS). I REMOVED THE NECESSARY ITEMS TO INSPECT THE WELDS AND THEY DID UNFORTUNATELY FAIL. LIST OF REFERENCES REGARDING ONGOING ISSUE: HTTP://WWW.FAQS.ORG/CAR/SUBARU-IMPREZA-2009/POWER-TRAIN/#B HTTP://CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/SUBARU/IMPREZA/SERVICE-BRAKES-PROBLEMS.PHP HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/84-DRIVETRAIN-TRANSMISSION-GEAR-BOX/21478-FIREWALL-WELD-BREAK-INFORMATION-NEEDED.HTML HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/37-CAR/8781-CLUTCH-PEDAL-SQUEAK-NOT-CLUTCH-TOB-LINKAGE-45.HTML HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/84-DRIVETRAIN-TRANSMISSION-GEAR-BOX/20639-POPPING-CLUTCH-BROKEN-FIREWALL-FIX.HTML HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/37-CAR/13265-HELP-PLEASE-CRACKED-FIREWALL-NOISY-CLUTCH-CRACKED-PEDAL-ASSEMBLY-ISSUE.HTML HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/84-DRIVETRAIN-TRANSMISSION-GEAR-BOX/22130-MY-CLUTCH-SQUEAK-BROKEN-WELDS-STORY-2.HTML HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/84-DRIVETRAIN-TRANSMISSION-GEAR-BOX/11134-ANOTHER-08-CLUTCH-PEDAL-FIREWALL-PROBLEM.HTML HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=2128617. *TR

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

I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP FOR ALL MAINTENANCE SERVICES. THEY ADVISED ME TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH. I PAID FOR CLUTCH REPLACEMENT. THIS DID NOT FIX THE NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THE NOISE IS FROM A CRACKED FIREWALL. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I HAVE TO SEND THE CAR AWAY TO BE RE WELDED AND IT WILL COST 1,900 DOLLARS. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS CRACKED FIREWALL ISSUE BECAUSE MY CLUTCH HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO TELL ME THIS. I AM ALSO EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT I PAID 2,100 DOLLARS FOR A NEW CLUTCH WHICH DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE WHICH WAS THE NOISE FROM A CRACKED FIREWALL. I AM ALSO EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT THEIR ANSWER IS TO RE WELD. IF IT WERE TO BE RE WELDED THEN IT WILL CRACK AGAIN. IF I GOOGLE FIREWALL ISSUE WRX, THE RESULT COMES UP WITH NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL NOTICE. *TR

LOUD CLICKING/CRACKING NOISE STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN THE CLUTCH IS LET OUT. DID NOT THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT. IN NOVEMBER OF 2014, THE CLICKING STOPPED AND WAS LEFT WITH AN EERIE SQUEAKING SOUND. THIS IS WHEN I STARTED TO INVESTIGATE WHAT IT IS. TURNS OUT, THE FIREWALL IS TOO THIN TO HANDLE THE PRESSURE FROM THE BRAKE/CLUTCH MECHANISM. THE PINS THAT GO THROUGH THE FIREWALL GET WORN AWAY FROM THE THIN FIREWALL CAUSING THE SPOT WELDS TO FAIL. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT A SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT IS THE SPOT WELDS. I AM WAITING TO HEAR MORE FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA TO SEE IF THEY WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS IN FACT A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND NOT SOMETHING THAT IS CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IF THAT WAS THE CASE THERE WOULD NOT BE THIS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED ON THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. IF THERE ARE THIS MANY COMPLAINTS HERE, HOW MANY CARS ARE OUT THERE WITH DRIVERS THAT ARE OBLIVIOUS TO THIS DEFECT THAT ARE STILL DRIVING WITH BRAKES/CLUTCH THAT COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME? *TR

2008 WRX, 61K MILES DRIVEN SINCE SEPTEMBER 2007. SECOND CLUTCH REPLACEMENT AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE (KIRKLAND, WA) THAT THE SPOT WELDS FOR THE CLUTCH NEED WORK DONE BY BODY SHOP - ABOUT $1200. WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT OF THE CLUTCH BUT THE CLUTCH WAS ALMOST ALWAYS HEAVY IN THE CAR. IT FIRST BECAME HEAVY 1-3 MONTHS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED AND ABOUT THE SAME TIME AFTER THE CLUTCH WAS FIRST REPLACED. I UNDERSTAND THE CLUTCH COULD GET WORN IN A FEW YEARS, BUT BODY STRUCTURE LETTING GO IS NOT SOMETHING I'D EXPECT TO HAPPEN IN A 7 YEAR OLD CAR. I SEE MANY SIMILAR REPORTS AT HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2008/SUBARU/IMPREZA/STRUCTURE/PROBLEM.ASPX. SOUNDS LIKE A POSSIBLE RECALL ISSUE TO ME. *TR