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Research · Compact Cars

2008 Subaru ImprezaRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 15 safety recalls and 209 owner complaints for the 2008 Subaru Impreza. Most complaints involve power train (70) and air bags (41). The EPA rates it 19–22 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
19–22mpg
EPA · 9 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
15campaigns
Latest Jan 2020
Owner complaints
209
Top: power train
Fuel cost / yr
$2,750est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

15 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V001000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V002000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V003000
See all 15 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

209 complaints filed with NHTSA · Sep 2007 – May 2024
  1. Power train70
  2. Air bags41
  3. Structure30
  4. Engine and engine cooling27
  5. Visibility24
  6. Service brakes19
  7. Engine15
  8. Electrical system9
  9. Vehicle speed control9

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Impreza model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
199626
199734
199830
199922
200041
200111
2002296
200364
200496
200575
200656
200768
2008209
2009113
201046
201158
2012243
2013251
2014109
201579
201675
2019194
202432
20255
20261
Crashes reported
10
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
9
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Power train

70 reports
“2008 WRX started to make a sqeeking noise when engaging the clutch. The spot welds came apart from firewall and my clutch has gone out twice. The pedal when shifting sticks and while driving I have to put the pedal under my foot and pull upwards for it to work. Very dangerous and the welds are faulty, it should be a recall items. Subaru can request for a inspection anytime as it is very much needed to be addressed.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 13, 2023Power trainODI 11544256

Air bags

41 reports6 crashes
“TAKATA RECALL- I WAS DRIVING IN THE SLOW (RIGHT SIDE) OF THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 68 MPH (BETWEEN 65-70), THERE WAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC. THERE WAS AN EXTRA LANE (TEMPORARY 3 LANE FOR ENTRANCE, BUT NORMAL 2 LANE FREEWAY) TO MY RIGHT AND I BEGAN MERGING (OR POSSIBLY SWERVED FROM LOOKING OVER SHOULDER...AND A BEE FLEW INTO ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING ALSO CAUSING ME TO SWERVE A BIT). I ENDED UP IN THE FAST (LEFT) LANE THAT WAS GOING SLOWER DUE TO AN UNKNOWN REASON...WHICH CAUSED ME TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS, BUT I REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT AN ANGLE (MY DRIVER SIDE FRONT TO THEIR PASSENGER SIDE BACK) BECAUSE I SWERVED BACK INTO THE LUCKILY EMPTY SPOT NEXT TO ME, BUT IT WASN'T FAST ENOUGH TO NOT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I DIDN'T SEE MY EXACT SPEED WHEN I HIT THE CAR BUT I WAS GOING OVER THE DOCUMENTED (ON PREVIOUS PAGE) SPEED THAT THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED WITH THE AMOUNT OF IMPACT OUR CARS STRUCK...THIS VEHICLE WAS GOING LESS THAN 20 MPH AND I WAS GOING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 50-60 MPH AND THE IMPACT WAS ALL ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SO FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN READING THAT THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF....ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAD THE RECALL FIXED/SERVICED IN…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 21, 2019Air bags, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 11221633

Structure

30 reports1 fire
“THE SPOT WELDS UNDER WINDSHIELD COWL BROKE CAUSING THE BRACKET HOLDING CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO BREAK. BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES, I CAN ONLY ENGAGE MY REVERSE GEAR HALF THE TIME AND WHILE SHIFTING GEARS IN MOTION, IT TENDS TO BE A BIT DIFFICULT. I'VE ALMOST CRASHED A COUPLE TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. MY CAR IS A 2008 SUBARU WRX SEDAN WITH ONLY 74,000 MILES AND I'M CURRENTLY MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE CAR. MONEY IS REALLY TIGHT DUE TO ME BEING A FULL TIME COLLEGE STUDENT AND FULL TIME WORKER SO I'M NOT SURE HOW TO GO ABOUT THIS REALLY BIG PROBLEM. MY CAR IS EVERYTHING TO ME RIGHT NOW AND IF IT FAILS ON ME, I HAVE NO MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I ALSO HAVE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN WHEELS, AND A BLOW OFF VALVE. THE VEHICLE TENDS TO GIVE ME THE MOST DIFFICULTY ENGAGING REVERSE EVERY MORNING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 20, 2020Power train, StructureODI 11310395
All 2008 Impreza problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

9 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars, Small Station Wagons
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl turbo · 2.5L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S4) · Manual 5-spd · Manual 6-spd
Drive
4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Premium Gasoline · Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Impreza AWD
Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202522$3,400404
Impreza AWD
Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202722$2,750404
Impreza AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202722$2,750404
Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT AWD
Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202522$3,400404
Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT AWD
Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202722$2,750404
Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202722$2,750404
Impreza AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
192521$3,600423
Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
192521$3,600423
Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT AWD
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172319$3,950468
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2008 Subaru Impreza as of Nov 11, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 11, 2026Vehicle 2490Vehicle 2489
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2008 Impreza questions

How many recalls does the 2008 Subaru Impreza have?

15 safety recalls as of Nov 11, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2008 Subaru Impreza problems?

Owners filed 209 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (70), air bags (41), structure (30). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2008 Subaru Impreza get?

The EPA rates the 2008 Subaru Impreza at 19–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (9 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 11, 2026