Problems · NHTSA complaints
2008 Subaru Impreza problems
Owners filed 209 complaints about the 2008 Subaru Impreza with NHTSA between Sep 2007 and May 2024. The most-cited component is power train (70).
Complaints
209
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
10
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train70
- Air bags41
- Structure30
- Engine and engine cooling27
- Visibility24
- Service brakes19
- Engine15
- Electrical system9
- Vehicle speed control9
- Service brakes, hydraulic7
- Exterior lighting5
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Seat belts3
- Suspension2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
31
20
18
13
20
22
25
10
14
12
6
7
3
0
1
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 31 |
| 2009 | 20 |
| 2010 | 18 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 20 |
| 2013 | 22 |
| 2014 | 25 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
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.”
Air bags
41 reports6 crashes8 related recalls
“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…”
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.”
Engine and engine cooling
27 reports1 crash1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT THEN REPLACED THE CLAMPS ON THE OIL RETURN LINE HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT THEN DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL FEED LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V460000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIRS, WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000. UPDATED 7/1/15*CN”
Visibility
24 reports
“SINCE I HAVE OWNER THIS CAR, EVERY TIME IT RAINS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER STOP WORKING AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN OPERATING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF IT IS A BRIEF SHOWER OR A DOWN POUR. *BF THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, IT MAY BE A SHORT CIRCUIT. *JB”
Service brakes
19 reports
“BLEW 3 VALVE GASKETS WITHIN TWO WEEKS AFTER BUYING CAR. BLEW 2 TIRES WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF HAVING THE CAR. THEY 'FIXED' AN OIL CONTROL VALVE AND THEN IT NEEDED ANOTHER. SWAY BAR LINKS NEEDED REPLACED, CV JOINTS NEED REPLACED, BRAKE PADS ARE EXTREMELY LOW. AC DOESN'T WORK. HAD TO BUY ALL NEW TIRES.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.