2008 Subaru Impreza power train problems

“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.”

“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.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME VERY WOBBLY AND ALMOST DETACHED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SENT HIM A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN EXTENDING THE CLUTCH ATTACHMENT COMPONENT; HOWEVER, THE DEALER (SUBARU SUPERSTORE OF CHANDLER, 1050 GILBERT RD, CHANDLER, AZ 85286) NEVER HAD THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.”

“MY SONS VEHICLE STARTED OFF WITH A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH. THIS WENT ON FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS HE IS NOW HAVING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING THE CAR INTO GEAR AND IT NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THE OTHER DAY. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, AND THE CLUTCH IS TOTALLY DEPRESSED IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET THE CAR INTO GEAR. WHEN DRIVING IT IS LESS DIFFICULT, BUT STILL VERY TRICKY TO GET INTO GEAR. WE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED, IF YOU RAISE THE HOOD, YOU CAN SEE THE FIREWALL FLEXING QUITE A BIT WHERE THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER IS LOCATED. WE REPLACED THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER AND IT DID NOT HELP THE ISSUE. IN MY READING ONLINE, I HAVE NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE RELATED TO THE FACTORY WELDS HOLDING THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL ARE FAILING. IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD ISSUE FOR SUBARU IMPREZAS 2008-2014. I WOULD EXPECT THIS TO BE A FACTORY RECALL. MY SON CAN NO LONGER USE THE CAR AND WE ARE UNSURE ON HOW TO FIX THE ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE..”

“WHAT IS THE ISSUE? BASICALLY THE FIREWALL IS SO THIN THAT IT FLEXES TERRIBLY EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH OR BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. THE BIG PROBLEM IS THE WAY THE CLUTCH/BRAKE ASSEMBLY IS SECURED TO THE THIN FIREWALL. IT ONLY HAS 6 SMALL SPOT WELDS THAT RIP OFF THE FIREWALL AFTER TIME. THIS MAKES IT SO YOU CAN'T GET IN AND OUT OF GEAR. CLUTCH BECOMES USELESS. WHO? 2008-2014 GH/GR IMPREZA (2.5I/OBS/WRX/STI). I DON'T THINK THE ISSUE CAN BE LINKED TO A CERTAIN BATCH OF VEHICLES, CERTAIN CLIMATE/LOCATION, OR CERTAIN YEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED ALL OVER THE WORLD, ALL YEARS 08-14, AND ALL MODELS (WITHIN THE GH/GR CHASSIS).”

“WE HAD A NEW CLUTCH INSTALLED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CLUTCH PEDAL NOW MOVE TOGETHER. SIMULTANEOUSLY THIS NOT ONLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT HAS POTENTIAL TO CAUSE PREMATURE CLUTCH AND BRAKE FAILURE.”