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U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Subaru IMPREZA STI problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

33 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

30,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 33 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior927.3%
Transmission and shifting13.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train
11
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
8
Engine And Engine Cooling
6
Structure:Body
6
Service Brakes
5
Air Bags
3
Engine
2
Unknown Or Other
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train11
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine8
Engine And Engine Cooling6
Structure:Body6
Service Brakes5
Air Bags3
Engine2
Unknown Or Other2

Power Train: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Structure:Body: 6; Service Brakes: 5; Air Bags: 3; Engine: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
12
25,000 to 49,999
10
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
3
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00012
25,000 to 49,99910
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9993
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2009
6
2010
6
2011
5
2012
2
2013
1
2014
7
2015
1
2016
3
2017
1
2018
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20096
20106
20115
20122
20131
20147
20151
20163
20171
20181

2009: 6; 2010: 6; 2011: 5; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 7; 2015: 1; 2016: 3; 2017: 1; 2018: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10345791 · 2010-07-28 (July 28, 2010)

THE SUBARU STI SERIES KNOWN AS THE GR IS PRONE TO BREAKING PISTON RINGLANDS IF DETONATION EVER OCCURS, WHICH HAPPENS EASILY ON THIS ENGINE, WHICH IS NOW TUNED FOR MORE POWER YET FEWER EMISSIONS. THE RINGLAND BREAKAGE RESULTS IN POWER LOSS AND EXTREME OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO BLOWBY AND IF NOT NOTICED IN TIME WILL LEAD TO ENGINE SEIZING. IF DRIVEN AGGRESSIVELY ENOUGH, THIS SEIZING DUE TO OIL LOSS CAN HAPPEN IN AS FEW AS 10 MINUTES. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE FOR THE RINGLAND BREAKAGE TO BE SO SEVERE THAT THE ENGINE SPRAY-COATS A LARGE SECTION OF ROADW…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,987 miles reported. Look up ODI 10345791 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10394484 · 2011-04-06 (April 6, 2011)

CAR HAS AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM WITH BREAKING PISTON RINGLANDS, RESULTING IN COPIOUS OIL CONSUMPTION AND EVENTUALLY A SEIZED ENGINE WHICH, IF IT HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY, CAN BE THE EQUIVALENT OF SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES IN TRAFFIC. ENDANGERING SURROUNDING VEHICLES AND THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER IF THE OIL FILM ON THE ROADWAY AND THE WINDSHIELDS OF FOLLOWING CARS DIDN'T ALREADY CAUSE THEM PROBLEMS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,987 miles reported. Look up ODI 10394484 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10661153 · 2014-11-27 (November 27, 2014)

THERE IS A LOUD SQUEAK NOISE WHEN THE CLUTCH IS BEING PRESSED, AND AT TIMES WHEN THE STRUCTURE FLEXES,IT INTERFERES WITH CHANGING GEARS. NOT ONLY DOES IT INTERFERE WITH CHANGING GEARS BUT,IT ALSO CAUSES THE BREAK PEDAL ASSEMBLY MOVES WHEN PRESSING THE CLUTCH. I HAVE VERIFIED THAT SOME WELD SPOT HAVE BROKEN OFF AND HAVE BECOME LOOSE. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM SEEING AS HOW IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN IT COMPLETELY SEPARATES, DUE TO SHOTTY WELDING, NOT ONLY COULD THE CLUTCH GO OUT WHILE DRIVING BUT IT COULD CAUSE THE BREAKS TO GO OUT AS WELL. THIS IS …

Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10661153 at NHTSA ↗