2008 Subaru IMPREZA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
176 owner complaints analyzed
14 distinct recall campaigns
48,150 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 134 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 51 of 176 complaints (29.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 39 | 22.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 18 | 10.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 2.3% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 2.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 51 |
| Air Bags | 24 |
| Structure:Body | 18 |
| Visibility | 18 |
| Service Brakes | 14 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 13 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 |
Power Train: 51; Air Bags: 24; Structure:Body: 18; Visibility: 18; Service Brakes: 14; Air Bags:Frontal: 13; Engine: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 43 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 26 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 28 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 43; 25,000 to 49,999: 26; 50,000 to 74,999: 28; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (43). 42 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 31 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 18 |
| 2013 | 21 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2007: 4; 2008: 31; 2009: 14; 2010: 12; 2011: 8; 2012: 18; 2013: 21; 2014: 18; 2015: 9; 2016: 11; 2017: 11; 2018: 5; 2019: 7; 2020: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 39 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 18 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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 10206186 · 2007-10-18 (October 18, 2007)
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR STAYS IN "OFF" POSITION WHEN MY DAUGHTER - WHO IS 5'7" AND 136 LBS. - IS IN THE SEAT. WE HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR OVER LONG DISTANCES AND I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES HARD ENOUGH TO EMPLOY THE ABS, TO NO AVAIL. THE SENSOR CONTINUES TO STAY IN THE "OFF" POSITION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10206186 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232051 · 2008-06-23 (June 23, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO 2,500 RPM'S. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE. IT HAS SINCE IMPROVED, BUT THE ENGINE STILL REVS FROM 1,500 TO 2,000 RPM'S. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WILL WORSEN IN THE WINTER. SHE FILED CASE NUMBER [XXX] WITH SUBARU. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,107 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400. UPDATED 07/17/08 INFO…
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232051 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10315687 · 2010-03-02 (March 2, 2010)
2008 SUBARU IMPREZA, STANDARD TRANSMISSION. AT SPEEDS UNDER 10 MPH, WHEN CLUTCH IS FULLY DEPRESSED, AND TRANSMISSION IS IN FIRST GEAR, ENGINE WILL REV UP TO 2500-4000 RPM'S. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS COASTING FORWARD AT SLOW SPEEDS AND WHEN IN GEAR WITH CLUTCH PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. WHEN BRAKE IS TAPPED OR GEAR PLACED TO NEUTRAL ENGINE WILL RETURN TO NORMAL IDLE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS 90 PERCENT OF THE TIME WHEN COASTING FORWARD. THE ENGINE SPEED VARIES EACH OCCURRENCE BUT GENERAL SPEEDS TO AROUND 2500 RPM'S WITH RARE JUMPS TO 4000+ RPM'…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10315687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10358393 · 2010-09-30 (September 30, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH SUDDENLY FAILED AS IT WOULD GRIP THEN NOT GRIP WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CLUTCH PLATE DID NOT SEEM TO BE GROOVED PROPERLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DRIVER ERROR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10258424 · 2009-02-12 (February 12, 2009)
CAR WAS PARKED AND LOCKED IN MY DRIVEWAY .THE HORN STARTED BLARING AND HEADLIGHTS CAME ON. NOT CAR ALARM. INTERIOR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT THEN TRIED TO OPEN CAR WITH REMOTE TO EXTINGUISH FIRE. HAD TO USE KEY TO UNLOCK DOOR. FIRE ORIGIONATED FROM GUAGES/DASH AREA ON DRIVERS SIDE. THERE WERE SEVERAL EXPLOSIONS FROM CAR AS IT BURNED. HORN CONTINUED TO BLARE AFTER FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED FIRE. FIRE FIGHTERS THEN PRIED INTO HOOD AND CUT BATTERY CABLES BEFORE HORN STOPPED BLARING. TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,005 miles reported. Look up ODI 10258424 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10405092 · 2011-06-09 (June 9, 2011)
2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE CLUTCH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A SCREECHING/RUBBING NOISE WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS APPLIED AND A LOUD POP NOISE FROM NEUTRAL TO 1ST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WOULD POP OUT OF 6TH GEAR AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD RATTLE NOISE ON COLD STARTS, THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW WASHER WAS INOPERABLE, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OCCASIONALLY DID NOT RECOGNIZE A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE HOOD WAS LOOSE AND RATTLED, THE RIGHT REAR DOOR WAS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL STUDS WOULD NOT SECURE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10405092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10306023 · 2010-02-04 (February 4, 2010)
2008 SUBARU WRX MANUAL TRANS. 22,500 MILES. BETWEEN THE TIME THE ENGINE COMES OFF HIGH IDLE (AFTER BEING STARTED COLD) AND WHEN IT IS COMPLETELY WARMED UP, THE ENGINE WILL DROP ITS RPM TO 0 CAUSING AN ENGINE STALL WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED IN ORDER TO CHANGE GEARS. THIS RECENTLY HAPPENED WHEN ENTERING A ROUNDABOUT WHEN I WAS GOING TO SHIFT DOWN FROM 3RD TO 2ND GEAR. AT THIS POINT I ONLY HAVE MY LEFT HAND ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND RIGHT ON THE SHIFT LEVER. THE ENGINE STALLS AND I LOOSE POWER STEERING. POWER BRAKING ALSO SEEMS DECREASED AS…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10306023 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10365878 · 2010-11-15 (November 15, 2010)
FUEL LEAK AT FLANGE JOINT OF FUEL PUMP/TANK ASSEMBLY OR NEARBY LOCATION ACCOMPANIED BY SIGNIFICANT CORROSION OF FLANGE RETAINING BOLTS. LEAKED FUEL CAUSES ODOR TO ACCUMULATE IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BY WAY OF NEARBY AIR EXHAUST VENTS WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILES DRIVEN. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT UNABLE TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT IN TIMELY MANNER TO RESOLVE ISSUE DUE TO WORKLOAD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10365878 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11142148 · 2018-10-23 (October 23, 2018)
FUEL LEAK , TANK NEED TO BE REPLACED. FIND THE LEAK IN MY GARAGE
Owner-reported narrative. 95,985 miles reported. Look up ODI 11142148 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10483687 · 2012-11-08 (November 8, 2012)
THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED, IT STALLED OUT 5 TIMES IN 11 BLOCKS, AND IT STARTED TO SMELL. I STOPPED AT THE NEAREST MECHANIC TO MY WORK AND THEY WERE NICE ENOUGH TO LET ME LEAVE IT THERE FOR THE DAY EVEN THOUGH THEY DO NOT DO CLUTCH WORK. AFTER NUMEROUS DISCUSSIONS WITH SUBARU SERVICE, THEY FINALLY SEEMED TO AGREE TO WORK WITH ME AND INVESTIGATE WHY THIS HAPPENED. AT FIRST, THEY SEEMED TO WANT TO DISREGARD THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN AND THEY REALLY MADE IT SOUND LIKE I WAS TO BLAME (IE, BAD D…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10483687 at NHTSA ↗