2008 Subaru WRX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
65 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 61 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 44 of 65 complaints (67.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 38 | 58.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 21.5% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.5% |
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 | 44 |
| Structure:Body | 25 |
| Service Brakes | 24 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
Power Train: 44; Structure:Body: 25; Service Brakes: 24; Unknown Or Other: 10; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 3; Engine: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 3 |
2013: 16; 2014: 18; 2015: 14; 2016: 6; 2017: 2; 2018: 6; 2019: 3
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10507124 · 2013-04-04 (April 4, 2013)
PROBLEM STARTED WITH A SQUEAKING/CLICKING WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED. RECENTLY THE WHOLE CLUTCH/BRAKE ASSEMBLY SHIFTS DOWN AND TO THE LEFT ABOUT 1/4-1/2" WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. LOOKING UP THE PROBLEM, I SEE I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS MANY OWNERS, THE WELDS THAT HOLD THE ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL HAVE BROKEN FREE. NOW IT IS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT AT TIMES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10507124 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10533427 · 2013-08-03 (August 3, 2013)
I WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC WHEN I PUSHED DOWN ON CLUTCH PEDAL AND REALIZED I HAD NO CLUTCH. I HAD TO REV CAR TO 2,500 RPM TO PUT IN GEAR TO DRIVE. THEN EVERY TIME I CAME TO A STOP THE CAR FELT WIRED TO STOP. AS I LOOKED BY MY FEET I NOTICED MY CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS MOVING QUITE FREELY TO SIDE TO SIDE. IT WAS TO LATE IN DAY TO TAKE CAR TO DEALER AND BEING A MECHANIC I CHECKED CAR OUT MYSELF. THAT'S WHEN I SAW THAT THE BRACKET THAT IS WELDED TO MY FIREWALL BROKE COMPLETELY OFF. AFTER DEALING WITH SUBARU AND THE DEALER FOR A WEEK NOW I HAVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10533427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10538638 · 2013-09-03 (September 3, 2013)
AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR A FEW WEEKS I NOTICED THE CLUTCH PEDAL STARTED MAKING NOISES. I INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER WAS MOVING A LOT FOR A PART THAT SHOULD NOT MOVE. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ONLINE AND ON FORUMS AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE WELDS ON THE FIREWALL HAVE CRACKED. IT CAUSE MY BRAKE PEDAL TO SHIFT WHENEVER I DEPRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL. IT ALSO HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT SHIFTING INTO GEAR AT ANY SPEED OVER THE 3400 RPM RANGE BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT AND IN SOME CASE IMP…
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10538638 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10544409 · 2013-09-19 (September 19, 2013)
METAL ON METAL POPPING STARTED FOR APPARENTLY NO REASON. INTERMITTENT, INCONSISTENT AND DIFFICULT TO REPLICATE. NOISE STOPPED AFTER WARMER WEATHER STARTED. NOTICEABLE CHANGES IN SHIFTING BEGIN TO OCCUR. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER, SHIFTING BEGINS TO BECOME DIFFICULT. SYNCHRONIZATION OF GEARS WHEN SHIFTING BEGINS TO FAULT AND GEAR SCRATCHING CAN BE HEARD. STILL INCONSISTENT, NO IMMEDIATE INDICATION REPAIRS ARE NEEDED. SEVERAL WEEKS GO BY AND SUDDENLY SHIFTING IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. GEAR MATCHING AND SYNCHRONIZATION IS NO LONGER SMOOTH AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10544409 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10566819 · 2014-03-03 (March 3, 2014)
I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM SHIFTING GEARS AND NOTICED THAT WHEN I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS MOVING ALSO. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE PEDAL MOUNTING BRACKET THAT IS SPOTWELDED TO THE FIREWALL HAD BROKEN AT THE WELDS. I WAS QUOTED $1200 FOR THE REPAIRS AS THE DASH & STEERING COLUMN HAVE TO BE REMOVED. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION AS IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I FEEL THAT SUBARU SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS AS THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT AND A…
Owner-reported narrative. 88,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10566819 at NHTSA ↗