2009 Subaru WRX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
41 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
71,327 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 41 complaints (80.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 22 | 53.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 24.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.4% |
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 | 33 |
| Structure:Body | 13 |
| Service Brakes | 11 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
Power Train: 33; Structure:Body: 13; Service Brakes: 11; Engine: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Air Bags: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1
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 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 1 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 | 14 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 2 |
2013: 14; 2014: 12; 2015: 8; 2016: 1; 2017: 4; 2018: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10510166 · 2013-04-30 (April 30, 2013)
THE CLUTCH PEDAL MAKES A LOUD POP OR CLICK SOUND ACCOMPANIED BY A CREAKING SOUND EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE BRAKE PEDAL MOVES TO THE LEFT AT THE SAME TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, IT IS VISIBLE WHERE THE METAL HAS BROKEN WHERE THE SPOT WELDS HOLD THE PEDAL BRACKET TO THE FIREWALL. IF THE REST OF THE WELDED SPOTS BREAK, THE BRAKES AND CLUTCH MAY BECOME INOPERABLE DURING DRIVING, POTENTIALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10536808 · 2013-08-22 (August 22, 2013)
I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD, PUT IN THE CLUTCH AND HEARD A LOUD CRACK. I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS SO AFTER TAKING A QUICK LOOK I KEPT DRIVING. EVERY TIME I PUT THE CLUTCH IN I HEARD A LOUD CREAK OR SQUEAK. IT GOT WORSE OVER THE NEXT MONTHS. YESTERDAY, I REALIZED THAT THE FIREWALL HAD CRACKED WHERE THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL MOUNT. THE METAL FLEXES WHEN CLUTCHING OR BRAKING. IF I USE THE CLUTCH I CAN SEE THE BRAKE PEDAL MOVE ABOUT HALF AN INCH BACK. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS ALLOWS THE CLUTCH TO FULLY DEPRESS AND I THINK THAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10557206 · 2013-12-25 (December 25, 2013)
FIRST AT ALL MERRY CHRISTMAS! ILL TRY MY BEST TO DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE CAR. ITS 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION . ON MY WAY HOME TO SEE MY FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS HEARD LOUD POP SOUND FROM UNDER THE DASH. KINDA SCARED ME BUT AFTER THE INSPECTION DIDN'T SEE ANY DAMAGE. TURNED THE ENGINE ON AGAIN BUT NOTICED RIGHT AWAY THAT MY CLUTCH PEDAL DOESN'T FEEL THE SAME. ( I HAVE STOCK CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION) RIGHT NOW CLUTCH PEDAL MAKES SQUEEZING NOISE, AND MY BRAKE PEDAL MOVES WHEN I PUSH THE CLUTCH PEDAL . AT HOME OPENED THE HOOD AND ASKED MY…
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10557206 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10577290 · 2014-04-04 (April 4, 2014)
MY CLUTCH PEDAL HAS BEEN CREAKING HORRIBLY THE PAST 12 MONTHS. I'VE READ NUMEROUS PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT A FAULTY WELD ON THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY MOUNTING TO THE FIREWALL, BUT DIDN'T THINK IT COULD HAPPEN TO MY CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $1500 JUST TO PULL OUT THE TRANSMISSION AND LOOK AT THE CLUTCH WHEN IT'S OBVIOUS THE WELDS ARE FAULTY AND HAVE GONE BAD! I TOLD HIM THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AND THAT SUBARU OF AMERICA WAS AWARE OF THE "KNOWN ISSUE" BUT NO DICE. THEY INSI…
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10577290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10609441 · 2014-07-09 (July 9, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE HAD A LOSS OF POWER AS THE SPEED REDUCED TO 30 MPH INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH AND THE FLY WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10609441 at NHTSA ↗