2008 Subaru IMPREZA STI: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 27.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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: 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10273870 · 2009-06-15 (June 15, 2009)
I OWN A 2008 STI AND HAVE JUST UNDER 6,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW WITH JUST UNDER 200 MILES ON IT IN DECEMBER OF 2008. IN JANUARY OF 2009, I BEGAN TO SEE WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY EXHAUST ON STARTUP. I HAD JUST OVER 1,200 MILES AT THE TIME. MY ENGINE FAILED SUFFERED A FAILURE AT JUST UNDER 2,000 MILES. SUBARU REPLACED THE ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. FAST FORWARD TO JUNE OF 2009 AND NOW I'M BEING TOLD MY ENGINE HAS AGAIN FAILED DUE TO THE PISTON RINGLANDS CRACKING AND BREAKING OFF. THIS IS A WID…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10273870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10285670 · 2009-09-29 (September 29, 2009)
1. HAS HAPPENED SINCE CAR WAS NEW 2. PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWS OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. OCCURS RANDOMLY WHEN ANYONE IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. CONSEQUENCES COULD INCLUDE INJURY TO THE PASSENGER IF THE AIRBAG DOES NOT DEPLOY WHEN IT SHOULD. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AS THIS IS A NEW CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10285670 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10290169 · 2009-10-28 (October 28, 2009)
AT 15,500 MILES, MY 2008 SUBARU STI EXPERIENCED A RINGLAND FAILURE ON THE #4 PISTON. THIS WAS VERIFIED VIA A COMPRESSION/LEAKDOWN TEST. A LONGBLOCK REPLACEMENT WAS APPROVED BY SUBARU OF AMERICA. MY MAIN CONCERN, WITHOUT TAKING ENGINE COMPONENTS OFF, THIS MILD CRACKED RINGLAND WAS ALMOST UN-DETECTABLE. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE DEGRADATION IN PERFORMANCE, FOR RUNNING ON 3.5 OF 4 CYLINDERS. IN ADDITION, MY MECHANIC ALSO FOUND FUEL IN THE OIL PAN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 15,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10290555 · 2009-11-02 (November 2, 2009)
MY 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI HAD A NUMBER FOUR PISTON FAILURE WITH ONLY 28,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO A LOCAL AUTO SHOP WHEN A PROBLEM WAS NOTICED. THE SHOP DID A COMPRESSION TEST AND FOUND THE NUMBER FOUR PISTON TO BE AT FAULT. DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER WALLS THE BLOCK AND ALL ASSOCIATED INTERNALS WERE REPLACED. AFTER REMOVING THE HEADS THE SHOP OWNER SAID THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF DETONATION ON THE CYLINDER AND THAT THE FAILURE MOST LIKELY WAS DUE TO POOR BUILD QUALITY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290555 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294404 · 2009-12-03 (December 3, 2009)
THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH DOES NOT SAY THE AIRBAG IS ON WHEN MY WIFE IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SHE IS 103 POUNDS AND SHOULD TURN THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON ACCORDING TO SUBARU. THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON WHEN I SIT IN THE SEAT (160POUNDS) OR WHEN ANYONE OVER SAY 130 POUNDS SITS IN IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294404 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10295147 · 2009-12-09 (December 9, 2009)
PISTON #4 HAD RINGLAND FAILURE OF BOTH RINGLANDS ON SAID PISTON IN MY 2008 SUBARU WRX STI. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10345175 · 2010-07-25 (July 25, 2010)
IN FEBRUARY 2010, I PURCHASED A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA STI FROM A SUBARU DEALERSHIP WITH FACTORY WARRANTY AND I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED FACTORY WARRANTY. ONCE I BEGAN GETTING USED TO THE CAR I NOTICED THERE WAS AN ISSUE. WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE THERE WOULD BE CONSTANT "DEAD SPOTS" IN THE POWER BAND THROUGH OUT THE RPM RANGE. AFTER MULTIPLE TIMES OF BRING THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. BUT I BEING VERY CAR SOCIAL ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT MANY AND I MEAN MANY PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE ACCELE…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10345175 at NHTSA ↗
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 ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.