2008 Subaru WRX recalls & problems

7 recalls 65 complaints

7recalls
65owner complaints
0crashes reported
1fires reported
0 / 0injuries / deaths

NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls for the 2008 Subaru WRX and 65 owner complaints. The part owners complain about most is power train (49 reports), followed by structure (26). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers – enter your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your car still has an open recall.

2008 Subaru WRX recalls

Air Bags · NHTSA 20V001000 · Jan 2, 2020

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands…

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the…

258,813 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

Air Bags · NHTSA 20V002000 · Jan 2, 2020

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina,…

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance…

127,547 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

Air Bags · NHTSA 20V003000 · Jan 2, 2020

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South…

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance…

111,562 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

Electrical System · NHTSA 19V297000 · Apr 11, 2019

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight…

Risk: The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.

511 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

Exterior Lighting · NHTSA 19V149000 · Feb 28, 2019

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic…

Risk: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.

1,303,530 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA 14V830000 · Dec 31, 2014

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Impreza, 2008-2014 WRX and STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of…

Risk: Brake fluid may leak due to the brake line corrosion and may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will apply an anti-corrosion wax to the four-way joint connector area of the brake line system, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQQ-52.…

200,064 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA 14V311000 · Jun 10, 2014

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West…

Risk: Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will test the brake system by depressing the brake pedal and inspecting for brake fluid leaks. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected areas will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be…

461,338 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

2008 Subaru WRX problems by component

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train 49
000
Structure 26
000
Service Brakes 24
000
Unknown or Other 10
000
Vehicle Speed Control 4
000
Engine 2
010
Fuel/Propulsion System 2
000
Electrical System 1
010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1
000

Latest owner complaints

Power Train · Apr 2, 2019 · 90,000 miles · CO

Clutch/brake assembly broke away from fire wall. Making car undrivable

Unknown or Other · Feb 20, 2019 · CA

The driver looks high. Cutting people off and running through stop signs

Structure · Jan 21, 2019 · 62,000 miles · OR

The welds that attach the brake and clutch peddle to the vehicle brake and allow the whole peddle assembly to move. Because of this, braking efficiency and drive gear engagement become compromised. In the event that a hard stop is needed, the whole assembly could brake and keep the driver from being able to stop. This issue is a huge hazard! This is not a convenience issue,…

Power Train · Jan 21, 2019 · 62,000 miles · OR

The welds that attach the brake and clutch peddle to the vehicle brake and allow the whole peddle assembly to move. Because of this, braking efficiency and drive gear engagement become compromised. In the event that a hard stop is needed, the whole assembly could brake and keep the driver from being able to stop. This issue is a huge hazard! This is not a convenience issue,…

Service Brakes · Jan 21, 2019 · 62,000 miles · OR

The welds that attach the brake and clutch peddle to the vehicle brake and allow the whole peddle assembly to move. Because of this, braking efficiency and drive gear engagement become compromised. In the event that a hard stop is needed, the whole assembly could brake and keep the driver from being able to stop. This issue is a huge hazard! This is not a convenience issue,…

Power Train · Dec 17, 2018 · 100,000 miles · CO

Firewall spot welds have failed, causing significant lateral play in the clutch pedal. I have had some significant trouble trying to get it into gear. So I have had trouble shifting gears while at highway speeds and have had trouble getting it in reverse in order to pull out of a parking spot. The brake pedal is next in-line to be affected by the sheet metal tear. I keep…

Structure · Dec 17, 2018 · 100,000 miles · CO

Firewall spot welds have failed, causing significant lateral play in the clutch pedal. I have had some significant trouble trying to get it into gear. So I have had trouble shifting gears while at highway speeds and have had trouble getting it in reverse in order to pull out of a parking spot. The brake pedal is next in-line to be affected by the sheet metal tear. I keep…

Structure · Nov 12, 2018 · 105,000 miles · NJ

There are 3 weld spots on my firewall that are snapped. Because of this I constantly hear snapping sounds and my break pedal moves when the clutch is depressed. This was a recall on the car but subaru of america says that I cant get it fixed under warranty. I bought the car used from a subaru dealership in ramsey nj pre-owned certified and this problem should have been fixed…

Power Train · Oct 11, 2018 · 88,500 miles · WI

Firewall welds broke and clutch needs replacement at 88,000 miles. The clutch is still stiff and makes a creaking noise despite the firewall welds being repaired.

Structure · Jun 2, 2018 · 94,600 miles · NJ

Creaking clutch pedal really is the firewall pedal mounting bracket that is factory spot welded onto the drivers side dash section of the firewall under the dash board has its weak factory spot welds broken. I had replaced the clutch on my car as it was weak and thought replacing it would make the creaking sound go away. Replacing the clutch made the squeaking noise louder and…

Power Train · Feb 19, 2018 · 114,000 miles · IN

I purchased a 2008 subaru impreza wrx. Every time the clutch is engaged or disengaged a creak/pop noise can be heard. You can also see the clutch and brake pedal move significantly. The spot welds on the firewall/bulkhead have separated making it very difficult to get into gear and making the clutch very firm. This needs to be a recall. People can not afford this very…

Structure · Feb 6, 2018 · 80,000 miles · TX

The firewall is cracking which can cause the clutch pedal to become inoperable. After I had work done on my car the mechanic told me that the firewall was cracking and that I would need to contact subaru of america for possible coverage. They denied me coverage because it would be too costly despite the firewall being a known issue on the wrx from 2008-2014

Other Subaru WRX years

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Subaru WRX have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls covering the 2008 Subaru WRX, the most recent one (20V001000) for air bags. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Subaru WRX?

Based on 65 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most reported areas are power train (49), structure (26), service brakes (24).

Have there been crashes or injuries linked to the 2008 Subaru WRX?

Owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries and 0 deaths in complaints to NHTSA. These are unverified owner reports, not findings of fault.