Subaru WRX Complaints (2008)

68 consumer complaints on file.

#10632024September 9, 2014
POWER TRAIN
SUBARU OF AMERICA DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTED CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLIES ON THEIR CARS. MY CAR WAS HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS WHILE I WAS DRIVING SO I WENT TO GO GET IT CHECKED OUT. TURNS OUT THAT THE SPOT WELDS THAT HOLD THE CLUTCH BRACKET TO THE FIREWALL HAD BROKEN OFF. SUBARU NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THEIR CARS BECAUSE THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE WITH SUBARU OWNERS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. ONCE AGAIN THIS PROBLEM NEEDS A RECALL!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10625833August 17, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, STRUCTURE:BODY, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
HAD A CLUTCH PEDAL SQUEAK NOISE FOR A LITTLE WHILE, THEN WHILE DRIVING, WENT TO PUSH IN THE CLUTCH, HEARD A POP NOISE. THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CLUTCH PEDAL BEGAN TO MOVE IN ERRATIC DIRECTIONS WHEN DEPRESSED. THE PIECE OF SHEET METAL THAT THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY BOLTS TO BROKE AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL. ALL THE WELDS BROKE DO TO FLEXING IN THE FIREWALL SHEETMETAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10621164August 9, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
EVERY TIME I PRESS IT THE CLUTCH I HEAR A CRACKLING NOISE FROM THE BROKEN WELDS THAT HOLD UP THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL. FEAR FOR MY SAFETY AND OTHER BECAUSE IF THE OTHER WELDS BREAK I MAY BE IN OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE NOT BEING ABLE TO BRAKE MY VEHICLE . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616452July 26, 2014
POWER TRAIN, STRUCTURE:BODY
THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2008WRX MAKES A LOUD CREAKING/CLICKING NOISE EVERY TIME IT'S DEPRESSED. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THE NOISE, I NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY (ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL) SHIFTS APPROX 1/4 INCH EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. I FOUND THAT THE THREE SPOT WELDS SECURING THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL WERE BROKEN. FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE FIREWALL, JUST UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, I SAW THE SPOT WELDS PULLING AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS ALLOWS THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY TO MOVE, CAUSING THE CREAKING NOISE. IF THE BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATES FROM THE FIREWALL, THE CLUTCH MAY BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE - ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING. THIS ALSO HAS INCREASED WEAR ON MY TRANSMISSION GEARS AND SYNCHROS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587854May 12, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN
I RECOGNIZED A SQUEAKING SOUND EVERY TIME I DEPRESSED MY CLUTCH TO SHIFT THE CAR. HAVING HAD AN OIL CHANGE, I WASN'T SCHEDULED FOR CAR MAINTENANCE FOR 3 MONTHS OR 3,000 MILES. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC FOR SERVICE, I ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE SQUEAKING SOUND. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND A THAT THE STRUCTURE OF THE FIREWALL AT THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS FAILING - THE SPOT WELDS WERE SHATTERED. THE TECHNICIAN REMOVED THE WIPER BLADE ASSEMBLY AND FOUND THAT THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY FLEXES TO THE POINT OF MOVING THE FIREWALL OUT AT THE CLUTCH MASTER AND THAT THE FIREWALL IS CRACKED AT THE CLUTCH CYLINDER. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, THE TECHNICIAN LEARNED THE PROBLEM IS INHERENT IN THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AND MODEL, AS WELL AS IN THE 2009 MODEL. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDS REMOVING THE DASHBOARD, BRAKE BOOSTER, MASTER CYLINDER, AND CLUTCH CYLINDER IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY AND WELD THE BROKEN PIECES OF THE BRACKET THAT SHOULD BE HOLDING THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY IN PLACE. THIS REQUIRES ONLY WELDING AND REPLACING THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY, AS WELL AS FLUSHING THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH FLUID. THE OVERALL CONCERN WITH THIS STRUCTURAL FAILURE IS THAT THE DEGRADATION OF THE FIREWALL AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WILL CREATE AN ISSUE WHERE MY SAFETY IS AT RISK WHEN I LOSE THE ABILITY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHIFTING WILL FAIL. IN A LOW OR HIGH SPEED SITUATION, I WOULD NEED TO DOWN OR UP SHIFT MY CAR TO HELP AVOID COLLISION OR LESSEN THE IMPACT OF A COLLISION. WITHOUT THIS ABILITY, I PUT MY LIFE, MY PASSENGER'S LIFE AND OTHER DRIVERS' LIVES IN DANGER. GIVEN THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH THE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR, I BELIEVE SUBARU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. I AM ESPECIALLY CONCERNED TO FIND THAT MY PARTICULAR CAR IS ON THE PULL DOWN MENU WITH THE NTSB, AND UNTIL MY CAR STARTED TO FAIL, I HEARD NOTHING FROM THE NTSB, SUBARU OR THE DEALERSHIPS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. RESPONSE EXPECTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10585816May 1, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN, STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAVE BEEN NOTICING A CREAKING AND POPPING NOISE FROM MY CLUTCH/BRAKE PEDAL ASSAY FOR SOME TIME NOW AND HAVE FOUND IT TO BE THE BRACE THAT HOLDS THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FIREWALL OF VEHICLE IS SPOT WELDED IN 2 PLACES AT TOP OF BRACKET AND THE SPOT WELDS HAVE CRACKED AND BROKEN AND THE BRACE NOW MOVES AROUND AND THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL BIND AND STICK. I HAVE SINCE NOTICED IT GETTING WORSE AND NOTICED THE 4 SPOT WELDS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BRACE HAVE CRACKED AND BROKEN ALSO. AS A AUTO TECHNICIAN I SEE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE ALL THE TIME AND THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN IF THE BRACE AS TO BREAK OFF COMPLETELY THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE BRAKING CAPABILITIES AND THE ABILITY FOR THE CLUTCH TO DISENGAGE THE ENGINE FROM THE TRANSMISSION IN AN EMERGENCY I HAVE NOTICED ON MULTIPLE FORUMS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL AS SUBARU SHOULD PERFORM A RECALL/REPAIR FOR THIS ISSUE AS TO NOT HAVE VEHICLES BEING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IF NEEDED I CAN SUPPLY PICTURES OF MY VEHICLE AND THE POINT OF FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10585559April 29, 2014
POWER TRAIN
THE CAR HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND I NOTICED SIGNIFICANT SIDE WAY BACK AND FORTH MOVEMENT IN THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL WHILE THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. IN THE LAST WEEK IT HAS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE THE CLUTCH AND GET THE CAR IN GEAR. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THEY KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. SPOT WELDS ON THE PEDAL MOUNTS TO THE FIREWALL WERE FAILING. THEY THEN SENT ME TO A BODY SHOP, WHICH HAS HAD EXPERIENCE MAKING THE NECESSARY REPAIR. APPARENTLY THE BODY SHOP HAS REPAIRED SEVERAL SUBARU WRXS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. OF COURSE THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583697April 19, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STRUCTURE
WHEN I PUSH MY CLUTCH PEDAL IN, MY BRAKE PEDAL MOVES TO THE LEFT ABOUT AN INCH AND A HALF. IT HAS ALSO SQUEAKED SINCE 20,000 MILES BUT I NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS A PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY CONFIRMED MY FIREWALL IS FLEXING BECAUSE OF CRACKED WELDS. I NOTICED THIS HAPPENING AROUND 85,000 MILES ON A STOCK CLUTCH. THE DEALERSHIP IS CLAIMING THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE ISSUE AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $125 JUST FOR THEM TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583541April 18, 2014
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
THE CLUTCH PLATE MOUNTED TO THE FIREWALL FLEXES AND SQUEAKS WHEN DEPRESSED AND WAS TOLD THIS IS FROM THE SPOT WELDS THAT HOLD THE CLUTCH PLATE TO THE FIREWALL NOT A SQUEAKY PEDAL LIKE I THOUGHT. IF LEFT IN THIS STATE I'M TOLD IT COULD LEAD TO THE CLUTCH PEDAL FAILING BY THE SPOT WELDS BREAKING AND THE PLATE AND PEDAL COMING OFF THE FIREWALL. I'M TOLD THAT THIS ONLY HAPPENS A LOT WITH THIS SPECIFIC YEAR AND MODEL SUBARU FROM A SUBARU MECHANIC YET NO RECALL OR ADVISORY HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575829March 31, 2014
POWER TRAIN
CAR IS MAKING CLICKING NOISE EVERY-TIME THE CLUTCH IS BEING PRESSED / RELEASED. ADVISED IT IS THE SPOT WELDS BY THE FIREWALL HOLDING ON (THEY ARE FAILING). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566819March 3, 2014
POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES
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 SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565813February 25, 2014
POWER TRAIN
SPOT WELDS ON THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ATTACHED TO THE FIREWALL HAVE CRACKED CAUSING A DISTINCT SQUEAKING NOISE AND HARD SHIFTING. MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE BRACKET SEPARATION IS PUSHING AGAINST THE CLUTCH, CAUSING A SIDEWAYS PUSH INTO THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. THIS DOES NOT ALLOW FOR FULL ENGAGEMENT OF THE CLUTCH WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AND IS FLEXING THE MASTER CYLINDER, CAUSING ADDITIONAL STRESS AND DAMAGE. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS BEING DEPRESSED BY APPROXIMATELY 1/2" DURING EVERY CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT. SUBARU OF AMERICA IS ONLY OFFERING TO COVER 50% OF THE WORK TO CORRECT THEIR DESIGN/MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. NO VEHICLE SHOULD EXPERIENCE FIREWALL DAMAGE AT ANY MILEAGE, LET ALONE A DEFECT SO DANGEROUS THAT IT IMPACTS SHIFTING AND BREAKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556444December 17, 2013
POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
MY CLUTCH STARTED SQUEAKING FOR A MONTH AND HALF. WHEN THE SQUEAKING STOPPED, IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT THE SQUEAKING STOPPED ONLY BECAUSE THE WHOLE FIREWALL HAD BROKEN. THE CAR IS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED TOMORROW, AND I AM OUT OF WARRANTY FOR MY 2008 STI. I AM WRITING TO YOU BECAUSE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, WHICH INCLUDES THE CLUTCH AND THE BRAKING AND THE TRANSMISSION. THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX IT FOR ME AND HAS REFERRED ME TO A COLLISION SHOP BUT I AM NOW BEING FORCED TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS OUT-OF-POCKET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549642October 26, 2013
POWER TRAIN
CLUTCH PEDAL STARTED SQUEAKING AND THOUGHT IT WAS PART IN NEED OF GREASE. SUBARU DEALERSHIP DID A 60K MAINTENANCE AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. CLUTCH SUDDENLY WENT OUT (WITHIN A FEW MILES) AND PEDAL BECAME HARD TO USE. TOOK TO A VERY EXPERIENCED SUBARU MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED BROKEN FIREWALL WELDS. REPAIR WILL CONSTITUTE REMOVING THE ENTIRE DASH TO REWELD THE SPOTS. MECHANIC EXPLAINED TO ME THAT WITHOUT REPAIR, THE PEDAL COULD EXPERIENCE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE DURING DRIVING AND COME LOOSE, POSSIBLY INTERFERING WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. MANY OTHER OWNERS ARE REPORTING SIMILAR CONCERNS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548717October 21, 2013
POWER TRAIN
THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL BOTH MOVE LATERALLY AND ARE MAKING NOISE WHEN PRESSED. RESEARCH HAS YIELDED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2008+ WRX. THE ISSUE IS THE CLUTCH BRACKET SEPARATING FROM THE FIREWALL. THERE ARE SPOT WELDS THAT HAVE FAILED, AND THE PART NEEDS TO BE REWELDED TO PREVENT THE MOVEMENT/NOISE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548153October 16, 2013
POWER TRAIN
THE FIREWALL IS BREAKING AND/OR COMING APART. THERE IS A DISTINCT KNOCKING OR CRACKING NOISE WHEN RELEASING THE CLUTCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546770October 4, 2013
POWER TRAIN
THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2008 WRX WOULD MAKE A LOUD CREAKING NOISE EVERY TIME IT'S DEPRESSED. RECENTLY, THE CREAKING WENT AWAY, BUT IT BEGAN TO BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO GET INTO GEAR AND SHIFT GEARS. I INVESTIGATED THE NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY (ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL) SHIFTS APPROX. ONE HALF INCH EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. I FOUND THAT THE THREE SPOT WELDS SECURING THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL WERE BROKEN. FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE FIREWALL, JUST UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, I SAW THE SPOT WELDS PULLING AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS ALLOWS THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY TO MOVE ALONG WITH THE FIREWALL. IF THE BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATES FROM THE FIREWALL, THE CLUTCH WILL BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE - ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING. MY VEHICLE IS A 2008 WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10544409September 19, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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 SCRATCHES GEARS OFTEN. OFTEN NOT POSSIBLE TO SHIFT IN TO REVERSE WHILE CAR IS RUNNING. IT HAS NOW BEEN IDENTIFIED THAT THE SPOT WELDING THAT HOLDS THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAS BROKEN FREE FROM THE MOUNTING POINTS UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE ENTIRE PEDAL ASSEMBLY NOW BENDS AND FLEXES PREVENTING PROPER CLUTCH PLAY AND THROW, PREVENTING CLUTCH FROM COMPLETELY DISENGAGING TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10544122September 17, 2013
POWER TRAIN, STRUCTURE:BODY
THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND CLUTCH IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY WHEN DEPRESSED. THE PEDALS SHIFT WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND MAKES A POPPING SOUND EVERY TIME THAT ORIGINATES FROM THE FIRE WALL / BULK HEAD. MY CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED ONCE BEFORE AT JUST UNDER 40,000MI AT A SUBARU DEALER AS AUTHORIZED BY SUBARU OF AMERICA AND KNOW IT HAS 100,000MI AND THE ISSUE HAS COME BACK. THIS IS A STRUCTURAL FLAW THAT CAN AND WILL LEAD TO A ACCIDENT WITH THE 2008 AND NEWER SUBARU WRX'S IF IT IS NOT ADDRESSED AND FIXED BY SUBARU. IF SUBARU IS NOT WILLING TO REPAIR THE BRACKET WELD ISSUE AND REPLACE THE CLUTCH DUE TO IMPROPER ENGAGEMENT I WILL LET THE WELDS FAIL AND ALLOW THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL FALL TO THE FLOOR BOARD AND TRY TO CONTROL THE CRASH AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. THEN I WILL PROCEED TO FILE A LAW SUIT ON THE BASES THAT SUBARU KNOWS OF THE ISSUE AND MEANT TO CAUSE DUE HARM TO THE VEHICLE OPERATOR AND THE POPULATION OF AMERICA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10544112September 17, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU WRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CLUTCH PEDAL MADE A POPPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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