2008 Subaru Impreza problems
The 2008 Subaru Impreza has 249 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (24%) concerns drivetrain & axles. After that come air bags (16%) and engine (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 249 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Drivetrain & axles 24% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 11 and 6
- Injuries and deaths
- 14 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 58,000 miles 190 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 50 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 16 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 39 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 33 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 25 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 13 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 8 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 4 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 190 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 58,000 miles. For drivetrain & axles specifically, the median reported mileage is about 70,000 miles (52 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 11 complaints mention a crash; 6 complaints mention a fire; 14 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2008 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 27 model years of the Subaru Impreza with enough data (163 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 14 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 subaru impreza. While stopped at a red light, a drunk driver struck the contact's vehicle head on towards the front passenger side. The drunk driver was traveling 55 MPH at the time of impact. The vehicle sustained a large amount of damage and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact filed a complaint with the manufacturer of the vehicle. The vehicle is currently located at a shop being repaired.
I was involved in a direct head-on mvc traveling 35 MPH(at time of impact). The front passenger was wearing the seatbelt appropriately. The airbags did not deploy and the front passenger's head made contact with dash. This passenger did sustain a moderate neck injury presenting the following morning requiring evaluation and treatment in an emergency department. There was significant damage to the front of the car and the car is not drivable.
A loud squeak is occurring when I press and release my clutch. I had my clutch replaced about 10k miles ago due to a seized throwout bearing. I brought it to the dealer, they lubed it all up but squeak is still there. The tech said the noise is actually coming from the bracket that is mounted to the firewall under the dash. After a few hours of research, I have found numerous posts about this issue and it lies with the welds holding the bracket being faulty and breaking.
Since I have purchased this vehicle brand new with only 85 miles on it. I have been having issues with the clutch being extra tight, and after a month or 2 the clutch kept making a squeaking noise. I have sent it to subaru many times and they have always stated that the clutch is fine and they did not hear anything. I would like something to be done...it has cost me over 5,000.00 to try and fix the problem over the course of 5 years and I still have the same issue as when I first purchased the car.