2008 Subaru WRX STI Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other WRX STI years
- Not enough data 1st of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Subaru WRX STI. That is the most of any WRX STI model year in the database (11 years). The most reported problem area is unknown or other (2 complaints, 67%), typically at around 60,000 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 3owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 Subaru WRX STI problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 67% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 33% | 102,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 33% | 102,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 33% | 102,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 Subaru WRX STI recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic
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 Columbia that were remedied under recall 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014. The brake lines may experience brake line corrosion due to salt water splashing on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector.
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. Notes: This recall is specific to affected Forester, Impreza, WRX, and STI customers who had their car remedied under NHTSA recall no. 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014. Subaru has determined that this remedy was inadequate due to incomplete repair instructions provided to dealers. Affected Forester, Impreza, WRX, and STI vehicles that were not repaired under NHTSA recall no. 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014 will continue to be processed under NHTSA recall no. 14V-311. Affected vehicles not currently, or formerly, registered in the salt belt states identified in this recall are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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 Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. Note that affected vehicles not currently, or formerly registered, in the salt belt states identified above are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.
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 replaced followed by rustproofing with anti-corrosion wax. These services will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 2014 and second notifications will run through November 2014. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQK-47. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V-110 which applied to certain 2005-2009 Legacy/Outback vehicles. Vehicles that were remedied under the previous campaign still need additional areas rust-proofed.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Secondary air valve, relay, and pump. There is a recall on the secondary air valve relay. The relay initiates the pump which causes the valve to open and close. After the recal was performed the secondary air valve no longer functioned properly and was told by subaru must be replaced at owners…
Firewall flexes after repeated use of clutch, breaking spot welds on firewall and rendering clutch useless. Impossible to shift gears when this happens, and if in gear, car will not stop. Terrible burning smell when brakes are engaged. Incident occurred in underground parking lot while exiting…
The brake pedal bracket has broken almost completely in half. If driving was to be continued, the brakes would fail to operate. This happens after repeated use of the clutch.
Other Subaru WRX STI years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 WRX STI | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 WRX STI | 2 | 0 |
| 2016 WRX STI | 3 | 0 |
| 2015 WRX STI | 3 | 0 |
| 2014 WRX STI | 0 | 2 |
| 2013 WRX STI | 2 | 2 |
| 2012 WRX STI | 1 | 2 |
| 2011 WRX STI | 1 | 2 |
| 2010 WRX STI | 1 | 2 |
| 2009 WRX STI | 2 | 2 |
| 2008 | 3 | 2 |
See all Subaru WRX STI problems by year, every Subaru model, or the Subaru VIN decoder.
Similar Subaru models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Subaru WRX STI?
Owners most often report unknown or other, power train, service brakes problems. The top one, unknown or other, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Subaru WRX STI?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2008 Subaru WRX STI a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other WRX STI model years, the 2008 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.