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ProblemsByVin File / 2008-SUBARU-IMPREZA
2008 · Subaru

Subaru Impreza problems

4 safety recalls. 209 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.

0 5 10
Reliability score
5.4 / 10

Below average for the segment. Multiple systems have recurring complaints.

3
Critical
1
Severe
0
Moderate

Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

powertrain
66 reports · avg $2,500
moderate
airbags
39 reports · avg $1,100
severe
engine
29 reports · avg $3,100
severe
visibility
24 reports · avg $350
moderate
body
12 reports · avg $1,500
moderate
brakes
8 reports · avg $450
severe
electrical
7 reports · avg $850
severe
cruise control
4 reports · avg $600
severe

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2008 Impreza · powertrain
THE CLUTCH BRACKET ON THE FIREWALL HAS ONLY 4 SMALL TACK WELDS FROM THE FACTORY. THIS BRACKET TAKES ALL THE FORCE OF YOUR LEG PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH EVERY TIME YOU CHANGE A GEAR. IT APPEARS TO BE VERY COMMON ON THE SUBARU WRX STI FOR THESE SMALL TACKS TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE…
12/31/2014 · NHTSA ODI #10669278.0
2008 Impreza · lighting
I FIND THE HID HEADLAMPS ON MY 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA STI TO BE AIMED AND/OR THROW A LIGHT PATTERN THAT IS DANGEROUSLY LOW. AT NIGHT, OBJECTS ONLY VERY CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE ARE LIT UP. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON UNLIT ROADS AT NIGHT, PARTICULARLY IN THE RAIN. AN INQUIRY…
12/31/2008 · NHTSA ODI #10253409.0
2008 Impreza · powertrain
I OWN A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WITH A STOCK CLUTCH. FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS I HAVE BEEN HEARING CREAKING AND/OR CLICKING NOISES WHEN ENGAGING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. IN APRIL OF 2013 CHATHAM SUBARU IN GA REPLACED MY CLUTCH DUE TO THE METAL CLUTCH FORK WEARING THROUGH AT THE PIVOT…
12/29/2014 · NHTSA ODI #10668724.0
2008 Impreza · airbags
FRONT PASSENGERS SITTING CORRECTLY THAT WEIGH BETWEEN ~95 AND 120LBS DO NOT ACTIVATE THE AIRBAG OR THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS INTERMITTENT. *TR
12/29/2008 · NHTSA ODI #10253021.0

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

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Active recalls showing 3 of 4

critical NHTSA 16V359000 25/05/2016

Subaru of America, Inc

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 24, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-16. Note: This notice is only for vehicles that were not covered by 16V-358 for Zone A.
critical NHTSA 17V026000 11/01/2017

Subaru of America, Inc

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-17.
critical NHTSA 17V016000 10/01/2017

Subaru of America, Inc

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2017. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-17.
View all 4 recalls →

Common questions

Is the 2008 Subaru Impreza reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 5.4 out of 10 based on 209 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Subaru Impreza has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

What's the most common problem on the 2008 Subaru Impreza?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 66 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Subaru Impreza has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2008 Subaru Impreza?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 209 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Subaru. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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