2008 Subaru WRX problems & reliability
65 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Subaru WRX, alongside 7 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train → | 48 | 74% |
| Structure → | 26 | 40% |
| Service Brakes → | 24 | 37% |
| Unknown OR Other | 10 | 15% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 6% |
| Engine | 2 | 3% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 3% |
| Electrical System | 1 | 2% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 2% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Mileage when problems occurred
Among the 61 complaints that included a usable odometer reading, the median reported incident mileage was 80,000 miles (middle 50% between 60,000 and 100,000 miles).
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“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…”
Service Brakes · filed Jan 21, 2019
“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…”
Structure · filed Dec 17, 2018
“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…”
Structure · filed Nov 12, 2018
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
162 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2008 Subaru WRX. The 10 most recent:
This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood covers from Generation 4 EyeSight cameras.
SubaruNet Annoucement (E · Other · issued Jun 12, 2026
This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
01-167-08R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 18, 2026
This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.
SubaruNet Announcement (R · Other · issued May 4, 2026
This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for vehicles exhibiting DTC B2A20.
07-240-26R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 30, 2026
This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.
03-97-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 24, 2026
This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
01-167-08R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 24, 2026
This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is suspected.
05-97-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 20, 2026
This bulletin announces the new procedure and Warranty Fail Code for FirstTime air conditioning (A/C) performance concerns possibly resulting from an undetected A/C refrigerant leak.
10-105-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 26, 2026
This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
01-167-08R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 26, 2026
This bulletin contains information to help when attempting to complete the STARLINK Telematics subscription process, an Error Code 202 and / or 204 may occur preventing the process from completing successfully
15-219-18R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 16, 2026
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2008 Subaru WRX has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2008 Subaru WRX?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Among complaints with usable mileage, the median reported incident mileage was 80,000 miles. This does not predict when a particular vehicle will develop a problem.