2008 Subaru Impreza STI Problems
- Complaints
- 33filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 30,000miles, 29 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Subaru Impreza STI (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 33 consumer complaints for the 2008 Subaru Impreza STI. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 13 complaints (39% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (11) and brakes (6). 29 of the complaints include a mileage, and 76% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 30,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 116 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 7 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine cooling13 39%
- Brakes6 18%
- Body and structure6 18%
- Air bags4 12%
- Engine2 6.1%
- Other or unknown2 6.1%
- Vehicle speed control2 6.1%
- Electrical system1 3.0%
- Exterior lighting1 3.0%
Example complaints
Engine cooling: “In february 2010, I purchased a 2008 Subaru Impreza Sti from a Subaru dealership with factory warranty and I purchased an extended factory warranty. Once I began getting used to the car I noticed there was an issue. When I would accelerate there would be constant dead spots in the power band through out the RPM range. After multiple times of bring the car in for repair the dealership could not figure out the problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10345175, filed 2010-07, 11,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “Main rod bearing failed while driving due to Subaru redesigning their bearings and not using copper. Car has 30,000 miles on engine. Between all the piston failures and bearing failures Subaru should own up and take care of its loyal customers as I don't know if I will ever buy one again.”
NHTSA complaint #10348399, filed 2010-08, 30,000 milesBrakes: “On the morning of november 4, 2011 , I pulled into the parking area behind a middle school and my car would not stop. I applied my brakes, the car still continued to go forward over the cement bumper and into the building. The only thing to stop my car was pulling the emergency brake. I went two feet into the middle school building. The airbags did not deploy. The car and the building received extensive damage.”
NHTSA complaint #10434291, filed 2011-11, 18,400 milesBody and structure: “My clutch pedal began clicking and creaking this summer. I finally found out that the welds that held the clutch to the firewall were broken. The clutch bracket has only a couple of spot welds that attach it to the firewall, and the firewall is very flimsy. The welds tore away and allowed the firewall, clutch assembly,. Brake assembly, and dash to move and shift whenever I clutched in, causing premature clutch failure and a very dangerous driving condition. This has happened to many gr/gv chassis. This is a known issue and Subaru needs to institute a recall about this dangerous issue.”
NHTSA complaint #10566217, filed 2014-02, 40,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
76% of the 29 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 15,500 and 47,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2008 Subaru Impreza STI in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 116 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11037943Oct 5, 2026Other or unknown, Electrical system. This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines.
- 11037940Sep 18, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
- 11037930Sep 15, 2026Other or unknown. This announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year Subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
- 11037929Sep 14, 2026Other or unknown, Electrical system. This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 11037927Sep 14, 2026Electrical system. This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 11036807Aug 20, 2026Electrical system. This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to…
- 11036796Aug 13, 2026Electrical system. This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
- 11036794Aug 5, 2026Electrical system. Techtips newsletter locator index.
- 11036789Aug 1, 2026Electrical system. This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin
- 11034249Jun 12, 2026Other or unknown. This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood covers from Generation 4 EyeSight cameras.
Other model years of the Subaru Impreza STI
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 33 | 30,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Stable |
All Subaru Impreza STI model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Subaru Impreza STI have?
NHTSA recorded 33 consumer complaints for the 2008 Subaru Impreza STI as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2008 Subaru Impreza STI is reported most often?
Engine cooling is named most often, in 13 complaints (39% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 11.
Has the 2008 Subaru Impreza STI been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Subaru Impreza STI reported?
Among the 29 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 30,000 miles and the middle half falls between 15,500 and 47,000 miles; 76% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.