2008 Subaru Impreza Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 59about this part
- Share
- 34%of 176 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 69,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 59 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2008 Subaru Impreza, 34% of the 176 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 69,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The welded clutch bracket behind the dash board broke, making my clutch pedal useless and my master cylinder flex forward badly. This is unacceptable. My car is not under warranty anymore and this is a 14 hour labor job. Any other power train related repair would be expected at this mileage, but there should never be a welded bracket that breaks.”
NHTSA complaint #10560646, filed 2014-01, 139,000 miles“The spot welds under windshield cowl broke causing the bracket holding clutch pedal assembly to break. Because of these issues, I can only engage my reverse gear half the time and while shifting gears in motion, it tends to be a bit difficult. I've almost crashed a couple times because of this issue. My car is a 2008 Subaru wrx sedan with only 74,000 miles and I'm currently making payments on the car. Money is really tight due to me being a full time college student and full time worker so I'm not sure how to go about this really big problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #11310395, filed 2020-02, 73,500 miles“The clutch pedal on my 2008 wrx makes a loud creaking noise every time it's depressed (it will also pop if cold out). After reading other complaints online I found the entire clutch pedal bracket assembly (attached to the forward firewall) shifts approx 1/4 inch every time the clutch pedal is depressed, also causing the brake pedal to flex to the left. I can see at least two of my three spot welds securing the clutch pedal bracket to the forward firewall are broken. …”
NHTSA complaint #10534894, filed 2013-08, 70,000 miles“The clutch pedal on my 2008 wrx makes a loud creaking noise every time it's depressed. When I investigated the noise, I noticed that the entire clutch pedal bracket assembly (attached to the forward firewall) shifts approx 1/4 inch every time the clutch pedal is depressed. I found that the three spot welds securing the clutch pedal bracket to the forward firewall were broken. From the outside of the firewall, just under the windshield wipers, I saw the spot welds pulling away from the firewall every time the clutch pedal was depressed. …”
NHTSA complaint #10969121, filed 2017-03, 65,000 miles“2008 wrx firewall welds are bad. Dealership wrote up dangerous. Should not drive vehicle and gave me an approximate price to fix it telling me they've never seen or heard about this before. Forums state this is an ongoing problem since 2008 and many people have attempted to spot weld it in place or have done non-ome fixes. Dealership told me basically corporate won't help because the car has 137,000 miles on it so its my problem. Car is too dangerous to drive or sell in this shape. …”
NHTSA complaint #10546849, filed 2013-10, 137,100 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11033056May 4, 2026This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.
- 11032040Apr 24, 2026This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.
- 11022305Aug 11, 2025Subaru Service Technical Support Newsletter special edition.
- 11005624Jul 24, 2024This annoucement provides parts personnel information about remanufactured transmissions that will no longer be available.
- 10186364Jan 12, 2021This bulletin announces a design change to the clutch release bearing.
- 10150949Oct 26, 2018This Service Information bulletin announces a design change to the clutch release bearing used on the models as listed above. During assembly of the bearing, a different type of…
- 10150924Oct 26, 2018This Service Information bulletin announces a design change to the clutch release bearing used on the models as listed above. During assembly of the bearing, a different type of…
- 10234910Sep 2, 2014Replacement AT Oil Cooler Piping
- 10092742Sep 2, 2014Replacement at oil cooler piping - this bulletin will provide information regarding a change to the automatic transmission (at) fluid cooler piping and an addition to the service…
- 10068350Sep 2, 2014Summary to be provided on a future date.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 40% |
| 2024 | 2 | 6% |
| 2022 | 4 | 29% |
| 2021 | 1 | 7% |
| 2019 | 4 | 2% |
| 2018 | 5 | 3% |
| 2017 | 5 | 4% |
| 2016 | 13 | 17% |
| 2015 | 11 | 14% |
| 2014 | 9 | 8% |
| 2013 | 23 | 9% |
| 2012 | 26 | 11% |
| 2011 | 6 | 10% |
| 2010 | 5 | 11% |
| 2009 | 30 | 29% |
| 2008 | 59 | 34% |
| 2007 | 8 | 12% |
| 2006 | 7 | 13% |
| 2005 | 5 | 7% |
| 2004 | 9 | 9% |
| 2003 | 1 | 2% |
| 2002 | 25 | 9% |
| 2000 | 10 | 24% |
| 1999 | 4 | 18% |
| 1998 | 9 | 30% |
| 1997 | 5 | 17% |
| 1995 | 1 | 2% |
| 1994 | 3 | 38% |
| 1993 | 3 | 9% |
Other parts of the 2008 Subaru Impreza
37 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
25 complaintsBody and structure
24 complaintsBrakes
21 complaintsEngine cooling
14 complaintsEngine
13 complaintsElectrical system
8 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsExterior lighting
4 complaintsEquipment
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Subaru Impreza
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology