What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2008 Subaru Impreza

Early-defect pattern

15.4% of complaints about the 2008 Subaru Impreza came in its first year of service — a higher share than 95% of the 262 2008 model-years on record. That points to problems present from new rather than wear. The most-reported system is power train (60 complaints), typically at 5.6 yr or about 69,000 miles.

Complaints
247
Median age at failure
4.9 yr
Median mileage
58,000 n=190
Crash / fire / tow
9.3% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
60 reports · 69,000 mi
5.6 yr
0%
Air bags
39 reports · 500 mi
1.3 yr
15.4%
Visibility
26 reports · 12,000 mi
1.4 yr
0%
Structure
24 reports · 62,000 mi
6.1 yr
4.2%
Engine cooling
15 reports · 15,000 mi
2.4 yr
13.3%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

20V001000 2020-01-02
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same de

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

20V002000 2020-01-02
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

20V003000 2020-01-02
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall us

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

19V297000 2019-04-11
Electrical system:ignition:switch

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.

The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

19V149000 2019-02-28
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.

Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.

17V026000 2017-01-11
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2009 Forester, Legacy and Outback and 2006-2009 Impreza (including WRX and STI models) and Tribeca vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as ori

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

17V014000 2017-01-10
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original e

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

17V016000 2017-01-10
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2006-2008 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), Tribeca, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equ

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

16V738000 2016-10-13
Electrical system

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, all equipped with turbo-charged engines. The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.

If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.

16V359000 2016-05-25
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2006-2008 Impreza, Tribeca, 2006 Saab 9-2x, and 2003-2006 Baja vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used

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

In owners’ own words

Engine cooling mileage not reported 0 mo in service
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE VIBRATES AND RUMBLES EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD 19.5 MILES WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED BUT, WHEN HE RECEIVED THE PAPERWORK, IT READ 99 MILES. HE BELIEVES THAT HE WAS SHOWN ONE VEHICLE AND WAS SOLD ANOTHER. THE VIN AND MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.
Engine cooling 15,000 mi 1.1 yr in service
I OWN A 2008 WRX STI SUBARU THAT HAD COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FACT THE DEALER COULD NOT PERFORM A CRITICAL ECM RECALL THAT WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF ENGINE FAILURE. SUBARU REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER WARRENTY. THE CAR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE START ALSO HAD BRAKE SYSTEM ISSUES THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR. *TR
Engine cooling 3,400 mi 1.5 yr in service
ENGINE STARTED STUTTERING AND WOULD ALMOST DIE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THEN STARTED BLOWING SMOKE OUT TALE PIPE. CAR HAD 3400 MILES. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS RINGLAND/PISTON FAILURE. *TR
Air bags mileage not reported 1 mo in service
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR STAYS IN "OFF" POSITION WHEN MY DAUGHTER - WHO IS 5'7" AND 136 LBS. - IS IN THE SEAT. WE HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR OVER LONG DISTANCES AND I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES HARD ENOUGH TO EMPLOY THE ABS, TO NO AVAIL. THE SENSOR CONTINUES TO STAY IN THE "OFF" POSITION. *JB

Other Impreza model years

20202019201820172016201520142013201220112009200820072006200520042002

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