2008 Subaru Impreza Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2008 Subaru Impreza ranks 4th worst of 21 model years, with a complaint index of 85, 176 complaints, and 14 recall campaigns. Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 34% of complaints, followed by airbag non-deployment problems making it an Avoid year relative to other Impreza years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 85/100
- #4 of 21 Impreza years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 176
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 14
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 9
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 4
- Injuries
- 9
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 22
- 20 city / 25 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 9 / 0
Top 2008 Subaru Impreza problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain59 (34%)
- Airbags37 (21%)
- Engine34 (19%)
- Brakes25 (14%)
- Structure & Body25 (14%)
- Visibility & Wipers23 (13%)
- Electrical System11 (6%)
- Other9 (5%)
- Fuel System5 (3%)
- HVAC3 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy in multiple crashes, including head-on and side-impact collisions with injuries reported.
- Electrical fires started from the dash/gauge area or relay/fuse box, sometimes while the car was parked and locked.
- Engine stalled unexpectedly when the clutch was depressed during gear changes as the engine warmed up from cold start.
- A loud bang from the engine area preceded a sudden loss of braking response in one incident, leading to a crash.
- Seat belts reportedly unlocked during airbag deployment in a crash.
2008 Subaru Impreza recalls
14 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V001000Jan 2, 2020Airbags258,813 vehicles
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 design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
- NHTSA 20V003000Jan 2, 2020Airbags111,562 vehicles
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 using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
- NHTSA 20V002000Jan 2, 2020Airbags127,547 vehicles
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 recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
2008 Subaru Impreza fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 25 MPG
- Combined
- 22 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,650
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other Impreza years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Subaru Impreza reliable?
- Compared to other Impreza model years, the 2008 ranks 4th worst out of 21 years tracked, with a complaint index of 85 and 176 NHTSA complaints, earning an Avoid verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Subaru Impreza?
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints make up 34% of all reports, followed by Airbags at 21% and Engine issues at 19%, according to NHTSA data.
- Does the 2008 Subaru Impreza have airbag recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists several airbag inflator recalls covering the 2008 Impreza, including campaigns 20V001000, 20V003000, 20V002000, 17V026000, 17V014000, and 17V016000.
- How does the 2008 Impreza compare to newer Impreza years?
- The 2008 model's complaint index of 85 is higher than most other years except 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, and 2019, which also carry Avoid verdicts.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Subaru Impreza?
- EPA rates the 2008 Impreza at 22 mpg combined (20 city / 25 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,650.