2008 Subaru WRX Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2008 Subaru WRX carries an Avoid verdict, ranking 5th worst out of 21 model years with a complaint index of 80. NHTSA logged 65 complaints and 7 recalls, with Transmission & Powertrain issues making up 74% of complaints at a median 69,500 miles.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 80/100
- #5 of 21 WRX years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 65
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 7
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
Top 2008 Subaru WRX problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain48 (74%)
- Structure & Body26 (40%)
- Brakes25 (38%)
- Other10 (15%)
- Engine6 (9%)
- Fuel System2 (3%)
- Electrical System1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Clutch pedal bracket welds crack and break free from the firewall, causing the pedal assembly to shift side to side when the clutch is pressed.
- Owners describe a creaking or squeaking noise from the clutch pedal that grows louder over time before the welds fail.
- Brake pedal moves laterally or feels loose when the clutch is depressed due to the same firewall bracket cracking.
- Shifting becomes difficult and gears can grind or fail to synchronize as the transmission mount area degrades.
- A secondary air pump under the hood caught fire while the vehicle was parked, producing smoke and flames from the hood scoop.
- Some owners report fuel odor while idling followed by the car entering limp mode, tied to a deteriorating fuel line.
2008 Subaru WRX recalls
7 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 compared with other WRX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Subaru WRX reliable?
- Relative to other WRX model years, the 2008 is rated Avoid. It has a complaint index of 80 and ranks 5th worst among the 21 model years with data, driven mostly by Transmission & Powertrain complaints.
- What is the main problem with the 2008 WRX?
- NHTSA data shows Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 74% of complaints, mostly involving a clutch pedal bracket that cracks welds attaching it to the firewall, at a median 69,500 miles.
- Does the 2008 WRX have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 2008 WRX, covering airbags, electrical system (ignition switch and brake light switch), and brakes. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2008 WRX compare to other years?
- The 2008 WRX's complaint index of 80 is worse than the 2005 and 2006 model years, which are rated Good with complaint indexes of 35 and 40, but not as high as the 2017 WRX's index of 100.