54 of the
1,232 complaints filed about the Subaru WRX
are about the body and structure —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2008.
The component failing is the side skirts or, as officially described in the Subaru parts diagram, the „Side Spoiler“. It can also be found as part numbers 96051, and 96051A. It can be easily visually inspected. This puts others at risk because it may end up dragging on the road, or falling off entirely which poses a major safety risk to other drivers because it is a piece of plastic nearly the length of the entire wheelbase. After talking with other owners, they have had the same issue, and in my case I had the issue a few months after purchasing the car. Then when the rear of the car was replaced and fixed due to an accident, they fixed this issue, but it came back a month after being repaired. I do not know if it has been inspected by Subaru or police or insurance, but they may see it as a recurring issue. There were know warning lamps or messages. I only noticed when inspecting my car before use or while washing it.
NHTSA complaint #11705637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN JANUARY 2019 AROUND 10PM PST MY 2018 SUBARU WRX EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION. AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIENT I WAS IN A SUCLUDED, WOODED AREA WITHOUT CELLPHONE SERVICE, AS WELL AS BEING ATLEAST 30MINUTES TO THE NEAREST STORE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL AT 35MPH, IT WAS VERY RAINY AND DIFFICULT TO SEE. AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS HILL WAS A SHARP RIGHT TURN, AT THIS TIME THE SAFETY SYSTEM ACTIVED TAKING OVER ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED STEERING TO LOCK UP, TURNING TO THE FAR LEFT. AT THE RIGHT WAS A 15-20FOOT DROP INTO A LAKE. THE TURN I WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE WAS A SHARP RIGHT. STILL UNABLE REGAIN CONTROL AND WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE FAST APPROACHING LAKE. SHORTLY BEFORE DROPOFF I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE STERRING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. BUT STEERING AGAIN LOCKED UP AND FORCED ME TO THE FAR RIGHT. OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT WAS HEAVLY WOODED. NAROWLY ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF STERRING I CRASHED THROUGH BUSHES. CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE FOLLOWING; PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR, SCRATCHES TO WHOLE PASSENGER SIDE, DEEP DENT ON LOWER REAR DOOR AND QUARTER PANEL. REAR PASSENGER TIRE COLLIDED WITH A TREE STUMP WITH IMPACT AT 35MPH STOPPING THE CAR INSTANTLY. TIRE WAS SEPARATED FROM THE RIM BY A TREE BRANCH, LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS BENT AND CRACKED, ENTIRE REAR DRIVE AXLE WAS PUSH TO THE RIGHT CAUSEING ALIGNMENT OF THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE TO BE PUSHED OUT. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I HIT MY HEAD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THE CAR WAS 100% UNDRIVABLE TIRE WOULDN'T MOVE. TAKING DAMAGE TIRE OFF AND PUTTING ON DONUGT TOOK OVER AN HOUR, I COULDN'T GET THE DAMAGED TIRE OFF. A LOT MORE TO THIS AS WELL. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE MANY TIMES AND DEALERSHIP DID NOTHING. I AM SCARED OF THIS CAR AND WILL NEVER OWN A SUBARU AGAIN. I WANT THIS CAR GONE!!!! SOMETHING OF THIS NATURE HAPPENS EVERYDAY WITH MY CAR. JUST ONCE IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT
NHTSA complaint #11205600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE WELDS THAT ATTACH THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDDLE TO THE VEHICLE BRAKE AND ALLOW THE WHOLE PEDDLE ASSEMBLY TO MOVE. BECAUSE OF THIS, BRAKING EFFICIENCY AND DRIVE GEAR ENGAGEMENT BECOME COMPROMISED. IN THE EVENT THAT A HARD STOP IS NEEDED, THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY COULD BRAKE AND KEEP THE DRIVER FROM BEING ABLE TO STOP. THIS ISSUE IS A HUGE HAZARD! THIS IS NOT A CONVENIENCE ISSUE, THIS IS A LIFE AND SAFETY ISSUE TO NOT ONLY THE OCCUPANTS OF THE SUBARU BUT EVERYONE ON THE ROAD! I HAVE CONTACTED SOA, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE REPAIR MYSELF. THIS REPAIR IS NOT JUST SOME NUTS AND BOLTS COMING LOOSE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THIS IS A HUGE REPAIR THAT IS STRUCTURAL TO THE VEHICLE. AT COSTS OF WELL INTO THE THOUSANDS! SOA KNOWS OF THE ISSUE AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY SITS AT 92K MILES BECAUSE OF THE POOR CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT I HAD TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH AT 78K. I HAVE VIDEO AND PHOTO EVIDENCE TO GO ALONG WITH EVERYTHING THAT IS STATED ABOVE, BUT A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH WILL SHOW YOU THAT THOUSANDS OF SUBARU WRX AND STI OWNERS FROM 2008 TO 2014 ARE OR WILL EXPERIENCE THIS EXACT ISSUE!
NHTSA complaint #11171257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FIREWALL SPOT WELDS HAVE FAILED, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT LATERAL PLAY IN THE CLUTCH PEDAL. I HAVE HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT TROUBLE TRYING TO GET IT INTO GEAR. SO I HAVE HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAVE HAD TROUBLE GETTING IT IN REVERSE IN ORDER TO PULL OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NEXT IN-LINE TO BE AFFECTED BY THE SHEET METAL TEAR. I KEEP HEARING THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALL. NOR IS IT A WARRANTY ITEM AT THIS YEAR AND MILEAGE (105,000). THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE AND WILL COST A GREAT DEAL (OVER $1000) TO FIX. THIS BEING A WELD ISSUE AND NOT A WEAR ISSUE MAKES ME THINK THAT THE FACTORY OUGHT TO COVER THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. BUT I HAVE ONLY RECENTLY DISCOVERED THE TRUE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11162027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE ARE 3 WELD SPOTS ON MY FIREWALL THAT ARE SNAPPED. BECAUSE OF THIS I CONSTANTLY HEAR SNAPPING SOUNDS AND MY BREAK PEDAL MOVES WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. THIS WAS A RECALL ON THE CAR BUT SUBARU OF AMERICA SAYS THAT I CANT GET IT FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM A SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN RAMSEY NJ PRE-OWNED CERTIFIED AND THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR. IVE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS OR SO. THE SOUND IS DRIVING ME CRAZY AND THE CRACKS ARE GETTING WORSE.
NHTSA complaint #11150894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CREAKING CLUTCH PEDAL REALLY IS THE FIREWALL PEDAL MOUNTING BRACKET THAT IS FACTORY SPOT WELDED ONTO THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH SECTION OF THE FIREWALL UNDER THE DASH BOARD HAS ITS WEAK FACTORY SPOT WELDS BROKEN. I HAD REPLACED THE CLUTCH ON MY CAR AS IT WAS WEAK AND THOUGHT REPLACING IT WOULD MAKE THE CREAKING SOUND GO AWAY. REPLACING THE CLUTCH MADE THE SQUEAKING NOISE LOUDER AND NOW MY BRAKE PEDAL MOVES RIGHT INTO THE PATH OF THE CLUTCH WHEN IT IS PRESSED AND BACK TO ITS PLACE WHEN DEPRESSED. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS I AM A FATHER AND CANNOT GUARANTEE THIS CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE AT ALL. I SPENT $1,200 ON THE INSTALLATION AS I PROVIDED THE PARTS TO THE SUBARU DEALER. AFTER RECEIVING MY CAR BACK, THE CAR BECAME INOPERABLE AS THE CLUTCH IS DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE SAFELY INTO ANY GEAR. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AS PER THE DEALERS ADVICE AND WAS DENIED ANY COMPENSATION FOR STRUCTURAL REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11099309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FIREWALL IS CRACKING WHICH CAN CAUSE THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO BECOME INOPERABLE. AFTER I HAD WORK DONE ON MY CAR THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE FIREWALL WAS CRACKING AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO CONTACT SUBARU OF AMERICA FOR POSSIBLE COVERAGE. THEY DENIED ME COVERAGE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE TOO COSTLY DESPITE THE FIREWALL BEING A KNOWN ISSUE ON THE WRX FROM 2008-2014
NHTSA complaint #11067358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAILED WELDS CONNECTING PEDAL PANEL TO THE FIREWALL. RESULTS IN LOUD SQUEAKING WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED/RELEASED AND CAR IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET IN OR OUT OF GEAR. CAUSES MOVEMENT OF BRAKE PEDAL AS WELL WHICH COULD CAUSE MAJOR ISSUES. THIS HAPPENS MOVING AND PARKED
NHTSA complaint #11062717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL BRACKETS AFFIXED TO FIREWALL BREAK LOOSE AND CAUSE BRAKE PEDAL TO SHIFT TOWARDS THE CLUTCH, WHICH COULD LEAD TO ISSUES STOPPING IN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #11044528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE WELDS WHERE THE CLUTCH PEDAL ATTACHES TO THE FIREWALL ARE BREAKING. THE SAME BRACKET IS ATTACHED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ENTIRE BRAKE & CLUTCH ASSEMBLY COULD BREAK OFF OF THE FIREWALL. THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING.
NHTSA complaint #10966672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL SQUEAKING. IGNORED IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT JUST NEEDED GREASE. I WAS DRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL GOT STUCK PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN. I STARTED RESEARCHING AND FOUND MANY POSTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SQUEAKING WAS CAUSED BY THE CLUTCH PEDAL MOUNTING BRACKET SEPARATING FROM THE FIRE WALL. I CRAWLED UNDER THE DASHBOARD TO LOOK, AND SURE ENOUGH IT IS BROKEN.
NHTSA complaint #10958678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FIREWALL ON MY SUBARU WRX HATCHBACK IS FLEXING SO BAD THAT MY CLUTCH WILL NOT FULLY ENGAGE NOR DISENGAGE. I FEEL THAT IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUES TO MYSELF AND MY FAMILY/FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY BRAKE PEDAL OR CLUTCH PEDAL COULD PENETRATE THE FIREWALL DUE TO THE FLEXING/CRACKING. THE FIREWALL FLEX IS PREVENTING MY CAR FROM GETTING ROUTINE SERVICE THAT IS SCHEDULED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. I WENT TO GET MY CLUTCH LOOKED AT TODAY (FEBRUARY 20 2017) AT AAMCO TRANSMISSIONS IN WATERTOWN, NY AS THE CLUTCH WAS NOT ENGAGING NOR DISENGAGING FULLY AND THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT THEY FOUND THE FIREWALL WAS FLEXING TO THE POINT THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY MOVING AND COULD NOT COMPLETE ITS REQUIRED ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT POINTS.
NHTSA complaint #10955642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BODY IS DETERIORATING SO FAST. I LAUGH AT THE SUBARU COMMERCIAL WHERE THE PARENTS GIVE THEIR KIDS THE OLD CAR. I WOULD NOT TRUST THE OLD SUBARU TO KEEP MY CHILDREN SAFE. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRAME, AND AM LETTING THE BODY RUST. THE SICKENING SMELL OF FUMES LIKE GAS IN THE WINTER ARE HORRIBLE. WHEN I KEEP THE SUBARU IN THE GARAGE, IT MAKES MY WHOLE HOUSE TOXIC WITH FUMES. SUBARU WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL ON IT, BECAUSE I AM IN OHIO, AND OHIO IS NOT A "COLD-WEATHER" STATE, BUT DO THEY REALIZE WE HAVE TONS OF SNOW AND FRIGID TEMPERATURES IN THE WINTER. I CAN'T STAND BY SUBARU NO LONGER, BUT CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR. WHEN I DO, IT WILL NOT BE A SUBARU.
NHTSA complaint #10936296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2013 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 COULD BE 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. THIS ALLOWS THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY TO MOVE, CAUSING THE CREAKING NOISE. IF THE BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATES FROM THE FIREWALL, THE CLUTCH MAY BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE - ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE ALSO READ ONLINE THAT THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT CAN ALSO CAUSE YOUR CLUTCH TO GO OUT QUICKER. THE FIREWALL NEEDS TO BE RE-WELDED AND REINFORCED AND A NEW CLUTCH NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED. REFERENCE LINKS: HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=2535257 HTTP://WWW.CLUBWRX.NET/FORUMS/TRANSMISSION-AWD/134367588-FIREWALL-WELDS-BREAKING-2.HTML HTTP://CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/SUBARU/IMPR...S-PROBLEMS.PHP HTTP://WWW.FAQS.ORG/CAR/SUBARU-IMPRE...POWER-TRAIN/#B HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/84-D...ON-NEEDED.HTML HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/37-C...INKAGE-45.HTML HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/84-D...EWALL-FIX.HTML HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/37-C...BLY-ISSUE.HTML HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/84-D...S-STORY-2.HTML HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/84-D...L-PROBLEM.HTML HTTP://WWW.WRXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/84-D...OLT-STYLE.HTML HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOW....PHP?T=2128617 HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOW....PHP?T=2184210 HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOW....PHP?T=2305937.
NHTSA complaint #10910647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAD AN ISSUE PREVIOUSLY WITH THE WELDS FOR THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY CRACKING ON THE FIREWALL. IT GOT SO BAD THAT THE WHOLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL SHIFTED LEFT EVERY TIME I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH. IT EVENTUALLY CAUSED THE CLUTCH TO NOT DISENGAGE ENTIRELY AND BURN OUT. SUBARU OF AMERICA FIXED THE PROBLEM BY SENDING IT TO A BODY SHOP TO RE-WELD THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL BUT NOW, JUST A FEW YEARS LATER, THE PEDAL IS SQUEAKING AGAIN JUST LIKE IT DID LAST TIME THE WELDS BROKE. I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT IN YET BUT IT IS AN UNMISTAKABLE SOUND.
NHTSA complaint #10871148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A COUPLE YEARS AGO MY CLUTCH STARTED TO CREAK. I ASKED THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER TO CHECK IT WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR A SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. I GOT TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. SO I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. I JUST TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND GOT TOLD THE SPOT WELDS ON THE FIREWALL. SUBARU OFFERED TO FIX THE WELDS BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. IF THE WELDS TOTALLY FAIL THIS COULD BECOME A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS IT WILL AFFECT THE BRAKE MOTION ALSO.
NHTSA complaint #10851681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.