Most common 2008 Subaru Impreza STI problems
Share of the 33 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Subaru Impreza STI complaints by model year
What 2008 Subaru Impreza STI owners say
Engine & cooling
1. I was driving the car on a road trip to nc when the issue arose. 2. The failure to the car was cracked ringlands on the # 2 and 4 pistons. This caused the car to produce a white smoke cloud on start up. Before I purchased this car Subaru issued a stop sale on all 2008 wrx's. The car was repaired at a local dealership under a goodwill repair. To which I was responsible for part of the cost. This repair was conducted in mar 2010. Since then the car has been operating very well until recently to which the engine has developed a knock. I had the car towed to the dealership to determine what the issue was. The dealership contacted me the next day to inform me that the rod bearing on cyl #4 had failed. This is the same issue that prompted Subaru to place a stop sale on the vehicles. …
The clutch bracket on the firewall has only 4 small tack welds from the factory. This bracket takes all the force of your leg pushing in the clutch every time you change a gear. It appears to be very common on the Subaru wrx STI for these small tacks to break away from the firewall and cause accelerated clutch wear and eventually clutch failure. My clutch failed and the dealer is now telling me that there is no knowledge of the problem and the repair for this manufacturing defect will not be covered by Subaru. Talking to other people and checking the STI forums this is a common problem that Subaru has paid for for some people. They are refusing to cover this for me.
Transmission & drivetrain
Check engine light went off, flashing cruise control, and flashing differential selection [s] code. Brought the car to the shop and had it checked out. The error code is p1410 which translates to something wrong with the secondary air injection system. Most likely one of the valves (or both) that operate with this system is rusted stuck the open or closed position (worse if its stuck open). Checking multiple forums this is happening regularly and Subaru is choosing not to cover it under warranty and/or recall. The part was poorly designed and is subject to rust/failure in humid, rainy, or snowy environments. This can be dangerous when driving as it puts your car in a limp mode turning off the cruise control unexpectedly and possibly forcing your car out of its multiple driving modes (via selector in the center console near the armrest below the shifter). …
There is a loud squeak noise when the clutch is being pressed, and at times when the structure flexes,it interferes with changing gears. Not only does it interfere with changing gears but,it also causes the break pedal assembly moves when pressing the clutch. I have verified that some weld spot have broken off and have become loose. This is a big problem seeing as how it is a safety issue. When it completely separates, due to shotty welding, not only could the clutch go out while driving but it could cause the breaks to go out as well. This is not wear and tear, I've only had the car for about a 1.5 years. Welds should not bust that quickly. I have verified in the Subaru community that this is a common problem manual transmission imprezas.
Body & structure
There is a loud squeak noise when the clutch is being pressed, and at times when the structure flexes,it interferes with changing gears. Not only does it interfere with changing gears but,it also causes the break pedal assembly moves when pressing the clutch. I have verified that some weld spot have broken off and have become loose. This is a big problem seeing as how it is a safety issue. When it completely separates, due to shotty welding, not only could the clutch go out while driving but it could cause the breaks to go out as well. This is not wear and tear, I've only had the car for about a 1.5 years. Welds should not bust that quickly. I have verified in the Subaru community that this is a common problem manual transmission imprezas.
My clutch pedal began clicking and creaking this summer. I finally found out that the welds that held the clutch to the firewall were broken. The clutch bracket has only a couple of spot welds that attach it to the firewall, and the firewall is very flimsy. The welds tore away and allowed the firewall, clutch assembly,. Brake assembly, and dash to move and shift whenever I clutched in, causing premature clutch failure and a very dangerous driving condition. This has happened to many gr/gv chassis. This is a known issue and Subaru needs to institute a recall about this dangerous issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Subaru Impreza STI a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the Impreza STI to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Subaru Impreza STI?
The engine & cooling — 15 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (11) and body & structure (6).
How many recalls does the 2008 Subaru Impreza STI have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2008 Subaru Impreza STI. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
At what mileage do 2008 Subaru Impreza STI problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 30,000 miles; 76% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.