Most common 2009 Subaru WRX problems
Share of the 41 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Subaru WRX complaints by model year
Best WRX years: 2010, 2012, 2011. Years to avoid: 2017, 2015, 2022, 2009, 2024. Compare all years →
2009 Subaru WRX recalls (10)
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,…
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.
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,…
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.
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,…
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.
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.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019.
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.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Tribeca, Impreza, Forester, WRX, Legacy, and Outback vehicles 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…
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783.
Show 4 more recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the…
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009 Tribeca, Impreza, Forester, WRX, Legacy, and Outback vehicles 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…
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Impreza, 2008-2014 WRX and STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,…
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will apply an anti-corrosion wax to the four-way joint connector area of the brake line system, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2015.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New…
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will test the brake system by depressing the brake pedal and inspecting for brake fluid leaks.
What 2009 Subaru WRX owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 33 →
I purchased my WRX in 2009 from the local Subaru dealer here in chicago. I am original owner of this vehicle. A year ago I first noticed a problem with the clutch pedal. When fully pressed it made a loud creaking noise. When I investigated the noise I noticed that the entire clutch + pedal bracket assembly moves and shifts approximately 1/4 inch. When I removed windshield wipers I noticed that 4 spot welds that secure the clutch pedal bracket to the forward firewall are broken. I can see holes in the firewall sheet metal every time I press the clutch pedal. The entire clutch bracket assembly moves out of alignment causing this cracking noise. Finally two weeks ago the noise went away all by itself. I noticed that the entire assembly shifts even more to one side when clutch is pressed and I have extreme trouble shifting into a gear. …
I got off work and was on my way home, pushed the clutch in to hear a wonderful snap and I had zero control of my clutch causing me to not be able to shift into or out of any gear. Chassis fatigue and cracking resulting in damage/potential compromise of driver controls. Welds on the firewall are poor and its a manufacturer fault that many have brought to surface with the NHTSA and the soa (Subaru of America) but there is not enough of the cars produced for anyone to take action or for Subaru to care for the safety of the owners of the vehicle. Losing complete operation of the clutch assembly due to the welds of the very poor spot welded firewall going out is a major concern and should be addressed as a high risk safety hazard for the operator and others on public roadways. I need Subaru to fix the problem that they caused from the very beginning of the manufacture process of my vehicle.
Body & structure
I got off work and was on my way home, pushed the clutch in to hear a wonderful snap and I had zero control of my clutch causing me to not be able to shift into or out of any gear. Chassis fatigue and cracking resulting in damage/potential compromise of driver controls. Welds on the firewall are poor and its a manufacturer fault that many have brought to surface with the NHTSA and the soa (Subaru of America) but there is not enough of the cars produced for anyone to take action or for Subaru to care for the safety of the owners of the vehicle. Losing complete operation of the clutch assembly due to the welds of the very poor spot welded firewall going out is a major concern and should be addressed as a high risk safety hazard for the operator and others on public roadways. I need Subaru to fix the problem that they caused from the very beginning of the manufacture process of my vehicle.
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.
Brakes
My car has been experiencing a loud squeaking and clicking when shifting and brake pedal moves when clutch is depressed. This is a know defect in the firewall in which the firewall is very thin and flexes when the clutch is depressed causing the spot welds that hold the clutch/brake bracket to separate frome the firewall. This causes the brake pedal to move. It also can potentially prevent the clutch from disengaging while driving. Subaru is not recalling this known defect but they did acknowledge the issue as it was the mechanic that informed me of this issue.
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
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Subaru WRX a good car?
Based on 41 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 WRX rates avoid: 2.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the WRX at the same age. It is one of the WRX years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Subaru WRX?
The transmission & drivetrain — 33 complaints, 80% of all complaints for this model year, most often about clutch assembly. Next are the body & structure (13) and brakes (11).
How many recalls does the 2009 Subaru WRX have?
There are 10 recalls for the 2009 Subaru WRX, the most recent from January 2, 2020 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Subaru WRX?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2012 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2017, 2015, 2022, 2009 and 2024. See the full Subaru WRX years comparison.
At what mileage do 2009 Subaru WRX problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 72,000 miles; 15% 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.