Body complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I do not drive my vehicle very often as I drive my work truck six days a week. I got into my vehicle before getting on the freeway and realized I needed gas before I left. I got to the gas station with my gas light on and parked. After paying for gas I realized my gas cap access door was not open, as I thought I opened it. I tried multiple times opening the door with the release lever on the floor by the drivers seat. After twenty minutes of confusion I called the dealership and they told me to bring it over right away ( good thing they are down the street from me). After waiting for about an hour and talking to the tech and service writer I was able to obtain information on the cause of this (some what). There is a part on the release mechanism that is weak and fails causing you to not be able to access your gas cap. …
Avoiding a vehicle in blind spot. The vehicle in front of the truck in front of me hit his breaks causing the truck in front of me to hit his breaks, I clip the right front fascia into the left seat corner of the truck. The air bags did not deploy and the seat belt tensioner did not work. I pulled over, turned my vehicle off and my vehicle caught fire. My vehicle completely burned down to the frame and is a complete loss.
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.
The welds supporting the clutch pedal and brake pedal assembly have broken. The result is a prominent squeaking sound and a noticeable lateral movement of the pedal assembly to the left. This is a reoccurring issue as it had previously been addressed and repaired back in June of 2014. At the time Subaru of America agreed to pay for half of the repairs as the vehicle was outside of warranty coverage. The new issue are from broken welds in another area that was not inspected or did not appear to need repair at the time. Mileage at time of repair was 74,839, current mileage is 84,420 (3/16/2015). However, further research on this issue indicate that it is a widespread issue that has affected many other Subaru impreza owners with model years 2008 through 20012. This is not the result of owner neglect, misuse, or improper maintenance. …
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! …
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.
I'm filing my complaint with all the others about the strong fuel smell during the cold months. I cannot believe ohio is not included in the recall. I've taken my car to the dealer numerous times to be told that the car is okay. Frankly, this past cold winter has been awful. The smell makes it's way into the house. It is awful. I cannot believe Subaru does not believe ohio is cold and will not stand by its autos. Also, when I brought the auto in for a recall on the front control arms, they only rustproofed them and never told me the frame was rusted out. This was at 125,000 miles. This auto has been meticulously cared for. If this car is meant to be in all kinds of weather, why can't it stand up past 125,000 miles. Ridiculous! …
Frequently asked questions
Which Subaru WRX years have body problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2008 (26) and 2009 (13) model years. Body complaints make up 40% of all complaints for the 2008.
Is there a recall for Subaru WRX body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for any Subaru WRX model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Subaru WRX body problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles; 21% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the body (51 mentions), followed by the frame and members › underbody shields (1).
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.