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2008 Subaru WRX STIProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 3 owner complaints about the 2008 Subaru WRX STI, most often about the power train. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-311 the manufacturer reports only 45% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 45%Owner complaints30 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage102kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 24, 2017. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2008 Subaru WRX STI has problems

3 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train10
Service brakes10
Structure10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2008 Subaru WRX STI recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

79%repaired · 2016 Q2

Service brakes, hydraulic

Recall 14V-830 · Dec 31, 2014 · 200,064 vehicles · 158,768 repaired

Risk. Brake fluid may leak due to the brake line corrosion and may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

45%repaired · 2015 Q4

Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 14V-311 · Jun 10, 2014 · 461,338 vehicles · 206,870 repaired

Risk. Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Subaru.

Best & worst years

2008 vs. every other WRX STI year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the WRX STI median. How we score

'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'18'19
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What WRX STI owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

THE BRAKE PEDAL BRACKET HAS BROKEN ALMOST COMPLETELY IN HALF. IF DRIVING WAS TO BE CONTINUED, THE BRAKES WOULD FAIL TO OPERATE. THIS HAPPENS AFTER REPEATED USE OF THE CLUTCH.
Complaint 10779557 · Oct 4, 2015 · 102,000 miles

Own a 2008 WRX STI?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.