2008 Subaru WRX STI Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2008 Subaru WRX STI, and owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2008 Subaru WRX STI
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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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, Ohio,…
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. Owners may contact Subaru…
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
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. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected areas will be rustproofed with…
3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2008 Subaru WRX STI have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 81,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 2015 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Secondary air valve, relay, and pump. There is a recall on the secondary air valve relay. The relay initiates the pump which causes the valve to open and close. After the recal was performed the secon”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 24, 2017 · Unknown or other
“Firewall flexes after repeated use of clutch, breaking spot welds on firewall and rendering clutch useless. Impossible to shift gears when this happens, and if in gear, car will not stop. Terrible bur”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 10, 2016 · Unknown or other
Compare Subaru WRX STI model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Subaru WRX STI model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 Subaru WRX STI | 2 | 3 |
| 2009 Subaru WRX STI | 2 | 2 |
| 2010 Subaru WRX STI | 2 | 1 |
| 2011 Subaru WRX STI | 2 | 1 |
| 2012 Subaru WRX STI | 2 | 1 |
| 2013 Subaru WRX STI | 2 | 2 |
| 2014 Subaru WRX STI | 2 | 0 |
| 2015 Subaru WRX STI | 0 | 3 |
| 2016 Subaru WRX STI | 0 | 3 |
| 2018 Subaru WRX STI | 0 | 2 |
| 2019 Subaru WRX STI | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 2008 Subaru WRX STI
How do I know if my 2008 Subaru WRX STI has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2008 Subaru WRX STI; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Subaru dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 14V311000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Subaru models
- Outback9,756 complaints
- Forester6,498 complaints
- Legacy3,185 complaints
- Impreza2,651 complaints
- Crosstrek1,186 complaints
- Ascent1,033 complaints
- WRX975 complaints
- Svx291 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.