general problems of the 2009 Subaru Impreza Wrx

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.

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.

The welds connecting the pedal assembly to the firewall have broken. Verified with photo proof.

On December 23rd, I had my son, take his Subaru wrx to brown's Subaru in manassas, va for an oil & filter change and to have fixed an annoying click sound which occurs each time the clutch pedal is depressed. Brown's determined that the clutch mounting to the firewall was cracked and would have to be fixed or the clutch & brake pedals would break away. I researched the clutch problem last night. The crack in the mounting of the clutch to the firewall is a defect known to Subaru of America. All wrx's from 2008 forward have this issue no recall. If it is not fixed, the clutch pedal and brake which are on the same mounting will break away completely. It seems to me that this is a very serious safety issue.

The welds where the clutch pedal attaches to the firewall are breaking. The same bracket is attached to the brake pedal. The entire brake & clutch assembly could break off of the firewall. This could result in a loss of braking.

The clutch pedal on my 2009 wrx makes a loud creaking noise every time it's depressed. When I investigated the noise, I noticed that the entire clutch pedal bracket assembly (attached to the forward firewall) shifts approx 1/4 inch every time the clutch pedal is depressed. I found that the spot welds securing the clutch pedal bracket to the forward firewall seem to be broken. This allows the entire clutch pedal bracket assembly to move, causing the creaking noise. I am afraid that if the problem gets worse the clutch will fail to disengage completely. If the bracket completely separates from the firewall, the clutch may become completely inoperative - especially dangerous while driving. It is especially disconcerting to watch the brake pedal move back and forth when the clutch pedal is depressed.

I bought my Subaru in February of 2013 with approx 75000 miles on the odo. I believe the defect had already been there when I bought it and I hadn't noticed it until it got slightly worse. The brake pedal and the clutch flexes when I press either of them. Pressing the clutch will move the brake pedal in the down position approx. 1/3 of an inch same with the brake pedal. The welds connecting the pedal bracket to the firewall are not welded correctly. It needs to be reinforced by something else to assure me that the clutch and the brake pedal will not move whilst driving. It scares me to drive my vehicle to and from work because of the possibility that these welds will break. Which will make me unable to press either pedal and I could lose my ability to clutch and brake. Which could result in me going 70mph possibly (interstate speeds) into another car or obstacle. Or simply rear ending someone in traffic or rolling back into them being unable to brake. If this bracket breaks off of the bulkhead/firewall I will have no brakes or clutch then my car becomes a public safety issue. Someone or people could get hurt if this happens and it could.

I was driving slowly through my neighborhood, put in the clutch and heard a loud crack. I couldnt figure out what it was so after taking a quick look I kept driving. Every time I put the clutch in I heard a loud creak or squeak. It got worse over the next months. Yesterday, I realized that the firewall had cracked where the clutch and brake pedal mount. The metal flexes when clutching or braking. If I use the clutch I can see the brake pedal move about half an inch back. I do not believe this allows the clutch to fully depress and I think that if I have to make an emergency stop the crack could get worse and tear not allowing the car to stop at all.

Said bracket ripped almost in half on one side. It's about a 3 inch tard from a factory drilled hole in bracket. Now the clutch pedal will not fully return and brake pedal moves sideways.