Body Problems of Subaru Impreza Wrx - part 1

Hood vibration (visual) when driving and going over minor bumps.

See all problems of the 2022 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

Rust is on the inside of the trunk.

See all problems of the 2015 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

3 years old car. Rust on weld spot in engine bay.

See all problems of the 2017 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

Rust appearing on door(s) frame inside near weather strip, bubbling outwards and showing outside on b-pillar.

In January 2019 around 10pm pst my 2018 Subaru wrx experienced a serious malfunction. At the time of this incient I was in a sucluded, wooded area without cellphone service, as well as being atleast 30minutes to the nearest store. This could have been deadly. I was going down a hill at 35mph, it was very rainy and difficult to see. At the bottom of this hill was a sharp right turn, at this time the safety system actived taking over all control of the vehicle. This caused steering to lock up, turning to the far left. At the right was a 15-20foot drop into a lake. The turn I was supposed to take was a sharp right. Still unable regain control and was driving straight towards the fast approaching lake. Shortly before dropoff I was able to force the sterring wheel to the right. But steering again locked up and forced me to the far right. Off the road to the right was heavly wooded. Narowly able to regain control of sterring I crashed through bushes. Causing minor damage to the following; passenger side mirror, scratches to whole passenger side, deep dent on lower rear door and quarter panel. Rear passenger tire collided with a tree stump with impact at 35mph stopping the car instantly. Tire was separated from the rim by a tree branch, lower control arm was bent and cracked, entire rear drive axle was push to the right causeing alignment of the driver side rear tire to be pushed out. The airbags did not deploy and I hit my head on the driver's side window. The car was 100% undrivable tire wouldn't move. Taking damage tire off and putting on donugt took over an hour, I couldn't get the damaged tire off. A lot more to this as well. I have complained about this issue many times and dealership did nothing. I am scared of this car and will never own a Subaru again. I want this car gone!!!! something of this nature happens everyday with my car. Just once it caused an accident.

See all problems of the 2018 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

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! my vehicle currently sits at 92k miles because of the poor clutch engagement I had to replace my clutch at 78k. I have video and photo evidence to go along with everything that is stated above, but a quick google search will show you that thousands of Subaru wrx and sti owners from 2008 to 2014 are or will experience this exact issue!.

See all problems of the 2008 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

Firewall spot welds have failed, causing significant lateral play in the clutch pedal. I have had some significant trouble trying to get it into gear. So I have had trouble shifting gears while at highway speeds and have had trouble getting it in reverse in order to pull out of a parking spot. The brake pedal is next in-line to be affected by the sheet metal tear. I keep hearing that this problem is not covered under any recall. Nor is it a warranty item at this year and mileage (105,000). This is a very significant issue and will cost a great deal (over $1000) to fix. This being a weld issue and not a wear issue makes me think that the factory ought to cover this safety issue. This has been happening for the last year and a half. But I have only recently discovered the true extent of the problem.

There are 3 weld spots on my firewall that are snapped. Because of this I constantly hear snapping sounds and my break pedal moves when the clutch is depressed. This was a recall on the car but Subaru of America says that I cant get it fixed under warranty. I bought the car used from a Subaru dealership in ramsey NJ pre-owned certified and this problem should have been fixed before I purchased the car. Ive had the car for about 6 months or so. The sound is driving me crazy and the cracks are getting worse.

Creaking clutch pedal really is the firewall pedal mounting bracket that is factory spot welded onto the drivers side dash section of the firewall under the dash board has its weak factory spot welds broken. I had replaced the clutch on my car as it was weak and thought replacing it would make the creaking sound go away. Replacing the clutch made the squeaking noise louder and now my brake pedal moves right into the path of the clutch when it is pressed and back to its place when depressed. This is a safety concern as I am a father and cannot guarantee this car is safe to drive at all. I spent $1,200 on the installation as I provided the parts to the Subaru dealer. After receiving my car back, the car became inoperable as the clutch is difficult to engage safely into any gear. I contacted Subaru of America as per the dealers advice and was denied any compensation for structural repairs to my vehicle.

The firewall is cracking which can cause the clutch pedal to become inoperable. After I had work done on my car the mechanic told me that the firewall was cracking and that I would need to contact Subaru of America for possible coverage. They denied me coverage because it would be too costly despite the firewall being a known issue on the wrx from 2008-2014.

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.

See all problems of the 2009 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

Clutch and brake pedal brackets affixed to firewall break loose and cause brake pedal to shift towards the clutch, which could lead to issues stopping in emergency situation.

See all problems of the 2010 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

I bought the car used with the clutch pedal squeaking. Ignored it because I thought it just needed grease. I was driving home last night when the clutch pedal got stuck pressed all the way down. I started researching and found many posts of people with the same problem. The squeaking was caused by the clutch pedal mounting bracket separating from the fire wall. I crawled under the dashboard to look, and sure enough it is broken.

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 clutch pedal on my 2013 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 three spot welds securing the clutch pedal bracket to the forward firewall could be broken. From the outside of the firewall, just under the windshield wipers, I saw the spot welds pulling away from the firewall every time the clutch pedal was depressed. This allows the entire clutch pedal bracket assembly to move, causing the creaking noise. If the bracket completely separates from the firewall, the clutch may become completely inoperative - especially dangerous while driving. I have also read online that this manufacturing defect can also cause your clutch to go out quicker. The firewall needs to be re-welded and reinforced and a new clutch needs to be installed. . Read more...

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A couple years ago my clutch started to creak. I asked the local Subaru dealer to check it when I took it in for a scheduled oil change. I got told they couldn't find a problem. So I thought nothing of it. I just took it back to the dealer and got told the spot welds on the firewall. Subaru offered to fix the welds but I have to pay for a new clutch assembly. If the welds totally fail this could become a serious safety issue as it will affect the brake motion also.

I had an issue previously with the welds for the clutch pedal assembly cracking on the firewall. It got so bad that the whole pedal assembly with the brake and gas pedal shifted left every time I depressed the clutch. It eventually caused the clutch to not disengage entirely and burn out. Subaru of America fixed the problem by sending it to a body shop to re-weld the pedal assembly to the firewall but now, just a few years later, the pedal is squeaking again just like it did last time the welds broke. I haven't taken it in yet but it is an unmistakable sound.

While depressing the clutch or brake pedal in the vehicle I see excessive flex at the firewall and noticeable movement of break and clutch cylinders. My spot welds do not appear broken at this time however they are likely to fatigue and break. This appears to be a major defect which is a safety concern as it affects breaking and shifting. Subaru should be held accountable and correct the problem.

See all problems of the 2014 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

The spot welds that hold my clutch pedal assembly on the fire wall are breaking and causing problems getting car into 1st and reverse.

The clutch pedal on my 2008 wrx makes a creaking and popping noise when the pedal is depressed/released. I am not entirely sure how long it has been making this noise, and originally I had thought nothing of it. After reading some forums online, I began to suspect that the spot welds on the firewall were broken. From what I understand this is a fairly common issue with this model of car. I called Subaru of America to file a complaint and try to get the issue resolved. When I spoke with a representative on the phone, he informed me that he was aware of the issue, and requested that I take the car in to a dealership to confirm that this was indeed the problem. I took the car in and they confirmed that my spot welds were broken. This is a major safety concern as the firewall is flexing every time the clutch pedal is engaged. The brake pedal moves to the left due to the way the firewall flexes when the pedal is engaged. If the clutch pedal bracket assembly separates from the firewall entirely, this could cause the clutch to become inoperable, which could be particularly dangerous if it occurs while the vehicle is in use. . Read more...

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. My safety concern is that this does appear to have an impact on the functionality of clutch pedal and brakes under all normal conditions of use. Full breakage of the assembly could result in loss of control, injury, and or death. Original claim to soa was #1-5644625090, represented by rich.

The part of the steel body under the dash that supports the clutch pedal shaft assembly fractures into two pieces due to flex forces over time. This results in the clutch master cylinder flexing at its mounting point on the firewall when clutch pedal is depressed. Severed squeaking and noise is heard every time the clutch is depressed as a result. Welding is not feasible as it is located un the dash (above the accelerator pedal) and would cause fire around flammable materials. This can be seen on youtube videos submitted by Subaru wrx owners and affects 2008-2014 wrx impreza vehicles. Should firewall fracture due to this flex over time, ability to disengage the clutch by pressing the pedal would result and present a very high probability of crash or accident as a lack of vehicle control and ability to stop vehicle. . Read more...

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 reat coner 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 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. This could be catastrophic if you are on a road trip or away from any dealership. The service writer also had said this is fairly common with the new 2015 wrx and they are getting about two vehicles coming back with the same problem per week. Subaru needs to take responsibility for their faulty design and recall all vehicles affected. This should be investigated immediately.

2008 wrx, 61k miles driven since September 2007. Second clutch replacement and was told by the dealership service (kirkland, wa) that the spot welds for the clutch need work done by body shop - about $1200. Was told that this was because of the weight of the clutch but the clutch was almost always heavy in the car. It first became heavy 1-3 months after it was purchased and about the same time after the clutch was first replaced. I understand the clutch could get worn in a few years, but body structure letting go is not something I'd expect to happen in a 7 year old car. . Read more...

This is the well known and documented firewall weld issue for the pedal bracket. The welds have broken and the pedal bracket now shifts when I press down on the clutch. It makes a loud popping noise as well as creaking and squeaking. If left unchecked, the issue will worsen and the entire bracket may break off while driving, causing a huge safety concern. Subaru needs to be forced to recall this and pay to fix all of them.

Had a clutch pedal sqeek noise for a little while, then while driving, went to push in the clutch, heard a pop noise. Then the brake pedal and clutch pedal began to move in erratic directions when depressed. The piece of sheet metal that the pedal assembly bolts to broke away from the firewall. All the welds broke do to flexing in the firewall sheetmetal.

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 three spot welds securing the clutch pedal bracket to the forward firewall were broken. From the outside of the firewall, just under the windshield wipers, I saw the spot welds pulling away from the firewall every time the clutch pedal was depressed. This allows the entire clutch pedal bracket assembly to move, causing the creaking noise. If the bracket completely separates from the firewall, the clutch may become completely inoperative - especially dangerous while driving. I eventually fixed it myself with a custom made brace and some bolts.

I am the only owner of a 2009 Subaru Impreza Wrx sedan. I noticed my clutch squeaking about 10,000 miles ago. I brought it into a Subaru dealer to have it check out at the time of occurrence and they told me nothing was wrong. About 3000 miles ago, the clutch started to "click" inside the vehicle. For my 50,000 mile service, I asked the service department to check out the noise. The service department came back to me and told me that my firewall has torn. They told me they have seen this before and that it was a result of poor spot welds on the firewall done by the factory. As a result, the service department said my clutch will need replacing because the tear in the firewall has messed up the clutch alignment. The service department also told me that I am lucky I caught this problem early because in a similar case they saw it destroyed the transmission of a different wrx. Currently, Subaru is trying to brush this under the rug offering to fix the firewall for free but wants to charge me $1000 to replace the clutch. I have called Subaru of America to report the issued and to see if they will cover the repair. Subaru of America said they are aware of this being an issue with their vehicles and will investigate this specific case. I am an avid Subaru enthusiast and have been reading about hundreds of other impreza owners facing the same issue as mine.

When I bought the car from the used car lot I noticed the clutch pedal when being pressed and depressed made a squeaking noise. I figured it was probably lack of lubrication so I went ahead and lubricated the pedal assembly and the noise stayed the same. Couple months go by and the noise got much louder and sometimes a loud pop would occur. Recently I did some research and found out that many other wrx owners have had the same issue. So I followed the procedures to check the cause of the noise and it seems to be that the welds on the firewall have been broken and are causing the noise. I also noticed my brake pedal shifts every time I press the clutch pedal. As time progresses it feels as if its getting harder to shift. I'm afraid that this issue is causing premature wear of the transmission. Every time I press the clutch pedal I fear that the clutch pedal assembly is going to rip off the firewall.

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.

I have been having a strange noise coming from my clutch every time I would go to switch gears. I then called Subaru of America and filed a case in there service department. They then told me to take it into a dealer to have it looked at. After taking my Subaru to a local dealer and having my car looked at the mechanic in his service write up said "clutch pedal assembly loose and moving". I was also told that the reason for this issue was because the welds holding the assembly to the firewall had broken off and now need to be re-welded back together so that they will work again. The dealer told me that they do not feel that it is that big of a safety issue and released me with the car to go back home in. However every time the pedal is pressed the entire assembly moves side to side making the welds even less strong. After looking this issue up online I noticed that I am not the only other person that has had this issue and many feel like it is a safety issue that Subaru is failed to look into.

Welds holding the clutch and brake pedal assembly to the firewall are breaking. Depressing the clutch causes flexing. If/when it breaks off, the car will be dangerous due to no foot braking and an engaged clutch. Seems like a common problem with this model. Time for a manufacturer paid fix.

On my 2009 Subaru Impreza Wrx, I've dealt with a squeaky clutch pedal for quite some time, close to 30k miles now. Within the past 5k miles, a clicking sound has occurred at the same time and within the past 1k miles the sound has grown significantly worse with a grinding sound in addition to all previous sounds. Upon further inspection the entire pedal bracket assembly moves upon clutch or brake pedal engagement. In addition, clutch cylinder moves when it should be static. This is all due to the firewall being too thin, flexing, and ultimately the metal endured enough fatigue to break around the pedal bracket spot welds. This issue is a safety issue because the pedal assembly should never move, nor should it separate from the firewall. No recall as of yet, despite this being a known issue to the manufacturer for several years. Current mileage is 56,740 miles.

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.