AI Damage2009 Subaru Impreza STI: common problems
Owners of the 2009 Subaru Impreza STI filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 67% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 33% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (67% of all).
- Air bags: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
White smoke when start up, and smoke in the oil when car is running, possible blown ring land due to weak design, compression test needed to tell.
Passenger air bag does not turn on when passenger sits on it. The passenger weighs 105 pounds but if someone from 120 pounds and up it turns on. The 105 pound passenger has to bounce up and down to get the air bag to turn on sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
Piston ringland failure after 10k miles on brand new 2009 subaru impreza sti. Entire engine being replaced by subaru under warranty.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 17,152 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Impreza STI has 18 complaints (2 years in the data). This year has 3, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Subaru Impreza STI?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, air bags. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 Subaru Impreza STI?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2009 Subaru Impreza STI from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2009 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.