AI Damage2008 Subaru WRX STI: common problems
Owners of the 2008 Subaru WRX STI filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 33% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 33% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 33% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Structure: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 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.
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.
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 17,150 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the WRX STI has 1 complaints (15 years in the data). This year has 3, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Subaru WRX STI?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, service brakes, structure. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 Subaru WRX 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 2008 Subaru WRX 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 2008 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 2026-11-05.