"How reliable is the 2008 Subaru Wrx?"

"Based on 119 NHTSA complaints, the 2008 Subaru Wrx has a median complaint mileage of 80000 miles. The most common issue is Power Train."

"What are common problems with the 2008 Subaru Wrx?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Subaru Wrx is Power Train, accounting for a significant portion of the 119 total complaints filed."

2008 Subaru Wrx: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 119 complaints

119

Total Complaints

80,000mi

Median Mileage

Power Train

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

57,000 25th Percentile

80,000 Median Mileage

98,650 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Power Train

Body

Service Brakes

Unknown Or Other

Vehicle Speed Control

Clutch Assembly

Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle)

Fuel/Propulsion System

Engine

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO I HAD SMELLED GAS FUMES PERIODICALLY WHEN THE MY CAR WAS IDLING. A FEW DAYS AGO THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I HAD THE ECU CODE READ AT A LOCAL STORE AND THE TECHNICIAN THERE STATED THAT THE ENGINE CODE WAS "P0171 SYSTEM TOO LEAN (BANK 1)". ON MONDAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE..."

"WELDS HOLDING PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO FIREWALL ARE BROKEN, SQUEAKING CLUTCH, VERY HARD TO GET INTO GEAR, BREAK PEDAL MOVING WHEN USING CLUTCH. *TR"

"THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2008 IMPREZA WRX FEELS GRITTY AND 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..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Power Train 44 complaints

25th: 53,000 mi Median: 68,750 mi 75th: 91,500 mi

Body 25 complaints

25th: 56,000 mi Median: 80,000 mi 75th: 100,000 mi

Service Brakes 24 complaints

25th: 54,000 mi Median: 70,236 mi 75th: 92,000 mi

Unknown Or Other 10 complaints

25th: 71,559 mi Median: 76,125 mi 75th: 92,500 mi

Vehicle Speed Control 4 complaints

25th: 79,250 mi Median: 88,500 mi 75th: 97,750 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 28 NJ: 9 TX: 9 IL: 8 OR: 7 WA: 5 PA: 4 CO: 4 TN: 4 NY: 3

Subaru Wrx — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
2002	461	40,000	Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings	20
2003	65	31,000	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	16
2004	46	73,500	Fuel System, Gasoline	1
2005	24	48,800	Fuel System, Gasoline	0
2009	72	74,301	Power Train	0
2015	73	26,000	Power Train	4
2016	40	30,000	Electrical System	1
2017	69	37,000	Electrical System	16
2018	61	14,500	Engine	13
2019	37	29,750	Electrical System	0
2020	23	9,600	Electrical System	3
2021	20	-	Power Train	0
2022	30	-	Engine	2

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28