VehicleVerdict

2008 Subaru Impreza engine problems

The 2008 Subaru Impreza has 28 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 11% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

28

Engine complaints

11%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Related recalls

08V460000EngineSeptember 11, 2008 · 16,715 units

Defect

SUBARU IS RECALLING 16,715 MY 2007-2008 LEGACY SEDANS AND WAGONS, MY 2008 IMPREZA SEDANS AND WAGONS, AND MY 2009 FORESTER VEHICLES. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE THE CYLINDER HEAD-SIDE OIL SUPPLY PIPE AND TURBOCHARGER-SIDE PIPE IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED.

Consequence

VIBRATION WOULD OCCUR WHILE DRIVING AND, OVER TIME, COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN CRACKING THE PIPE WHICH WOULD ALLOW OIL TO LEAK. IF LEAKING OIL CONTACTS COMPONENTS OPERATING AT HIGH TEMPERATURES, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR CRACKING OR AN OIL LEAK AT THE OIL SUPPLY PIPE AT THE CYLINDER HEAD-SIDE. AN ADDITIONAL BRACKET WILL BE INSTALLED TO INCREASE RIGIDITY OF THE PIPE AND THE PIPE ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A MODIFIED PART. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

What owners report

2008 SUBARU WRX MANUAL TRANS. 22,500 MILES. BETWEEN THE TIME THE ENGINE COMES OFF HIGH IDLE (AFTER BEING STARTED COLD) AND WHEN IT IS COMPLETELY WARMED UP, THE ENGINE WILL DROP ITS RPM TO 0 CAUSING AN ENGINE STALL WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED IN ORDER TO CHANGE GEARS. THIS RECENTLY HAPPENED WHEN…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · February 3, 2010 · crash

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2008 Subaru Impreza have?

NHTSA has 28 complaints about the 2008 Subaru Impreza engine — 11% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2008 Subaru Impreza engine?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the engine: 08V460000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.