NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2008–2009
Subaru Impreza STI complaints and VIN decoding
NHTSA lists 36 owner complaints for the Subaru Impreza STI from model years 2008 to 2009, and no vehicle recall campaigns filed under this model name. The 2008 model year drew the most complaints (33), and Engine and Engine Cooling is the component owners name most often.
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.
See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.
- 36 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
- 2 model years with data (2008–2009)
- most complaints: 2008 (33 for that model year)
- top component: Engine and Engine Cooling (15 complaints)
- 1 complaint reporting a crash (2.8%)
- 0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
- 0 complaints reporting an injury (0.0%)
- 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)
The 2008 model year has the most complaints: 33 of 36, or 91.7%. Next come 2009 (3).
| Model year | Complaints | Reporting a crash | Reporting a fire | Reporting an injury | Reporting a death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All model years | 36 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.
Engine and Engine Cooling is the component named most often, in 15 complaints (41.7% of all 36), followed by Power Train (11) and Structure (6).
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 15 | 41.7% |
| Power Train | 11 | 30.6% |
| Structure | 6 | 16.7% |
| Air Bags | 5 | 13.9% |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 13.9% |
| Engine | 2 | 5.6% |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 5.6% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 5.6% |
| Electrical System | 1 | 2.8% |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 2.8% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 2.8% |
One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.
What NHTSA owner complaints mean
These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.
- They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
- Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
- Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
- One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
- Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.
Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.
Are there any recalls for the Subaru Impreza STI?
NHTSA lists no vehicle recall campaigns filed under the model name Impreza STI. NHTSA sometimes files versions of a model under other names, so check the brand’s other models too, and use NHTSA’s VIN lookup (opens in a new tab) for any particular vehicle.
Which Subaru Impreza STI model year has the most complaints?
The 2008 model year, with 33 of the 36 complaints in NHTSA’s file (91.7%). The next is 2009 (3). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.
What is the most common Subaru Impreza STI complaint?
Engine and Engine Cooling is the component named most often: 15 complaints, or 41.7% of all 36. Power Train (11) and Structure (6) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.
How many Subaru Impreza STI complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?
Of the 36 complaints, 1 report a crash, 0 a fire, 0 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.
The Subaru models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Subaru VIN decoder with every Subaru model page, WMI code and VIN note.
- Subaru Outback 1995–2026 · 71 recalls · 9,746 complaints
- Subaru Forester 1998–2026 · 43 recalls · 6,483 complaints
- Subaru Legacy 1995–2025 · 76 recalls · 2,827 complaints
- Subaru Impreza 1995–2026 · 52 recalls · 2,607 complaints
- Subaru Crosstrek 2012–2026 · 13 recalls · 1,182 complaints
- Subaru Ascent 2019–2026 · 13 recalls · 1,031 complaints
- Subaru WRX 2002–2025 · 23 recalls · 974 complaints
- Subaru XV CrossTrek 2013–2017 · 3 recalls · 262 complaints
All Subaru models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year
Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.