2008 SUBARU WRX Service Brakes Problems

THE WELDS THAT ATTACH THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDDLE TO THE VEHICLE BRAKE AND ALLOW THE WHOLE PEDDLE ASSEMBLY TO MOVE. BECAUSE OF THIS, BRAKING EFFICIENCY AND DRIVE GEAR ENGAGEMENT BECOME COMPROMISED. IN THE EVENT THAT A HARD STOP IS NEEDED, THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY COULD BRAKE AND KEEP THE DRIVER FROM BEING ABLE TO STOP. THIS ISSUE IS A HUGE HAZARD! THIS IS NOT A CONVENIENCE ISSUE, THIS IS A LIFE AND SAFETY ISSUE TO NOT ONLY THE OCCUPANTS OF THE SUBARU BUT EVERYONE ON THE ROAD! I HAVE CONTACTED SOA, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE REPAIR MYSELF. THIS REPAIR IS NOT JUST SOME NUTS AND BOLTS COMING LOOSE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THIS IS A HUGE REPAIR THAT IS STRUCTURAL TO THE VEHICLE. AT COSTS OF WELL INTO THE THOUSANDS! SOA KNOWS OF THE ISSUE AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY SITS AT 92K MILES BECAUSE OF THE POOR CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT I HAD TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH AT 78K. I HAVE VIDEO AND PHOTO EVIDENCE TO GO ALONG WITH EVERYTHING THAT IS STATED ABOVE, BUT A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH WILL SHOW YOU THAT THOUSANDS OF SUBARU WRX AND STI OWNERS FROM 2008 TO 2014 ARE OR WILL EXPERIENCE THIS EXACT ISSUE!

Mileage: 62,000

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED WHILE DEPRESSING MY BRAKES OR CLUTCH, I WOULD HEAR A "POPPING SOUND." ALSO I NOTICED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD MOVE TOWARDS THE LEFT TOGETHER (OPPOSE TO JUST UP AND DOWN) WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. IT SEEMS LIKE THE WHOLE FIREWALL WHERE THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE ATTACHED TOO IS MOVING WHEN DEPRESSED. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME NOW WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Mileage: 115,000

I RECENTLY DISCOVERED A KNOWN ISSUE IMPACTING MY PARTICULAR CAR AND CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AFTER INSPECTING MY VEHICLE MYSELF. THE FIRST 130K MILES WERE SPENT COMMUTING TO MY JOB 84 MILES A DAY AT OVER 90% HIGHWAY DRIVING (VERY LITTLE CLUTCH/BREAK ACTION REQUIRED), AND THE LAST 9K WERE PUT ON OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS - CAR MOSTLY SAT SINCE I STARTED WORKING FROM HOME. OVER TIME SPOT WELDS WHICH HOLD THE CLUTCH/BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL HAVE BROKEN AND ASSEMBLY IS AT RISK OF DETACHING WHILE DRIVING MY CAR. NUMEROUS CARS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED OVER MULTIPLE MODEL YEARS AND HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED SEE NASIOC OWNERS - HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=2700583. SUBARU HAS HISTORY OF DENYING CLAIMS DESPITE ISSUING EXTENDED WARRANTIES. THEIR INCONSISTENT TREATMENT OF THIS ISSUE AN UNWILLINGNESS TO ADDRESS THIS CLEAR DESIGN/ENGINEERING FLAW NEEDS TO BE HANDLES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. I HAVE NOT REQUESTED A DEALERSHIP INSPECTION OR REPAIR DUE TO MY CARS AGE AND SUBARU'S PAST HISTORY OF DENYING CLAIMS.

I HAD AN ISSUE PREVIOUSLY WITH THE WELDS FOR THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY CRACKING ON THE FIREWALL. IT GOT SO BAD THAT THE WHOLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL SHIFTED LEFT EVERY TIME I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH. IT EVENTUALLY CAUSED THE CLUTCH TO NOT DISENGAGE ENTIRELY AND BURN OUT. SUBARU OF AMERICA FIXED THE PROBLEM BY SENDING IT TO A BODY SHOP TO RE-WELD THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL BUT NOW, JUST A FEW YEARS LATER, THE PEDAL IS SQUEAKING AGAIN JUST LIKE IT DID LAST TIME THE WELDS BROKE. I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT IN YET BUT IT IS AN UNMISTAKABLE SOUND.

Mileage: 140,000

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2008 WRX MAKES A SQUEAKING NOISE EVERY TIME IT'S ENGAGED. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THE NOISE, I NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY (FORWARD FIREWALL) SHIFTS APPROX 1/4 INCH EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS ENGAGED. I FOUND THAT THE THREE SPOT WELDS HOLDING THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL WERE BROKEN. FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE FIREWALL, JUST UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE SPOT WELDS ARE SEPARATING AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS ENGAGED. THIS ALLOWS THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY TO MOVE,MAKING THAT SQUEAKING NOISE. IF THE BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATES FROM THE FIREWALL, THE CLUTCH WILL NOT WORK. THIS IS SUPER SUPER DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING.

Mileage: 92,000

A COUPLE YEARS AGO MY CLUTCH STARTED TO CREAK. I ASKED THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER TO CHECK IT WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR A SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. I GOT TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. SO I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. I JUST TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND GOT TOLD THE SPOT WELDS ON THE FIREWALL. SUBARU OFFERED TO FIX THE WELDS BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. IF THE WELDS TOTALLY FAIL THIS COULD BECOME A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS IT WILL AFFECT THE BRAKE MOTION ALSO.

Mileage: 115,000

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED FROM A DEALERSHIP IN JANUARY OF 2015 WITH OVER 100,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF DRIVING IT I BEGAN TO HEAR A CLICK EVERY TIME I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL. I LOOKED INTO THE ISSUE TO SEE IF IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IF THERE WAS AN EASY FIX TO IT. TURNS OUT SIX OF THE SEVEN SPOT WELDS THAT HOLD MY CLUTCH AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL WERE CRACKED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ALREADY BUT THEY WONT SERVICE VEHICLES PAST 40,000 MILES.THIS DOES NOT HELP ME SEEING AS THE CAR IS FAR PAST 40,000. NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT IS ALSO CAUSING OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR TO PREMATURELY WEAR OUT SUCH AS THE CLUTCH AND THE RELEASE BEARING. I NEED HELP.

Mileage: 100,000

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2009 WRX 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 FOUND THAT THE THREE SPOT WELDS SECURING THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET TO THE FORWARD FIREWALL WERE BROKEN. FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE FIREWALL, JUST UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, I SAW THE SPOT WELDS PULLING AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL EVERY TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS ALLOWS THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY TO MOVE, CAUSING THE CREAKING NOISE. IF THE BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATES FROM THE FIREWALL, THE CLUTCH MAY BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE - ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING. I EVENTUALLY FIXED IT MYSELF WITH A CUSTOM MADE BRACE AND SOME BOLTS. UPDATED 12/21/2015*JS

Mileage: 90,000

CLUTCH STARTED MAKING A CREAKING NOISE WHEN PRESSING IN AND OUT. SHIFTING GEARS HAS ALSO BECOME MORE DIFFICULT LIKE THE CLUTCH ISN'T FULLY ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING. I ALSO NOTICED THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY SHIFTS (CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDALS) WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE CLUTCH. TURNS OUT THE SPOT WELDS ON THE BRACKET THAT HOLD THE ASSEMBLY ARE COMPLETELY BROKEN, CAUSING FLEX TO THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY. IF THAT BRACKET RIPS OFF, COULD LOSE BRAKING POWER. THIS IS UNSAFE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

Mileage: 56,000

BASICALLY THE WELDS ON THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY BROKE LOOSE AND HAS CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE CLUTCH AND BRAKES. SUBARU DID TRY TO FIX THIS BUT IS FAILING AGAIN AND BELIEVE THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THIS FAILED THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE MOVE ABOUT 1.5" WHEN DEPRESSED.I AM PART OF A CLASS ACTION LAW SUITE AND NEED YOUR HELP BEFORE SOMEONE LOSSES A LIFE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 380,000

BRAKE/CLUTCH BRACKET WELD FAILURE. BRAKE/CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS LOSE. 3 OF THE 5 SPOTWELDS HOLDING THE BRAKE/CLUTCH ASSEMBLY HAVE FAILED. THIS CAUSES THE BRAKES TO FEEL MUSHY AND THE CLUTCH DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS AND DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH. THE BRAKES MAY FAIL IF THE OTHER TWO WELDS BRAKE. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

LOUD CLICKING/CRACKING NOISE STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN THE CLUTCH IS LET OUT. DID NOT THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT. IN NOVEMBER OF 2014, THE CLICKING STOPPED AND WAS LEFT WITH AN EERIE SQUEAKING SOUND. THIS IS WHEN I STARTED TO INVESTIGATE WHAT IT IS. TURNS OUT, THE FIREWALL IS TOO THIN TO HANDLE THE PRESSURE FROM THE BRAKE/CLUTCH MECHANISM. THE PINS THAT GO THROUGH THE FIREWALL GET WORN AWAY FROM THE THIN FIREWALL CAUSING THE SPOT WELDS TO FAIL. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT A SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT IS THE SPOT WELDS. I AM WAITING TO HEAR MORE FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA TO SEE IF THEY WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS IN FACT A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND NOT SOMETHING THAT IS CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IF THAT WAS THE CASE THERE WOULD NOT BE THIS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED ON THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. IF THERE ARE THIS MANY COMPLAINTS HERE, HOW MANY CARS ARE OUT THERE WITH DRIVERS THAT ARE OBLIVIOUS TO THIS DEFECT THAT ARE STILL DRIVING WITH BRAKES/CLUTCH THAT COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME? *TR

Mileage: 65,000

WELDS HOLDING THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL ARE BREAKING. DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH CAUSES FLEXING. IF/WHEN IT BREAKS OFF, THE CAR WILL BE DANGEROUS DUE TO NO FOOT BRAKING AND AN ENGAGED CLUTCH. SEEMS LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. TIME FOR A MANUFACTURER PAID FIX. *TR

Mileage: 36,000

WHEN DRIVING HOME I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY BRAKE PEDAL WHEN TO THE FLOOR WITH NO PRESSURE. I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND CLUTCH TO GET OUT OF GEAR TO SLOW DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN TO A STOP AND WHEN I STOPPED MY BRAKES CONTINUED TO WORK. I TOOK MY CAR INTO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WELDS ON MY FIREWALL WERE BROKEN THAT HOLD ON MY CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY. *TR

Mileage: 70,236

HAD A CLUTCH PEDAL SQUEAK NOISE FOR A LITTLE WHILE, THEN WHILE DRIVING, WENT TO PUSH IN THE CLUTCH, HEARD A POP NOISE. THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CLUTCH PEDAL BEGAN TO MOVE IN ERRATIC DIRECTIONS WHEN DEPRESSED. THE PIECE OF SHEET METAL THAT THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY BOLTS TO BROKE AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL. ALL THE WELDS BROKE DO TO FLEXING IN THE FIREWALL SHEETMETAL. *TR

Mileage: 90,100

EVERY TIME I PRESS IT THE CLUTCH I HEAR A CRACKLING NOISE FROM THE BROKEN WELDS THAT HOLD UP THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL. FEAR FOR MY SAFETY AND OTHER BECAUSE IF THE OTHER WELDS BREAK I MAY BE IN OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE NOT BEING ABLE TO BRAKE MY VEHICLE . *TR

Mileage: 62,000

I RECOGNIZED A SQUEAKING SOUND EVERY TIME I DEPRESSED MY CLUTCH TO SHIFT THE CAR. HAVING HAD AN OIL CHANGE, I WASN'T SCHEDULED FOR CAR MAINTENANCE FOR 3 MONTHS OR 3,000 MILES. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC FOR SERVICE, I ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE SQUEAKING SOUND. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND A THAT THE STRUCTURE OF THE FIREWALL AT THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS FAILING - THE SPOT WELDS WERE SHATTERED. THE TECHNICIAN REMOVED THE WIPER BLADE ASSEMBLY AND FOUND THAT THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY FLEXES TO THE POINT OF MOVING THE FIREWALL OUT AT THE CLUTCH MASTER AND THAT THE FIREWALL IS CRACKED AT THE CLUTCH CYLINDER. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, THE TECHNICIAN LEARNED THE PROBLEM IS INHERENT IN THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AND MODEL, AS WELL AS IN THE 2009 MODEL. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDS REMOVING THE DASHBOARD, BRAKE BOOSTER, MASTER CYLINDER, AND CLUTCH CYLINDER IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY AND WELD THE BROKEN PIECES OF THE BRACKET THAT SHOULD BE HOLDING THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY IN PLACE. THIS REQUIRES ONLY WELDING AND REPLACING THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY, AS WELL AS FLUSHING THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH FLUID. THE OVERALL CONCERN WITH THIS STRUCTURAL FAILURE IS THAT THE DEGRADATION OF THE FIREWALL AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WILL CREATE AN ISSUE WHERE MY SAFETY IS AT RISK WHEN I LOSE THE ABILITY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHIFTING WILL FAIL. IN A LOW OR HIGH SPEED SITUATION, I WOULD NEED TO DOWN OR UP SHIFT MY CAR TO HELP AVOID COLLISION OR LESSEN THE IMPACT OF A COLLISION. WITHOUT THIS ABILITY, I PUT MY LIFE, MY PASSENGER'S LIFE AND OTHER DRIVERS' LIVES IN DANGER. GIVEN THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH THE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR, I BELIEVE SUBARU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. I AM ESPECIALLY CONCERNED TO FIND THAT MY PARTICULAR CAR IS ON THE PULL DOWN MENU WITH THE NTSB, AND UNTIL MY CAR STARTED TO FAIL, I HEARD NOTHING FROM THE NTSB, SUBARU OR THE DEALERSHIPS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. RESPONSE EXPECTED. *TR

Mileage: 42,000

I HAVE BEEN NOTICING A CREAKING AND POPPING NOISE FROM MY CLUTCH/BRAKE PEDAL ASSAY FOR SOME TIME NOW AND HAVE FOUND IT TO BE THE BRACE THAT HOLDS THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FIREWALL OF VEHICLE IS SPOT WELDED IN 2 PLACES AT TOP OF BRACKET AND THE SPOT WELDS HAVE CRACKED AND BROKEN AND THE BRACE NOW MOVES AROUND AND THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL BIND AND STICK. I HAVE SINCE NOTICED IT GETTING WORSE AND NOTICED THE 4 SPOT WELDS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BRACE HAVE CRACKED AND BROKEN ALSO. AS A AUTO TECHNICIAN I SEE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE ALL THE TIME AND THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN IF THE BRACE AS TO BREAK OFF COMPLETELY THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE BRAKING CAPABILITIES AND THE ABILITY FOR THE CLUTCH TO DISENGAGE THE ENGINE FROM THE TRANSMISSION IN AN EMERGENCY I HAVE NOTICED ON MULTIPLE FORUMS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL AS SUBARU SHOULD PERFORM A RECALL/REPAIR FOR THIS ISSUE AS TO NOT HAVE VEHICLES BEING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IF NEEDED I CAN SUPPLY PICTURES OF MY VEHICLE AND THE POINT OF FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM SHIFTING GEARS AND NOTICED THAT WHEN I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS MOVING ALSO. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE PEDAL MOUNTING BRACKET THAT IS SPOTWELDED TO THE FIREWALL HAD BROKEN AT THE WELDS. I WAS QUOTED $1200 FOR THE REPAIRS AS THE DASH & STEERING COLUMN HAVE TO BE REMOVED. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION AS IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I FEEL THAT SUBARU SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS AS THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT AND A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 88,500

MY CLUTCH STARTED SQUEAKING FOR A MONTH AND HALF. WHEN THE SQUEAKING STOPPED, IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT THE SQUEAKING STOPPED ONLY BECAUSE THE WHOLE FIREWALL HAD BROKEN. THE CAR IS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED TOMORROW, AND I AM OUT OF WARRANTY FOR MY 2008 STI. I AM WRITING TO YOU BECAUSE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, WHICH INCLUDES THE CLUTCH AND THE BRAKING AND THE TRANSMISSION. THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX IT FOR ME AND HAS REFERRED ME TO A COLLISION SHOP BUT I AM NOW BEING FORCED TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS OUT-OF-POCKET. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR A FEW WEEKS I NOTICED THE CLUTCH PEDAL STARTED MAKING NOISES. I INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER WAS MOVING A LOT FOR A PART THAT SHOULD NOT MOVE. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ONLINE AND ON FORUMS AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE WELDS ON THE FIREWALL HAVE CRACKED. IT CAUSE MY BRAKE PEDAL TO SHIFT WHENEVER I DEPRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL. IT ALSO HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT SHIFTING INTO GEAR AT ANY SPEED OVER THE 3400 RPM RANGE BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT AND IN SOME CASE IMPOSSIBLE! I DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK 60 MILES A DAY 5 DAYS A WEEK AND HAVE NOT MODIFIED THE CAR IN ANY WAY SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE WINTER SEASON IS COMING UP AND THIS WILL BE MY FIRST WINTER WITH THE CAR. I WOULD HOPE THE COLD WEATHER DOES NOT MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE BUT IS HIGHLY LIKELY! THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED STOPPING AND SHIFTING PROBLEMS. I WOULD NOT LIKE THIS ISSUE TO CAUSE A POSSIBILITY THAT SOMETHING CAN GO WRONG DURING THIS UPCOMING WINTER TO MAKE MY CAR FAIL DRASTICALLY IN PERFORMANCE AND LAND ME IN A HOSPITAL OR WORSE. PLEASE I ADVISE YOU TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. OTHERS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO RE WELD BUT FOUND THAT IT IS COSTLY AND ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX UNTIL IT BREAKS AGAIN. *JB

Mileage: 69,000

ABOUT A YEAR AGO I STARTED HEARING A CREAKING NOISE. ONLY RECENTLY THE NOISE HAD GOTTEN WORSE SO BEING A MECHANIC MYSELF I DECIDED I WOULD TAKE A FEW DAYS AND REMOVE MY DASH BOARD TO PINPOINT THE NOISE SINCE IT HAD GOTTEN WORSE LATELY. AFTER REMOVING THE DASH I COULD CLEARLY SEE THAT THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS BOLTED TO A THIN BRACKET THAT WAS WELDED TO THE MAIN BODY FRAME. WHEN I REMOVED THE PEDALS THE BRACKET JUST FELL RIGHT OUT. NO WELD WAS HOLDING MY CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS AMAZED THAT THE ASSEMBLY NEVER FELL OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT FOR A YEAR. MIND YOU THE CLUTCH WAS ORIGINAL AND MODIFICATIONS WAS A SIMPLE AIR CLEANER. I DECIDED TO RESCUER IT TO THE FRAME WITH MACHINE NUTS AND BOLTS. AFTER I ASSEMBLED IT THERE WAS STILL PLAY IN THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND ONLY A FEW WEEKS LATER THE NOISE HAD RETURNED. I GUESS THE BRACKET NEEDS TO BE SECURED BETTER BUT THIS IS WHY I'M CONCERNED. ONE THE NOISE IS UNBEARABLE AND TWO IT'S JUST NOT SAFE IT COULD BRAKE OFF AGAIN THE MOVE THE BRAKE PEDAL ENOUGH TO CAUSE SOMEONE TO MISS THE PEDAL AND ACCELERATE INTO AN ACCIDENT. *JS

Mileage: 45,000

I WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC WHEN I PUSHED DOWN ON CLUTCH PEDAL AND REALIZED I HAD NO CLUTCH. I HAD TO REV CAR TO 2,500 RPM TO PUT IN GEAR TO DRIVE. THEN EVERY TIME I CAME TO A STOP THE CAR FELT WIRED TO STOP. AS I LOOKED BY MY FEET I NOTICED MY CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS MOVING QUITE FREELY TO SIDE TO SIDE. IT WAS TO LATE IN DAY TO TAKE CAR TO DEALER AND BEING A MECHANIC I CHECKED CAR OUT MYSELF. THAT'S WHEN I SAW THAT THE BRACKET THAT IS WELDED TO MY FIREWALL BROKE COMPLETELY OFF. AFTER DEALING WITH SUBARU AND THE DEALER FOR A WEEK NOW I HAVE TO PAY $500 TO HAVE THEM FIX THE CAR AS A COURTESY THEY SAID. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE AND WHAT IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO STOP SUDDENLY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY TO FIX THE FLAW IN THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF MY VEHICLE THAT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT! *TR

Mileage: 52,000

PROBLEM STARTED WITH A SQUEAKING/CLICKING WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED. RECENTLY THE WHOLE CLUTCH/BRAKE ASSEMBLY SHIFTS DOWN AND TO THE LEFT ABOUT 1/4-1/2" WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. LOOKING UP THE PROBLEM, I SEE I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS MANY OWNERS, THE WELDS THAT HOLD THE ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL HAVE BROKEN FREE. NOW IT IS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT AT TIMES. *TR

Mileage: 92,000