Total Complaints
3 filings
SUBARU WRX STI · model year
2009 SUBARU WRX STI
3 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2009SUBARUWRX STI carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 WRX STI is service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages with 1 filings, followed by power train:clutch assembly:pedal/hand lever(motorcycle) (1) and structure:body (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 2009 WRX STI. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
Recalls (2)
14V83000031/12/2014
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Impreza, 2008-2014 WRX and STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshi
14V31100010/06/2014
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michi
Recent Complaints
20160906STRUCTURE:BODY
THE FIREWALL WELDS THAT SUPPORT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER ARE MAKING A POPPING SOUND WHEN I RELEASE THE CLUTCH PEDAL. I FOUND ONLINE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUED WITH THE 2008-2014 MODEL YEAR SUBARU WRX. I ALSO READ THAT THE FIREWALL CAN COMPLETELY BREAK FROM REPETITIVE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL USE AND IF IT WOULD BREAK I WOULD HAVE NO CLUTCH OR BRAKE PEDAL TO USE AND COULD BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN AT A STOP OR MOVING AS LONG AS YOU HIT THE CLUTCH PEDAL IT POPS. THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. I AM REPORTING THIS ISSUE WITH HOPE THAT THE FIX BECOMES A RECALL CONSIDERING HOW DANGEROUS IT CAN BE IF THE FIREWALL DOES BREAK.
Mileage: 110,000
20150331SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU WRX STI. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDALS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDALS MOVED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Mileage: 75,000
20150331POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU WRX STI. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDALS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDALS MOVED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Mileage: 75,000
Compare 2009SUBARUWRX STI to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
PE19009Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure
PE15012Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Passenger Front Air Bag Suppression
PE11011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Front suspension control arm failure
EA09007Engineering AnalysisClosed
FUEL PUMP LEAKS
PE09017Preliminary EvaluationClosed
FUEL LINE LEAK
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2009 SUBARU WRX STI have?▼
The 2009 SUBARU WRX STI has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2009 SUBARU WRX STI?▼
Yes, the 2009 SUBARU WRX STI has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 SUBARU WRX STI?▼
The most-complained component for the 2009 SUBARU WRX STI is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) and STRUCTURE:BODY.
Is the 2009 SUBARU WRX STI safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.