2009 Subaru WRX: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Jan 14, 2018 · Body, Brakes · 120,000 miles · NY

Failed welds connecting pedal panel to the firewall. Results in loud squeaking when clutch pedal is depressed/released and car is extremely difficult to get in or out of gear. Causes movement of brake pedal as well which could cause major issues. This happens moving and parked

Filed Feb 19, 2017 · Brakes · 80,000 miles · OR

My car has been experiencing a loud squeaking and clicking when shifting and brake pedal moves when clutch is depressed. This is a know defect in the firewall in which the firewall is very thin and flexes when the clutch is depressed causing the spot welds that hold the clutch/brake bracket to separate frome the firewall. This causes the brake pedal to move. It also can potentially prevent the clutch from disengaging while driving. Subaru is not recalling this known defect but they did acknowledge the issue as it was the mechanic that informed me of this issue.

Filed Feb 25, 2015 · Body, Transmission · 78,500 miles · UT

This is the well known and documented firewall weld issue for the pedal bracket. The welds have broken and the pedal bracket now shifts when I press down on the clutch. It makes a loud popping noise as well as creaking and squeaking. If left unchecked, the issue will worsen and the entire bracket may break off while driving, causing a huge safety concern. Subaru needs to be forced to recall this and pay to fix all of them.

Filed Nov 13, 2014 · Body, Brakes · 72,000 miles · CA

When I bought the car from the used car lot I noticed the clutch pedal when being pressed and depressed made a squeaking noise. I figured it was probably lack of lubrication so I went ahead and lubricated the pedal assembly and the noise stayed the same. Couple months go by and the noise got much louder and sometimes a loud pop would occur. Recently I did some research and found out that many other wrx owners have had the same issue. So I followed the procedures to check the cause of the noise and it seems to be that the welds on the firewall have been broken and are causing the noise.I also noticed my brake pedal shifts every time I press the clutch pedal. As time progresses it feels as if its getting harder to shift. I'm afraid that this issue is causing premature wear of the transmission. Every time I press the clutch pedal I fear that the clutch pedal assembly is going to rip off the firewall.

Filed Jun 11, 2014 · Body, Transmission · 50,000 miles · NJ

I am the only owner of a 2009 subaru impreza wrx sedan. I noticed my clutch squeaking about 10,000 miles ago. I brought it into a subaru dealer to have it check out at the time of occurrence and they told me nothing was wrong. About 3000 miles ago, the clutch started to "click" inside the vehicle. For my 50,000 mile service, I asked the service department to check out the noise. The service department came back to me and told me that my firewall has torn. They told me they have seen this before and that it was a result of poor spot welds on the firewall done by the factory. As a result, the service department said my clutch will need replacing because the tear in the firewall has messed up the clutch alignment. The service department also told me that I am lucky I caught this problem early because in a similar case they saw it destroyed the transmission of a different wrx. Currently, subaru is trying to brush this under the rug offering to fix the firewall for free but wants to charge me $1000 to replace the clutch. I have called subaru of america to report the issued and to see if they will cover the repair. Subaru of america said they are aware of this being an issue with their vehicles and will investigate this specific case. I am an avid subaru enthusiast and have been reading about hundreds of other impreza owners facing the same issue as mine.

Filed Jun 9, 2014 · Transmission · 108,000 miles · NY

Clutch pedal starting squeaking and gears would not synch well during shifting which indicated the clutch would not fully disengage. Brought to dealer and diagnosed that the clutch pedal mounting bracket has broken free of the firewall, causing damage to the firewall and causing the vehicle to be inoperable. Subaru will not cover the repair and there is no recall on file. This is a common problem for this vehicle.

Filed Jun 2, 2014 · Transmission · 89,000 miles · MD

Car was in the shop for another service when this issue was brought to my attention. The tech showed me how the pedal assembly would move when the clutch pedal was pressed, caused by the welds on the pedal assembly breaking and becoming disconnected from the firewall. He informed me that this was an issue that had started occurring on several same make and model cars. The issue has progressively gotten worse, there is an audible click and squeak/creak when pressing and releasing the clutch pedal.

Filed Jan 10, 2014 · Body, Transmission · 56,740 miles · AZ

On my 2009 subaru impreza wrx, I've dealt with a squeaky clutch pedal for quite some time, close to 30k miles now. Within the past 5k miles, a clicking sound has occurred at the same time and within the past 1k miles the sound has grown significantly worse with a grinding sound in addition to all previous sounds. Upon further inspection the entire pedal bracket assembly moves upon clutch or brake pedal engagement. In addition, clutch cylinder moves when it should be static. This is all due to the firewall being too thin, flexing, and ultimately the metal endured enough fatigue to break around the pedal bracket spot welds. This issue is a safety issue because the pedal assembly should never move, nor should it separate from the firewall. No recall as of yet, despite this being a known issue to the manufacturer for several years. Current mileage is 56,740 miles.

Filed Oct 13, 2013 · Transmission · 38,000 miles · WA

2009 stock wrx with 66k miles on it, but problem (squeak) started at about 38k miles. I only drive surface streets and have never tracked/raced/etc my wrx. My clutch assembly squeaks and shifts whenever I depress/release the clutch pedal, regardless of vehicle speed or pedal speed. I've lubricated the various hinges with standard lithium grease which removed a very small portion of the noise, but the squeak is still prominent. Brake pedal moves to the left as I depress the clutch pedal more. Clutch master cylinder flexes in and out on the firewall whenever I depress/release the clutch pedal- this might also lead to early failure of the master cylinder due to misalignment of the piston from the supporting structure flexing (not to mention the supporting structure flexing way too much for standard operation). I'm concerned that my pedal assembly's supporting structure will fail, leaving the clutch pedal and possibly the brake pedal (if it's also supported by it which it seems it is) useless while driving: an extremely hazardous and life-threatening situation.

Filed Oct 9, 2013 · Transmission · 44,000 miles · FL

09 subaru wrx, spot welds in firewall broken. Causes brake pedal to shift over when clutch is pressed in. Safety hazard and manufacturer fault. Also causes annoying squeak and clicking noise.

Filed Aug 22, 2013 · Transmission · 65,689 miles · CA

I have an '09 wrx that I took in to have oil changed and mentioned having a squeaky and clicking clutch pedal. Mechanic found bulkhead welds were broken.the issue is a broken welds between the mount for the pedal and the firewall. The firewall actually gaps when the clutch is depressed.

Filed Aug 22, 2013 · Body, Brakes · 47,000 miles · NJ

I was driving slowly through my neighborhood, put in the clutch and heard a loud crack. I couldn't figure out what it was so after taking a quick look I kept driving. Every time I put the clutch in I heard a loud creak or squeak. It got worse over the next months. Yesterday, I realized that the firewall had cracked where the clutch and brake pedal mount. The metal flexes when clutching or braking. If I use the clutch I can see the brake pedal move about half an inch back. I do not believe this allows the clutch to fully depress and I think that if I have to make an emergency stop the crack could get worse and tear not allowing the car to stop at all.