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Subaru WRX grinding brakes problems

49 of the 980 owner complaints about the Subaru WRX describe grinding or squealing brakes, most of them for the 2008 model year.

owner complaints
49
worst model year
2008
typical mileage
61,000
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2022
    1
  • 2017
    1
  • 2016
    1
  • 2015
    3
  • 2013
    1
  • 2011
    2
  • 2009
    13
  • 2008
    20
  • 2005
    1
  • 2003
    2
  • 2002
    4

What owners say

Filed Jan 7, 2025 · Driver assistance · MA

During driving, especially when it is cold outside, the Subaru Eyesight Pre-Collision system (automatic emergency braking) can be triggered by exhaust smoke from a vehicle in front of it. The braking system can be falsely activated, which could cause your vehicle to be hit from behind. There is no way to adjust the sensitivity of this system. It is only meant to be activated by objects, but since the system is camera-based it might think that a large cloud of exhaust is actually solid. In the specific instance when this happened, I was waiting at a red light behind a GMC Acadia. When the light turned green, a lot of exhaust came from that car, and the pre-collision braking was activated, causing the car to activate the brakes very abruptly. At the next light, the same thing happened, but the car didn't hit the brakes that time since I lifted off the accelerator, but the warning buzzer still activated. Video showing the problem: [XXX] The loud grinding noise after the pre-collision warning beeps is the sound of the brakes when they are applied by pre-collision. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Pre-collision prevention How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Vehicle can stop unexpectedly which could cause a rear-end collision. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 26, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 50,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 subaru wrx. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, a creaking noise was present coming from the engine bay. Also, a grinding sound was present when shifting between gears and the vehicle would jolt while accelerating and deceleration. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer (mid hudson subaru located at 1715 u.s. 9, wappingers falls, ny 12590) who diagnosed that the transmission pitcher stopper mount was faulty and was separating from the engine fire wall and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 50,000. *ln

Filed Jul 21, 2020 · Transmission · 50,000 miles · NY

Squeaky clutch pedal and whirring noise when clutch depressed

Filed Nov 1, 2018 · Transmission · 61,000 miles · CA

Clutch release bearing (aka throw out bearing) in the vehicle prematurely wears off, resulting in loss of power while driving. My wrx made squeaky noise in the cold morning, but disappears in afternoon. It just comes and goes, so I thought it was just noise at first. Few days later, I was driving on the freeway, and as soon as I stepped on my clutch, I felt some grinding noise, and white smoke started coming out from my front hood. My clutch was not engaging anymore and I was fortunate enough to cruise and pull the vehicle to the side of the freeway. My technician said the throw out bearing may slipped out, caused damage to the transmission. Subaru released new design for their bearing and there is a tsb for 2015-2017 subaru wrx, but not for 2011-2014, which should be fixed too! Http://www.subispeed.com/instructions/tsb-clutch-release-bearing.pdf there are thousands of complaints about "throw out bearing" on online forums for same model years. Please look into this issue. There are thousands of vehicles with the same issue in us roads...

Filed Aug 14, 2018 · Transmission · 33,000 miles · FL

Throw out bearing has now gone out for the 3x. Subaru of america did everything to not replace under warranty. Grind in 3rd gear not due to driver error.

Filed Jun 2, 2018 · Body · 94,600 miles · NJ

Creaking clutch pedal really is the firewall pedal mounting bracket that is factory spot welded onto the drivers side dash section of the firewall under the dash board has its weak factory spot welds broken. I had replaced the clutch on my car as it was weak and thought replacing it would make the creaking sound go away. Replacing the clutch made the squeaking noise louder and now my brake pedal moves right into the path of the clutch when it is pressed and back to its place when depressed. This is a safety concern as I am a father and cannot guarantee this car is safe to drive at all. I spent $1,200 on the installation as I provided the parts to the subaru dealer. After receiving my car back, the car became inoperable as the clutch is difficult to engage safely into any gear. I contacted subaru of america as per the dealers advice and was denied any compensation for structural repairs to my vehicle.

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 May 10, 2017 · 72,000 miles · WI

Clutch bracket spot welds let go of fire wall. Making the clutch and brake pedal move and squeak when clutch is engaged.

Filed Mar 5, 2017 · Body · 130,000 miles · CA

I bought the car used with the clutch pedal squeaking. Ignored it because I thought it just needed grease. I was driving home last night when the clutch pedal got stuck pressed all the way down. I started researching and found many posts of people with the same problem. The squeaking was caused by the clutch pedal mounting bracket separating from the fire wall. I crawled under the dashboard to look, and sure enough it is broken.

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.

Related recalls

Service brakes, hydraulicReported December 31, 2014 · 200,064 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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 Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia that were remedied under recall 14V‑311 prior to December 23, 2014. The brake lines may experience brake line corrosion due to salt water splashing on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector.
Risk
Brake fluid may leak due to the brake line corrosion and may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will apply an anti-corrosion wax to the four-way joint connector area of the brake line system, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑800‑782‑2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQQ-52. Notes: This recall is specific to affected Forester, Impreza, WRX, and STI customers who had their car remedied under the federal safety agency recall no. 14V‑311 prior to December 23, 2014. Subaru has determined that this remedy was inadequate due to incomplete repair instructions provided to dealers. Affected Forester, Impreza, WRX, and STI vehicles that were not repaired under the federal safety agency recall no. 14V‑311 prior to December 23, 2014 will continue to be processed under the federal safety agency recall no. 14V‑311. Affected vehicles not currently, or formerly, registered in the salt belt states identified in this recall are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.

Recall number 14V830000 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsReported June 10, 2014 · 461,338 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. Note that affected vehicles not currently, or formerly registered, in the salt belt states identified above are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.
Risk
Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will test the brake system by depressing the brake pedal and inspecting for brake fluid leaks. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected areas will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be replaced followed by rustproofing with anti-corrosion wax. These services will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 2014 and second notifications will run through November 2014. Owners may contact Subaru at 1‑800‑782‑2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQK-47. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V‑110 which applied to certain 2005-2009 Legacy/Outback vehicles. Vehicles that were remedied under the previous campaign still need additional areas rust-proofed.

Recall number 14V311000 · Recall details

Questions about the Subaru WRX grinding brakes

Which Subaru WRX years have grinding or squealing brakes problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2008 (20 complaints), 2009 (13 complaints) and 2002 (4 complaints).

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