Spot welds on firewall that support the pedal assembly have cracked/broke causing the brake pedal to flex and move while pushing down on the clutch.

- Brookfield, CT, USA

Blew 3 valve gaskets within two weeks after buying car. Blew 2 tires within 2 months of having the car. They 'fixed' an oil control valve and then it needed another. Sway bar links needed replaced, cv joints need replaced, brake pads are extremely low. Ac doesn't work. Had to buy all new tires.

- Denver, CO, USA

Problem began with a squeaking sound and would click when depressing clutch. Then the clutch pedal would stick and not come back up. Clutch pedal unable to completely engage making it difficult to get the car into gear. Movement in clutch/brake pedal causing hazard while driving due to displacement. Welds in clutch/brake assembly at the firewall are broken.

- Holladay, UT, USA

We had a new clutch installed and the brake pedal and clutch pedal now move together. Simultaneously this not only is a safety issue but has potential to cause premature clutch and brake failure.

- Brush Prairie, WA, USA

I own a 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX with a stock clutch. For approximately 2 years I have been hearing creaking and/or clicking noises when engaging the clutch pedal. In April of 2013 chatham Subaru in ga replaced my clutch due to the metal clutch fork wearing through at the pivot point within the bell-housing. They also noted a very hard clutch pedal and spongy brakes before the repair. They replaced the clutch, flywheel, pressure plate, fork and master cylinder (I replaced the slave cylinder before I brought it in) all of which I paid for. Initially the clutch felt great (brake feel was unchanged), but has since began to harden again. I began to look online for a solution and found that there are spot welds that break between the firewall and the mounting bracket the clutch pedal assembly is attached to (https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#Q=WRX+spot+welds). I removed the necessary items to inspect the welds and they did unfortunately fail.

- Garner, NC, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Impreza. While driving 50 mph, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the stopping distance was increased. In addition, the clutch became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the bracket that holds the clutch and brake assembly needed to be re-welded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,834.

- Manhattan, KS, USA

As many others have noted regarding the Subaru Impreza WRX, the welds that connect the clutch to the firewall have been broken. Took it into a local dealer and he said that this was a common problem and that I would need to take it to an auto body shop.

- Castle Rock, CO, USA

My brake pedal / clutch assembly is separating from my firewall on my 2008 WRX sedan at the spot welds. I can see this through my cowl support under the windshield washer motor. I heard lots of squealing and popping and now the assembly moves under light braking and clutch depression. It is now past a noise issue, and now is safety issue. My car only has 42,5000 miles.

- Chicago, IL, USA

This car was purchased by myself brand new with a few miles on the odometer. The clutch pedal was always stiff and squeaky and two local dealerships reassured me this is normal and nothing to worry about. Since about 50K miles my clutch pedal has been unresponsive and requires constant lubrication and bleeding of clutch master and slave cylinder. When pressing either clutch or brake pedal, the other would also move which causes loss of rod travel thus reduced fluid volume to necessary hydraulics. With clutch pedal fully depressed and in gear, the car will roll as if clutch is dragging. With clutch depressed and in gear, the car would lurch forward when turned on. While shifting normally the gears would grind and I'm certain this has worn my synchromesh gears. Dealer continued blaming one part, another part, and my driving habits. They charged me out of pocket for repairs and replacement with no actual progress fixing the issues. Today I stopped by the closest dealership requesting more information on this common clutch pedal assembly to firewall problems. They acknowledged this is an issue and gave me a verbal estimate of at least $900 to fix the broken welds. In my neighborhood I am leaving a stop sign as usual and go to shift into second gear. The clutch pedal linkage broke completely with pedal stuck on the floor. Clutch is now 100% inoperable, luckily I was on a quiet street and this did not break while on the highway. This is a very real safety issue and the manufacturer should fix this without charging we the customers. There were numerous symptoms for years on this exact problem, each getting progressively worse until this final breakage.

- Tomball, TX, USA

For several months now on my wife 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX when the clutch is depressed I have heard a cracking/squeaking noise. I brought it to a mechanic and he told me that he sees the firewall flexing when the clutch is beginning to engage. It looks as if the welds on the firewall are cracked and no matter what parts he changes it will not fix the problem that is why it is hard to get the car in gear and will eventually break completely. We looked online and this is a common problem with this car, dealerships are changing several parts and nothing will fix this safety issue. This is most definitely a manufacturer issue and should be recalled since it is a major safety concern.

- Atco, NJ, USA

This 2008 Subaru Impreza has been plagued as have many others by a manufacturer chassis defect. The firewall/bulkhead between the driver and engine has 5 spot welds broken which initially are meant to secure the clutch and brake assembly. These weld breaks are a serious safety issue as they are causing difficulty in engaging clutch and brakes, as well as a squeak noise every time the clutch is depressed. As this is not an insignificant wear item but part of the chassis/frame which is a dangerous defect as complete failure during operation of the vehicle can cause catastrophic accidents, further investigation and action on this matter should be taken by the NHTSA. This is certainly a recall issue.

- Rancho Cordova, CA, USA

This 2008 Subaru Impreza has been plagued as have many others by a manufacturer chassis defect. The firewall/bulkhead between the driver and engine has 5 spot welds broken which initially are meant to secure the clutch and brake assembly. These weld breaks are a serious safety issue as they are causing difficulty in engaging clutch and brakes, as well as a squeak noise every time the clutch is depressed. As this is not an insignificant wear item but part of the chassis/frame which is a dangerous defect as complete failure during operation of the vehicle can cause catastrophic accidents, further investigation and action on this matter should be taken by the NHTSA. This is certainly a recall issue.

- Diamond Bar, CA, USA

My 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX has had a "hard clutch pedal". im an auto tech at a dealer so I took a look at it. I checked the spring and the pedal. I found the pedal would bend the mounting location under the dash when pushed in. I looked on the firewall under my wiper arms where the welds are at. The weld that holds the clutch and brake pedals to the firewall is cracked and now is cutting a hole in the firewall. I checked online for some help with the problem, and I found out im not the only one with this problem. I took the car to my local Subaru dealer. The dealer told me I needed a clutch. I ask them to look at the firewall welds that hold the clutch and brake pedals to the car. They told me to go away and not bring my car back to them! I called Subaru of America after this all happened. They told me to take it to another dealer. So I did to one " 3 hours away ". the next dealer told me the car is not safe to drive and weld is cracked on the firewall, and they called Subaru of America (soa.) soa never called the dealer back and I took the car home and waited. They called me 5 days later and told me I would have to pay 1/2 of the bill to fix the oem defect on the firewall welds. I feel as though they don't care about this safety issue even though after some research online it is clear that im not the only one having this same issue. I have videos and pictures showing the defective welds and can produce them for you. I noticed this issue around 58000 miles. Vehicle now has 60500 miles. Updated 02/19/13

- De Soto, IA, USA

There started to be a clicking / squeaking sound when depressing the clutch. Brought the car to multiple dealerships to diagnose the problem without any answers - they continued to apply lubricant. Made it to 106,000 miles on the original clutch, had it replaced as routine maintenance with the goal of the sound going away. The sound and clicking continued, yet the car continued to drive normally. At the time of clutch replacement, the entire pedal assembly moved as one unit when depressing the clutch - this continued to be an undiagnosed problem (yet the car continued to drive normally). Brought car to dealership for routine maintenance, again complained about the noise - was informed about the firewall weld issue being the cause for the noise. Firewall welds were replaced without cost to me. Upon picking up the car, the squeaking and clicking noise was still present. Upon inspection under the steering column / dash, it was noted that a connecting bar (clutch / brake) was fractured and flexes upon depression of the clutch. Estimated cost of repair is about $1000. I have called Subaru of America, and they are investigating about whether or not this will be covered. I will not purchase a Subaru again. This is my first Subaru, and it will be my last.

- Commerce City, CO, USA