NHTSA Complaint #10426777 — 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA

WELDS ON CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING POOR CLUTCH FEEL AND EXCESSIVE NOISE. THERE ARE SEVERAL SPOT WELDS ON THE ASSEMBLY THE CLUTCH PEDAL MOUNTS TO WHICH ATTACH IT TO THE FIREWALL. SOME OF THESE WELDS BROKE AND NOW GIVE THE CAR AN UNUSUAL FEELING RESPONSE TO THE PRESSING OF THE CLUTCH. IN ADDITION THERE IS NOW EXCESSIVE NOISE FROM THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY THAT IS PERSISTENT. WITH SOME OF THE WELDS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY IS NO LONGER ADEQUATELY SECURED TO THE FIREWALL AND THERE IS A RISK THE REMAINING WELDS COULD BREAK. THIS WOULD CAUSE COMPLETE CLUTCH FAILURE POSSIBLY DURING USE ON THE ROAD. WITH A SUB-PAR CONNECTION TO THE FIREWALL NOW THERE IS NOTICEABLE BENDING AND FLEXING OF THE FIREWALL INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEAR THE CLUTCH CYLINDER AND THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE FLEXING OF THE FIREWALL COULD EVENTUALLY IMPACT THE ABILITY OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER TO PERFORMANCE AT TOP PERFORMANCE OR POSSIBLY FAIL. *TR