NHTSA Complaint #11160774 — 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA

MY SONS VEHICLE STARTED OFF WITH A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH. THIS WENT ON FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS HE IS NOW HAVING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING THE CAR INTO GEAR AND IT NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THE OTHER DAY. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, AND THE CLUTCH IS TOTALLY DEPRESSED IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET THE CAR INTO GEAR. WHEN DRIVING IT IS LESS DIFFICULT, BUT STILL VERY TRICKY TO GET INTO GEAR. WE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED, IF YOU RAISE THE HOOD, YOU CAN SEE THE FIREWALL FLEXING QUITE A BIT WHERE THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER IS LOCATED. WE REPLACED THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER AND IT DID NOT HELP THE ISSUE. IN MY READING ONLINE, I HAVE NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE RELATED TO THE FACTORY WELDS HOLDING THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL ARE FAILING. IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD ISSUE FOR SUBARU IMPREZAS 2008-2014. I WOULD EXPECT THIS TO BE A FACTORY RECALL. MY SON CAN NO LONGER USE THE CAR AND WE ARE UNSURE ON HOW TO FIX THE ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE..