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2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 Impreza WRX STI.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S4)

The 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI is a passenger car equipped with an S4 automatic transmission and a 4.5-quart engine sump filled with 5W-30 API oil, delivering EPA fuel economy of 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. Those modest efficiency figures reflect a vehicle designed more for performance than economy, but the 2008 model year's ownership record is the more significant data point for researchers: 209 total owner complaints, 15 recalls, and air bags standing as the top complaint area. That combination places this generation toward the more problematic end of the STI's reliability history, meaning any surviving example warrants a thorough check of recall completion status and airbag service history before serious consideration.

Model year2014 2013 2012 2011 2008

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque74-89 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy20/25/22 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 520 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 520 CCAOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (S4)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	173.6 in
Overall width	70.9 in
Overall height	58.3 in
Wheelbase	103.1 in
Curb weight	3395 lb
Track (front / rear)	60.2 / 60.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	20 / 25 / 22 mpg
Drivetrain	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	94 cu ft
Cargo volume	11 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Premium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 74-89 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 33.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-2-4. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	10
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.7 Pints
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	133 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	51-55 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	33.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	5 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	74-89 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	17.0-20.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	162 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	140 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-2-4
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	MT: 640, AT: 700, TURBO: 700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	MT: 110, AT and TURBO: 100 rpm
Spark Plug Manufacturer	NGK
Spark Plug Torque	15 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance	Turbo: 10, Non-Turbo: 8 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPM	Idle rpm

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.03-1.17 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	100
Standard BCI Group Number	35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	520 cca

Service checks

Injector Primary Resistance

5-20 ohms

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	59 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	114 ft-lbs / 20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	48 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	49 ft-lbs
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.944 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.944 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 8 stages

1	21.5 ft. lbs.	21.5 ft. lbs
2	51 ft. lbs.	51 ft. lbs
3	Loosen 180 degrees in the reverse order of installing.	180 degrees
4	Loosen 180 degrees in the reverse order of installing.	180 degrees
5	31 ft. lbs.	31 ft. lbs
6	80-90 degrees.	80–90 degrees
7	40-45 degrees.	40–45 degrees
8	40-45 degrees.; Lightly lubricate new cylinder head bolt, threads and flanges with engine oil.	40–45 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 8 stages

1	21.5 ft. lbs.	21.5 ft. lbs
2	51 ft. lbs.	51 ft. lbs
3	Loosen 180 degrees in the reverse order of installing.	180 degrees
4	Loosen 180 degrees in the reverse order of installing.	180 degrees
5	31 ft. lbs.	31 ft. lbs
6	80-90 degrees.	80–90 degrees
7	40-45 degrees.	40–45 degrees
8	40-45 degrees.; Lightly lubricate new cylinder head bolt, threads and flanges with engine oil.	40–45 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 8 stages

1	21.5 ft. lbs.	21.5 ft. lbs
2	51 ft. lbs.	51 ft. lbs
3	Loosen 180 degrees in the reverse order of installing.	180 degrees
4	Loosen 180 degrees in the reverse order of installing.	180 degrees
5	36 ft. lbs.	36 ft. lbs
6	80-90 degrees.	80–90 degrees
7	40-45 degrees.	40–45 degrees
8	40-45 degrees.; Lightly lubricate new cylinder head bolt, threads and flanges with engine oil.	40–45 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 3,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi.

At 3,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 3,750 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Assembly (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Fuel Filter (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
At 105,000 mi	Drive Belt (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI lead in one area — the air bags, 38 of 209 reports (18%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the air bags are also the target of recall 20V-001 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 10 of the reports describe a crash and 4 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the air bags pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

213

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

209

Owner complaints

10 involved a crash · 4 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 209 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags38

Power Train36

Visibility23

Engine & Engine Cooling22

Structure8

Power Train,Service Brakes8

Power Train,Structure7

Power Train,Engine5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 15 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V149000Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:SwitchReported 28/02/2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to… Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at…

20V001000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 02/01/2020

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold… Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 213 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
SubaruNet Annoucement (E	2026-06-11	Unknown Or Other	This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood…
01-167-08R	2026-05-18	Unknown Or Other	This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the…
SubaruNet Announcement (R	2026-05-04	Power Train	This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.
07-240-26R	2026-04-30	Unknown Or Other	This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for vehicles…
03-97-26	2026-04-24	Power Train	This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Impreza WRX STI. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 35 battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2008 Impreza WRX STI take?

4.5 qt of 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2008 Impreza WRX STI have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 15 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Impreza WRX STI get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 25 highway / 22 combined mpg.

2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Quick specs

Fitment & sizes

Full specifications

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Lubricants & capacities

Engine torques

Chassis torques

Ignition

Battery & A/C

Service checks

Brakes

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Common OBD-II trouble codes

VIN tools

Vehicles with shared specs

Reference guides

Related vehicles

Other years

Frequently asked