Everything NHTSA's vPIC database knows about this exact vehicle:
Decoding from NHTSA…
Vehicle history — accidents, title & owners
The decode above is what this vehicle is. For what it's been through — accidents, title brands, odometer, theft/total-loss and previous owners — pull a full history report.
NHTSA publishes the first 11 characters of the VIN with every complaint — that identifies the plant, model year, body and engine. So these are reports from cars built exactly like this one, not an average across the whole model.
JF1GR89678L••••••2008 Subaru IMPREZA STI
This build draws 2.4× more complaints than the average 2008 Subaru IMPREZA STI build (5 vs 2).
5on this build
27on the model
13builds in total
1involved a fire
Most reportedEngine And Engine Cooling 3Electrical System 2Power Train 2Steering 1
What owners of this build wrote
Electrical SystemfireJan 2009
Car was parked and locked in my driveway .the horn started blaring and headlights came on. Not car alarm. Interior was filled with smoke. Called fire department then tried to open car with remote to extinguish fire. Had to use key to unlock door. Fire origionated from…
Power TrainFeb 2014
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…
SteeringJul 2010
2008 subaru impreza. Consumer states problem with vehicle clutch *tgw the consumer stated there was a screeching/rubbing noise when the clutch was applied and a loud pop noise from neutral to 1st gear. The vehicle would pop out of 6th gear at high speeds. The engine made a loud…
Engine And Engine CoolingMay 2008
Car has an endemic problem with breaking piston ringlands, resulting in copious oil consumption and eventually a seized engine which, if it happens on the highway, can be the equivalent of slamming on the brakes in traffic. Endangering surrounding vehicles and the vehicle's…
Engine And Engine CoolingMay 2008
The subaru sti series known as the gr is prone to breaking piston ringlands if detonation ever occurs, which happens easily on this engine, which is now tuned for more power yet fewer emissions. The ringland breakage results in power loss and extreme oil consumption due to…
Owner complaints…
Now the whole model — all 13 builds of it, not just this build. Same NHTSA reports, wider net:
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The original window sticker and factory options
Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
Decoded via NHTSA vPIC. Recalls, complaints and safety from NHTSA; MPG from EPA fueleconomy.gov. Full history reports from our partner. VIN JF1GR89678L826516 · decoded Oct 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.