MajorCommonSuspension

Subaru STI: Rear Subframe Bushing Deterioration (GE/GH/GR/GV WRX and STI)

Rear Subframe Bushing Deterioration (GE/GH/GR/GV WRX and STI) is a common suspension fault on the Subaru STI on the 2007–2014 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $500 to $1,300 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 32 documented faults on the Subaru STI.

Vehicle: Subaru STI
Only on: STI
Years: 2007–2014
Fuel: petrol
System: Suspension

This page covers the Subaru STI as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Subaru STI faults32 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The GE/GH/GR/GV generation WRX and STI uses rubber rear subframe bushings that degrade with age and aggressive use, allowing the subframe to shift position under cornering and braking loads. This produces progressive looseness in rear-end handling, abnormal tyre wear, and knocking noises over sharp bumps. Deterioration is accelerated by track use, sustained hard driving, and New Zealand road surface conditions. Subframe removal is typically required for bushing replacement. At the age range this generation now represents, deteriorated bushings are widely reported across both Australian and NZ WRX communities as a common pre-purchase finding.

What you would notice

Knocking or clunking from the rear over sharp bumps or dips
Vague or unpredictable rear-end response under cornering load
Uneven or accelerated rear tyre wear
Rear wheel alignment that cannot be set correctly or does not hold

How to check it

Where to look. Rear subframe mounting bushings, four corners of the rear subframe

Visually inspect the rubber bushing condition for cracking, splitting, or collapse around the subframe mounting points. Check rear tyre wear patterns for abnormality consistent with alignment shift. If a workshop inspection is possible: With the car on a hoist, grip the rear subframe and attempt to move it side to side and front to back — any perceptible movement indicates bushing wear.

What it costs to put right

$500 to $1,300 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the rear subframe or suspension been inspected or replaced recently?”
“Has the car been used on a track or driven hard on rough or unsealed roads?”
“When was the rear wheel alignment last checked?”

Now check the Subaru STI you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Subaru STI buyer questions

Is rear subframe bushing deterioration (ge/gh/gr/gv wrx and sti) serious on a Subaru STI?

We rate it major and common on the Subaru STI. The GE/GH/GR/GV generation WRX and STI uses rubber rear subframe bushings that degrade with age and aggressive use, allowing the subframe to shift position under cornering and braking loads. This produces progressive looseness in rear-end handling, abnormal tyre wear, and knocking noises over sharp bumps. Deterioration is accelerated by track use, sustained hard driving, and New Zealand road surface conditions. Subframe removal is typically required for bushing replacement. At the age range this generation now represents, deteriorated bushings are widely reported across both Australian and NZ WRX communities as a common pre-purchase finding.

How much does it cost to fix on a Subaru STI?

$500 to $1,300 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Subaru STI years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2007–2014 Subaru STI. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.