2002 Subaru WRX complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU WRX. IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT SMELLS RAW FUEL WITHIN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE METAL FUEL LINES THAT RUN UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE LEAKING GASOLINE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED FOR THE REPAIR. THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WOULD BE $460. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

FUEL LEAK IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT VERY LOW AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURES I LOCATED THE LEAK AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. THE DAY I TOOK THE CAR THERE AIR TEMPS WERE 20 DEGREES WARMER AND I DID NOT EXPERIENCE A LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A LEAK I TOLD THEM THE LEAK OCCURS AT VERY LOW TEMPERATURES ONLY AND TOLD THEM THE LOCATION OF THE LEAK ALSO I GAVE THEM A COPY OF A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN PERTAINING TO THIS VERY PROBLEM. THEY SENT ME ON MY WAY SAYING IT SEEMS TO BE FINE EVEN WITH MY EXPLANATION. THAT NIGHT TEMPERATURES DROPPED AND THE FUEL LEAK RETURNED IT SEEMS THAT THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE IT THEMSELVES. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THE CAR FOR FEAR OF A FIRE IT LEAKS LARGE AMOUNTS OF FUEL DOWN ONTO THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT TAKE MY WORD FOR THIS SINCE IT IS ALREADY A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM BY THE MANUFACTURER AND SUCH A DANGEROUS ONE AT THAT. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2002 SUBARU WRX IN SEPTEMBER AND DIDN'T NOTICE THE RAW FUEL SMELL UNTIL IT STARTED GETTING COLD. I NOTICED IT EVERY TIME I STARTED THE CAR WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 30 DEGREES F. ONE NIGHT I LET IS RUN TO WARM UP AND SAW A LARGE PUDDLE OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE OIL/GAS MIXTURE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. FROM RESEARCH I UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OTHER 2002 WRX OWNERS SEEM TO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM DUE TO A FUEL LINE LEAK. I BELIEVE THAT SUBARU SHOULD HAVE A RECALL TO FIX THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

ON VERY COLD DAYS I HAVE A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN THE CAR WITH THE HEAT ON. IT IS SO STRONG I GET DIZZY AND NAUSEOUS AND HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN AND SHUT THE HEAT OFF. I HAVE A 6 WEEK OLD BABY IN THE CAR WHO'S DAYCARE PROVIDER COMPLAINS ABOUT HER CLOTHES AND CAR SEAT SMELLING LIKE GAS. I HAVE TRACKED DOWN THE PROBLEM AND ATTRIBUTED IT TO A KNOWN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 09-36-03. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS ISN'T A RECALL? RAW FUEL VAPOR IS EXPLOSIVE AND A CARCINOGEN. AS IT IS NOW, I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR ON COLD DAYS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

USUALLY IN THE MORNING WHEN I TURN ON THE CAR, AS SOON AS I WOULD DRIVE OFF TO WORK I WOULD CATCH A THE SMELL OF RAW GAS INSIDE MY CAR! AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST FROM THE OUTSIDE THAT MADE ITS WAY THROUGH MY CABIN BUT IT KEPT HAPPENING FOR DAYS. YESTERDAY [12-17-08] WAS THE WORST! ITS BEEN COLD THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS & RAINING HARD. TO REMOVE THE FOG ON MY WINDSHIELD I HAD TO TURN ON THE FAN AND THAT'S WHEN THE RAW FUEL SMELL MAGNIFIED! I COULD NOT STAND IT & NEITHER COULD MY PASSENGERS. WE HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOWS TO AIR OUT THE CAR.*TR

CAR PRODUCES A STRONG FUEL INSIDE THE CABIN ON COLD MORNINGS. FUEL IS VISIBLE ON THE ENGINE BLOCK WHERE THE FUEL LINE IS LEAKING. *TR

1) WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, AND WHEN THE TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW 40 DEGREES, A STRONG PUNGENT SMELL OF GASOLINE IS APPARENT IN THE CABIN. 2) THE FAILURE IS THE FUEL LINES IN THE VEHICLE AND HOSES ARE IMPROPERLY DESIGNED, CAUSING A SHRINKING OF THE SIZE OF THE HOSES. THIS PROBLEM IS A TSB AND KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURE, BUT THIS SHOULD NOT BE A TSB , BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD NOT JUST FOR MILEAGE REASONS BUT FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH PROBLEMS 3) NOTHING WAS DONE, CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY RE NOT HONORING THIS WARRANTY. *TR

AFTER STARTING THE CAR ENGINE ON COLD MORNINGS (APPROX 32 DEGREES AND BELOW), STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL ENTERS THE CABIN THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR EVERY WINTER SINCE I PURCHASED IT PRE-OWNED 4 YEARS AGO. TSB #09-36-03 HAS BEEN ISSUED REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, BUT I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE A RECALL INSTEAD BECAUSE OF THE HIGH RISK TO ONES HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND FOR PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO PURCHASED THE CAR USED AFTER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL PARTS USED DURING MANUFACTURING AND THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONSUMER. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX SPORT WAGON, VIN# . I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THERE IS A RECURRING HEAVY FUEL VAPOR PRESENCE IN THE VEHICLE CABIN AND ALSO NOTICEABLE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY AFTER HAVING DRIVEN AND PARKED IN A CLOSED GARAGE. THIS CONDITION OCCURS ONLY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS APPROXIMATELY 40 F OR LOWER, AND CAN PERSIST FOR OVER 30 MINUTES (DURING THE COURSE OF MY TYPICAL COMMUTE). THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE OVER SEVEN YEARS AGO. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE NHTSA HAS OPENED AND CLOSED AN INVESTIGATIVE ACTION # PE04002, WITHOUT SUBSEQUENT ACTION DIRECTED FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO ISSUE A RECALL. PERHAPS THIS FALLS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE EPA, OSHA OR THE CONSUMER PRODUCTS SAFETY COMMISSION AS A SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH SITUATION, AND THEREFORE DOES NOT TRIGGER ACTION UNDER NHTSA, HOWEVER I STRONGLY URGE RE-EVALUATION OF THIS SITUATION GIVEN THE OBVIOUS DANGER THIS SITUATION POSES TO THE PUBLIC. I INTEND TO HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBARU'S TSB 09-36-03, HOWEVER HOPE THAT I CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR OUT OF POCKET REPAIR EXPENSES TO WHAT HAS BEEN AN UNACCEPTABLE AND DOCUMENTED SAFETY ISSUE AND DESIGN FLAW. *TR

RAW GASOLINE ODOUR IN THE CABIN DURING THE FIRST 5 MINUTES OF STARTING THE CAR IN COLD WEATHER. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 SUBARU WRX SEDAN THAT IS AFFECTED BY TSB 09-36-03 FUEL LEAK I HAVE EXPERIENCED HEADACHES, DIZZINESS AND NAUSEA FROM THE FUMES ENTERING THE CABIN AS WELL AS DECREASED FUEL MILEAGE AND FEAR THAT MY CAR COULD CATCH FIRE AT ANY TIME I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT AND DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER MODE OF TRANSPORTATION TODAY I FOUND AT LEAST A COUPLE OF DOZEN OTHER PEOPLE LIKE ME WITH THIS PROBLEM THE BELIEF THAT THIS ONLY OCCURS IN COLD NORTHERN AREAS IS ABSOLUTELY INACCURATE AS I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IT IS WORSE IN COLDER WEATHER BUT STILL HAPPENS IN WARMER CLIMATES I AM OUTRAGED THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED HOW MANY REPORTS DOES IT TAKE FOR SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT SUBARU IS NOT STANDING BY THEIR CLAIM FOR SAFETY BEING FIRST ARE YOU WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO PASS OUT DO TO THE FUMES AND CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT OR FOR A SUDDEN BURST OF FLAMES FROM THE RAW FUEL LEAKING YOU DO KNOW THE TURBOCHARGER CREATES A LOT OF HEAT ESPECIALLY UNDER HARD DRIVING CONDITIONS NO REPORT CAN POSSIBLY PROVE THAT A FUEL LEAK WON'T CAUSE A FIRE NOT TO MENTION THE FUMES WHICH ARE VERY STRONG AND WILL MAKE YOU SICK WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW THESE ARE EXPENSIVE CARS AND SUBARU SHOULD BE HELD TO STANDARD OF HIGH QUALITY THEY CLAIM POUR INTO THEIR PRODUCTS PLEASE HELP US I MY CAR HAS 94,000 MILES AND IS IN GREAT CONDITION ASIDE FROM THE FUEL LEAK MENTIONED THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING SUBARU NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SAFETY OF

1. FAULTY FUEL LINES AND CONNECTIONS WHERE UNDER COLD TEMPERATURES, FUEL LEAKS ONTO ENGINE AND FUEL SMELL ENTERS CABIN OF VEHICLE. 2. EVERY TIME THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE DROPS CLOSE TO FREEZING. DIZZINESS OCCURS WHILE SITTING INSIDE VEHICLE TO WHERE THE WINDOWS HAVE TO BE ROLLS DOWN CANCELING THE EFFECTS OF HAVING THE HEATER RUN TO WARM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. LATELY THE SMELL HAS BECOME INTOLERABLE THE MORE PROBLEMATIC. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AS OF CURRENTLY BUT THERE APPEARS TO BE A FIX PER VEHICLE MANUFACTURER BUT AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 SUBARU WRX THAT HAS A FUEL LEAK WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD. IT OCCURS USUALLY ON START UP AND LASTS USUALLY 10-15 MINUTES. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR (SEE THE FOLLOWING WEB LINK) HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=131755 MANY CAR OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT SUBARU REFUSES TO CORRECT IT DESPITE THE OBVIOUS DANGER (IE FUEL DRIPPING ONTO THE ENGINE MANIFOLD). SEVERAL FIRES HAVE EVEN BEEN REPORTED - ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED THIS. *TR

SUBARU HAS RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN # 09-36-03 DATE 04-01-03 FUEL SMELL / LEAK WHEN OUTSIDE TEMP GOES BELOW ~14 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. FUEL LEAK IS FROM FUEL LINES SUPPLYING FUEL TO THE PASSENGER SIDE INJECTORS, LEAK IS ON TOP OF ENGINE. I HAVE THIS LEAK BELOW 40DEGREES. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED SUBARU YET BUT THIS IS FOR ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX-----VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL IN CABIN OF CAR DURING COLD WEATHER DRIVING. FUMES IN CABIN ARE SO BAD AS TO CAUSE NAUSEA AND HEADACHE AFTER PROLONGED EXPOSURE. THIS IS RELATED TO SUBARU OF AMERICA TSB#09-36-03, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE04002. NOT ONLY AM I CONCERNED ABOUT FUEL IGNITION IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BUT STUDIES ALSO SHOW THAT GASOLINE FUMES ARE CARCINOGENIC. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I OWNED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2001, HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVER SINCE. FINALLY I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF "DEALING WITH IT". DEALERSHIPS HAVE LOOKED AT MY CAR AND TOLD ME THAT NOTHING IS WRONG, AND I'VE HAD ENOUGH. THIS IS DANGEROUS. *TR

DURING COLD WEATHER I CAN SMELL GAS FUMES IN MY CABIN AND SEE GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINES IN THE ENGINE. *TR

THE BRAKE PEDAL ON MY 2002 SUBARU SOMETIMES GETS SOFT (LOOSES BRAKE PRESSURE), SPECIALLY WHEN IT'S COLD AND THE SITS PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE DEALER HAS CHANGED AN EXPANSION VALVE( ? ), BUT THE PROBLEM COMES BACK ON OCCASION. THIS PROBLEM MAKES ME FEEL INSECURE ABOUT MY BRAKE SYSTEM. THE DEALER SAYS EVERYTHING IS OK, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2002 SUBARU IN OCTOBER OF 2001. THE FOLLOWING WINTER DURING A PARTICULARLY COLD TRIP TO THE MOUNTAINS I NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. I WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE IT ONCE I GOT HOME. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP GRESHAM NISSAN SUBARU IN GRESHAM OREGON ABOUT IT AT MY NEXT OIL CHANGE THEY SAID THEY DIDN?T FIND ANYTHING. I DID NOT TAKE THE CAR INTO COLD WEATHER AGAIN UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS WELL OUT OF WARRANTY. WHEN I DID I NOTICED AN EVEN STRONGER SMELL OF GAS. I DECIDED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THE LEAKING FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM CORRECTED BEFORE I MADE A MOVE FROM PORTLAND OREGON TO THE SIGNIFICANTLY COLDER CLIMATE IN MADISON WISCONSIN. IT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO PAY ALMOST ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO CORRECT A DEFECT THAT WAS INHERENT IN THE VEHICLE FROM THE TIME IT WAS NEW. ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS DEFECT MAY CAUSE AN EXPLOSION. *TR

STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN THE CAR WHEN STARTING FROM COLD . WE ARE FORCED TO IDLE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE HEAT SYSTEM OFF AND CAN ONLY TURN IT ON WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR THE FUMES ARE OVERPOWERING. SYMPATHETIC COMMENTS FROM THE SUBARU DEALER BUT UNABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT A RECALL IS COSTLY FOR SUBARU, BUT THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

WE JUST HAD AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF SNOW & COLD WEATHER HERE WHERE I LIVE IN OREGON. MY WRX SUDDENLY DEVELOPED AN EXTREMELY STRONG, TOXIC, RAW FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE CAR WHEN IT WAS FIRST STARTED IN THE MORNING. I CALLED MY DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY KNEW WHAT IT WAS, AND THAT THERE IS A TSB TO FIX THE FUEL LINE LEAK. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT SUBARU DID NOT THINK IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE SO WOULD NOT COVER IT OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AND WANTED $600 TO FIX! THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE! I HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOWS TO GET FRESH AIR TO BE ABLE TO BREATHE AND AM CONCERNED THAT THE CAR MIGHT CATCH FIRE! *TR

VERY STRONG RAW FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE CAR COMING THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM AS WELL AS STRONG EXTERIOR FUEL SMELL. *TR

FUEL SMELL COMES FROM RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN ITS COLD OUT (UNDER 50). THE SMELL FILLS THE INSIDE OF THE CAR WHILE I DRIVE. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER OWNERS OF MY CAR AND THIS IS COMMON. *CN

UNBEARABLY STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. TEMPERATURE 20 F AND BELOW. 62,000 ON CAR, NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE. ALWAYS EXPOSED TO SAME CLIMATE CHANGES AND EXTREMES IN TEMPERATURE. UNABLE TO DRIVE CAR, NAUSEATED AND SEVERE HEADACHE ENSUED. *TR

STOPPED AT LIGHT AND NOTICED STRONG FUEL ODOR IN CABIN. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, NOTICED LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKING ONTO TOP OF ENGINE BLOCK, AND RUNNING DOWN TO EXHAUST COMPONENTS. CONSIDERING QUANTITY AND LOCATION OF LEAKING FUEL, IT SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

SOA GOLD PLUS ADDED SECURITY 7 YEAR/100,000 MI CONTRACT COVERAGE SO EXTENSIVE IT'S EASIER TO LIST WHAT IS NOT COVERED! 2002 WRX 64,500 MI NOW AT METRIC SUBARU DIX HILLS, NY BLEW OUT TRANS/MAN CLUTCH ASSEMBLY & WANTS $3,600. METRIC REPLACED MANUAL CLUTCH ASS 62,980 MI, COSTING $1,175 & BROUGHT BACK CAR LESS THAN 400 MI LATER BECAUSE OF CRUNCHING WHEN SHIFTING IN FIRST & REVERSE & WASN'T FIXED BECAUSE METRIC COULDN'T VERIFY COMPLAINT. FEW DAYS LATER GEAR STUCK IN REVERSE & CAR WOULDN'T BUDGE WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF STREET. SUBARU TOWED CAR TO METRIC, COULDN'T VERIFY COMPLAINT AS GEAR BECAME UNSTUCK. NEW YEARS DAY, WITH DROPPED CLUTCH PEDAL COULDN'T GET INTO GEAR SO SUBARU TOWED CAR BACK TO METRIC. UPON CALLING SOA RECEIVED # 1072552 FROM LES HANDLEY AND AFTER SIGNING $500. AUTH TEAR DOWN CHG WAS THEN TOLD TRANS/MAN CLUTCH ASSEMBLY BLOWN OUT/ GEARS STRIPPED/CHIPPED. SOA REFUSES TO AUTHORIZE DEALER TO FIX THE CAR ASSERTING ABUSED CAR AND DRIVEN AGGRESSIVELY. METRIC EXPLAINED MANUAL TRANS A PROBLEM AND WE SEE RESEARCHING WEBSITE, NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS NEARLY SAME IDENTICAL STORY OF TRANS & MAN CLUTCH ASSEMBLY BLOWN OUT/GEARS STRIPPED/CHIPPED WITH SOA DENYING REPAIRS ASSERTING ABUSE. IS IT POSSIBLE EVERY OWNERS TALE OF WOE IS A LIE? SUBARU REPLACED OUR TRANS 29,068 MI AFTER FINDING GEARS, SYNROS AND SLEEVES DEFECTIVE. SUBARU THREE MONTHS LATER AT 29,740 MI FOUND TRANSMISSION LEAKING, SEEING TRANSMISSION CASE POROUS & REPLACED IT. 42,546 MI SUBARU REPLACED WORN REVERSE TRANS SHIFT RAIL

RAW FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN OF MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX, WHEN I PARK MY CAR IN MY GARAGE AT NIGHT THE RAW FUEL SMELL CAN ALSO BE SMELLED THROUGHOUT THE GARAGE AFTER THE CAR IS SHUT OFF. SUBARU DEALERSHIP WILL FIX IT FOR A 85 DOLLAR PART AND TWO HOURS OF SERVICE TIME, WHICH IS AROUND 230 DOLLARS, AT MY EXPENSE WHEN IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT, THAT IS WRONG TO DO IN MY OPINION. IN MY OPINION SUBARU SHOULD FIX IT FOR FREE. *TR

WE HAD A COLDER THAN NORMAL SPELL BELOW FREEZING FOR A DAY. UPON DRIVING THE SUBARU WRX 2002 MODEL, I NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING INTO THE CABIN. ONCE RETURNING HOME EXAMINED THE ENGINE AND NOTICED FUEL PUDDLING UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I SUSPECT THAT IT IS THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE INTERFACE/CLAMP AND THE RUBBER HOSE CONNECTED TO IT UNDER THE MANIFOLD LEAKING/ SEEPING. IT'S LOCATION AND FUMES POSE A FIRE SAFETY HAZARD AND OCCUPANT SAFETY HAZARD. *CN

AN EXTREMELY STRONG ODOR OF UNBURNT FUEL ENGULFED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE, GIVING MY PASSENGER AND I A HEADACHE. THE ODOR HAS RETURNED EVERY DAY SINCE THEN. *CN

2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX AT TEMPERATURES OF 40 DEG F AND BELOW THE PASSENGER FUEL LINES LEAK FUEL RAW FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK AND GENERATE LARGE AMOUNTS OF VAPORS THAT ARE DRAWN INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. AT LOWER TEMPERATURES THE PROBLEM IS WORSE. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT CALLS TO TIGHTEN THE LINE BUT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AT ALL, AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT THEY DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT THIS PROCEDURE WILL FIX THE ISSUE. THE TOXIC FUMES GIVE ME NAUSEA AND IRRITATE MY EYES SINCE THEY ARE SO STRONG IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I CLOSE THE RECIR TO PREVENT FRESH AIR FROM COMING INTO THE CABIN BUT THE WINDOWS FOG UP QUICKLY AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF THEM WHILE DRIVING IN THE COLD WEATHER. I ALSO CONSIDER THIS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. THERE ARE COUNTLESS OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND TO DATE THERE IS NO FIX FOR PEOPLE DRIVING THE 2002-03 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. THE FOLLOWING LINK IS AN EXAMPLE OF JUST SOME OF THE PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE. SEARCHES ON THE NET WILL YIELD MANY MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.*CN

SEVERE SMELL OF GASONLINE IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN OUTSIDE TEMP IS <40 DEG F. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR. I TOOK IT TO DEALER LAST YEAR AND THEY TOLD ME THEY TIGHTENED UP CLAMPS BUT THAT HAD NO EFFECT. *TR THIS ISNT A RECALL?? OVER 140 COMPLAINTS FO RAW FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE AND NO RECALL?? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE IN A CAR FIRE??

RUBBER FUEL LINE CONNECTING TWO SECTIONS OF HARD METAL FUEL LINE LEAKS IN COLD TEMPERATURES (UNDER 35 DEGREES). PROBLEM NOT YET CORRECTED BY DEALER. *TR

RAW FUEL SMELL IN COLD WEATHER IN MY 2002 SUBARU WRX. *TR

THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE 40'S TODAY. NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. WAS ABLE TO LOCATE AND VERIFY A LEAK FROM ONE OF THE FUEL HOSES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD (I HAVE VIDEO TO PROVE THAT THERE IS A LEAK). HAVE OBTAINED AND INSTALLED NEW FUEL LINE ON THE ENTIRE FUEL DELIVERY RAIL. NOW, AFTER PERFORMING MORE RESEARCH I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ACTUAL FUEL RAIL AND NOT THE HOSES. I ALSO KNOW THAT SUBARU KNOWS OF A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE ORIGINAL FUEL RAIL. ASIDE FROM BEING A DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARD, THIS DEFECT IS ALLOWING POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF CARS TO RELEASE COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF HYDROCARBONS INTO THE AIR. THIS SAFETY HAZARD AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD NEEDS TO BE HIGHLY CONSIDERED AS THE BASIS OF A RECALL! *TR

FUEL LEAK AND SMELL FROM FUEL HOSES. *TR

STARTING CAR IN COLD WEATHER RESULTS IN RAW GASOLINE LEAKS INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. PROBLEM PERSIST UNTIL CAR IS VERY WARM. HAZARDS ARE RISK OF FIRE, DRIVER ILLNESS DUE TO BREATHING FUMES AND ENVIRONMENTAL RELEASE OF GASOLINE. *TR

FUEL LEAK ON 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. FUEL LEAKS/SPRAYS FORM FUEL LINES ONTO MANIFOLD. STRONG FUEL SMELLS FILL CABIN WITH VAPORS. POSSIBLE CHANCE OF FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONTACTED SUBARU WITH NO RESOLUTION. FIND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. *TR

IN COOL OR COLD WEATHER, THERE IS A VERY STRONG ODOR OF RAW FUEL INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ANYONE INSIDE OR NEAR THE CAR IS EXPOSED TO HARMFUL GASOLINE FUMES, THESE VAPORS ARE TOXIC WHEN CONCENTRATED AND MAY CAUSE DIZZINESS AND HALLUCINATIONS IN SMALLER AMOUNTS. THERE IS ALSO CONCERN OF POTENTIAL FIRE DANGER. FUEL ODOR HAS BEEN PRESENT YEAR-ROUND ON MY CAR, AND ALSO ON MANY OTHER 2002 AND 2003 SUBARU IMPREZAS. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE THAT SUBARU NEEDS TO ADDRESS, BUT THEIR POSITION SEEMS TO BE THAT IT IS THE CUSTOMER'S FAULT AND RESPONSIBILITY. THIS REPAIR, TO CORRECT A DESIGN FLAW IN THE SUBARU WRX, WILL COST THE LOYAL CUSTOMER SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. THANKS SUBARU, THANKS A LOT. *TR

MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX EXHIBITS A VERY STRONG RAW GASOLINE SMELL AFTER RUNNING IN COLD WEATHER. I FIND THE PROBLEM MOST PRONOUNCED AFTER A TEMPERATURE CHANGE. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY CAR WILL CATCH ON FIRE. *TR

EARLY MODEL YEAR 2002 SUBARU IMPREZZA WRX - EXHIBITS A VERY STRONG RAW GASOLINE ODOR WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS 60F OR BELOW AND THE ENGINE IS COLD. THE SMELL IS SO STRONG THAT THE WINDOWS OF THE CAR MUST BE OPENED IN ORDER NOT TO GET SICK FROM THE VAPORS. A VERY SIMILAR IF NOT IDENTICAL ISSUE IS RECORDED BY SUBARU AS SERVICE BULLETIN 09-36-03, HOWEVER THE TEMPERATURE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE BELOW FREEZING FOR THE PROBLEM TO OCCUR. AS STRONG AS THE ODOR IS FROM THIS PROBLEM, THERE IS CLEARLY RAW FUEL POOLING OR SPILLING SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE WELL OVER 1500 POSTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE ON THE FOLLOWING SITE: HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=131755 THERE ARE OTHER FORUMS WITH INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE REPORTS OF RAW FUEL POOLING ON SOME PEOPLE'S MANIFOLDS. THIS REPRESENTS A CLEAR DANGER TO PEOPLE AND PROPERTY, AND SHOULD BE RECONSIDERED BY THE NHTSA AS A MANDATORY RECALL FOR ALL SUBARU WRX VEHICLES WITH ENGINES PRIOR TO 673467 AS LISTED IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN. IF THE NHTSA WAITS UNTIL A VEHICLE CATCHES FIRE OR EXPLODES BEFORE MAKING THIS A RECALL, IT WILL BE A POTENTIAL TRAGEDY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY AVOIDED. *TR

THE CAR SEEMS TO HAVE A TEMPERATURE RELATED FUEL LEAK THAT ALWAYS OCCURS IN COOL OR COLD WEATHER AND MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IF THE ENGINE IS COLD OR WARM. THERE IS AN EXTREMELY STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE PASSENGER CABIN, SO MUCH SO THAT WINDOWS MUST BE ROLLED DOWN IN COLD WEATHER. THE CAR IS OFF WARRANTY AND I'VE HAD IT IN TO MY MECHANIC WHO CAN'T LOCATE A PROBLEM. HE SUGGESTED TIGHTENING THE FUEL CAP VERY SNUGLY AFTER REFUELING BUT THIS HAS MADE NO DIFFERENCE. THE SMELL OCCURS ALMOST DAILY IN WEATHER BELOW 35-40 DEGREES. THE CAR IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND WAS INSPECTED FOR PIN HOLES, LOOSE CONNECTIONS IN THE EMISSIONS/FUEL SYSTEM BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. I OCCASIONALLY SEE ONE OR TWO SPOTS OF WHAT SMELLS LIKE GAS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. I AM SURPRISED AT THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND THAT SUBARU HAS NOT TAKEN THIS SERIOUSLY. *AK

EXTREMELY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE CABIN AREA. TO THE POINT WHERE WINDOWS ALL HAVE TO BE ROLLED DOWN, SCARED THAT CAR MAY EXPLODE. NOTICED THAT IT IS WORSE ON COLD DAYS MORESO THAN ON HOT DAYS. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED WHAT LOOKS TO BE GASOLINE STAINS ON OUR DRIVEWAY, WHICH ARE LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA OF WHERE OUR 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX USUALLY PARKS.

2002 SUBARU WRX SEDAN. STRONG FUEL SMELL COMES FROM PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A MINOR FUEL LEAK OCCURS OCCASIONALLY DURING COLD WEATHER. TOOK IT TO SUBARU DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE LEAK SINCE THE WEATHER WARMED UP. SERVICE REP RECALLED SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH ANOTHER CUSTOMER WHO PAID $400 FOR REPLACING A FUEL LINE. FUEL LEAKS ARE SAFETY HAZARDS AND SHOULD BE FIXED AS RECALLS. *JB

DURING SOME COLD WEATHER OF ABOUT 20 FARENHEIT I RECENTLY I SMELLED A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE VEHICLE COLD START EMISSIONS, BUT IT CONTINUED AFTER A LONG DRIVE (60 MINUTES) AND WAS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING. I POPPED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL SO IT APPEARED THE SMELL WAS ORIGINATING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IN COLD WEATHER, AND MY GAS MILEAGE DROPPED TO ABOUT 16 MPG HIGHWAY. THIS IS COMPARED TO ABOUT 28 MPG I NORMALLY GET ON THE HIGHWAY.*AK AFTER THE WEATHER WARMED UP, THE GAS SMELL MOSTLY SUBSIDED AND GAS MILEAGE RETURNED TO NORMAL UPON SEARCHING ONLINE I DID FIND THAT SUBARU HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS ISSUE THAT EXPLAINS THESE SYMPTOMS AS A DEFECT IN THE LENGTH OF THE FUEL HOSE AND RAIL WHICH CAUSES FUEL TO LEAK. BUT UPON TALKING TO THE DEALER, THEY WANTED ME TO PAY FOR A TECHNICIAN TO ATTEMPT TO VERIFY THE ISSUE, WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE NOW THAT THE WEATHER IS WARM. THEY ALSO WILL NOT COMMIT THAT SUBARU WILL PAY FOR THE REPAIR IN ANY CASE. THE REPAIR IF I PAY FOR IT WILL BE MORE THAN $500, BUT I FEEL IT IS A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE. IT'S A HEALTH ISSUE BECAUSE GASOLINE FUMES ARE A RECOGNIZED CARCINOGEN, AND A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE HAVING 40% OF THE GASOLINE DISPERSE IN THE ENGINE BAY COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. ALSO, WAITING FOR THE SYMPTOM TO APPEAR IS TOO LATE, AND DOES NOT RELIABLY IDENTIFY WHICH VEHICLES MAY BE AFFECTED. A VEHICLE M

I OWN A 2002 SUBARU WRX. IN FEB. 2007 I STARTED THE CAR AND STRONG GASOLINE SMELL ENTERED THE CABIN. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOW DEFECT IN THE 2002 MODEL WHEN STARTING IN COLD WEATHER. THE DEALER KNEW THE TROUBLE WELL AND FIXED IT WITH CHANGE IN FUEL LINE NEAR INTAKE MANIFOLD. MY QUESTION IS WHY THIS SERIOUS FLAW DID NOT TRIGGER A RECALL WHEN A FIRE COULD CERTAINLY RESULT FROM LEAKING FUEL NEAR THE MANIFOLD?

ON MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX SEDAN WHENEVER I GO OVER A BUMP OR IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD (NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL) THE ABS KICKS IN AND IF I HIT THE BRAKES DIRECTLY AFTERWARDS THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND I HAVE SEVERELY WEAK BREAKS FOR 2-3 SECONDS THEN THEY COME BACK. IVE REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS, PADS, AND BRAKE FLUID AND THE ISSUE STILL HAPPENS. SUBARU OF AMERICA CLAIMS IT IS NOT A PROBLEM BUT HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE WITH ANY OTHER CAR WITH ABS. IM VERY FAMILIAR WITH ABS AND KNOW HOW IT WORKS THE PROBLEM IS AFTER IT ENGAGES IF YOU BRAKE AGAIN 2-3 SECONDS AFTER IT ENGAGED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AS IF THERES ONLY 20% BRAKEING FORCE. IVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS ONE TIME I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT GOING 5MPH AND THIS HAPPENED AND I ALMOST DRIFTED INTO A PARKED CAR. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. PLEASE VIEW THIS WEBSITE HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=102893 MANY 2002 AND UP SUBARU OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCEING THIS. THE ABS ISNT THE PROBLEM AGAIN ITS THE LOSS OF BRAKEING AFTER THE ABS WAS ENGAGED MAYBE THE ABS COMPUTER ISNT WORKING CORRECTLY/FAST ENOUGH? THANK YOU

DURING THE WINTER, OUR 2002 WRX HAS SMELLED LIKE EXHAUST OR RAW FUEL IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO SURBARU AND WERE TOLD THE RUBBER FUEL LINE SHRINKS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS AND FUEL LEAKS. THEY DID A NOTICE, BUT NOT A RECALL - WHICH MEANS YOU PAY NOT THEM. IT COST $700 IN PARTS & LABOUR ($15 FOR THE PART) - THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAS TO BE REMOVED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I CALLED SUBARU AMERICA DIRECTLY AND WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T SELL ENOUGH CARS IN THE NORTH TO WARRANT THE COST OF DOING A RECALL ON ALL THE SUBARU'S. MAYBE IF ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAIN THEY WILL RETHINK THEIR STRATEGY.

STRONG FUEL SMELL AFTER VEHICLE START UP. THIS HAD BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME (AROUND 1 MONTH). TOOK VEHICLE IN TO SERVICE AND DISCOVERED FUEL LEAKING UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FROM THE INJECTOR RAILS. FUEL WAS SPILLING ONTO THE MANIFOLD. DISCOVERED SUBARU TSB # 01-123-90 COVERING THE ISSUE AND REPAIR NEEDED. THE REPAIR TOOK 1+ WEEKS DUE TO PART UNAVAILABILITY AND $380. CONNECTOR HOSE REFERENCED IN THE SUBARU TSB WAS REPLACED. *JB

BEGINNING IN THE WINTER OF 2003- 2004 (I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JUNE OF 2003), I WOULD CLEARLY SMELL GASOLINE WHENEVER I TURNED MY CAR ON IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW 40 DEGREES OR SO). THE SMELL WOULD REMAIN FOR A LITTLE WHILE. I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT OF THIS AS A MAJOR PROBLEM, BUT I ALLOWED MY PREGNANT SISTER TO BORROW MY CAR AND ON A PARTICULARLY COLD DAY, IT MADE HER SO NAUSEOUS SHE VOMITED AND COULDN'T REMAIN IN THE CAR. I HAD TO BORROW A FRIENDS CAR TO GO PICK HER UP, THEN HAVE HER DRIVE WITH ME TO MY FRIENDS HOUSE 30 MINUTES AWAY SO I COULD GIVE HIM HIS CAR BACK. AFTER THIS EMBARRASSING SITUATION, I DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE THIS AND CAME ACROSS A WEBSITE THAT 2002 SUBARU WRX OWNERS TRADE INFORMATION ON. I FOUND OUT THAT SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE JANUARY OF 2003, BUT NEGLECTED TO LET THE BUYERS KNOW ABOUT IT. I ACTUALLY BOUGHT THE CAR AFTER THEY RELEASED THEIR TSB ABOUT THIS, BUT NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT. I AM REALLY AGGRAVATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, FOR SO MANY YEARS AND NEITHER SUBARU OF AMERICA, THE NHTSA, NOR ANYONE ELSE HAS DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SHAME ON ALL PARTIES INVOLVED. *JB

RAW FUEL SMELL FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMES INTO CABIN OF VEHICLE WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS LOWER THAN 20 DEGREES F. *JB

RAW FUEL SMELL COMING FROM ENGINE AREA. *JB