2002 Subaru WRX complaints

FUEL LINES NEAR INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE LEAKING AT ODD TIMES DURING COLD WEATHER OFF AND ON. FUEL WAS SPILLING ONTO ENGINE BLOCK, AND OTHER HOT COMPONENTS. STRONG RAW FUEL SMELL THAT WAS NAUSEATING ENTERED INTO CABIN WITH THE CLIMATE CONTROL ON.*AK

FUEL SMELL AND SMALL FUEL LEAK WHEN COLD (BELOW FREEZING). HAS OCCURED ON MULTIPLE OCCSIONS. FOUND SUBARUE TSB RELATING TO LEAKING FUEL LINES. I HAVE TIGHTEND THE LINES AND HOPE THAT WORKS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS SUBRUA IS CHARGING FOR THIS REPAIR ON CARS OUT OF 3/36 WARRANTY AT A COST OF AROUND $300-$400. THIS IS A FIRE HASARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.*AK

ONLY IN COLD TEMPERATURES THERE IS A SMELL OF FUMES. GAS VAPORS ARE COMING FROM THE ENGINE INTO THE VEHICLE. NO RECALLS FOUND.*AK

DURING COLD WEATHER THERE IS AN AWFUL SMELL OF GASOLINE. IT ALMOST SMELLS AS THOUGH THERE'S A GAS LEAK INSIDE THE CAR. THERE WAS A TSB RELEASED BUT THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM SO NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THE SMELL IS UNBEARABLE AND CANNOT BE HEALTHY.*AK

FUEL SMELL OBSERVED INSIDE CABIN WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 40 DEG F. DEFINITE FUEL SMELL FROM PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE BAY WHEREAS NO SMELL FROM DRIVER'S SIDE. DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERNS WITH FUEL DRIPPING FROM LINES ONTO HOT ENGINE/ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS. *AK

FUEL ODOR AND SEEPAGE WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING DURING COLD WEATHER. WARMING UP OF THE ENGINE DOES NOT STOP THE ODOR. WHILE THE ENGINE IS NOT WARMED UP LIQUID FUEL SEEPS OUT. ONCE THE ENGINE WARMS UP FUEL VAPOR SEEPS OUT. THE SEEPAGE OCCURS WHENEVER THE WEATHER IS COLD. FOR NOTE, THIS RELATES TO DEFECT INVESTIGATION PE04002.*AK

TODAY I STARTED MY CAR, IT WAS ABOUT 35 DEGREES OUTSIDE. AS I RELEASED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURNED UP THE HEAT, I SMELLED GASOLINE. THOUGHT IT WAS JUST BECUASE IT WAS SO COLD THAT THE FUEL DID NOT BURN ALL THE WAY. AT LUNCH I DROVE TO BURGER KING AND STILL SMELLED THE HORRIBLE FUMES. ON MY WAY HOME IT WAS STILL THERE AND I HAD TO HAVE THE HEAT ON BECAUSE IT WAS SO COLD OUT AND I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC. SO NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAVE A SPLITTING HEAD ACHE AND AM VERY FRUSTRATED AT THE INFORMATION I FOUND ON THE WEB. WITH THE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS CAR COMPANIES MAKE YOU WOULD THINK THAT WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM OF THIS MAGNATUDE THEY WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WHAT IF THE FUMES FROM THE GASOLINE HAD KNOCKED ME OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME AND RAN INTO SOMEONE AND KILLED THEM WOULD'NT IT BE CHEAPER TO BE PROACTIVE THAN REACTIVE?*AK

THERE IS A SMELL OF GAS IN AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY HAD STRONG SMELL OF GAS, FOUND GAS STEAMING OFF THE ENGINE, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE GAS PIPE. IT TOOK OVER $500 TO PUT IN A NEW GAS PIPE BUT IT STILL SMELLS LIKE GAS. THE DEALER KEPT THE OLD PART AND INSTALLED PIPE CP FUEL RETURN PART #17544AA134 AND HOSE PART #807707140. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 44,000 MILES. *JB

1. STARTED MY CAR ON A COLD MORNING. 2. SMELLED GASOLINE IN THE CAR. HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP TO BE LOOKED AT. THEY SAID THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME IN THE COLDER AREAS OF THE NATION, AND THAT IT WAS NOT ON A RECALL. I THINK A FUEL LEAK IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE (IE, BURNED TO DEATH) BEFORE THIS BECOMES A RECALL ISSUE. I HAD TO PAY OVER 400 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE MY LIFE AND MY DAUGHTERS IS WORTH THAT MUCH. THIS WAS FIXED MY A LONGER TUBE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. COME ON PEOPLE IT'S A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *JB

I DRIVE A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. A WEEK AND A HALF AGO WE HAD TEMPS BELOW ZERO. WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED VERY STRONG GAS SMELLS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS WHILE USING THE DEFROST. AFTER SOME ONLINE INVESTIGATION I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES FOR ANYONE LIVING IN A COLDER CLIMATE. I BELIVE THE PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH THE FITTINGS THAT ATTATCH THE METAL FUEL LINES TO THE FLEXIBLE HOSES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IN COLD WEATHER THESE FAIL, SPILLING GASOLINE ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. NOW THE PROBLEM IS MORE COMMON, EVEN ON COOL, BUT NOT COLD DAYS. I UNDERSTAND THAT SUBARU IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS EVEN ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO DEALERSHIPS ADVISING THEM OF THE FIX FOR THIS (WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE). HOWEVER, IT SHOULD NOT BE THE CONSUMERS RESPONSIBLITY TO PAY FOR A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FIX THAT IS COMMON ON THESE CARS. STRONG GAS FUMES IN THE PASSANGER COMPARTMENT AND GASOLINE SPILLING ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK SHOULD CONSTITUTE ENOUGH OF A SAFETY HAZARD TO JUSTIFY A RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. *AK

THERE IS A KNOWN INTERNAL TSB BEING CIRCULATED BY SUBARU OF AMERICA ABOUT THIS VERY PROBLEM. PRICING HAS RANGED FROM $650.00 AND UP. THIS IS A HAZARD AND A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. I SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS RECURRING AMONGST HUNDREDS OF WRX OWNERS. FUEL LEAKS FROM A LINE ONTO THE ENGINE. TWO DANGERS EXIST, 1)POSSIBLE IGNITION OF THE RAW GASOLINE DUE TO PROXIMITY TO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. 2)POSSIBLE EXPLOSION IN VEHICLE CABIN DUE TO ACCUMULATION OF DENSE GASOLINE VAPORS. IN ANY CASE IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR A SMOKER TO SUSTAIN THEIR HABIT WHILST INSIDE THIS VEHICLE. THE CONCENTRATIONS OF VAPOR ARE 10X THAT OF A GAS STATION. CLEARLY THIS SHOULD AT THE VERY LEAST ENTITLE THE 10-15% OF 2002-03 WRX OWNERS TO A FREE REPAIR. (OR EVEN PARTS WITHOUT LABOR) PLEASE ADVISE AS TO HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THIS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM BEFORE WE END UP ADDRESSING IT BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS CASUALTIES. IF A VEHICLE COMBUSTS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, IT WILL NOT ONLY KILL THE DRIVER BUT THE 8 PEOPLE SURROUNDING THE EXPLODED VEHICLE WHO WERE RIDING ALONGSIDE IT ON THE HIGHWAY. PROBLEM STARTED AT 21K MI AND HAS CONTINUED. SEVER COLD (BELOW 14 DEGREES) IS TYPICALLY REQUIRED TO PRODUCE THE PROBLEM WITH 100% CONSISTENCY. TSB DATA: TSB#09-36-03, DATE OF INCEPTION:04-01-2003, PARTS REQUIRED:17544AA134, 807707140. *NM

STARTING TWO WEEKS AGO, I HAVE ENCOUNTERED A FUEL SMELL WHEN STARTING MY CAR IN COLD WEATHER. IT'S SO BAD I REALLY AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT TIMES AND THE ODOR INSIDE THE CAR IS REALLY BAD. I OPENED THE HOOD ON THE CAR ONE MORNING WHEN I SMELLED IT AND IT LOOKED THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING SMELL OF GASOLINE, ALMOST LIKE IT WAS LEAKING SOMEWHERE. I AM GOING TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA AS THIS CANNOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE. *NM

CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL LINE. THE FUEL LINE TENDS TO LEAKS ON COLD DAYS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL LINE SHRINKS AT CERTAIN TEMPERATURES. THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB

AFTER COLD WEATHER THERE WAS VERY STRONG GASOLINE FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS CONTINUED EVEN WHEN THE TEMPERATURES ROSE TO 30 DEGF. FUMES WERE SO STRONG THAT PASSENGERS BECAME DIZZY AND LIGHT HEADED AND WINDOWS HAD TO BE OPENED FOR FRESH AIR. *JB

THERE IS A VERY HEAVY RAW FUEL SMELL COMMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT! I LIVE IN MINNESOTA AND THIS WEEK WAS VERY COLD (0 DEGREES F). I CAN SEE FUEL LEAKING IN MY ENGINE BAY AND GAS FUMES ARE ALL OVER WHEN I POP MY HOOD. I HAVE A 2002 SUBARU WRX AND MY CAR HAS A TECHINCAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUT FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND MY CAR COULD START ON FIRE AT ANY MOMENT WITH FUEL LEAKING ON MY HOT ENGINE. WHY DOESN'T SUBARU FIX THIS FOR FREE WHEN IT IS PUTTING PEOPLE'S LIVES IN DANGER? *AK

THERE IS A FUEL LEAK THAT I CAN SEE UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS WELL BELOW 15 DEGREES (F). THIS IS AN ISSUE EXPERIENCED BY NEARLY ALL 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX OWNERS WHO LIVE IN COLD WEATHER. IT IS ADDRESSED IN TSB 09-36-03. THE PROBLEM WITH THE TSB IS THAT IT DOES NOT FIX ANOTHER SMALLER LEAK. I AM NOT SURE WHERE THAT SECOND ONE IS, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY SMELL THE FUEL AFTER GETTING THE CAR FIXED. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW LEAKING FUEL IS NOT DANGEROUS, BUT I HOPE THIS ISSUE WILL BE RESOLVED. SUBARU OF AMERICA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THIS ISSUE AT THEIR EXPENSE, INSTEAD OF THE WRX OWNERS GETTING IT FIXED FOR SOMETIMES UPWARDS OF $500. I GUESS THAT WON'T HAPPEN UNTIL SOME ONE DIES IN A FIRE.*AK

2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX, FUEL LEAK DUE TO IMPROPERLY DESIGNED FUEL LINES WHERE A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED HOWEVER SUBARU OF AMERICA REFUSES TO WARRANTY THE PROBLEM AND SAYS ITS NOT A RECALL. I HAVE PUDDLES OF FUEL UNDERNEATH MY INTAKE MANIFOLD AND FUEL VAPOR SURROUNDS THE ENTIRE ENGINE BAY OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN FIRE AND/OR EXPLOSION TO THE VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE HAS ONLY ARISED TO MOST VEHICLES WHO ARE OUT OF THE ORIGINAL 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. MOSTLY 2002 AND EARLY 2003 MODELS.*AK

THE PROBLEM IS WITH A FUEL LEAK IN THE FUEL LINES OF THE SUBARU IMPREZA 02. DURING THE COLDER WEATHER THE TUBES SHRINK A BIT, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK AND GET ONTO THE ENGINE, SOMETIME CATCHING FIRE. IT BRINGS A RATHER FOUL SMELL INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR, AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASES GAS MILEAGE.*AK

IN COLD WEATHER WHEN MY ENGINE HAS ONLY BEEN RUNNING FOR A FEW MINUTES, I SMELL A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR. MY HUSBAND SAYS THAT IT IS STRONGEST ON THE RIGHT HAND (PASSENGER) SIDE OF THE ENGINE BUT HE SAYS THAT THE SMELL SEEMS TO DISSIPATE ONCE THE ENGINE IS UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE. I HAVE RECENTLY EXCEEDED THE 36000 MILE WARRANTY AND HAVE NOT HAD A REPAIR DONE YET UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT I THINK THAT THIS SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS TO A CAR WITH ONLY 36000 MILES ON IT.*AK

FUEL LEAKS WHEN STARTING MY CAR (02 SUBARU WRX) IN COLD WEATHER. STRONG FUMES WOULD ENTER THE CABIN THROUGH HEAT VENT CAUSING NAUSEA. *JB

GAS SMELL COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF 2002 WRX SUBARU OF AMERICA ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM AND WON'T COVER IT AS A POWER TRAIN ISSUE. CAR SPILLS GASOLINE ON TOP OF ENGINE WHEN COLD. DEALERS DO NOT "FIND" THE ISSUE UNTIL RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. *JB

FUEL SMELL IN CABIN DURING VEHICLE OPERATION IN COLD WEATHER. LEFT DRIVER FEELING WOOZY AFTER 30 MINUTES. VEHICLE BARELY OUTSIDE WARRANTY PERIOD. DEALERSHIP CHARGES $350 TO REPLACE FUEL HOSES WHICH LEAK DURING COLD WEATHER AS A RESULT OF A DESIGN FLAW. *JB

STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE ON STARTUP WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE. WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED JUST PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM ARISING. SUBARU NEEDS TO DO A RECALL FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *JB

GASOLINE SMELL WHEN STARTING CAR IN COLD WEATHER (<20F). THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM ON MY 02 SUBARU WRX. THE FIRST EVENT WAS AT APPROX 15000 MILES AND THE FUEL LINE CLAMPS WERE TIGHTENED. A SECOND TIME AT 45000 MILES AND THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE (BECAUSE THE CAR WAS WARM IN THE DEALERSHIP.) NOW AT 73,000 MILES IN 20F WEATHER, THE SMELL HAS RETURNED WHEN STARTING THE CAR WITH THE ENGINE COLD. I CAN SEE THE GASOLINE PUDDLING BELOW THE PROBLEM HOSE CLAMPS. SUBARU HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS NOW AND ISSUED A TSB, BUT THE DNAGEROUS FUEL LEAK PROBLEM PERSISTS! OF COURSE, THE REPAIR THEY DID ON MY CAR (TIGHTENING THE CLAMPS) WHILE IT WAS IN WARRANTY WAS NOT A PERMANENT FIX, AND I FACE POTENTIAL REPAIRS AT MY COST FOR A PROBLEM SUBARU SHOULD HAVE FIXED BY NOW. NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFETY DEFECT (FUEL PUBBLING ON THE ENGINE), IT IS ALSO LIKELY AN EMISSIONS DEFECT (RAW GASOLINE VAPORS TO THE ATMOSPHERE) AND A PASSENGER HEALTH RISK FROM BREATHING GASOLINE VAPORS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS LONG-KNOWN PROBLEM! *JB

1) COLD WEATHER - UNDER 35 DEGREES 2) FUEL LEAK ON TOP OF ENGINE CAUSED BY FAULTY FUEL LINE FITTING. 3) DEALER FIX, UP TO $800+ DOLLARS, FIXED WITH REDESIGNED PARTS, CUSTOMER PAYS. *JB

ON COLD MORNINGS, DURING WARM-UP A PRONOUNCED RAW FUEL SMELL IS EVIDENT IN THE CAR AND ESPECIALLY UNDER THE HOOD OF MY 2002 SUBARU WRX, IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, NEITHER OF WHOM COULD REPLICATE THE COMPLAINT, BUT FURTHER RESEARCH HAS TURNED UP A TSB FROM SUBARU ON THE MATTER, YET THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT ACT ON THAT. I FEEL THIS CONDITION POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY THREAT, AS IT CAN EASILY LEAD TO A FIRE. *JB

GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE VENTS AND UNDER THE HOOD. VERY RAW AND STRONG. FUEL LEAK! SUBARU OF AMERICA FIXED THIS UNDER WARRANTY LAST YEAR, BUT NOW ITS BACK AND ARE GOING TO CHARGE FOR THIS FIX.*AK

WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 32 DEGREES THERE IS A RAW FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN. UPON OPENING THE HOOD I CAN SEE FUEL COMING FROM THE LINES. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH A RECALL FROM SUBARU. *AK

CAR: 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WAGON, 25,000 MILES VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND UNDER HOOD OF VEHICLE UPON COLD START (<35 DEG. F) AND WHILE IDLING THEREAFTER. SMALL PUDDLE OF RAW LIQUID FUEL UNDER CAR AFTER SITTING PARKED. *AK

IN COLD WEATHER, WITH THE HEATER ON THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN PASSENGER CABIN. IDENTIFIED BY TSB 03-0906: FUEL RAIL LEAK. SUBARU OF AMERICA WILL NOT COVER THIS FIX AS MY MILEAGE IS AROUND 45,000 AND THUS OUTSIDE THE WARANTY PERIOD.*AK MY FEELING IS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE (GASOLINE LEAK AND NOXIOUS FUMES IN THE PASSENGER CABIN) OR AT LEAST AN EMISSIONS ISSUE AND SHOULD BE FIXED FOR FREE. INSTEAD THE DEALER ESTIMATES THIS IS A $600 FIX.

THE CAR APPEARS TO HAVE A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE BAY. WITH RECENT COLD WEATHER, THE CAR BEGINS TO SMELL STRONGLY OF FUEL WHILE DRIVING, AND ESPECIALLY WHILE IDLING, EVEN AFTER 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS INFORMED ME THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR A FUEL RAIL PROBLEM THAT INCLUDES MY VIN, BUT THIS IS NOT A RECALL. THEY ARE UNCLEAR ON WHETHER THEY WILL PAY FOR THE REPAIR DETAILED IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN. ONE SUBARU SERVICE CENTER TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS COLD-WEATHER RELATED, AND "NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT." THEY DID NOT FEEL THE PROBLEM WARRANTED SERVICE. ANOTHER SERVICE CENTER AGREED TO SEE MY CAR TOMORROW. IF THE CAR IS LEAKING FUEL FROM A KNOWN PROBLEM AREA (RELATED TO SUBARU TSB 09-36-03) I WOULD HOPE THE COMPANY WOULD HAVE MORE INTEREST IN AT LEAST LOOKING AT THE CAR BEFORE DISMISSING CONCERNS.*AK

SMELL OF FUEL VERY STRONG INSIDE VEHICLE.PULLED OVER AND POPPED HOOD.NOTICED POOLS OF RAW FUEL ON INTAKE MANIFOLD ON PASSENGERS SIDE.REMOVED PUDDLES AND TIGHTENED FUEL HOSE CLAMPS(12/12/04).TEMPERATURE DROPPED TO 15F THE OTHER DAY AND THE SMELL OF GAS IS BACK.CANNOT SEE ANY PUDDLES AT THE MOMENT.FROM SUBARU ENTHUSIETS WEBSITES THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WHEN THE TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW FREEZING FOR THE WRX'S.VERY DANGEROUS!THE TURBOCHARGER IS MOUNTED NOT TO FAR AWAY FROM THE FUEL PUDDLES.*AK

IN MY 2002 SUBARU WRX SEDAN, I SMELLED STRONG RAW FUEL(GASOLINE) SMELL AFTER STARTING UP THE CAR IN THE COLD MORNING (AFTER FIRST SNOW). SMELL WAS SO TERRIBLE THAT IT MADE ME DIZZY WHILE DRIVING. I PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD, AND IT WAS EVEN WORSE SMELL UNDER THE HOOD. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF REPORTS OF RAW FUEL SMELL FOR 2002 SUBARU WRX MODEL, BUT SUBARU DIDN'T PUBLISH A RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF ANYTHING SPARKS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I AM SURE IT WILL IGNITE THE GASOLINE FUME AND WILL CAUSE FIRE.*AK

TRAVELING ON A DAMP, BUMPY ASPHALT ROAD IN SEATTLE (TEMPURATURE WAS IN THE MID-40'S). LIGHT AHEAD TURNS RED - I APPLY THE BRAKES AS USUAL, BUT THE PEDDLE SUDDENLY SINKS ABOUT AN INCH AND I FEEL ABS COME ON. IT FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES HAVE NO STOPPING POWER AND ARE ONLY WORKING AT ABOUT 10%. I LET UP ON THE BRAKES AND TRIED AGAIN, AND WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, ON SOME METAL DRAWBRIDGE GRATING. IT SEEMS AS IF THE ABS COMES ON IN TIMES WHEN IT SHOULD NOT, WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKES TO PRACTICALLY NOT WORK. IF A CAR HAD BEEN CLOSER IN FRONT OF ME, I WOULD HAVE HIT IT. *AK

I OWNED THE CAR FOR 5K MILES AND THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ARE BAD. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR A 2 YEAR OLD CAR. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SUBARUS. THE DRIVETRAIN IS NOISY, SO IT IS HARD TO DETECT DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND CAN REALLY DAMAGE THE CAR IF NOT FOUND. *JB

FUEL INSIDE CABIN DURING COLD WEATHER. 27 DEGREES AND BELOW. *JB

STARTED THE CAR FIRST THING IN THE MORNING TO DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES TO THE STORE. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 48 DEGREES F. AFTER RETURNING DIRECTLY FROM THE STORE (THE SAME 1.5 MILES) THERE WAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE AS I STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR. I SMELLED AT THE GAP BETWEEN THE HOOD AND DRIVER'S FENDER AND DETERMINED THE ENGINE BAY TO BE THE SOURCE OF THE GASOLINE SMELL. I USED A FLASHLIGHT TO SEARCH FOR ANY VISIBLE LEAKS, BUT I COULD NOT SEE THE GASOLINE. THE SMELL WAS INCREDIBLY STRONG THOUGH. IT SEEMED TO BE THE STRONGEST RIGHT ABOVE THE MANIFOLD BETWEEN THE INTERCOOLER, MANIFOLD, AND TURBO. I'M VERY WORRIED OF AN ENGINE FIRE DUE TO THE LEAKING. I'M TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR EXAMINATION OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK

ANY TIME THE WEATHER IS COLD THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE AND AROUND THE CAR.

CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT RELEASE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TWICE. VEHICLE CONTINUED GOING AT 67 MPH. FORTUNATELY I DOWNSHIFTED AND STOPPED VEHICLE WITHOUT HITTING THE 6 OTHER VEHICLES AT THE STOP LIGHT. *JB

ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2004 I WAS TRAVELLING WITH MY MOTHER SOUTHBOUND ON THE 5 FREEWAY. THE TRAFFIC WAS STOP AND GO. I WAS STOPPED ,AND HAD PUT THE CAR INTO FIRST GEAR AND RELEASED THE CLUTCH AND THERE WAS A LOUD POP. FIRST GEAR WAS GONE. I DROVE IT HOME. THE FOLLOWING DAY TOOK IT TO BOB BAKER SUBARU IN CARLSBAD, CA. AN HOUR LATER THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF DRIVER ABUSE AND/OR RACING. THEY DENIED MY CLAIM! I WROTE LETTERS TO SUBARU AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE PHONE CALLS (MOST WERE NEVER RETURNED). ON OCT. 27TH I FINALLY WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND PAID $700 FOR THEM LOOKING AT THE TRANSMISSION AND $205 FOR STORING THE CAR. IT NOW ONLY HAS SECOND GEAR. *AK

THIS IS COMPLAINT 1986 ABOUT THE RAW GASOLINE LEAKING ONTO A HOT ENGINE BLOCK, WHEN IS SOMETHING GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT IT???*AK

I WAS DRIVING MY 02 SUBARU WRX ON THE HIGHWAY. I NEED TO STOP SUDDENLY AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, BUT THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN. THIS CAUSE ME TO REAR END A FORD EXPLORER. THIS CAUSE APPROXIMATELY $3800 IN DAMAGES. *NM

TODAY I SENT THE FOLLOWING EMAIL TO SUBARU OF AMERICA CONCERNING THE INVESTIGATION OF ABS DEFECT IN WRX VEHICLES. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND ON NO OCCASION WAS I DRIVING IN AN "AGGRESSIVE" MANNER OR "HARD' BRAKING. NOR WAS MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT TO NHTSA A "PARROTING" OF SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM FROM THE IMPREZA WEBSITE, AS SUBARU HAS ACCUSED. THE ABS IS OVERLY SENSITIVE TO BUMPY SURFACES AND IS A SAFETY RISK, PERIOD. MY EMAIL TO SUBARU OF AMERICA: I HAVE JUST REVIEWED SOA'S LETTER DATED 9/10/04 TO NHTSA RE YOUR INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGED ABS PROBLEMS IN WRX'S. I AM DISMAYED BY SOA'S INABILITY TO DOCUMENT, AND REFUSAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE, THE ABS PROBLEM. I AM INSULTED THAT SUBARU BLAMES THE PROBLEM ON "AGGRESSIVE DRIVING PATTERNS." THE PROBLEM REGULARLY OCCURS AT ONE POINT IN MY DAILY URBAN COMMUTE WHEN I BRAKE FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT OVER A BUMPY SURFACE. I AM USING ONLY 15% OF THE BRAKING CAPABILITY AT 20 MPH WHEN THE ABS FAULT OCCURS-- HARDLY "AGGRESSIVE" OR "HARD" BRAKING, AND HARDLY A SITUATION THAT ONLY AGGRESSIVE PERFORMANCE DRIVERS WOULD ENCOUNTER. WHEN IT OCCURS, THERE IS A SUDDEN, DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN DECELERATION WHICHIS NO LONGER PROPORTIONAL TO PEDAL PRESSURE, AND INCREASED PRESSURE IS INEFFECTIVE WHILE THE ABS IS "CONFUSED" BY THE BUMPY SURFACE. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE HAD SCARY MOMENTS WHEN THE DROP IN DECELERATION HAS RESULTED IN NEARLY REAR-ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I AM VERY PUZZLED WHY AN EVENT, THAT FOR ME IS SO PREDICTABLE AND REP

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, SOMETHING IS BANGING IN THE FRONT END. ONLY HAPPENS THE FIRST TIME I BACK UP AND APPLY BRAKES. MOVE FORWARD AND IT BANGS AGAIN BUT ONLY THE FIRST TIME I MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. DEALER TELLS ME THE BRAKE SHOES ARE MOVING BUT NOTHING CAN BE DONE, THEY CLAIM IT IS NOT A PROBLEM. *AK

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WAGON. WHILE BRAKING ON UNEVEN ROADS, ESPECIALLY WHEN ENCOUNTERING POTHOLES OR OTHER CONDITIONS WHERE ONE OR MORE TIRES MOMENTARILY LOSE TRACTION, THE ABS WILL ENGAGE AND REMAIN ENGAGED FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME (AFTER THE MOMENTARY OR INSTANTANEOUS LOSS OF TRACTION). THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO BRAKE INEFFECTIVELY OR SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. THIS HAS PUT ME IN UNCOMFORTABLE AND/OR DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN THE CAR DOES NOT BRAKE AS EXPECTED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS ISSUE IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA AND SUBARU, SO I AM AWAITING THE OUTCOME OF THIS INVESTIGATION.

I WAS RECENTLY RIDING WITH WHAT SUBURBAN SUBARU IN VERNON/MANCHESTER, CT SAY WAS 50% LIFE LEFT ON MY BREAK PADS IN MY 2002 WRX SEDAN. WHEN STOPPING FOR A FAST YELLOW TO RED LIGHT CHANGE FROM ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR THEIR WAS NO RESPONSE ON THE BREAK PEDAL. I QUICKLY TOOK MY FOOT OFF AND PRESSED AGAIN, EVEN HARDER THIS TIME, WHICH ENGAGED THE ABS AND LEFT ME COMING TO A BANGING ABS STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 5. LUCKILY ALL THE CARS AT THE INTERSECTION NOTICED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES NOT RESPONDING AT ALL GETS RECOGNIZED AND LOOKED INTO FURTHER. HOWEVER, I CAN PLAINLY SAY THAT AFTER THAT INCIDENT, I DO NOT TRUST THE BREAKS ON MY 02 WRX. I PLAN ON KEEPING THIS CAR, BUT I DEMAND RELIABLE BRAKING LIKE ALL OTHER DRIVERS. *AK

ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGES ON DRY PAVEMENT WHEN IT ENCOUNTERS BUMPS, PEDAL GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKING FORCE IS SEVERELY REDUCED. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY CARS WITH ABS AND NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME. I HAVE SORT OF LEARNED TO "DRIVE AROUND" THE PROBLEM, BUT ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS WHERE EMERGENCY BRAKING WAS CALLED FOR IT HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT - ONCE FORCING ME TO DRIVE UP ONTO AND OVER A CURB AND INTO A DITCH. DESTROYING ONE OF MY WHEELS IN THE PROCESS. SOMEONE RAN A RED LIGHT AND I COULDNT STOP FROM 30 MPH IN WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF ROOM WITH A NORMAL BRAKING SYSTEM. PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE SINCE CAR WAS NEW, WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT IT WITH MY DEALER I WAS INFORMED THAT "ALL WRXS DO THAT, ITS NORMAL" BUT AFTER TALKING WITH SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME CAR I CAN TELL YOU THAT ALTHOUGH WE ALL MIGHT EXPERIENCE IT, ITS NOT NORMAL AT ALL AND QUITE SCARY. AS AN EXPERIMENT I FOUND A PARKING LOT WITH SOME BUMPS ON IT THAT WOULD CAUSE THE ABS TO GO NUTTY, I THEN PULLED THE ABS FUSE AND WENT OVER THE SAME PART OF THE PARKING LOT AT THE SAME SPEED AND I COULD GET TONS MORE BRAKING FORCE WITHOUT LOCKING UP THE WHEELS THAN I COULD WITH THE ABS ON, SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY SCREWY HERE. *AK

NO WARNING. BRAKES LOCKED UP FULLY ON INTERSTATE 44 GOING 70 MPH. ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND I TAPPED THE BRAKES AND THEY LOCKED UP AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I WAS NOT USING THE BRAKE.*AK

2002 SUBARU WRX WAGON. NO WARNING, DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW (ELECTRIC) SNAPS OUT OF SHEET METAL BENDING THE LIVING CRAP OUT OF IT, SNAPPING NUMEROUS CLIPS AND BENDING THE WINDOW TRACK. FOUND BOLTS ON THE INSIDE OF DOOR WERE SHEARED OFF. CAR HAS ONLY 33,000 MILES. UNACCEPTABLE! *LA