2002 Subaru WRX complaints

THE ABS ACTIVATES PREMATURELY DURING THRESHOLD BRAKING ON ROUGH OR UNEVEN DRY PAVED SURFACES (WASHBOARDS ESPECIALLY), CAUSING EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE, LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE. ABS OPERATES AS EXPECTED ON WET SMOOTH SURFACES WITHOUT BEING NOTICED.*AK

WHEN DRIVING IN PAVEMENT IRREGULARITIES THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO STOP. (ALMOST REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR) SO FAR I HAVEN'T HAD ANY ACCIDENT, JUST TRYING TO PREVENT ONE. I OWN A 2002 SUBARU WRX. THIS HAS HAPPEN IN SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER A SPECIFIC DATE. *AK

I'VE HAD SEVERAL WINDSHIELDS CRACKED ALREADY, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WITH THE OTHER 10 CARS I'VE OWNED, NEVER A WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT, NOW TWO WITH THIS ONE IN TWO YEARS. OTHER IMPREZA OWNERS HAVE ADVISED ME OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS.*AK

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING MY 2002 SUBARU WRX IN A NORMAL MANNER WHEN HE STOPPED AT A LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION. HE WENT TO PULL OUT AND COULD NOT GET INTO GEAR. HE GAVE A LITTLE GAS AND ATTEMPTED TO GET CAR TO GO IN FIRST GEAR, THEN THE LUTCH WENT TO FLOOR AND HE COULD NOT GET CAR TO MOVE, EXCEPT BY DRIFTING. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN TO GARAGE, THEY STATED THAT THE CLUTCH SPRINGS BLEW OUT, THE CLUTCH, 2ND GEAR WAS STRIPPED OF ITS TEETH. SUBARU OF AMERICA IS CLAIMING ABUSE AND WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY. THIS CAR HAS 35750 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR IS ENGINEERED INCORRECTLY, AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. YOU CAN NOT GET CAR TO MOVE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY ISSUE BUT A WARRRANTY ISSUE. SOMEONE NEEDS TO STOP THIS, BEFORE MORE COMPANIES START NEGATING WARRANTIES ALSO. *AK

I EXPERIENCE DBRAKE FAILURE WITH MY 2002 SUBARU WRX DURING A MODERATE SPEED (ABOUT 35 MPH) EMERGENCY PANIC STOP, RESULTING IN MY SLIDING INTO A TRUCK THAT CUT ME OFF AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND HIS TRUCK.*AK THE DATE LISTED BELOW MAY BE INCORRECT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE DATE WITH ME RIGHT NOW, BUT IT IS WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF THE INCIDENT. THE ROAD SURFACE WAS FAIRLY DRY AND SLIGHTLY BUMPY AND AFTER STOMPING ON THE BRAKES THEY WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN WITH NO PULSING AND VERY LITTLE STOPPING. I FELT LIKE I WAS ON ICE WITH NO ABS. I COMMENTED TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY DURING MY INITIAL CALL REPORTING THE ACCIDENT THAT I FELT I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP AND THAT THE BRAKES JUST "SLID". I ALSO REPORTED IT TO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHO CHECKED IT OUT AFTER THE ACCIDENT AFTER THE BODY WORK WAS DONE AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED NO OTHER INCIDENTS LIKE THIS SINCE I DON'T DRIVE THAT HARD AND AVOID HARD STOPS. I WOULD REALLY LIKE THIS TO BE ADDRESSED TO AVOID POTENTIAL FUTURE ACCIDENTS. THANKS, CRAIG HOFFMAN

COMPLETE TRANSIENT BRAKE FAILURE - SUBARU 2002 WRX WAGON.JUST EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE, THANKFULLY NOT "DRIVING" AT THE TIME. I WAS BACKING THE CAR DOWN OFF SERVICE RAMPS LAST NIGHT IN MY DRIVEWAY. NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AT THE WHEELS, I MAY HAVE RUN OVER A BLOCK OF WOOD WITH A REAR WHEEL AT THE SAME TIME, BUT ANYHOW JUST AS I CAME DOWN OFF THE RAMPS UNDER VERY LIGHT BRAKING, THE BRAKE PEDAL LITERALLY SANK TO THE FLOOR UNDER MY FOOT, - IT FELT LIKE IT DEFLATED.THE PEDAL JUST REMAINED LIMPLY WHERE IT WAS. APPLICATION / VARIATION OF PRESSURE HAD NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER, DON'T RECALL HEARING THE ABS MECH EITHER AFTER THE INITIAL SINK.*AK I WAS LEFT ROLLING SLOWLY BACKWARDS DOWN MY DRIVEWAY WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY PLANTED ON THE BRAKE - THERE WAS NOT EVEN ENOUGH BRAKING FORCE TO STOP THE CAR FROM A WALKING PACE ROLL. I USED THE E-BRAKE TO STOP. TRIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN AFTERWARDS, AND PRESSURE WAS BACK, LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. VERY SCARY. EVEN THOUGH I'D READ ABOUT THIS, STILL TOOK ME A FEW SECONDS TO REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THIS CLEARLY COULD BE FATAL "ON THE ROAD". SEE HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=487735&PERPAGE=25&PAGENUMBER=1 FOR MORE DETAIL AND REPORTS.

ABS GOES OFF FOR NO REASON ON SLIGHTLY ROUGH ROADS.*AK

I WAS PULLING IN TO A GAS STATIONS PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 15 MPH AND HIT A POT HOLE WITH MY PASSANGER SIDE FRONT TIRE AT THE SAME TIME I APPLYED THE BRAKE HEAVLY TO SLOW DOWN FOR THE LATE SEEN HOLE WHEN THE BRAKES GO COMPLETELY HARD. IT FELT AS IF I WASN'T APPLYING THE BRAKES AT ALL, IT TOOK A GOOD 10 TO 15 FT TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP LUCKLY I HAD ENOUGH ROOM TO STOP. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN I ALSO TRY TO SLOW DOWN TO FAST ONCE AND RAN OVER A PARKING CIRB. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES DON'T FEEL LIKE ALL OTHER CARS I HAVE DROVE (PONTIAC SATURN FORD), THEY NEVER PULSE ON LIKE THE OTHER CARS THEY ARE JUST HARD.

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

GAS PERIODIC GAS SMELL IN CAR. COLD CLUCH JITTER.OOR BRAKING PREESSURE, OVER ACTIVE ABS. *AK

ABS FAILURE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STEEP HILL IN 6 INCHES OF SNOW AT LESS THAN 5 MPH THE ABS KICKED IN AND I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. I HAD NO BRAKES. THE CAR WAS IN DEEP SNOW AND WAS NOT SLIDING. AS I WAS APPROACHING A MULTI CAR ACCIDENT AT 5 MPH I HAD TO STOP. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION ON THE CAR AND IT STOPPED INSTANTLY. I HAVE FOUND THAT IN DEEP SHOW GOING DOWN HILL I HAVE ZERO BRAKES. I'M FORCED TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES OR TO TURN OFF THE CAR. THIS IS AT SUB 5 MPH SPEEDS. THIS IS AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE CAR DESIGNED FOR TRAVEL ON SNOWY ROADS. IN ANOTHER INCIDENT I WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MPH ON A WINDY ROAD WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED QUICKLY FOR A RIGHT TURN. I HIT MY BRAKES AND HAD NOTHING. THE ABS ACTIVATED AND I WAS FORCED TO TURN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO AVOID A REAR END COLLISION. THIS WAS ON DRY PAVEMENT. I WAS FOLLOWING WITH PLENTY OF ROOM TO STOP. THE DEALER REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE CAR AND TOLD ME I NEEDED TO LEARN TO DRIVE. *LA

NO APPARENT OR KNOWN EVENTS OR CAUSES LEADING TO FAILURE. NO ROCK CHIPS OR DINGS AT ORIGIN SITE AT UPPER EDGE OF WINDSHIELD WHERE FAILURE BEGAN.*AK MY WINDSHIELD WAS IN GOOD CONDITION WHEN LAST DRIVEN WITH NO VISIBLE BREAKS. THE NEXT TIME I DROVE IT, THE WINDSHIELD HAD BEGUN TO CRACK FROM TOP EDGE IN FROMT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND HAD EXTENDED APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHESS. AFTER PARKING THE CAR, I MARKED THE SPOT AT THE END OF THE CRACK. THE NEXT DAY THE CRACK HAD EXTENDED ANOTHER 3 INCHES WITH NO DRIVING OR MOVEMENT INVOLVED. THE CRACK IS NOW APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET IN TOTAL LENGTH. I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO HAVE IT FIXED DUE TO NO LOCAL DEALERS OR GLASS REPAIR SHOPS. HOWEVER, I AM CURRENTLY PLANNING A TRIP TO LUBBOCK (100 MILES ONE WAY) TO HAVE IT REPLACED AS WELL AS ANSWER A VEHICLE RECALL I RECENTLY RECEIVED. IF THE WINDSHIELD NEEDS TO BE KEPT AVAILABLE, I WILL NEED TO KNOW SOON SO I CAN NOTIFY MY DEALER.

THERE IS A PUDDLE OF GAS THAT FORMS ON TOP OF THE ENGINE IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER. CONSUMER CAN SMELL GAS FUMES IN THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE IDLES, FUEL LEAKS. AS A RESULT, A FOUL ODOR SEEPS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *AK *JB

STRONG UNBURNED FUEL ODOR IN CABIN OF 2002 SUBARU WRX ALLEGEDLY CAUSED BY LOOSE/MISSIZED FUEL LINES UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD.*AK

I INSTALLED BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES ON MY WIFE'S SUBARU. AFTER LESS THAN 500 MILES THE SIDEWALL DELAMINATED, ALMOST COMPLETELY. PRESSURE WAS 32 LB AND THERE HAD BEEN NO PREVIOUS SIGNS OF PROBLEMS. WHEN I CALLED TIRERACK, THE VENDOR, THEY AT FIRST CLAIMED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRRANTY FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND THEN CLAIMED THAT THE TIRE MUST HAVE BEEN DAMAGED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE RETURNED ALL FOUR TIRES AND CONSIDER THAT THIS TIRE PRESENTS A HAZARD TO SAFETY.*AK

THERE IS A RAW FUEL SMELL COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR DURING COLD (BELOW FREEZING) TEMPERATURES. THE SMELL IS OVERWHELMING AND THE WINDOWS MUST BE ROLLED DOWN TO CLEAR OUT THE FUMES.*AK

OVER ROUGH SURFACES (INCLUDING POTHOLES, RAILROAD TRACKS, AND RIPPLES IN THE ROAD ) MY ABS SEEMS TO KICK IN WHEN IT IS NOT NEEDED AND CAUSES THE BREAK PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR ON OCCASIONS. *JB

STRONG GASOLINE SMELL ON COLD STARTUP IN SUBARU 2002 WRX. *AK

SMELL FUEL LEAK IN CABIN IN LOW TEMPS. WHEN CAR WARMS UP FUEL SMELL GOES AWAY. TEMPS AROUND 15F.*AK

ABS BRAKE PERFORMANCE - THE ABS OVER REACTS TO UNEVEN OR SLICK SURFACES AND FULLY ENGAGES REDUCING BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS. THIS CAN BE CAUSED BY RIPPLED OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT OR A MANHOLE COVER AND CAN HAPPEN UNDER ANY BRAKING CONDITION FROM MODERATE TO HEAVY BRAKING. THE ONLY WAY TO REGAIN BRAKING IS TO LET OFF AND THEN REAPPLY THE BRAKES, THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHAT I'VE BEEN TAUGHT ABOUT ABS. THIS CONDITION EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN A CRASH AND $7000 DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE IN A BRAKING SITUATION WHERE I DON'T FEEL ABS ACTION WAS WARRANTED.*AK

I GET A RAW FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN OF MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX IN COLD WEATHER. *AK

THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS (DATE IS THE FIRST INCIDENT I RECALL). ON SURFACES THAT ARE WET, SNOWY OR ICY, I CANNOT BRAKE INTO A TURN. THE CAR DOES NOT TURN OR STOP, BUT MERELY SLIDES IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND EVENTUALLY STOPS AFTER IT GOES 3 FEET OR MORE, DEPENDING ON MY SPEED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THE TURN. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS, EVEN WHEN I AM GOING VERY SLOWLY (LESS THAN 5 MPH, FOR EXAMPLE, AS TO MAKE A 90-DEGREE TURN INTO A PARKING LOT). IN ORDER TO TAKE TWO TURNS ON MY DAILY COMMUTE, I MUST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, TURN THE WHEEL, AND THEN ACCELERATE INTO THE TURN. AMAZINGLY, I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, THOUGH I HAVE HAD SOME VERY CLOSE CALLS. ONE THING IVE FOUND THAT HELPS IS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SHARPLY SO THE FRONT TIRES ARE PERPENDICULAR TO THE CARS PATH. I COULDNT THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE TO TRY, AND THIS SEEMS TO MAKE THE CAR STOP MORE QUICKLY WHILE IN A SLIDE. THE MECHANICS AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND PRONOUNCED MY BRAKES FINE. I TRIED TO SUGGEST SOMETHING ELSE TO CHECK DURING A 20-MINUTE PHONE CALL WITH THE MECHANIC, BUT HIS ONLY SUGGESTION WAS THAT IT COULD BE MY TIRES (WHICH ARE STANDARD AND JUST 2 YEARS OLD). I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER MAKES OF CARS WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM, EVEN ON ICY, SNOWY, RAIN-DRENCHED ROADS.*AK

A FUEL LINE BREAKAGE CAUSED FUEL TO SPILL ALL OVER THE ENGINE. *AK *MR

UNEXPLAINED CRACKED WINDSHIELD

2002 SUBARU WRX, SMELL GAS INSIDE VEHICLE WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHT, USUALLY WHEN COOL OUTSIDE. MECHANIC CHECKED OUT CAR DID NOT FIND LEAK AT 20K MILES. CONTINUED TO OCCUR AND GET WORSE. CONDUCTED A YAHOO SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT A COMMON OCCURANCE IS GAS LEAKS UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEAR THE TURBO AIR INTAKE. SUBARU CANADA HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS. MY MECHANIC CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY DID NOT KNOW OF IT. I GAVE THE INFORMATION I FOUND ON THE INTERNET TO MY MECHANIC AND HE WAS ABLE TO FIND THE LEAK $200 DOLLARS LATER. THIS IS A VERY COMMON AND DANGEROUS SITUATION AND IT APPEARS SOA IS NOT AWARE OF IT. THIS GAS LINE, ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC IS HIGH PRESSURE, ~30 PSI AND A LEAK OR FAILLURE COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS FIRE.

VEHICLE: SUBARU IMPREZA WRX 2002. FUEL SMELL NOTICEABLE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND PASSENGER CABIN IN COLD WEATHER. SMELL MOST NOTICEABLE IN PASSENGER CABIN WHEN VENTS ARE OPEN TO OUTSIDE AIR AND HEATER/FAN IS ON. SMELL BECAME NOTICEABLE IN DECEMBER AND HAS PERSISTED. IT IS CURRENTLY FEBRUARY 16TH AS I FILE THIS REPORT.*AK

I HAVE HAD INSTANCES WHERE MY ABS WOULD NOT WORK WHEN I HIT A IRREGULARITY IN THE ROAD SURFACE, OR WHEN I GO OVER A SPEEDBUMP.*AK

NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR COMING FROM VENTILATION SYSTEM. OUTSIDE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS -8F. OPENED HOOD AND NOTICED A VISIBLE VAPOR CLOUD OF GASOLINE. IMMEDIATELY TOOK TO DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AS I FELT THAT THE CAR WAS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. WAS TOLD THAT PARTS WERE ON "NATIONAL BACKORDER". (THIS INDICATES TO ME THAT THIS MUST BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM.) CAR WAS REPAIRED (AFTER A WAIT OF ONE WEEK) AT A COST OF $534.55 (CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY). REPAIRS INCLUDED "R&R INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED FUEL DELIVERY PIPE", USING PARTS "PIPE CP FUEL RETURN", "HOSE", "GASKET INTAKE MANIFOLD". WEBSITE INVESTIGATING LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS INDEED A VERY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.*AK

FUEL LEAK IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FILLS PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WITH GAS VAPORS. HAPPENS WHEN COLD, -15 F. *AK

EVERY DAY MY 2002 SUBARU WRX HAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE CABIN. AT FIRST THIS EFFECT WAS ONLY APPARENT WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD, BUT NOW IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I START THE CAR EVEN IN BAY AREA WEATHER OF 55 F AS LONG AS THE ENGINE IS COLD. THIS LASTS FOR 20 MINUTES OR SO AND MAKES ME DIZZY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION BOTH IN THE DANGER OF FUEL EXPLOSION AND ALSO THE POSIBILITY OF TOXIC EFFECTS TO THE PASSENGER. THIS IS ALSO A VIOLATION OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT. I WOULD URGENTLY RECOMMEND THAT A MANDATORY RECALL BE ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK OWNER STATED THAT HE WAS DIZZY BUT DIDN'T REQ MED ATTENTION

THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND SUBSEQUENT HARD BRAKING LED TO LOSS OF CONTROL. THE REAR END SWAYED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT THE RIGHT BARRIER, THEN TURNED AROUND, FRONT RIGHT HIT THE LEFT BARRIER. THE VEHICLE HAD HISTORY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP ON SURFACES WITH THE SLIGHTEST BUMPS, AS FOUND ON EXIT RAMPS AND INTERSECTIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FOR THE BRAKES BY THE DEALER AND HAD FOUND NO PROBLEM. SUBARU DECLINED TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AFTER THE ACCIDENT FOR POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING DEFECT REGARDING THE ABS. IT IS STILL IN MY GARAGE FOR POSSIBLE INSPECTION.

MY 2002 SUBARU WRX HA SA RAW FUEL SMELL WHEN ITS COLD. THE DEALER SAY PARTS ARE ON ORDER. THIS WAS A MONTH AGO. I'M WORRIED IT MIGHT CATCH FIRE. THERE IS A TSB, BUT I'M NOT GETTING ANY CLOSER TO HAVING THE PROBLEM CHECKED/FIXED. *AK

OVERWHELMING GASOLINE FUEL SMELL IN THE INTERIOR CABIN AND ENGINE COMPARTMENTS IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER. *AK

FUEL LEAK ON INTAKE MANIFOLD, CAUSING STRONG GAS ODER AND POTENTIAL FOR FIRE.*AK

SMELL OF GASOLINE IN CAR WHEN TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 5 DEGREES F. *JB

I NOTICED MY 2002 SUBARU WRX HAS FUEL SMELL COMING INTO THE CABIN WHEN I OPEN THE VENT TO ALLOW AIR FROM OUTSIDE. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS AROUND 30F TO 40F. I AM REALLY CONCERN IF IT WOULD CAUSE FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK

I WAS TRAVELING ON A STREET WITH SOME CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. THERE WAS A SMALL ROAD IRREGULARITY ON THE ROAD. THIS ROAD IRREGULARITY SPANS ACROSS BOTH OF THE FRONT WHEELS. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE (BEFORE I CAN FEEL THE ROAD IRREGULARITY), THE CAR CONTINUED TO LEAP FORWARD FOR A MOMENT AND THE BRAKING DISTANCE WAS MUCH GREATER THEN I ANTICIPATED AND NOT THE NORMAL BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR. HAVE THERE BEEN A CAR I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT MY CAR'S ABS BRAKING SYSTEM HAS A PROBLEM. *JB

FUEL SMELL IN CABIN OF VEHICLE ON COLD DAYS. *JB

MY 2002 SUBARU WRX WITH 39,000 MILES DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CONSISTENT WITH THAT DESCRIBED IN SUBARU TSB 09-36-03. THE FUEL ODOR ENTERED THE PASSENGER CABIN THROUGH THE VENTALLATION SYSTEM. TEMPERATURE ON 1/9/2004 WAS BETWEEN 0 AND 10 DEGREES FARENHEIT. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER ON SATURDAY, 1/10/2004. ON 1/12/2004 I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF >$500 TO REPAIR. I ASKED ABOUT ANY SERVICE BULLETINS AND DEALER SAID NO TSB EXISTED AND THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS ISSUE BEFORE. I DIRECTED THEM TO TSB IN QUESTION AND THEY LATER INFORMED ME REPAIR WOULD BE COVERED AS A "GOOD FAITH" REPAIR EVEN THOUGH OUT OF WARRANTY. REPAIR WAS NOT COMPLETED UNTIL 1/29/2004 BECAUSE PART KIT WAS ON BACK ORDER. RESIDUAL FUEL ODER REMAINS IN PASSENGER CABIN. HOPEFULLY WILL DISAPPEAR IN TIME.

FUEL LEAK IN THE WINTER. KNOWN PROBLEM. SUBARU ISSUED A TSB ON THE MATTER BUT WILL NOT FIX IF CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. FUEL COMES OUT OF A LINE AND POOLS UP AND BURNS OFF ON THE MANIFOLD.*AK

OWNER OF A 02 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. GAS SMELL OBSERVED FROM ENGINE DURING VERY COLD WEATHER 15-20 DEG. FUEL LEAK FROM BELOW MANIFOLD. WAS TOLD BY DEALER MY CAR IS OVER 36000 MILES AND IS NOT COVERED BY SUBARU. I ASSUMED AN EMISSIONS RELATED PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED FOR MORE THAN 36000 MILES. WAS GIVEN A $650 REPAIR ESTIMATE. *AK

I OWN A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WAGON, WHICH COMES STANDARD WITH ABS BRAKES. I'D HEARD THROUGH A VARIETY OF CHANNELS THAT THERE WAS AN ABS ISSUE WITH THE CAR, IN THAT UNDER SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES THE DRIVER COULD MOMENTARILY LOSE ALL BRAKING ABILITY. I HAD MY DOUBTS, HAVING OWNED THE CAR FOR 2 YEARS BEFORE MY INCIDENT OCCURRED, BUT IT DID FINALLY HAPPEN TO ME. I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT THAT HAD TURNED RED. THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35-40 MPH AND BEGAN BRAKING WITH A LIGHT-MODERATE PEDAL PRESSURE. ABOUT 200 FEET BEFORE THE INTERSECTION, THERE IS A SEAM IN THE PAVEMENT AND THE LATTER PIECE OF ROADWAY IS ABOUT 1-2 INCHES BELOW THE PART BEFORE IT. IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S A VERY SMALL DROP OFF. UPON HITTING THIS DROP OFF AND MAINTAINING PEDAL PRESSURE, THE ABS BRIEFLY CYCLED (FELT AS A VIBRATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL) AND THEN THE CAR STOPPED DECELERATING FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS. IT WAS AS IF I'D LIFTED COMPLETELY OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, YET I HAD NOT. ONCE I REALIZED I WASN'T GOING TO STOP, I RELEASED THE PEDAL AND REAPPLIED IT VERY QUICKLY. BRAKING FORCE WAS RETURNED, AS IF THERE WERE NO PROBLEM. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME I'VE EXPERIENCED THE INCIDENT. I'VE DRIVEN MANY ABS-EQUIPPED CARS IN THE PAST, AND AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT ABS BRAKING FEELS LIKE. I'M ASE CERTIFIED IN BRAKING SYSTEMS, AND HAVE RACED BOTH ABS AND NON-ABS EQUIPPED CARS AT AN AMATEUR LEVEL. WHAT I FELT WAS NOT NORMAL ABS OPERATION, AND HAD THERE BEEN A CAR STOPPED AT THE INTERSECTION AHE

MY 2002 SUBARU WRX HAS A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN STARTED IN COLD WEATHER (UNDER APPROX. 30 DEGREES F). THE SMELL EVENTUALLY GOES AWAY AS THE ENGINE WARMS UP. THIS HAPPENED LAST WINTER AND THIS WINTER. SUBARU HAS ISSUED A TSB ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT MY CAR IS OUT OF THE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY PERIOD. ALSO, I CAN'T LEAVE IT OVERNIGHT AT A DEALERSHIP ON A COLD NIGHT (TO ALLOW THE ENGINE TO COOL COMPLETELY) TO ALLOW THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE THE PROBLEM THEMSELVES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE LEAKING FUEL MIGHT BE ENOUGH TO START A FIRE. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT IS ONLY ISSUING A TSB, AND IS NOT ALWAYS PAYING FOR REPAIRS. *JB

I HAVE NOTICED RAW FUEL SMELL COMING IN FROM THE VENTILATION DUCTS WHEN THE HEATER IS ON DURING COLD WEATHER. THE SMELL WEAKENS WHEN DRIVEN BUT RETURNS WHEN STOPPED COMPLETELY. THIS INCIDENT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS NEAR FREEZING OR BELOW. I HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR AS A 2002 MODEL IN JULY OF 2001. THIS MAY BE A FUEL LEAK AND I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ASAP BY SUBARU. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS A WEAR AND TEAR SITUATION BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY MORE WRX OWNERS IN THE COUNTRY WHO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. *JB

SMELL OF FUEL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF 02 SUBARU WRX ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. NOTICEABLE WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR AND RUNNING CLIMATE CONTROL. DISSIPATES IN APPROXIMATELY 15 MINS. ALSO NOTICEABLE ONE NIGHT IN GARAGE AFTER EXITING THE CAR. HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 3-4 TIMES THIS WINTER. NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE. *LA

STRONG SMELL OF RAW GAS DURING ENGINE START-UP WHEN COLD OUTSIDE. *LA

STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NOW UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS. *LA

I DRIVE A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX SEDAN. THE ABS SYSTEM IS TERRIBLE ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAS NUMEROUS TIMES FAILED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM, REGARDLESS OF PEDAL POSITION. ONE TIME SPECIFICALLY THIS CAUSED ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO AVOID HITTING A DEER, AND DOING 4000 DOLLARS OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DENIES ANY PROBLEMS, BUT I WAY MORE THAN ENOUGH STOPPING DISTANCE WHERE ANY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP. THE SURFACE WAS ROUGH ASPHALT. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATED 55 MPH (SPEED LIMIT), AND WAS 200 FT AWAY FROM THE DEER WHEN I FIRST APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. *LA

OVERPOWERING RAW FUEL SMELL IN INTERIOR CABIN IN COLD WEATHER, SUSPECT LEAK IN ENGINE BAY THAT HAS RECENTLY BEEN BROUGHT UP AS A TSB BY SUBARU. *LA