2004 Subaru Forester Complaint Log

DANGEROUS!! I AM THE RECENT PROUD OWNER OF A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO WE GOT OUR FIRST FREEZE. I WALK OUT TO START MY CAR AND IT'S NOT TURNING OVER AND A STRONG FUEL SMELL IS FILLING THE CABIN. I KEEP TRYING THINKING THAT IT MAY TURN OVER. WITH NO LUCK, AND FEARING SOMETHING IS WRONG (OR MAY POSSIBLY BLOW UP), I STOP AND GET OUT. TAKING A CLOSER LOOK HAVING PARKED IT SOME DIRT, I SEE THAT IT IS VISIBLY MOIST UNDER MY CAR. THE GROUND IS SATURATED WITH GAS. LUCKILY IT DIDN'T CONTACT ANY SPARK IN THE ENGINE OR I WASN'T SMOKING, BECAUSE I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY TO TELL THIS STORY. IT WAS A TON OF GAS. PLEASE FIX THIS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES OR GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

DURING WINTER MONTHS 2004 FORESTER XT EMITS NOXIOUS FUEL SMELL INTO CABIN. SOURCE IS FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN AREA OF TURBO/EXHAUST MANIFOLD AS DISCOVER FROM PUDDLE ON GARAGE FLOOR DURING WARM UP

FUEL RAIL HOES CLAMPS/RUBBER LINE IS FAULTY, CAUSING POOLING OF GAS ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. MAJOR FIRE HAZARD.

THE FUEL LINES UNDER THE MANIFOLD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ARE LEAKING FUEL WHEN FIRST STARTING AND IT IS COLD OUTSIDE(BELOW 50F). THE FUMES AND FILLING THE CAB OF THE CAR WHEN THE HEATER IT ON.

WHEN TEMPS DROP THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN THE CABIN, DOESN'T GO AWAY AND PEOPLE GET VERY SICK. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S IN MOTION, STOPPED, ANYWHERE, AND NOTHING CAUSES IT TO GO AWAY UNTIL WELL INTO SPRING TIME OR WARMER WEATHER.

THE TURBOCHARGER BROKE TWICE IN THE 2D QUARTER 2015. SHORTLY AFTER THE SECOND TIME IT WAS FIXED, THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE OVER THE TURBOCHARGER UNIT (WHILE BEING DRIVEN 9/18/15), UNDER THE HOOD. NEW SUBARUS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS REASON, BUT I THINK THE REPLACEMENT TURBOCHARGER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE SUBARU TURBO FP # WAS 14411AA5329L.

HAVING RECENTLY BOUGHT MY 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT, IT RAN GREAT FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS. THEN, WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WOULD SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY, ALMOST LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE. HAVING TAKEN IT TO SUBARU A MONTH BEFORE, I MENTIONED THAT IT WAS DOING THIS A LITTLE, BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT THAT IT DID ON THE HIGHWAY. HE SAID IT WOULD BE $150 TO LOOK AT IT. TAKING IT IN TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC, THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. LOOKING TODAY ONLINE FOR RECALLS ON ANOTHER ISSUE I'M EXPERIENCING, I SEE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS EXACT ISSUE, BUT ONLY FOR CARS SOLD IN CERTAIN STATES. THIS IS THE EXACT ISSUE THAT WAS WRONG WITH MY SUBARU, AND I BELIEVE THAT OWNERS IN OTHER STATES ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE AS WELL. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL LOOK AT THIS BEFORE THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ON THE INTERSTATE AND THEY LOSE CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLE.

I STARTED THE CAR ON A COLD MORNING AND THE WHOLE VEHICLE SMELLED OF GASOLINE. I'M UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED AS I FEAR THEY MAY BE INHALING FUMES OR MAY SUFFER A HORRIBLE FIERY DEATH I RISK MY OWN LIFE BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND NOTICE THE SMELL STARTS TO GO AWAY AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP EITHER THAT OR I'M JUST USED TO IT. MY 02 WRX HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND IT WAS RECALLED. WHY HAVEN'T THE XT ISSUES BEEN RECALLED? HADDAD SUBARU IN PITTSFIELD MA TIGHTENED UP WHAT THEY COULD REACH BUT THE ISSUE LIES BENEATH THE INTAKE.

STRONG ODOR OF GAS WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS. *TR

THERE IS A VERY STRONG AND DISTINCT SMELL OF RAW FUEL COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN THE WEATHER IS BELOW FREEZING (20F OR BELOW). THE SMELL COMES THROUGH THE AIR VENTS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE A HEADACHE FOR THE PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. THE SMELL IS WORST WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AFTER A DRIVE. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SUBARU WRX 2002 & 2003 CARS AND SUBARU HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THEM. THIS ALSO SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ENOUGH PROBLEM FOR SUBARU FORRESTER CARS FROM THE SAME TIMEFRAME. ON THE WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2004/SUBARU/FORESTER, ALMOST 50% OF THE COMPLAINTS OUT OF 154 COMPLAINTS IS ABOUT THIS FUEL LEAK ISSUE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM ACCORDING TO DEALERS AND OTHER SUBARU FORRESTER OWNERS AS WELL (HTTP://WWW.SUBARUFORESTER.ORG/VBULLETIN/F87/SMELL-GAS-COLD-STARTS-41319/). IT HAS ALSO BEEN DOCUMENTED BY OTHER OWNERS AT NHTSA: HTTPS://SITES.GOOGLE.COM/SITE/20042005FORESTERXTFUELLEAKS/ SUBARU OF AMERICA SEEMS TO HAVE IMPLICITLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE SYSTEMIC PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE BEEN REIMBURSING SOME OWNERS (BUT NOT ALL) FOR THEIR SERVICE COSTS WHICH CAN BE IN THE RANGE FOR $800 (HTTP://WWW.SUBARUFORESTER.ORG/VBULLETIN/F88/FIXING-LEAKING-FUEL-GAS-LINE-86782/). HOWEVER, SUBARU HAS NOT RECALLED THESE CARS AND IS EXPECTING OWNERS TO FIX THE PROBLEMS WHICH MAY MAY CAUSE HEALTH ISSUES AND GIVEN FUEL LEAKING ON HOT ENGINE PARTS, MAY LEAD TO AN ENGINE FIRE IF NOT FIXED. *JS

NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL AFTER LETTING THE CAR WARM UP ON A COLD MORNING, ODOR WENT AWAY AFTER 15-20 MINUTES. FUEL SMELL HAS GOTTEN STRONGER, AND IS NOW CONSTANT EVEN WHEN OPERATING UNDER HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS MANY OTHER FORESTER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT. ISSUES IT WITH THE FUEL LINE GOING TO THE INJECTORS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE MOTOR. IS EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE AND PARTS THAT SUBARU USES ON THE WRX WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. *TR

ANYTIME THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 60 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT THERE'S A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD I CAN SEE IT DRIPPING OUT OF SOMETHING UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. SEVERE GAS LEAK. NAUSEOUS AND DANGEROUS FUMES.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, HELLO, I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 FORESTER XT WHICH I LOVE. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR ALMOST A YEAR AND ITS BEEN NOTHING BUT RELIABLE UP TO THIS POINT. THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL, AND WITH THAT COMES A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MANY SUBARU OWNERS. DURING THE COLD SNAPS, SAY BELOW 20F, THERE IS STRONG FUEL SMELLS WHICH FILLS THE CABIN. IT ONLY HAPPENS DURING START-UP, AND LASTS ABOUT 15 MINS BEFORE THE CAR WARMS UP. FROM SEARCHING MANY FORUMS AND INTERNET THREADS IT SEEMS THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE EARLY 2001. THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE (WVK-21)FOR THE 2002 -2003 WRX'S WHICH HAD A SAME PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING NOW. UNFORTUNATELY A RECALL WAS NEVER ISSUED FOR LATER MODEL SUBARUS WHICH SUFFER THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS FUEL LEAKING FROM 5 MAIN FUEL LINES GOING INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. IT SEEMS THAT WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, THE LINES ARE SHRINKING AND IS ALLOWING FUEL TO SPEW OUT EVERYWHERE. JUST FROM SEARCHING FOR 3 DAYS I'VE SEEN 125 CASES OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER OWNERS. WILL YOU PLEASE PUT OUT A BULLETIN BEFORE SOMEONE DIES FROM THERE CAR EXPLODING BECAUSE OF EXTRA FUEL LEAKING OUT OF THE FUEL HOSES. PLEASE I BEG OF YOU, PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL!!! *TR

IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW 30 DEGREES), FUEL LINES LEAK UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, CAUSING A SEVERE FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN, MOST LIKELY ALSO A FIRE HAZARD. DEALER CLAIMS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. UPON RESEARCH A LARGE MAJORITY OF SUBARUS IN MODEL RANGE HAVE THE ISSUE, WITH NO FIX IN SIGHT. *TR

HAVING SEEN THE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER USERS REGARDING THE RELIABILITY OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE. RELEVANT TO LET THE PROPER AUTHORITIES KNOW OF A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT IN WHICH NO AIRBAGS (NOR FRONT NOR SIDE) DEPLOYED WITH A RESULTING FATALITY. *TR

ON DAYS WITH SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, A STRONG SMELL OF GAS IS PRESENT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THERE IS GASOLINE VISIBLY DRIPPING FROM A FUEL LINE BEHIND THE AC COMPRESSOR. THE GASOLINE LANDS ON THE ENGINE BLOCK AND PRODUCES VISIBLE VAPORS AS IT IS SLOWLY BURNED UP BY THE HEAT. UPON DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM WITH A SUBARU REPAIR SHOP, THEY SAID THIS IS QUITE COMMON FOR MY VEHICLE. *TR

WARMED UP VEHICLE. TEMP WAS BELOW 31 DEGREES CLOSER TO LOW 20'S. WITHIN TWO MINUTES FUEL SMELL ENTERED VEHICLE. OVER COME BY FUMES... ROLLED DOWN WINDOWS. PROBLEM TOOK AT LEAST 15 MINUTES AT LEAST TO GET RID OF SMELL. VERY WORRIED DUE TO FUEL BEING A HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE FLUID IN A HOT ENGINE. *TR

THE SMELL OF FUEL BECAME OBVIOUS AFTER A 10-15 MINUTE DRIVE. UPON EXAMINATION, THERE WAS FUEL DRIPPING FROM A FUEL LINE. THIS OCCURRED AFTER THE FIRST FREEZE OF THE YEAR, FITTING OTHER DESCRIPTIONS OF THIS ISSUE I FOUND FOR THIS MODEL. *TR

BASICALLY I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME RAW FUEL SMELL MANY OTHERS HAVE DESCRIBED. THE HOSE UNDER THE INTERCOOLER AND SEVERAL OTHER HOSES AND PARTS VISIBLY LEAKS AND SMELLS WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE COLD OUTSIDE. I LIVE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST...IT'S COLD A LOT HERE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR, FOR HER HEALTH REASONS, AND REALLY DON'T LIKE WASTING MY HARD EARNED FUEL WAITING FOR THE CAR TO WARM UP WITH THE RECIRCULATING VENT FEATURE TURNED ON AND THE FACT THAT IT DRIPS THE FUEL OUT AND ONTO THE ENGINE... SINCE SOA HAS RECALLED THE WRX'S WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, WHY DO THOSE OF US THAT OWN LEGACYS, OUTBACKS, FORESTERS AND I WOULD ALSO ASSUME BAJAS NOT BE TREATED THE SAME WAY? SOA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER IMMEDIATELY AND KEEP ITS LOYAL CUSTOMERS EXACTLY THAT....LOYAL. *TR

FUEL SMELL IN CABIN WITH BLOWER SET ON OUTSIDE AIR. THE CAUSE WAS A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE BAY UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TR

I HAVE NOTICED IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS THAT WHEN I COLD START (UNDER APPROXIMATELY 20 DEGREES) MY 04 SUBARU FORESTER, THERE IS A VERY POTENT RAW GAS SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IT TYPICALLY DIMINISHES AS THE CAR HEATS UP BUT IF YOU TURN ON THE HEAT/VENTILATION SYSTEM THE SMELL BECOMES UNBEARABLE. IN DOING RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY SUBARU OWNERS (OF VARIOUS MODELS AND YEARS) ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THIS SMELL NOR TRANSPORTING ANY PASSENGERS WITH THE CAR IN THIS CONDITION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING INTO A RESIDENTIAL THE DRIVEWAY, THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED FOR WEEKS AT A TIME AND THEN WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTINUOUSLY HAD THE PROBLEM OFF AND ON FOR THE PAST YEAR. I SEE SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR SUBARU, THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY SUBARU- [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE RUNNING THE BLOWER MOTOR ON HIGH, THE CABIN BEGAN TO FILL WITH TOXIC SMOKE. THE BLOWER'S HOT WIRE CONNECTION HAD OVERHEATED, CHARRED/MELTED THE PLASTIC HOUSING AROUND THE TERMINAL, CHARRED/MELTED THE WIRES INSULATION AT THIS CONNECTION, AND MELTED THE COPPER UNTIL IT FELL LOOSE. THE BLOWER RESIDES EXPOSED UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. NO EASILY COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS WERE LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE BLOWER AT THAT TIME. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG LIGHT HAS LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD. IT STAYS ON EVERY TIME I START THE CAR AND DRIVE IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER IN ROCHESTER, MN (CLEMENTS). THEY SAY IT WILL COST $3000 TO INSTALL A BRAND NEW AIR BAG SYSTEM. I DISAGREE. THIS IS AN INHERENT , SERIOUS SAFETY FLAW IN THE CAR. IN MY OPINION, SUBARU SHOULD FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY SAFETY ADVISORY FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA. YOUR GUIDANCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN CABIN. I HAVE 2 KIDS THAT I TAKE TO SCHOOL, AND IN THE MORNING I HAVE TO START MY CAR 20 MIN BEFORE WE LEAVE AND OPEN THE WINDOWS TO AIR IT OUT. THE GAS SMELL IS TOXIC, AND DANGEROUS. THIS IS THE A DESIGN FLAW THAT POSES SERIOUS RISK, AS IT IS BOTH A HEALTH AND A FIRE HAZARD. IT SEEMS JUST ABOUT EVERY FORESTER OWNER HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS WELL. SUBARU NEEDS TO EXPAND THE EXISTING IMPREZA / WRX RECALLS TO THE FORESTER, AS THE RELEVANT PARTS ARE THE SAME AND THE ISSUE IS VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL. PLEASE FIX THIS. *TR

MY CAR WAS PARKED. WHEN I GOT IN CAR AND TURNED KEY, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CAR WAS NOT HIT OR IN ACCIDENT. *TR

LEAKING FUEL WHEN COLD OUTSIDE, I CAN SEE FUEL DRIPPING FROM A FUEL LINE UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD EVERY TIME I START MY CAR IN THE MORNING WHEN THE CAR IS COLD IN THE COLD WEATHER IN WINTER. *TR

2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT HAD CATASTROPHIC ENGINE AND TURBO FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. IT IS CLEAR THAT MY VEHICLE SUFFERED FROM SUBARU SERVICE CENTER NEGLIGENCE AND A DESIGN FLAW OF A BANJO BOLT THAT FILTERS OIL TO THE TURBO BUT EASILY GETS CLOGGED, SHUTTING OFF OIL TO THE TURBO, CAUSING OIL DEPRIVATION TO THE TURBO, BURNING OUT THE TURBO, AND CAUSING FRAGMENTS TO GET INTO THE ENGINE, BLOWING OUT THE ENGINE AS WELL. WHILE I WAS SPARED AN ACCIDENT AND INJURY, IT WAS A CLOSE CALL AS WHILE I WAS DRIVING I SUDDENLY HAD A FAILURE TO ACCELERATE, AND VERY NEARLY WAS PLOWED IN FROM BEHIND BY A LARGE TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK. MY CAR NOW REQUIRES A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE AND TURBO, COSTING IN EXCESS OF $7,000. I HAVE DECIDED TO SELL THE VEHICLE RATHER THAN BEARING THE HUGE EXPENSE REQUIRED TO REPAIR. THE ISSUE WITH THIS BANJO BOLT AND SUBARU TURBO / ENGINES OF THIS ERA ARE WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET AUTOMOBILE FORUMS AND IN SOCIAL MEDIA. SUBARU SHOULD COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR DEVALUING THEIR CARS, AND SHOULD HAVE A RECALL BEFORE MORE DRIVERS ARE HARMED OR KILLED. *TR

FUEL LINES CRACK IN COLD WEATHER (APPROX UNDER 25 AND UNDER). STRONG FUEL SMELL IN CABIN WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE PASSENGERS ILL, CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. FUEL WAS POOLING IN THE ENGINE BAY NEAR THE HOT TURBO AND EXHAUST SYSTEM. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, SERVICE WRITER KNEW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS AS SOON AS I TOLD HIM MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR - SAID IT'S VERY COMMON. FOUND PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA SITE AND HUNDREDS IN FORUMS. SUBARU ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON THE 2003 GENERATION WRX VEHICLES, BUT NOT THE FORESTERS. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEMS. SUBARU'S ARE PURCHASED AS IDEAL SNOW VEHICLE, AND REPAIRS COST UPWARD OF $600. THIS IS A DIRECT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

MY CAR HAS A STRONG GAS ODOR SMELL COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS AND FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR WHILE I'M DRIVING OR EVEN WHILE THE CAR IS WARMING UP AND NOT MOVING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE LAST YEAR AND I JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT ANOTHER FRIEND OF MINE WITH THE SAME TYPE OF CAR TOLD ME TO REPORT IT TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE. *TR

ON VERY COLD DAYS WHILE CAR IS WARMING UP, A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IS COMING FROM UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. A CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALS A SMALL FUEL LEAK FROM THE FUEL SUPPLY LINES NEAR THE TURBO. A SUBARU IMPREZA ENTHUSIAST FORUM HAS A "RAW FUEL SMELL" LOG OF MORE THAN 131 PAGES AND 3,000 POSTS (HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=131755). SUBARU ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) FOR CERTAIN SUBARU IMPREZAS, BUT THEY HAVE NOT INITIATED ANY TSBS FOR ANY OTHER CARS ALL USING THE SAME OR SIMILAR ENGINES. SEE TSB 01-170-09. AS LEAKING FUEL ONTO YOUR ENGINE IS A SAFETY HAZARD, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SUBARU INITIATE SOME KIND OF TSB OR RECALL FOR ALL ENGINES EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND MANY SUBARU OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED TO SUBARU AND NHTSA WITH NO RESULTS. *TR

THERE IS A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE CAR WHEN THE HEAT IS ON AND THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE IS AROUND 30F OR COLDER. THE ODOR OCCURS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE CAR IS MOVING OR NOT.

I'VE OWNED MY 2004 FORESTER FOR 4 YEARS NOW AND NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS WINTER SEEMINGLY HAVING LONGER COLD SPELLS SEEMED TO INDUCE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN I TURN ON THE HEAT, WHICH IS A MAJOR ISSUE IN THE WINTER. I'VE READ A LITTLE ABOUT IT AND IT SEEMS MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

I STARTED THE CAR AFTER IT HAD SAT IN 10-15 DEGREE WEATHER AND THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF UNUSED GASOLINE IN THE CABIN. IT HAS STARTED HAPPENING ON START-UP FREQUENTLY SINCE THEN. *TR

IN VERY COLD WEATHER (LESS THAN 10 F) THE RUBBER GAS LINES LEAK VERY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF GAS ONTO THE ENGINE AND VERYNEAR THE HOT TURBOCHARGER. ANOTHER SUBARU JUST CAUGHT FIRE IN THE O'NEILL TUNNEL. HTTP://BOSTON.CBSLOCAL.COM/2014/01/27/CAR-FIRE-CAUSES-BACKUP-IN-ONEILL-TUNNEL/ *TR

A STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN I STARTED MY CAR. *TR

SMELL OF RAW GAS INSIDE OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME ONLY ON EXTREMELY COLD DAYS. *TR

FUEL LEAK IN 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT SIMILAR TO OTHER SAFETY COMPLAINTS ENTERED, NHTSA CAMPAIGN 09V468000 AND SUBARU RECALL WVK-21 FOR 2003 WRX. EVENING OF 7JAN2014 DRIVING HOME (IN UNCOMMONLY COOL WEATHER) THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMELL STRONGLY OF GASOLINE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. UPON ARRIVING HOME, INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD TO OBSERVE DRIPPING FUEL (APPROXIMATELY 1 DRIP PER SECOND) ABOVE THE ENGINE AT A METAL TO RUBBER FUEL LINE CONNECTION. LEAKED FUEL WAS POOLED ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. A PUDDLE OF WARM FUEL VAPORIZING NEAR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT (BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, RADIATOR FANS) IS A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE THE EVENT. I INVESTIGATED ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER ACCOUNTS OF COLD WEATHER FUEL LEAKS IN MANY SUBARU MODELS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO MINE. MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER APPEARED TO BE AWARE OF THE ISSUE WHEN I CALLED, BUT STATED THERE IS NO ACTIVE RECALL ON MY MODEL. THEY OFFERED THAT THEIR FIX IS TO TIGHTEN THE HOSE CLAMPS BUT I WOULD NEED TO COVER THE COST OF THE WORK. IF SUBARU HAS ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE IN THE 2002-2003 IMPREZA AND WRX, WHY WOULD THEY NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM IN OTHER MODELS THAT SHOW THE SAME SYMPTOMS? *TR

FUEL AND EXHAUST LINE LEAKS IN COLD WEATHER. OVER THE INITIAL THREE DAY PERIOD - DAY ONE CHILDREN COMPLAINED OF HEADACHES, DAY TWO DRIVER EXPERIENCED SEVERE HEADACHE AND NAUSEA BUT DID NOT REALIZE IT WAS DUE TO FUEL LEAK. DAY THREE CABIN FILLED WITH OVERPOWERING FUMES COMING FROM HEATING VENT. HAD TO DRIVE WITH HEAT OFF AND ALL WINDOWS OPEN IN ORDER TO BRING CAR IN FOR SERVICE. HAVE HAD TO BRING CAR IN TWICE THIS MONTH TO REPAIR ALL OF THE LEAKS AND RENT A CAR IN ORDER TO GET TO WORK APPOINTMENTS. CERTIFIED SUBARU SPECIALIST REPORTED THAT HE HAS SEEN QUITE A FEW INCIDENCES OF SAME ISSUE RECENTLY DUE TO EXTREME COLD WEATHER. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE AND IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. 2002-2003 IMPREZA RECALLED DEC 2009 FOR SAME ISSUE. *TR

IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW 20 DEGREES OR SO) THE FUEL LINES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COME LOOSE AND LEAK RAW GASOLINE ONTO THE HOT ENGINE. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE OF AN ENGINE FIRE WITH POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN SEVERAL FORUMS, THERE IS A TSB OUT ON THIS FOR THE WRX (SAME ENGINE, SAME PART NUMBERS), AND MOST DEALERS (IN COLD STATES) KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

DURING THE RECENT COLD SNAP HERE IN TENNESSEE I GOT A REPORT FROM A FRIEND THAT HIS 2004 FORESTER XT WAS LEAKING FUEL INTO HIS ENGINE BAY. I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR THE NEXT DAY AND MINE IS DOING THE SAME THING. THE FUEL IS SLOWLY LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I DID SOME RESEARCHING AND IT SEEMS THAT ALMOST ALL FORESTER MODELS FROM 2002-2006 HAVE THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE! SOME HAVE BEEN RECALLED, BUT THE FORESTER XT HASN'T. THE ENGINES ARE THE SAME...I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED BY SUBARU. *TR

IMMEDIATELY UPON STARTING THE ENGINE A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE FILLED THE ENTIRE PASSENGER CABIN. COLD WEATHER TEMPERATURE WAS WELL BELOW FREEZING. HAS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY, AND IS CORRECTED BY TIGHTENING THE FUEL LINE CONNECTIONS. *TR

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

VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE CAR WITH HEATER ON SO STRONG HAVE TO ROLL WINDOW DOWN. HAPPENS 2 TO 3 TIMES A WEEK ON COLD DAYS. STRONGEST WHEN ITS A COLD START. *TR

WHEN WEATHER GOT COLDER THIS FALL AND WINTER SUDDENLY INTENSE SMELL OF FUEL IN CABIN. LOOKED UNDER HOOD, TIGHTENED WHATEVER FUEL CLAMPS I COULD REACH BUT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. EVERY DAY BELOW 40DEGREES POWERFUL SMELL OF RAW FUEL THROUGHOUT VEHICLE. THEN HAD TO TAKE TRIP INTO NEIGHBORING CITY, IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC EVEN WITH WINDOWS FULL OPEN IN 15 DEGREE WEATHER FUMES GOT SO OVERWHELMING I HAD TO PULL OVER IN A PARKING LOT, ESCAPE THE CAR AND VOMIT. BACK HOME CALLED DEALER, THEY SAID THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS LEAKY FUEL HOSES AND CLAMPS UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND QUOTED OVER $800 TO FIX AS THEY TOLD ME OTHER MODELS WERE COVERED BY RECALL BUT FORESTERS HAD "DODGED THE RECALL PROCESS" SO FAR. *TR

EXTREMELY STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN CABIN IN COLD WEATHER. I DRIVE MY SMALL DAUGHTER TO DAYCARE EVERY DAY IN THAT CAR. THE GAS SMELL IS HORRIFIC, TOXIC, AND DANGEROUS. ALSO, THE CAUSE OF THAT GAS SMELL IS THE GAS LEAKAGE FROM THE RUBBER HOSE OF THE FUEL LINE ONTO HOT COMPONENST IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT POSES SERIOUS RISK, AS IT IS BOTH A HEALTH AND A FIRE HAZARD. SUBARU NEEDS TO EXPAND THE EXISTING IMPREZA / WRX RECALLS TO FORESTER, AS THE RELEVANT PARTS ARE THE SAME AND THE ISSUE IS VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL. *TR

UPON START UP IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW FREEZING), THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL IN THE CABIN. AT TIMES IT IS UNBEARABLE NECESSITATING ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOWS, EVEN IN SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES. IT LOOKS LIKE FUEL IS LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE ENGINE BAY. IT HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY AND I WORRY THE FUMES ARE DANGEROUS FOR NOT ONLY PASSENGERS' HEALTH, BUT ALSO IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR

DURING THE COLD WEATHER THERE IS AN VERY STRONG GAS SMELL IN THE CAR. I STARTED THE CAR AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND CAN SEE WHERE GAS IS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM. I BELIEVE IT LEAKS IN THE SAME SPOT THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED. *TR

UPON STARTING CAR IN COLD WEATHER (APPROX. 25 DEGREES F OR COLDER), THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL. CANNOT TURN HEAT ON AS FUEL SMELL FILLS CABIN AND MAKES PASSENGERS NAUSEOUS. HEADACHES HAVE ALSO OCCURRED. WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED IN GARAGE AFTER DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER, FUMES ACCUMULATE IN GARBAGE AND LEAK INTO HOUSE AS WELL. APPARENTLY FUEL LINES SHRINK IN COLD AND LEAK FUEL DIRECTLY ONTO ENGINE. THIS IS BOTH HEALTH AND FIRE HAZARD. *TR