2002 Subaru Impreza Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, CAUSING FUMES TO EMIT AND POSSIBLY START A FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 118,000.

2002 SUBARU IMPREZA RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HATCH STRUT BROKE AND RIPPED OUT WHEN SHE WAS JUST LIFTING THE TAILGATE. CAUSING THE TAILGATE TO LAND ON HER HEAD WHICH RESULTED IN A MILD CONCUSSION. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE DEFECT. RECALL # 08V135000. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED, THIS CAUSED HIM TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AS OF AUGUST 2, 2007, THE DEALER WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

MY 2002 SUBARU HAS GAS FUMES IN THE CABIN WHENEVER THE WEATHER IS COLD. THE COLDER THE WEATHER THE STRONGER THE FUMES. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, THE HAVE A BULLETIN ON THIS VERY ISSUE, HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSES TO COVER THIS ISSUE. OVER THE PHONE THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS CONFIDENT THAT SUBARU WOULD NOT COVER THIS ISSUE. HE INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS JUST FUMES LEAKING. KNOWING A LITTLE ABOUT HOW GASOLINE IS IGNITED, I KNOW THAT THE FUMES ARE WHAT COMBUSTION, AND THAT IS WHAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT. IF SUBARU IS SO CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY, ONE WOULD THING THAT EXPLOSIVE FUMES WOULD BE ON THEIR LIST. HOWEVER BOTH SUBARU OF AMERICA, AND SUBARU OF ANNAPOLIS DID NOTHING TO REASSURE ME THAT THIS WOULD BE COVERED. WHEN I CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA AGAIN, THEY TOLD ME TO CONTACT ANOTHER DEALER AND SEE WHAT THEY WOULD DO. THIS IS THE LAST SUBARU I WILL EVERY BUY! *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WR,X AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL, AND THERE WAS A RAW FUEL SMELL COMING FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL SMELL WAS STRONGER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 32 DEGREES. THE CONTACT CURRENTLY HAS THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 119330.*AK THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD A COOLANT LEAD. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR REGULATOR WAS INOPERTIVE, THE CLUTCH HAD A JUDDER, THERE WAS PROBLEM WITH THE ABS. UPDATED

RAW FUEL SMELL NOTICED WHILE CAR IS ON. SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM ENGINE BAY. HAS JUST BEGUN TO OCCUR AS TEMPERATURE HAS DROPPED BELOW FREEZING. *NM

FUEL LINES ABOVE THE ENGINE ON BOTH SIDES LEAK FUEL WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE LEAK OCCURS WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED IF THE TEMP IS LOWER THAN 32 DEGREES. AT THE POINT WHERE THE RUBBER FUEL LINE MEETS THE METAL FUEL LINES YOU CAN SEE GAS SPRAY ACROSS THE ENGINE BLOCK AND WILL POOL UP. TIGHTENING THE CLAMPS DOES NOT HELP. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY WINTER SINCE 2007.

2002 SUBARU IMPREZA TS - FUEL SMELL IN COLD WEATHER. WHEN STARTING MY IMPREZA TS AT TEMPERATURES BELOW 32F THERE IS A DISTINCT AND OVERPOWERING FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN RELEASED FOR THE WRX MODEL BUT NOT THE TS. PLEASE ADDRESS THE EXCLUSION OF THE TS MODEL AS THIS ISSUE IS A SIGNIFICANT HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERN. *JB

2002 SUBARU IMPREZA XRX GAS FUMES AND SMELL WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. IT IS COMMON ON 2002 SUBARU'S THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE OF THE DANGER OF A FIRE AND THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED TO DATE. THE COST FOR A REPAIR IS HIGH BECAUSE THE FUEL LINES AND UNDER THE MANIFOLD. I NOTICED THIS SMELL THE FIRST YEAR I BOUGHT THE CAR THAT IS THE DATE IN THE INCIDENT BOX. *TR

IN VERY COLD TEMPERATURES (BELOW 30F), THE SMELL OF RAW FUEL ENTERS THE CABIN. SUBARU HAS A TSB FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE CONSIDERING THAT FUEL VAPOR IS HIGHLY FLAMMABLE AND IS ALSO A KNOWN CARCINOGEN. *NM

BEGAN SMELLING ODOR OF RAW FUEL INSIDE OF MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. AFTER A SHORT RESEARCH I FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM DURING COLD WEATHER. CONTACTED A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. *JB

I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU A VERY RECURRING, AND VERY UNSAFE PROBLEM REGARDING THE SUBARU WRX IMPREZA. I CAME HOME TONIGHT TO A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY OF MY CAR. I PROCEEDED TO OPEN MY HOOD AND INVESTIGATE. WHAT I FOUND WAS ACTUAL FUEL LEAKING FROM A PART OF MY CAR! THIS FUEL CAN IGNITE AND EVEN EXPLODE IF IT WERE TO TOUCH SOMETHING HOT (TURBO CHARGER, CAT CONVERTER) WELL UPON GOING ONLINE, I LOOKED THE PROBLEM UP, AND IT SEEMS A LOT OF WRX IMPREZA OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A PROBLEM NOTED SINCE 2002 AND SUBARU HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT THIS! IN THE LINK I AM ABOUT TO PROVIDE TO YOU, IT WILL SHOW MANY CASES OF PEOPLE DEALING WITH SUBARU, IN SOME CASES WITH VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=131755 THAT WEBSITE IS JUST ONE WEBSITE REPRESENTING THE COUNTLESS AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. I DO NOT SEE HOW SUBARU CANNOT CREATE A RECALL ON SOMETHING SO EXTREMELY UNSAFE. *JB

WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, MY 2002 SUBARU WRX DEVELOPS A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. LEAK RATE IS ABOUT 1 DROP PER SECOND. VEHICLE HAS 64,000 MILES. I JUST RECENTLY MOVED TO A COLDER CLIMATE AREA. *NM

I DRIVE A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX SEDAN. WHEN I START THE CAR ON COLD MORNINGS AND TURN ON THE HEATER WITH THE AIR RECIRCULATION OFF, A DISTINCT SMELL OF GAS COMES THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THEN, WHEN I OPEN THE HOOD TO LOOK FOR THE PROBLEM, THE SMELL OF GAS IS EVEN STRONGER AND MORE NOTICEABLE. MUCH LIKE OTHER WRX OWNERS, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO TRACE THIS PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF THIS, I HAVE NOT MADE ANY ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT. GASOLINE IS WIDELY KNOWN TO BE CARCINOGENIC AMONG MANY OTHER UNFORTUNATE THINGS, AND THE PRESENCE OF GASOLINE IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ALONG WITH SPARKS AND HIGH HEAT SEEMS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED BY MANY, MANY OTHER PEOPLE FOR OVER THREE YEARS NOW. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA RS. THE CONTACT NOTICED A VERY STRONG GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED BY A DEALER FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OVER TIME HE NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY RECURRED WHILE DRIVING IN VERY COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V468000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL ON BUMPY ROADS, THERE WAS A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS OCCURRED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER A THIRD TIME, WHO DETERMINED THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. UPDATED 10/17/2006 - THE REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED TWICE. *NM

MY CAR IS SUBARU IMPREZA WRX SPORT WAGON. I USED TO GAS MY CAR AT SHELL GAS STATION IN HIGHLAND PARK. A LOT OF TIMES I FOUND WATER IN MY CAR'S GAS TANK. I USE THE 93 OCTANE, BECAUSE MY CAR HAS TURBO. PLEASE CHECK THE 93 OCTANE GAS ON THE SHELL GAS STATION. *JB

STEERING ROLL CONNECTOR FAILED. CAUSES HORN, CRUISE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG TO STOP FUNCTIONING. PART IS POORLY DESIGNED, WIRES ARE HELD IN PLACE BY PAPER. THIS SUBSYSTEM IS UNSAFE. *NM

NOT A NEW AS OTHERS HAVE IT TOO AND SUBARU KNOWS OF THE TROUBLE. UPON FIRST STARTING THE 2002 SUBARU WRX THERE IS A RAW GAS SMELL DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART WITHIN THE FUEL SYSTEM. BOTH THE NHTSA AND SUBARU KNOW OF THIS BUT I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALERS THAT THE FULL COST OF THIS MANUFACTURE DEFECT MUST BE PAID BY THE CAR OWNER-I WAS TOLD BY A DEALER THAT FAILURE TO DO THIS WOULD RESULT IN ENGINE FIRES. I FOUND THIS INFO WITHIN THIS SITE AND CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY SUBARU IS NOT WORKING WITH THE NHTSA TO ASSIST PEOPLE DRIVING POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARDS IN FIXING AS FAST AS POSSIBLE THE DEFECT. *NM

DURING RECENT COLD WEATHER, I NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF UNBURNED FUEL IN THE PASSENGER CABIN. RESEARCH INDICATED THIS IS ADDRESSED BY TSB 009-36-03, HOWEVER A FUEL LEAK OF ANY NATURE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL DUE TO THE RISK TO HEALTH AND LIFE. *JB

FUEL LEAK NEAR ENGINE. RAW FUEL SMELL IN CABIN. *JB

WE HAVE TERRIBLE GASOLINE FUMES IN MY WIFE'S CAR WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE. IT'S COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND GETTING INTO THE CABIN. IT'S SO OVERPOWERING THAT MY WIFE AND CHILDREN CAN NOT BE IN THE CAR WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED. IT EVEN GAVE HER A HEADACHE TODAY AFTER SHE DROVE IT WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN. IT'S A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA TS WAGON. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL, YET THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. I HAVE SEEN THE INVESTIGATION REPORT PE04002. OUR PROBLEM PERSISTS EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS FULLY WARMED UP. I DROVE IT FOR 45 MINUTES, AND IT WAS JUST AS BAD AT THE END OF THE TRIP AS IT WAS AT THE BEGINNING. *JB

IN COLD WEATHER (SUB-FREEZING), I SMELL GASOLINE VAPORS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF MY 2002 SUBURU IMPREZA WRX. THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IS EQUALLY STRONG UNDER THE HOOD. ONE MUST DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN, WITH NO HEAT, SO AS TO AVOID LIGHT-HEADINESS. *JB

2002 SUBRAU WRX. LONG DRIVE IN SUB-ZERO WEATHER AFTER WHICH A EXTREME FUEL SMELL WAS ENTERING THE CAR AT STOPS. AFTER ARRIVING HOME I QUICKLY LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD WHERE I COULD SEE AND SMELL FUEL VAPORIZING ON THE LEFT (PASSENGER) SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FUEL VAPOR WAS ORIGINATING FROM THE HOSE MENTIONED IN PE04002, SUBARU TSB #09-36-03. THIS IS CONTRARY TO THE PROBLEM ONLY EXISTING DURING COLD START CONDITIONS AS MY CAR WAS FULLY WARMED UP AND AFTER 2 HOURS DRIVING. THE FUEL VAPOR FILLED UP MY GARAGE TO THE EXTENT THAT I WAS FORCED TO OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR. ACCORDING TO SUBARU THIS IS NOT A RECALL AND THUS I NEED TO PAY TO FIX THIS ISSUE-- HOWEVER AFTER MY EXPERIENCE TONIGHT I'M SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR IN SUB-ZERO WEATHER. I URGE NHTSA TO RE-EXAMINE ACTION NUMBER PE04002 AS THE AMOUNT OF FUEL VAPOR COMING FROM MY CAR THIS EVENING COULD HAVE VERY EASILY CAUSED A FIRE HAD AN IGNITION SOURCE BEEN INTRODUCED ANYWHERE AROUND MY CAR. *JB

RAW FUEL SMELL IN COLD WEATHER. HAD TO REPLACE CD PLAYER. SEALS ON WINDOWS FELL OFF. BRAKES PUMP WHEN HITTING THE BRAKE WHEN DEBRIS ON ROAD. (ROCKS,ETC.). *NM

THIS ISSUE IS FOR A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WAGON. THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE VEHICLE CABIN WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPPED AT IDLE. THE SUBARU MECHANIC SAID THERE IS A CLIP ATTACHING THE FUEL LINE FROM THE TANK TO THE ENGINE UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH IS LOOSE. THEY ADJUSTED THE CLIP BUT SAID IT WOULD BE ABOUT $800 TO FIX IF THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN SINCE THEY WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO REPAIR. THE SMELL CAME BACK A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. *AK I HAVE DONE RESEARCH, AND THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, BUT NO RECALL. LOOKING AT POSTINGS ON THIS ISSUE, THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IT SEEMS TO BE PARTICULAR WITH THE 2002 WRX. IT SEEMS FOR AN ISSUE THAT HAS ENOUGH HISTORY TO OCCUR TO GENERATE A TSB THAT IS ALSO SUCH A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE WOULD WARRANT A RECALL.

DURING ONE COLD DAY I NOTICED THAT MY CAR (2002 SUBARU WRX) HAD A RAW GAS SMELL AFTER STARTING UP, LIKE A FUEL LEAK. *JB

WHEN THE WEATHER IS UNDER 20 DEGREES F, THERE ARE STRONG GASOLINE FUMES INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE AUTOMOBILE. IT MAKES ME DIZZY, CAUSING THE NECESSITY TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN IN SINGLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN, BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX MANY CARS THAT ARE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A HEALTH CONCERN, AN EMISSIONS CONCERN, AND A SAFETY CONCERN, AS RAW GASOLINE IS LEAKING SOMEWHERE IN THE ENGINE BAY.

SIDE VIEW MIRROR ATTACHMENT TO VEHICLE FAILED, MIRROR UNUSABLE. RESEARCHED TO FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE IT. ORDERED THE PART AND REPLACED IT MYSELF. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE A BLOWN RADIATOR WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HATCHBACK/LIFGATE FELL OUT BECAUSE THE SCREWS HOLDING THE LIFTGATE IN PLACE STRIPPED DUE TO WEARING. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED IT WAS ASSEMBLED IMPROPERLY, AND TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE HAVING THE REPAIRS DONE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002, SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. *AK

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GETS BELOW 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT FUEL LINES LEAK ON THE ENGINE OF MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA RS. THE LEAK CAN BE CLEARLY SMELLED FROM INSIDE THE CAR. THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN BY SUBARU AND THEY WON'T DESIGNATE THIS AS A RECALL. THEY DO CONSIDER THIS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND ONLY SERVICE THIS UNDER WARRANTY. OTHERWISE, IT'S UP TO THE OWNER TO SPEND UPWARDS OF $350 TO HAVE A SUBARU DEALER PERFORM THE REPAIRS. *JB

I PURCHASED A USED 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX AND HAVE BEEN SMELLING GAS. I HAVE READ A PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION, PE04002. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE SAFETY CONCERN FOR FIRE, BUT WHEN DRIVING OVER LONG PERIODS THE SMELL DOES NOT GO AWAY AND HAS CAUSED LIGHT HEADEDNESS FOR MYSELF AND PASSENGERS, TO THE POINT THAT I HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER AND GET OUT OF THE CAR. I ALSO AM CURIOUS WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR A KNOWN DEFECT, FOUND AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE MANUFACTURER. LEAKING GAS IS DANGEROUS TO INHALE AND DANGEROUS TO THE ENVIRONMENT. I WOULD URGE YOU TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE FURTHER. *NM

IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE04002 & THE OCCURRENCE OF BEING OVERCOME BY VAPORS IN MY MY02 SUBARU IMPREZA RS. STARTING LAST NIGHT THERE IS A VERY APPARENT HAZARDOUS FUEL VAPOR LEAK INTO THE CABIN OF MY VEHICLE VIA THE HVAC SYSTEM DUE TO A PREVIOUSLY NOTED FAULTY FUEL LINE PART I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER & WAS ADVISED THERE WAS A TSB WHICH DID NOT INVOLVE COVERAGE & REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE PART DUE TO ME BEING OVER 60,000 & MY ENGINE 2.5 RS NOT BEING LISTED IN THE TSB. MAY I ASK, WHAT DOES A WARRANTY HAVE TO DO WITH REPLACEMENT OF A PREVIOUSLY DOCUMENTED, & CONFESSED DEFECTIVE PART PLACED ON A VEHICLE BY THE MANUFACTURER? THE PART IS KNOWN & ESTABLISHED AS DEFECTIVE. THE EFFECTS OF THE FAILURE WITH THE KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART ARE A SERIOUS HEALTH HAZARD & SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY ADDRESSED VIA RECALL/REPLACEMENT. I TRAVEL 40 MINUTES EACH WAY EACH WORK DAY WITH MY SON IN THE VEHICLE. I ALSO HAVE A PREGNANT WIFE WHO IS GOING TO BE FORCED BY YOUR LACK OF ACTION, TO BE EXPOSED TO VERY DANGEROUS FUMES. SOME ERRORS WITH THE PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION: THE VAPORS DO NOT GO AWAY WHEN ENGINE WARMS UP, IN FACT MINE IS VERY MUCH MORE EVIDENT WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM. FUEL CONSUMPTION HAS SIGNIFICANTLY GONE UP, POINTING TO A SIGNIFICANT LEAK OF GASOLINE TO WHERE? HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS. THE FIRE CONCERN WHICH WAS DISMISSED IS NOT MY PROBLEM, I CAN JUMP OUT OF A BURNING CAR' THE EXTREME VAPORS WHICH CAUSED ME TO GET NAUSEOUS & A SEVERE HEADACHE IN JUST A 20 MINUTE TIME SPENT IN THE CAR ON LUNCH, ARE MY CONCERN. *JB

I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 WRX THREE YEARS AGO AND AM INHALING GASOLINE FUMES IN MY CAR WHEN DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. THE SUBARU DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE "COLD FUEL SMELL". I THINK THAT INHALING GASOLINE FUMES IS VERY HAZARDOUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING. I HOPE AND BEG THAT SUBARU CORPORATION WILL RECALL THIS COMMON FAULT. *NM

THIS IS A COMPLAINT TOWARDS SUBARU OF AMERICA (SOA). THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED FUEL FUMES IN THE CABIN OF MY VEHICLE. PLEASE REVIEW THE FORUMS ON THIS ONLINE. THIS CANNOT GO ON , WE HAVE TO LEAVE OUR GARAGE DOOR OPEN TO DISPELL THE FUMES, ITS A FIRE HAZARD. SOA WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS VEHICLE FUEL SYSTEM DEFECT. IT NEEDS TO BE ON A SAFETY RECALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY YEAR WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACHES BELOW FREEZING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TOO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANTED $$$ TO CORRECT THE DEFECT (APPROX $500). *TR

I HAVE A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. THERE IS A FUEL SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE BY THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I START THE CAR IN THE MORNINGS WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FROM SUBARU ON THIS MATTER, BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM SINCE THIS INVOLVES A FUEL SMELL COMING FROM SUBSTANDARD PARTS. *NM

ON 1 OR 2 OCCASIONS IN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS I HAVE SMELLED A GAS FUMES DURING VERY COLD WEATHER ON MY 2002 SUBARU WRX WAGON. I WAS NOT OFTEN OR VERY STRONG, SO I DID NOT PAY MUCH ATTENTION. THIS WINTER IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE, ANY TIME THE TEMPERATURE GETS INTO THE LOW 20'S, IT IS A MUCH STRONGER SMELL AND LASTS QUITE A WHILE (SEVERAL MINUTES). I DID SOME DIGGING ON YOUR SITE AND FOUND ACTION NUMBER PE04002. I PLAN TO VISIT MY DEALER AND HAVE THE SERVICE BULLETIN COMPLETED, BUT WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT THE PROBLEM MAY GET WORSE OVER TIME, I CURRENTLY HAVE 66,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND HAVE DRIVEN IT SINCE JULY 2001. *JB

HEAD GASKETS ON BOTH SIDES OF ENGINE LEAKING OIL AND COOLANT AT 20000 MILES AND 2.5 YRS OLD. OIL AND COOLANT LEAK TRANSFERS ON TIRES AND EXHAUST. THIS CAN CAUSE FIRE AND LOSS OF CONTROL. SUBARU ONLY ACKNOWLEDGES PROBLEM ON OTHER VIN ON IMPREZA (MY VEHICLE 2002 IMPREZA OUTBACK WAGON) AND FORESTER. EVEN THOUGH FORESTER USES THE IDENTICAL ENGINE AS IMPREZA. *TR

IN JANUARY,2005 I PURCHASED A USED 2002 SUBURA WRX IMPREZA FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. THE PREVIOUS OWNER GAVE ME ALL RECEIPTS OF ALL REPAIRS DONE TO THE CAR.ON THE RECEIPT IT SHOWS THAT HE COMPLAINED TO THE CAR DEALER CALLED RAFFERTY SUBURA IN P.A. OF SCREECHING NOISE FRO THE FRONT BRAKES. THE DEALER REPLACE THE PADS AND LUBRICATED THE BRAKES. THAT WAS AT 36K MILES. THE CAR NOW HAS 38K MILES AND I HAVE THE SAME SCREECHING NOISE IN THE FRONT BRAKES. I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES PADS. THE SCREECHING NOISE STILL EXISTS. I LOOK UP ON THE WEB FOR ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT SUBURA AND THEIR BRAKES. I FOUND TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. WWW.CARSMART.COM/CONTENT/RESEARCH/FORUMS/INDEX.CFM/ACTION/POSTS/FID/1959 SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS WRERE REGISTER WITH NHTSA. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS. SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINTS PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN INTO ACCIDENTS.

(1) DEFECTIVE SEAT MOUNT DESIGN, AND BAD MANUFACTURER REPAIR. (2) DRIVER FRONT SEAT MOUNT( LEFT FRONT MOUNT WERE MOUNT ATTACHES TO SEAT RAIL FAILED UNDER HARD BRAKING AND ACCELARATION. (3) NOTHING AT THIS TIME. MANUFACTURER UPGRADE WAS PERFORMED.

CONSUMER TURNS THE IGNITION ON AND VEHICLE ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES AND TURNED BACK ON THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

THE ACCELERATOR ON 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA BECAME STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS A PART OF THE AIR CLEANER FILTER HAD FALLEN INTO THE CARBURETOR. *MR *NM

UPON START UP AND DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER A STRONG FUEL SMELL EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS COMMON. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

THE BRAKES WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. IT WAS HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND THE OTHER MECHANICS CAN FIND NO DEFECTS. *JB INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PICKED UP SPEED. *TC

I DRIVE A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX MANUFACTURED IN FEB 2001. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 3 MONTHS. I NOTICED THE FAILURE DURING THE FIRST DAY THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW FREEZING. THE FAILURE IS DESCRIBED AS A VERY STRONG SCENT OF NOXIOUS FUEL INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE SCENT IS PRESENT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED WITH A COLD ENGINE AND THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING. THE SCENT DISSIPATES AFTER 5 MINUTES OF RUNNING THE ENGINE. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THESE CONDITIONS ARE PRESENT WHICH CAN BE MULTIPLE TIMES DAILY. THE CONSEQUENCES TO DATE HAVE SIMPLY BEEN DISCOMFORT BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT LONG TERM EXPOSURE MAY HAVE LASTING DAMAGE TO MY AND MY PASSENGERS LUNGS AND EYES. SO FAR I HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION AS THE DISCUSSION FORUM AT WWW.NASIOC.COM HAS MANY POSTINGS DESCRIBING FAILED ATTEMPTS OF FIXING THE PROBLEM BY SUBARU TRAINED MECHANICS. *NM

STRONG GAS ODOR IN CABIN WHEN TEMPS ARE BELOW 30 OUT SIDE. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM REPORTED LAST YEAR WITH NO RECALL OR RESOLUTION BY DEALER/NHTSA. *NM

2002 SUBARU WRX EMITS A GAS SMELL, DUE TO A LEAKING FUEL LINE, INTO THE CABIN. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SUBARU (SEE SERVICE BULLETIN 09-36-03). IN MY OPINION THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IS AN ENGINEERING OVERSIGHT AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. *NM

GASOLINE SMELL/LEAK IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES. ORIGINATES FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, PASSENGER SIDE. NOTICED POOLING OF GAS IN ENGINE BLOCK CRACKS. *JB ONLY OCCURS WHEN UNDER 20 DEGREES F. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER SMELLED GAS FUMES, THEN SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT SEE A PROBLEM. *AK