2002 Subaru WRX Complaint Log

A FUEL LINE UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS LEAKING GAS ON COLD STARTS. THIS IS MY SECOND TIME DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE. AS OF NOW, IT IS ONLY LEAKING GAS WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD, BUT THE LEAKING IS STARTING TO GET WORSE AND FASTER THAN BEFORE. THE FIRST TIME I HAD THIS ISSUE IT WAS LEAKING GAS REGARDLESS OF ENGINE TEMPERATURE. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT STARTS TO LEAK AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT WITH A POSSIBILITY TO CAUSE A FIRE PUTTING MY LIFE AND OTHERS AT RISK. I LIVE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THIS RECALL HAS ONLY BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR "COLD WEATHER" STATES. IT IS EVIDENT THAT THIS FUEL LINE PROBLEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WEATHER SINCE I LIVE IN A WARM CLIMATE. THIS PROBIEM IS UNFIXABLE AND TIME CONSUMING. I HAD ALREADY TRIED TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE AT MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND IT ENDED UP BEING A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER'S PROBLEM. SUBARU NEEDS TO ISSUE A NATIONAL RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE.

FUEL RAIL ON 2002 WRX IS LEAKING HEAVILY ON THE ENGINE. THIS IS A HIGH FIRE HAZARD AS WELL AS NOXIOUS FOR PASSENGERS IN THE CAR AS IT SMELLS HEAVILY OF FUEL. SINCE I LIVE IN WASHINGTON STATE SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS NOT HONORED THE RECALL THEY'VE PUT IN OTHER STATES FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. SUBARU HAS DENIED WARRANTY REPAIR DUE TO THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRING FOR THIS ISSUE IN 2013. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR AND HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR EVERY OTHER RECALL ISSUE THAT I'VE BEEN NOTIFIED OF. THIS IS RECKLESS AND DANGEROUS. THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP HAS SAID THEY DON'T THINK IT IS CORRECT TO CHARGE ME FOR LABOR AND PARTS THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BY SUBARU AND HAVE DIRECTED ME TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP ASKED ME TO GET AUTHORIZATION FROM SUBARU, WHICH WAS DENIED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. IT IS A BONE STOCK CAR WITH NO AFTERMARKETS PARTS OR ENHANCEMENTS.

CONTROL ARMS WERE RECALLED IN 2011 FOR RUST ISSUES AND FAILURE ON THE HANGER BRACKETS. GOT THE PARTS CHECKED AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL BY A CERTIFIED SUBARU DEALERSHIP, THE DEALERSHIP SPRAYED A "RUST PROOFING" AGENT ON THE CONTROL ARMS. THREE YEARS LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY ROAD AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY. THE DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKEN AT THE HANGER BRACKET. SUBARU OF AMERICA WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIRS AS THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED ALREADY (EVEN THROUGH IT DID NOT PREVENT THE ISSUES FROM HAPPENING). *JS

WORKING NIGHT SHIFTS, STARTED MY CAR TO LET WARM UP, TEMPERATURE WAS 43 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AT THE TIME. AFTER START UP I COULD SMELL RAW FUEL OUT SIDE THE CAR AS WELL AS INSIDE THE CAR THROUGH THE VENTS. ALSO GAS MILEAGE HAS GONE DOWN BY DRASTICALLY, NORMALLY GET 300-330 MILES A TANK AND CURRENTLY GETTING BARLEY 200. NOTICED CAR STARTING TO SMOKE A LITTLE AS WELL FROM UNDER THE HOOD, NO FIRE BUT NOT GOING TO KEEP DRIVING THE CAR. *TR

WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE MY CAR SMELLS LIKE RAW FUEL VERY STRONGLY IN THE CABIN RESULTING IN HEADACHES AND DIZZINESS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG-ST THESE CARS AND SUBARU KNOWS ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY HAD AN EXTENDED RECALL BUT DOES NOT COVER THE PROBLEM NOW. *TR

SMELL OF FUEL FROM WITHIN THE CAR DURING COLD TEMPERATURES. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE PER TSB 01-170-09. DEALERSHIP MAY DENY REPAIRS IF THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. EMAIL FROM SUBARU REGARDING THIS PROBLEM: WE WELCOME YOUR CONTACT, AS IT RELATES TO THE WVK-21 FUEL LINE WARRANTY EXTENSION. YOUR 2002 SUBARU WRX IS AFFECTED BY THE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THESE COMPONENTS. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NEED TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSIS OF THE CURRENT CONCERN. THEY CAN THEN ADVISE YOU REGARDING THE ISSUE AND WHETHER IT IS THE SAME AS THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT A SUBARU DEALERSHIP, AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. *TR

REFERENCE: RECALL NO. 11V-464, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO. 11V464000 THE CORROSION DISCOVERED IN MY SUBARU 2002 WRX IS FAR MORE EXTENSIVE THAN THAT COVERED BY THE RECALL RESULTING IN CITYSIDE SUBARU DEALERSHIP (1-761-641-1900) IDENTIFYING THE VEHICLE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THEIR ASSESSMENT OF THE DANGEROUS RUSTING, ROTTING AND NECESSARY REPAIRS IS QUOTED HERE (I CAN PROVIDE A FACSIMILE OF THEIR ASSESSMENT UPON YOUR REQUEST). THERE IS EXTENSIVE RUSTING AND ROTTING AS WELL AS PARTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BROKEN. THE FOLLOWING IS QUOTED FROM THE CITYSIDE SUBARU DEALERSHIP INVOICE NUMBER[XXX]' TECHNICIAN STATES: VEHICLE HAS FAILED RECALL INSPECTION OF FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS DUE TO RUSTING. SUBFRAME IS ALSO ROTTED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDS: ADDITIONALLY UPON REPLACEMENT OF CONTROL ARMS AND SUBFRAME BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SWAYBAR LINKS ARE BROKEN $295 FRONT KNUCKLES, WHEEL BEARINGS AND INNER AND OUTER TIE ROD ENDS ARE ROTTED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED $2340 BOTH FRONT STRUTS ROTTED AND MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO BE DETACHED AND PUT BACK TOGETHER PROPERLY $509 EACH AS REQUIRED REPLACE ROTTED LEAKING OIL PAN $416 VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE' I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY THAT THE EXTENSIVE CORROSION AND ALREADY FAILED PARTS IN AN OTHERWISE VERY CLEAN, LOW MILEAGE CAR HAVE NOT LED TO AN ACCIDENT AND SUGGEST THAT THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE BROADER IN SCOPE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THERE IS A CONSTANT RAW FUEL SMELL WHEN DRIVING, TO THE POINT OF MAKING ME FEEL SICK, CANT EVEN DRIVE MY CAR WITHOUT ALL THE WINDOWS DOWN, IVE REASURCHED THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER MODELS USING THE SAME ENGINE & COMPONINTS THAT ARE ON THE RECALL LIST, BUT I CAN NOT GET ANY HELP FROM ANYONE AT SUBARU, EVEN WITH EXPLAINING ITS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS ITHER THE FORESTER OR OUTBACK... OF A RAW FUEL SMELL FROM A FULTY GAS LINE UNDER THE MANIFOLD,,, NOT COOL THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO COMPROMISE MY SAFETY TO AVOID DOING THE FIX, OR ADDMITING THE DEFECT AFFECTS THE 2002 WRX

I WORK AS A VALET ATTENDANT. I HAVE PARKED A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES. I HAD TO PARK THIS VEHICLE IN A PARKING SPOT. TO PARK IN THIS SPOT I HAD TO MAKE A RIGHT TO LINE UP FOR THE SPOT. THE CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY. I HAD ALL MY WEIGHT ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID SLAMMING INTO A WALL,I TURNED HARD RIGHT AND CRASHED THE CAR AGAINST THE CORNER OF A CONCRETE COLUMN. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED DURING THE ACCIDENT, THEN I HEARD A PURGE AND MULTIPLE CLICKING NOISES. THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE CAR AT ALL. THE BREAKS FELT ROCK HARD BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. AGAIN"THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THIS CAR FROM CRASHING" I SUFFERED A SEVERELY FRACTURED HIP SOCKET INJURY. THIS ACCIDENT LEAVES ME WITH THE LIKELY HOOD OF NEEDING HIP REPLACEMENT DUE TO HIP ARTHRITIS. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE AIRBAG I WOULD HAVE SUFFERED SEVERE HEAD AND CHEST INJURY. I ALSO NO LONGER WORK AS A PARKING ATTENDANT, AND HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING A JOB. I AM NOT A TEENAGER JOYRIDING . I AM AN ADULT, PARKING CARS FOR A LIVING. I HAVE DRIVEN HIGH END VEHICLES WITH WAY MORE POWER, BUT HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY THING LIKE THIS. NOW I HAVE DIFFICULTY DRIVING, AND I AFRAID TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL. I AM A MALE DRIVER WITH 20+ YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE, BUT I AM LOOKED AT AS A RECKLESS DRIVER FOR WRECKING THIS CAR. *TR

SUBFRAME NEAR PASSENGER/RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM IS RUSTED THROUGH AND HAS HOLES. SUBARU OF CHERRY HILL, NJ STATED THAT IT SHOULD BE REPLACED AND WAS AT SIGNIFICANT RISK OF BREAKING WHEN REMOVED FOR CONTROL ARM RECALL (WVX34).DEALERSHIP SAID THE CASE WITH PICTURES WAS REPORTED TO SUBARU HEADQUARTERS AND DEALERSHIP STATED IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE SEEN IT. I DISCOVERED MANY OTHER CASES REPORTED DATING BACK AS FAR AS MAY 2009. DOCUMENTED WITH PICTURES OF MY OWN. *TR

DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON I-55 FOR MORNING COMMUTE IN THE LEFTMOST LANE WHEN WITH NO DISCERNIBLE CAUSE THE CAR BEGAN TO DRIFT BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE CENTER LANE AND LEFT LANE. THE CAR MINIMALLY RESPONDED TO ANY STEERING INPUTS. I HAD TO CRANK THE WHEEL ALMOST A TURN AND A HALF TO GET MY CAR OVER TO THE SHOULDER. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO CARS NEAR ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED SO I DID NOT STRIKE ANY VEHICLES. I GOT THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP AND THE SERVICE PERSON QUICKLY GLANCED AROUND UNDERNEATH IT AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE CONTROL ARM HAD RUSTED THROUGH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I CAME BACK LATER THAT DAY AND THEY SHOWED ME THE CAR ON THE LIFT WHERE BOTH CONTROL ARMS WERE THOROUGHLY RUSTED AS WELL AS THE SUBFRAME. I PAID TO GET THE ONE REPAIRED BUT STILL DON'T DRIVE THE CAR AS I DON'T FEEL SAFE UNTIL THE OTHER IS TAKEN CARE OF AS WELL. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON OUR 2002 SUBARU WRX WAGON SNAPPED RENDERING THE CAR INOPERABLE. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO A MECHANIC. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR YOU COULD SEE THE ARM WAS RUSTED THROUGH. ONCE THE CAR WAS LOADED ON THE ROLLBACK THERE WAS A VISIBLE PILE OF RUST ON THE PAVEMENT. *TT

LOWER CONTROL ARM FOR MY 2002 SUBRAU WRX RUSTED COMPLETELY AND BROKE, WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE SWAY BAR TO BE RIPPED OFF. THANKFULLY IT ONLY HAPPENED PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. *KB

STRONG ODOR OF FUEL AND/OR BURNT OIL INSIDE THE VEHICLE REPEATEDLY. I CONTACTED SUBARU LONG AGO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHEN I GOT A RECALL NOTICE FROM SUBARU NATIONAL SAYING MY CAR "MAY" BE PART OF THIS RECALL. I TOOK THE CAR TO A SUBARU DEALER. THEY SAID UNLESS THEY CAN EITHER SMELL FUEL OR FIND THE PROBLEM THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. SUBARU NATIONAL SAID THE SAME THING "UNLESS WE CAN SMELL FUEL ODOR" WE WILL NOT PAY FOR INSPECTING AND FIXING YOUR VEHICLE. *TR

FUEL ODOR INTERIOR OF VEHICLE. FILE COMPLAINT UNDER ODI NUMBER 10380798 NEED TO CORRECT MILEAGE TO 107,310 DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING WHEN I FILED COMPLAINT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU WRX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE ABS ACTIVATED. HE WAS UNABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A RAPID STOP. HE STATED THAT IT WAS LUCK THAT THE VEHICLE IN-FRONT TURNED LEFT; AND HE WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR, BECAUSE THE ABS FAILURE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 02/09/11*LJ UPDATED 02/28/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU WRX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V468000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER STATED TO THE CONTACT PART THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND WOULD BE AVAILABLE WITHIN THREE DAYS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WAS A YEAR AGO. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE THE PART. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO SEARCH FOR PARTS FOR THE VEHICLE BUT THE DEALER STILL DID NOT HAVE THE PART. THE CONTACT PERFORMED SOME REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SMELLED LIKE GASOLINE. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER LOCATION FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS BECOMING UNSAFE SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,599.

I OWN A 02 WRX I LIVE IN ARMIDALE AUSTRALIA. I JUST SPENT A LOT OF MONEY FIXING THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN THE CAR HEATS UP IT CAN BURN OUT THE EXHAUST SENSOR AND CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE TURBO.I NOTICE ONCE THERE WAS NO SENSOR LEFT IT GAVE MY CAR COMPUTER NOTHING TO GO OFF . IN RESULT COSTING ME 3000 DOLLARS TO FIX .WRX DRIVERS TAKE CARE AND PLEASE GET YOUR SENSORS CHECKED TO SEE IF THEY ARE IN ANYWAY FAULTY. *TR

2002 IMPREZA WRX WAGON, LEAKING FUEL LINES LOCATED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IN COLD WEATHER. I HAVE NOTICED GAS FUMES FROM LEAKING FUEL LINES IN THIS VEHICLE WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN 2002. NEVADA IS NOT A STATE LISTED IN THE WVK-21 SUBARU RECALL OF DEC, 2009, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE SAME PROBLEM ON COLD MORNINGS IN NORTHERN NEVADA. *TR

RECENTLY THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURES HAVE HOVERED NEAR OR BELOW ZERO DEGREES F. ON THOSE MORNINGS WHEN IT IS THAT COLD AND I START MY CAR, I SMELL A STRONG RAW FUEL ODOR FOR SEVERAL MINUTES OR UNTIL I HAVE DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES. I INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THE MAIN FUEL LINE TO BE LEAKING RAW FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE WHEN IT IS STARTED IN WEATHER THIS COLD. THERE IS A VOL RECALL BY SUBARU OF AMERICA COVERING THIS (SUBARU RECALL CAMPAIGN WVK-21) ON THIS MODEL BUT IT DOES NOT COVER THE STATE OF MISSOURI WHERE I RESIDE AND HAVE MY CAR REGISTERED. THIS SAME ISSUE COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE SHOULD THE LEAKING RAW FUEL COME INTO CONTACT WITH AN IGNITION SOURCE OR WITH THE NEARBY HOT TURBOCHARGER OR EXHAUST. THERE IS NO REASON WHAT SO EVER THAT THIS RECALL SHOULD BE LIMITED TO THE FEW STATES THAT IT IS SINCE IT IS JUST AS DANGEROUS IN MY STATE AS IN ANY OF THE STATES LISTED ON THE RECALL. BTW, MY CAR WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED AND REGISTERED IN ONE OF THE COVERED STATES...MINNESOTA. THANK YOU. *TR

DURING COLD WEATHER, THE FUEL LINE LEAKS GASOLINE INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE GASOLINE POOLS ON TOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK, AND THE GASOLINE VAPOR IS ALSO PULLED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BY THE CAR'S VENTILATION SYSTEM. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS RISK OF FIRE. *TR

I HAVE THE FUEL LEAK PROBLEM COVERED IN RECALL NUMBER 09V468000 IN MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZZA WRX BUT MY CAR IS REGISTERED IN PENNSYLVANIA AND APPEARS NOT TO BE COVERED. I CAN SMELL GAS AND SEE IT POOL ON THE ENGINE WHEN STARTING MY CAR BELOW ABOUT 30 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON IN PENNSYLVANIA. THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHY AREN'T ALL OF THESE CARS BEING RECALLED? EVEN A CAR REGISTERED IN FLORIDA MAY SPEND A FEW DAYS IN A NORTHERN STATE AND LEAK GASOLINE WHEN STARTED. DO I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MY CAR CATCHES FIRE? *TR

I HAVE THE FUEL LEAK PROBLEM COVERED IN RECALL NUMBER 09V468000 IN MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZZA WRX BUT MY CAR IS REGISTERED IN CALIFORNIA AND APPEARS NOT TO BE COVERED. I CAN SMELL GAS AND SEE IT POOL ON THE ENGINE, ABOVE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD NEAR TURBO COMPONENTS, WHEN STARTING MY CAR AT ABOUT 30 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON IN THE MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS OF CALIFORNIA. THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS IF THE FUEL IGNITES IN THE ENGINE BAY. WHY AREN'T ALL OF THESE CARS BEING RECALLED? THE STATE SELECTION CRITERIA SEEMS ARBITRARY, SINCE ALL STATES EXPERIENCE COLD ENOUGH WEATHER FOR THIS PROBLEM TO PERSIST. DO I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MY CAR CATCHES FIRE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM TAKEN SERIOUSLY? *TR

I HAVE THE FUEL LEAK/ SMELL ISSUE COVERED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V468000, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA09011. I HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS BUT IT APPEARS TO BE WORSE THIS WINTER IN THAT IT HAPPENS AT TEMPERATURES JUST BELOW FREEZING NOW. IN PREVIOUS WINTERS IT WOULD HAVE TO BE BELOW 20 DEGREES BEFORE I WOULD NOTICE THE SMELL OF RAW GASOLINE. I NOTICE THE PROBLEM WHEN STOPPED AND IDLING IN THE COLD WEATHER. IN PARTICULAR WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. MY CAR WAS PURCHASED IN AND REGISTERED IN MASSACHUSETTS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY IT WAS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. MASSACHUSETTS IS FURTHER NORTH THAN CO AND PARTS OF NE, IA AND NY WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TR

FUEL SMELL FOR MY SUBARU WRX 2002 MODEL. *CN

SEVERAL TIMES IN THE WINTERS OF 2008 & 2009 (SO FAR) WHEN FIRST STARTING MY CAR IN VERY COLD WEATHER (ALTHOUGH THE LAST TIME IN DEC. 2009 THE TEMP WAS COOL BUT ABOVE FREEZING) I WOULD GET A STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR AND HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOWS UNTIL THE ENGINE WARMED UP. CHECKING YOUR WEBSITE I FOUND A RECALL DATED DEC. 1, 2009 (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA09011) THAT SEEMS TO DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENS. I CALLED SUBARU AND WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THAT I MUST TAKE IT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND HAVE THEM INSPECT AND REPAIR IT AT MY EXPENSE. THEY WOULD SEND THE RESULTS TO SUBARU WHICH WOULD DETERMINE IF THEY WOULD REIMBURSE ANY PART OF MY EXPENSES. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS A SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION TO WHAT I DEEM A SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUE. *TR

1. WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS ROUGHLY BELOW 45 DEGREES F, AND THE CAR IS "COLD". 2. GASOLINE LEAKS FROM FUEL LINE UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD. IT OCCURS WHEN THE RUBBER HOSE AND THE METAL FUEL PIPE CONTRACT IN COLD CONDITIONS AND BREAK THE SEAL CAUSING GASOLINE TO LEAK. THE LEAK DRIPS FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSES A STRONG ODOR TO PERMEATE THE CABIN THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE SUBARU DEALER HAS QUOTED $150 IN PARTS PLUS LABOR TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER SUBARU TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # 09-36-03. PARTS REQUIRED ARE NEW HOSE AND PIPE PLUS GASKETS FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD AND COOLANT. PARTS WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED BY DEALER. *TR

2002 WRX FUEL SMELL IN CABIN AT COLD TEMPERATURES. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO COMPLAIN BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED OR SOMEONE GETS HURT? WHERE IS THE NHTSA WHEN YOU NEED THEM? THERE ARE RECALLS FOR RELATIVELY MINOR ISSUES. SO, WHERE IS THE RECALL FOR LEAKING FUEL? DEALER DENIES ANY PROBLEM. SEE ALSO NHTSA ITEM NUMBER:10014461, SERVICE BULLETIN #: 11012004, SERVICE BULLETIN 09-36-03 RAW FUEL SMELL IN COLD WEATHER. *TR

2002 WRX FUEL SMELL IN CABIN AT COLD TEMPERATURES. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO COMPLAIN BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED OR SOMEONE GETS HURT? WHERE IS THE NHTSA WHEN YOU NEED THEM? THERE ARE RECALLS FOR RELATIVELY MINOR ISSUES. SO, WHERE IS THE RECALL FOR LEAKING FUEL? DEALER DENIES ANY PROBLEM. SEE ALSO NHTSA ITEM NUMBER:10014461, SERVICE BULLETIN #: 11012004, SERVICE BULLETIN 09-36-03 RAW FUEL SMELL IN COLD WEATHER. *TR

GASOLINE ODOR FILLS THE CABIN ON MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WHEN THE HEATER IS TURNED ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. THE ODOR IS OVERWHELMING AND INTOXICATING! I POPPED THE HOOD OF MY CAR AND SMELLED GAS COMING FROM THE FUEL LINES NEXT TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TR

SMELL OF RAW GAS FROM VENTS WHILE NOT MOVING. CHECKED UNDER THE ENGINE AND FOUND UNDERNEATH THE TURBO INLET HOSE FUEL DRIPPING FROM A HOSE. ALSO FOUND 2 OTHER HOSES THAT MAY BE LEAKING FUEL AS WELL AROUND THE AREA. CAR IS PARKED UNDER STORAGE STATUS UNTIL PARTS CAN BE REPLACED, NOT SURE IF THERE IS A DEALER IN GERMANY. HEARD OF MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON A 2002 WRX WITH THE FUEL LINES LEAKING. *TR

I HAVE A SUBARU 2002 WRX WAGON, FUEL ODOR IN COMPARTMENT WHEN CAR IS COLD, WHEN IT WARMS UP THE ODOR GOES AWAY. THIS IS VERY ANNOYING AND THERE ARE SEVERAL SUBARU FORUMS WITH PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS. PLEASE HELP IN GETTING THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. SUBARU KEEPS SAYS THAT THERE IS NO ISSUE. *TR

I NOTICED A RAW FUEL SMELL WHEN STARTING THE CAR IN THE MORNING. THIS WAS ORIGINALLY JUST AN ISSUE IN COLD WEATHER, BUT THE SMELL HAS PERSISTED AND NOW OCCURS EVEN AFTER NORMAL OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES HERE IN SEATTLE (40-50 DEGREES). I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THREE REASONS: FIRST, THE FUEL IS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK OF THE CAR POSING A FIRE HAZARD. SECOND, THE FUEL SMELL IS A HEALTH HAZARD TO OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. THIRD, DUE TO THE FUEL SMELL, I HAVE BEEN USING MY HEATING SYSTEM ON THE RECIRC SETTING, WHICH IS NOT AS EFFECTIVE AT CLEARING CONDENSATION FROM THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND LESSENS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DEFROSTER, REDUCING MY ABILITY TO SEE OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED YET AS I WANTED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT FIRST. *TR

SEVERAL TIMES (ABOUT ONCE A YEAR ON AVERAGE) SINCE I PURCHASED MY SUBARU WRX IN 2001 THE BRAKES BRIEFLY FAIL. THE DESCRIPTION SEEMS IDENTICAL TO THAT OF THE 2010 PRIUS IN THAT THERE IS NO BRAKING FOR A BRIEF TIME WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, RAILROAD TRACKS OR SIMPLY GOING DOWNHILL ON A WET ROAD. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT I WOULD GUESS HAPPENED IN THE FALL OF 2009 WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL WITH SUDDEN BRAKING REQUIRED ON A WET SURFACE. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP I ALERTED OUR SUBARU DEALER OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY DID "A FIRMWARE UPDATE". I DON'T THINK THIS MADE A DIFFERENCE BUT SINCE IT IS A RARE BUT SCARY OCCURRENCE I REALLY COULD NOT TELL. *TR

DRIVER'S SEATBELT OFTEN FAILS TO RETRACT AT TOP, LEAVING SLACK, WHICH SOMETIMES WRAPS ITSELF AROUND THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT LEVER. WHEN PULLING TO ADJUST BELT, LEVER CAN ABRUPTLY LET GO, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO DRIVER SUDDENLY LOSING SUPPORT OF SEAT. IT'S HAPPENED TO ME A FEW TIMES NOW, ALWAYS WITHOUT INCIDENT, AS I TEND TO GET MY SEATBELT SORTED OUT BEFORE I START DRIVING. *TR

FUEL LEAK AT STARTUP WHEN CAR IS COLD, USUALLY BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. *TR

RAW, UNBURNED FUEL SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE AND INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF VEHICLE DURING WARM-UP IN COLD WEATHER. SMELL DISSIPATES AFTER DRIVING, BUT RETURNS WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED FOR A FEW SECONDS. IT HAPPENS EVERYTIME IT'S VERY COLD OUTSIDE. *TR

THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO SUBARU ISSUED TSB 09-36-03 TITLED: "FUEL SMELL IN COLD WEATHER.". THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO KILL SOMEBODY UNLESS YOU MANDATE A RECALL. I REPORTED THE ISSUE A FEW YEARS AGO AND YOUR INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED IT WAS NOT A SERIOUS PROBLEM. SINCE THEN I'VE DEALT WITH THE FUEL ODOR ON COLD DAYS. THE ODOR NOW OCCURS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 35 F. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, THE TEMPS WERE IN THE TEENS F AND THE ODOR GOT REALLY BAD. AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, WHITE FUMES STARTED POURING OUT OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOOD AND FROM THE SCOOP. THERE IS SO MUCH FUEL LEAKING NOW THAT IT'S BEING VAPORIZED INTO A WHITE SMOKE AND SPEWS OUT OF THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 1 OR 2 MINUTES. I OPENED THE HOOD TO CONFIRM THERE IS NO FIRE, WHICH THERE WAS NOT. BUT THERE WAS AN IMPRESSIVE AMOUNT OF WHITE FUMES WHICH RESEMBLED SMOKE BUT AGAIN, NO FIRE. A FRIEND WHO WAS DRIVING IN ANOTHER CAR, 3 CARS BEHIND ME, REPORTED THAT THE GAS SMELL FROM MY CAR WAS SO BAD THEY HAD TO PULL BACK. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, VAPORIZED FUEL WILL IGNITE AT 536 DEGREES F. IT IS VERY POSSIBLE FOR THE TURBO CHARGER ON THIS CAR TO GET THAT HOT AFTER SOME DRIVING. WITH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FULL OF WHITE GAS FUMES AND THE CABIN FILL OF A POWERFUL RAW GAS SMELL, IT ONLY STANDS TO REASON THAT THIS COULD CATCH FILE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE PASSENGER CABIN. AFTER DOING A SIMPLE SEARCH ON THIS (ODI) WEBSITE FOR BOTH SUBARU WRX, AND SUBARU IMPREZA, LOOKING AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT CATEGORIES (FUEL SYSTEM, FUEL DELIVERY, FUEL RAILS, ECT) I FOUND 286 COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. ON THE NASIOC SITE, THERE ARE 97 PAGES OF PEOPLE LISTING THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH IS ~1800 POSTS (HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=131755&PAGE=97). THE TSB MENTIONED ABOVE MINIMIZES THE ISSUE BY STATING FUEL LEAKS WITH TEMPS UNDER 14 F. IN MY CAR IT HAPPENS UNDER 35 F FOR THE LENGTH OF MY DRIVE. THIS ISSUES IS GOING TO KILL SOMEBODY AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. *TR

OUR 2002 SUBARU WRX 2.0L TURBO HAS DEVELOPED A FUEL LINE LEAK (HIGH PRESSURE SIDE) BELOW THE INTAKE. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALED A SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN 09-36-03 "FUEL SMELL IN COLD WEATHER" WARNING OF THIS ISSUE WITH THE 2002 2.0L ENGINE. THE PROBLEM IS CLEARLY MUCH MORE THAN A FUEL SMELL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS LEAK THAT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE SOMEONE TO BE KILLED IN A FUEL FIRE. THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN FLAW AND A VERY DANGEROUS ONE AT THAT. A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED. I'D BE SURPRISED THERE ISN'T PENDING LITIGATION. *TR

CONSTANT GASOLINE LEAKAGE DURING COLD WEATHER (BELOW TWENTY DEGREES FAHRENHEIT). AFTER DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN FOR FORTY FIVE MINUTES, THE CAR STILL REEKED OF GASOLINE. I PULLED INTO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIPS SERVICE AREA CAUSING THE CAR NEXT TO ME TO MOVE BECAUSE OF THE SMELL - BUT THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THERE IS NO RECALL BUT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT $800 TO FIX, BUT THEY WERE BUSY RIGHT NOW. . . THIS DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT, THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE, AND GASOLINE IS NOT HEALTHY TO BREATH ESPECIALLY FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME! *TR

2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX FUEL LEAKS AT TEMPERATURES UNDER ABOUT 20 DEGREES F FROM RUBBER HOSE CLAMPS TO STEEL PIPES UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD. PROBLEM MATCHES DESCRIPTION OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 09-36-03 AND SHOWN IN EXISTING REPORT EA09011. TRIED TO TIGHTEN CLAMPS BY REMOVING POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. PLANNING TO CONDUCT REPAIR WORK PER SUBARU TECH BULLETIN 09-36-03 BEFORE WINTER. CAR HAS ABOUT 75K MILES. *TR

THE BODY IS DETERIORATING SO FAST. I LAUGH AT THE SUBARU COMMERCIAL WHERE THE PARENTS GIVE THEIR KIDS THE OLD CAR. I WOULD NOT TRUST THE OLD SUBARU TO KEEP MY CHILDREN SAFE. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRAME, AND AM LETTING THE BODY RUST. THE SICKENING SMELL OF FUMES LIKE GAS IN THE WINTER ARE HORRIBLE. WHEN I KEEP THE SUBARU IN THE GARAGE, IT MAKES MY WHOLE HOUSE TOXIC WITH FUMES. SUBARU WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL ON IT, BECAUSE I AM IN OHIO, AND OHIO IS NOT A "COLD-WEATHER" STATE, BUT DO THEY REALIZE WE HAVE TONS OF SNOW AND FRIGID TEMPERATURES IN THE WINTER. I CAN'T STAND BY SUBARU NO LONGER, BUT CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR. WHEN I DO, IT WILL NOT BE A SUBARU.

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

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

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

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

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

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