NHTSA Complaint #10056186 — 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA

MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX HAS A RAW FUEL/GASOLINE SMELL IN THE CABIN WHEN THE VENTS ARE ON OUTSIDE AIR. IT IS MOST NOTICABLE AT STARTUP, OR WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY, BUT RUNNING. I'VE HAD THE PROBLEM SINCE MY FIRST WINTER IN THE AUTOMOBILE (WINTER '01-'02) AND I HAVE BEEN CONSISTANTLY REASSURED (BY 2 DEALERS) THAT IT'S "COMPLETELY NORMAL" TO HAVE THE FUEL SMELL, AND TO KEEP MY VENTS ON RECIRCULATE UNTIL THE CAR IS WARM. I BELIEVE THERE IS A TSB ISSUED BY SOA, HOWEVER I AM OUT OF WARRANTY, AND MANY DEALERS WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE TSB. THE FUEL SMELL IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE A HEADACHE, AND CERTAINLY SMELLS STRONG ENOUGH TO BE HAZARDOUS IN THE BAY OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. THE SMELL ALSO SEEMS DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE TURBO/EXHAUST MANIFOLD SIDE OF THE ENGINE BAY, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY VERY HOT.