NHTSA Complaint #10182844 — 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK

1) UPON COLDER WEATHER STARTING AND DURING THE FIRST 30-40 MINUTES OF OPERATION OUR 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK GETS FUEL VAPORS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. 2) FUEL SMELLS CAUSE USE TO ROLL WINDOWS DOWN TO KEEP BREATHABLE AIR AVAILABLE. FUEL VAPOR IS A CARCINOGEN, OF COURSE. OCCUPANTS COMPLAINED OF NAUSEA AND HEADACHES. 3) TOOK CAR TO PAUL BROS. SUBARU AND THEY TOLD US THIS WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT BUT NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. 4) SUBSEQUENTLY, LEARNED OF HUNDREDS OF LIKE COMPLAINTS AND A SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING LEAKY HOSES DUE TO LOOSE FUEL CLAMPS AND POOLING FUEL ON CREVICES ON THE ENGINE BLOCK. CONSIDERED NOT A "ENGINE/DRIVETRAIN ISSUE IN WARRANTY AND COST TO REPLACE HOSES HAS BEEN CHARGED TO OWNERS AT MORE THAN $600. PERSONS "INJURED" IS HARD TO DETERMINE DUE TO CHRONIC EXPOSURE OF FUMES IS AN UNCLEAR CONNECTION TO A SINGULAR INJURY. THIS SITUATION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY A RECALL AND REPLACEMENT OF HOSES AT SUBARU'S EXPENSE. THE HOSES PERFORMANCE IN COLD WEATHER WAS KNOWN TO SUBARU BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR (IN CANADA THIS IS A FAR LARGER ISSUE BTW). I SHOULD EXPECT HOSES TO PERFORM OVER THE PUBLISHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE OF THE VEHICLE OR IN WHAT EVER REGION SUBARUS ARE SOLD. *JB