NHTSA Complaint #10288756 — 2002 SUBARU WRX

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