NHTSA Complaint #10490702 — 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA

UPON STARTING THE CAR DURING THE COLDER WINTER MONTHS, A RAW FUEL SMELL WILL BEGIN TO FILL THE CABIN IF THE HVAC SYSTEM IS TURNED ON TO VENT FRESH AIR. THIS SMELL IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE LIGHTHEADEDNESS AND THE SENSATION OF NAUSEA. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE PASSENGER SIDE FUEL LINE IS LEAKING FUEL UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU CAN VISIBLY SEE A PUDDLE OF FUEL BOILING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO HARD METAL FUEL LINES RUNNING TO THE FUEL INJECTORS CONNECTED BY A SMALL PIECE OF RUBBER HOSE WITH CLAMPS. HOWEVER THIS HOSE FROM THE FACTORY IS CUT TOO SHORT, SO WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS COLD ENOUGH THE RUBBER LOOSES ITS ELASTIC PROPERTIES AND AS THE METAL LINES VIBRATE / MOVE WITH THE MOTOR, IT LEAKS FUEL OUT OF THE RUBBER HOSE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY SUBARU IN THE TSB #09-36-03. THEY OFFER TO REPLACE THE RUBBER HOSE AND HARD METAL FUEL LINE FOR MODEL YEARS 2002 AND 2003 IMPREZA WRX'S FREE OF CHARGE. HAVING BEEN AN OWNER OF A 2002 IMPREZA WRX BEFORE PURCHASING MY 2004 IMPREZA WRX, I HAD THIS SERVICE PERFORMED AT MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP. I AM DISGUSTED TO FIND OUT THAT THIS COVERAGE DOES NOT APPLY TO THE MODEL YEAR 2004 IMPREZA WRX, WHEN IT FEATURES AN IDENTICAL MOTOR AND DRIVETRAIN TO THE PREVIOUS YEARS (2002, 2003.) THIS MEANS THAT THE FUELING SYSTEM IS IDENTICAL AS WELL, AND THAT THE PREVIOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGED RAW FUEL LEAK IS HAPPENING IN MY CAR AS WELL. THE FACT THAT THE 2004 IMPREZA WRX HAS THE SAME MOTOR. AND SAME FUEL SYSTEM, AND SUBARU OF AMERICA WILL OPENLY DENY COVERAGE TO HAVE THE PARTS REPLACED IS TRULY DISGUSTING IN ITSELF. RAW FUEL LEAKING ON TOP OF A HOT ENGINE BLOCK, AROUND SOURCES OF IGNITION IS THE MOST EXTREME OF SAFETY HAZARDS, AND NOW I OWN A VEHICLE IN WHICH I CANNOT TRANSPORT MY WIFE AND CHILD. I AM TRULY DISAPPOINTED IN SUBARU FOR TURNING A COLD SHOULDER TO THIS. *TR