NHTSA Complaint #10558622 — 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK

I BEGAN TO SMELL THE ODOR OF RAW GASOLINE AS THE TEMPERATURES BECAME CONSISTENTLY IN THE SINGLE TO SUB-ZERO RANGE. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY SUBARU DEALER FOR JAN. 3RD. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE FUEL LINES AND CLAMPS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $500 (AFTER AN ~ $300 COMPENSATION). I REBUTTED AND ASKED SOA TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING AS THIS SEEMS LIKE A FUNDAMENTAL ENGINEERING/DESIGN FLAW AND IT IS ALSO THE 2ND TIME THAT I HAVE HAD TO MAKE THIS REPAIR (FIRST TIME WAS WHEN THE CAR HAD ~40,000 TO 50,000 MILES ON IT)- HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE GASKETS AS WELL (PER DEALER). THEY HAVE DECLINED TO COMPENSATE ME FURTHER AND CLAIM THE ISSUE IS AGE RELATED. WHEN I ASKED (SOA) IF THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR NEWER SUBARUS, THEY SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW. I ASKED IF THEY DID NOT KNOW OR COULDN'T SAY AND THE RESPONDED "BOTH". BOTTOM-LINE: FUEL LEAKS, OF THIS NATURE DUE TO POOR DESIGN, SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT NONE-THE-LESS PAY FOR. *TR