NHTSA Complaint #10561868 — 2005 SUBARU FORESTER

ON JANUARY 24TH, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00AM, MY WIFE AND I GOT INSIDE MY SUBARU FORESTER. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED ON THE HEATER, WHEN WE BOTH SMELL A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. WE IMMEDIATELY DECIDED TO TAKE CAR TO THE DEALER, SINCE THE FUMES WHERE SO OVERWHELMING WE DROVE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN. LUCKY FOR US THE DEALER IS A 15 MINUTES RIDE, BUT WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN AND NO HEAT TO MINIMIZE THE SITUATION AND THE WEATHER BELOW 20 DEGREES IS KIND OF HARD. WE FINALLY MADE IT TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD US THAT WHEN THE WEATHER IS BELOW 30 DEGREES THE FUEL LINES SHRINK, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK. I WAS TAKEN BACK TO KNOW THIS KIND OF HAZARD WAS NOT RECALL BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THAT OTHER FOLKS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ON THEIR SUBARU FORESTER. I FURTHER LEARNED THE REPAIRS WERE ESTIMATED AT OVER $1,300.00, BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL THE FUEL LINES IN ORDER TO STOP THE LEAK. IT SEEMS THIS IS ISSUE HAPPEN TO VEHICLES FROM 2000-2003 BASED ON RECALL (SUBARU RECALL NO. WVK-21IT). I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE FATAL. THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION IS A FIRE HAZARD AND DUE TO THE STRONG FUMES THAT CAN OVERWHELM A PERSON TO LOSE CONSCIENCE WHILE DRIVING. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE UNDER THIS CONDITION. I BELIEVED THAT THE COST OF REPAIRS SHOULD BE A BURDEN OF THE MANUFACTURER AND NOT OF THE OWNER PER THE RESOLUTION OF THE MENTIONED EARLIER BY SUBARU'S RECALL. AS IS INDICATIVE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WILL SEEM TO ME THAT THIS IS A SITUATION WORTHY OF AN INVESTIGATION FROM DOT, OR IS IT GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THERE IS A FATALITY, AND WE GO BACK TO SAYING "I TOLD YOU SO". *TR