NHTSA Complaint #11016137 — 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA

UNDER COLD CONDITIONS (40F OR LESS) THE RUBBER FUEL RAILS WILL CONTRACT UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND WILL SLOWLY LEAK GASOLINE CAUSING AN OVERWHELMING SMELL AND POSSIBILITY FOR A FIRE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS BOTH STATIONARY AND UNDER MOTION. THIS PROBLEM WAS ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE YEAR 2009 FOR THE 2002-2003 YEAR MODELS FOR THE SUBARU IMPREZA WRX AND A RECALL WAS ENACTED. HOWEVER, THIS RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE 2004-2005 MODELS EVEN THOUGH THE SAME ENGINE WITH THE SAME FUEL RAILS WERE USED. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AND PREDICTABLE FOR THE 3 WINTERS THAT I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. I HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM OTHERS WITH THE SAME YEAR CAR THAT THEY ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE PICTURES I INCLUDED SHOW THE SCREW THAT CLAMPS THE RUBBER HOSES. THE GAS LEAKS AT THIS CONNECTING POINT BUT IT WAS HARD TO GET A PICTURE OF THE ACTUAL HOSES. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY DIRECTED ME TO BRING THIS UP WITH NHTSA. THANK YOU!