2002 SUBARU WRX Fuel System Gasoline Problems

I'M FILING MY COMPLAINT WITH ALL THE OTHERS ABOUT THE STRONG FUEL SMELL DURING THE COLD MONTHS. I CANNOT BELIEVE OHIO IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I'VE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES TO BE TOLD THAT THE CAR IS OKAY. FRANKLY, THIS PAST COLD WINTER HAS BEEN AWFUL. THE SMELL MAKES IT'S WAY INTO THE HOUSE. IT IS AWFUL. I CANNOT BELIEVE SUBARU DOES NOT BELIEVE OHIO IS COLD AND WILL NOT STAND BY ITS AUTOS. ALSO, WHEN I BROUGHT THE AUTO IN FOR A RECALL ON THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS, THEY ONLY RUSTPROOFED THEM AND NEVER TOLD ME THE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT. THIS WAS AT 125,000 MILES. THIS AUTO HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY CARED FOR. IF THIS CAR IS MEANT TO BE IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER, WHY CAN'T IT STAND UP PAST 125,000 MILES. RIDICULOUS! I HAVE THREE OTHER VEHICLES FROM OTHER BRANDS WITH...

WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE MY CAR SMELLS LIKE RAW FUEL VERY STRONGLY IN THE CABIN RESULTING IN HEADACHES AND DIZZINESS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG-ST THESE CARS AND SUBARU KNOWS ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY HAD AN EXTENDED RECALL BUT DOES NOT COVER THE PROBLEM NOW. *TR

WORKING NIGHT SHIFTS, STARTED MY CAR TO LET WARM UP, TEMPERATURE WAS 43 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AT THE TIME. AFTER START UP I COULD SMELL RAW FUEL OUT SIDE THE CAR AS WELL AS INSIDE THE CAR THROUGH THE VENTS. ALSO GAS MILEAGE HAS GONE DOWN BY DRASTICALLY, NORMALLY GET 300-330 MILES A TANK AND CURRENTLY GETTING BARLEY 200. NOTICED CAR STARTING TO SMOKE A LITTLE AS WELL FROM UNDER THE HOOD, NO FIRE BUT NOT GOING TO KEEP DRIVING THE CAR. *TR

SMELL OF FUEL FROM WITHIN THE CAR DURING COLD TEMPERATURES. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE PER TSB 01-170-09. DEALERSHIP MAY DENY REPAIRS IF THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. EMAIL FROM SUBARU REGARDING THIS PROBLEM: WE WELCOME YOUR CONTACT, AS IT RELATES TO THE WVK-21 FUEL LINE WARRANTY EXTENSION. YOUR 2002 SUBARU WRX IS AFFECTED BY THE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THESE COMPONENTS. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NEED TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSIS OF THE CURRENT CONCERN. THEY CAN THEN ADVISE YOU REGARDING THE ISSUE AND WHETHER IT IS THE SAME AS THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT A SUBARU DEALERSHIP, AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. *TR

STRONG ODOR OF FUEL AND/OR BURNT OIL INSIDE THE VEHICLE REPEATEDLY. I CONTACTED SUBARU LONG AGO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHEN I GOT A RECALL NOTICE FROM SUBARU NATIONAL SAYING MY CAR "MAY" BE PART OF THIS RECALL. I TOOK THE CAR TO A SUBARU DEALER. THEY SAID UNLESS THEY CAN EITHER SMELL FUEL OR FIND THE PROBLEM THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. SUBARU NATIONAL SAID THE SAME THING "UNLESS WE CAN SMELL FUEL ODOR" WE WILL NOT PAY FOR INSPECTING AND FIXING YOUR VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU WRX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V468000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER STATED TO THE CONTACT PART THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND WOULD BE AVAILABLE WITHIN THREE DAYS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WAS A YEAR AGO. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE THE PART. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO SEARCH FOR PARTS FOR THE VEHICLE BUT THE DEALER STILL DID NOT HAVE THE PART. THE CONTACT PERFORMED SOME REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SMELLED LIKE GASOLINE. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER LOCATION FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS BECOMING UNSAFE SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE SMELL OF...

FUEL ODOR INTERIOR OF VEHICLE. FILE COMPLAINT UNDER ODI NUMBER 10380798 NEED TO CORRECT MILEAGE TO 107,310 DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING WHEN I FILED COMPLAINT. *TR

SEVERAL TIMES IN THE WINTERS OF 2008 & 2009 (SO FAR) WHEN FIRST STARTING MY CAR IN VERY COLD WEATHER (ALTHOUGH THE LAST TIME IN DEC. 2009 THE TEMP WAS COOL BUT ABOVE FREEZING) I WOULD GET A STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR AND HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOWS UNTIL THE ENGINE WARMED UP. CHECKING YOUR WEBSITE I FOUND A RECALL DATED DEC. 1, 2009 (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA09011) THAT SEEMS TO DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENS. I CALLED SUBARU AND WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THAT I MUST TAKE IT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND HAVE THEM INSPECT AND REPAIR IT AT MY EXPENSE. THEY WOULD SEND THE RESULTS TO SUBARU WHICH WOULD DETERMINE IF THEY WOULD REIMBURSE ANY PART OF MY EXPENSES. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS A SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION TO WHAT I DEEM A SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUE. *TR

DURING COLD WEATHER, THE FUEL LINE LEAKS GASOLINE INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE GASOLINE POOLS ON TOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK, AND THE GASOLINE VAPOR IS ALSO PULLED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BY THE CAR'S VENTILATION SYSTEM. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS RISK OF FIRE. *TR

FUEL SMELL FOR MY SUBARU WRX 2002 MODEL. *CN

2002 IMPREZA WRX WAGON, LEAKING FUEL LINES LOCATED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IN COLD WEATHER. I HAVE NOTICED GAS FUMES FROM LEAKING FUEL LINES IN THIS VEHICLE WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN 2002. NEVADA IS NOT A STATE LISTED IN THE WVK-21 SUBARU RECALL OF DEC, 2009, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE SAME PROBLEM ON COLD MORNINGS IN NORTHERN NEVADA. *TR

RECENTLY THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURES HAVE HOVERED NEAR OR BELOW ZERO DEGREES F. ON THOSE MORNINGS WHEN IT IS THAT COLD AND I START MY CAR, I SMELL A STRONG RAW FUEL ODOR FOR SEVERAL MINUTES OR UNTIL I HAVE DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES. I INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THE MAIN FUEL LINE TO BE LEAKING RAW FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE WHEN IT IS STARTED IN WEATHER THIS COLD. THERE IS A VOL RECALL BY SUBARU OF AMERICA COVERING THIS (SUBARU RECALL CAMPAIGN WVK-21) ON THIS MODEL BUT IT DOES NOT COVER THE STATE OF MISSOURI WHERE I RESIDE AND HAVE MY CAR REGISTERED. THIS SAME ISSUE COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE SHOULD THE LEAKING RAW FUEL COME INTO CONTACT WITH AN IGNITION SOURCE OR WITH THE NEARBY HOT TURBOCHARGER OR EXHAUST. THERE IS NO REASON WHAT SO EVER THAT THIS RECALL SHOULD BE LIMITED TO THE FEW STATES THAT IT...

1. WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS ROUGHLY BELOW 45 DEGREES F, AND THE CAR IS "COLD". 2. GASOLINE LEAKS FROM FUEL LINE UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD. IT OCCURS WHEN THE RUBBER HOSE AND THE METAL FUEL PIPE CONTRACT IN COLD CONDITIONS AND BREAK THE SEAL CAUSING GASOLINE TO LEAK. THE LEAK DRIPS FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSES A STRONG ODOR TO PERMEATE THE CABIN THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE SUBARU DEALER HAS QUOTED $150 IN PARTS PLUS LABOR TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER SUBARU TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # 09-36-03. PARTS REQUIRED ARE NEW HOSE AND PIPE PLUS GASKETS FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD AND COOLANT. PARTS WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED BY DEALER. *TR

2002 WRX FUEL SMELL IN CABIN AT COLD TEMPERATURES. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO COMPLAIN BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED OR SOMEONE GETS HURT? WHERE IS THE NHTSA WHEN YOU NEED THEM? THERE ARE RECALLS FOR RELATIVELY MINOR ISSUES. SO, WHERE IS THE RECALL FOR LEAKING FUEL? DEALER DENIES ANY PROBLEM. SEE ALSO NHTSA ITEM NUMBER:10014461, SERVICE BULLETIN #: 11012004, SERVICE BULLETIN 09-36-03 RAW FUEL SMELL IN COLD WEATHER. *TR

I HAVE A SUBARU 2002 WRX WAGON, FUEL ODOR IN COMPARTMENT WHEN CAR IS COLD, WHEN IT WARMS UP THE ODOR GOES AWAY. THIS IS VERY ANNOYING AND THERE ARE SEVERAL SUBARU FORUMS WITH PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS. PLEASE HELP IN GETTING THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. SUBARU KEEPS SAYS THAT THERE IS NO ISSUE. *TR

2002 WRX FUEL SMELL IN CABIN AT COLD TEMPERATURES. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO COMPLAIN BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED OR SOMEONE GETS HURT? WHERE IS THE NHTSA WHEN YOU NEED THEM? THERE ARE RECALLS FOR RELATIVELY MINOR ISSUES. SO, WHERE IS THE RECALL FOR LEAKING FUEL? DEALER DENIES ANY PROBLEM. SEE ALSO NHTSA ITEM NUMBER:10014461, SERVICE BULLETIN #: 11012004, SERVICE BULLETIN 09-36-03 RAW FUEL SMELL IN COLD WEATHER. *TR

SMELL OF RAW GAS FROM VENTS WHILE NOT MOVING. CHECKED UNDER THE ENGINE AND FOUND UNDERNEATH THE TURBO INLET HOSE FUEL DRIPPING FROM A HOSE. ALSO FOUND 2 OTHER HOSES THAT MAY BE LEAKING FUEL AS WELL AROUND THE AREA. CAR IS PARKED UNDER STORAGE STATUS UNTIL PARTS CAN BE REPLACED, NOT SURE IF THERE IS A DEALER IN GERMANY. HEARD OF MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON A 2002 WRX WITH THE FUEL LINES LEAKING. *TR

GASOLINE ODOR FILLS THE CABIN ON MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WHEN THE HEATER IS TURNED ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. THE ODOR IS OVERWHELMING AND INTOXICATING! I POPPED THE HOOD OF MY CAR AND SMELLED GAS COMING FROM THE FUEL LINES NEXT TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TR

FUEL LEAK AT STARTUP WHEN CAR IS COLD, USUALLY BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. *TR

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

2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX FUEL LEAKS AT TEMPERATURES UNDER ABOUT 20 DEGREES F FROM RUBBER HOSE CLAMPS TO STEEL PIPES UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD. PROBLEM MATCHES DESCRIPTION OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 09-36-03 AND SHOWN IN EXISTING REPORT EA09011. TRIED TO TIGHTEN CLAMPS BY REMOVING POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. PLANNING TO CONDUCT REPAIR WORK PER SUBARU TECH BULLETIN 09-36-03 BEFORE WINTER. CAR HAS ABOUT 75K MILES. *TR

IN FEB OF 2006 I BEGAN SMELLING A SLIGHT FUEL ODOR IN MY 2002 SUBARU WRX. A FEW DAYS AFTER I NOTICED THIS I CAME HOME AND WAS GOING TO TRY AND FIND THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL, IT HAD SLIGHTLY WORSENED OVER THOSE DAYS. I PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY, OPENED THE HOOD AND LOOKED AROUND THE ENGINE FOR A MINUTE, I THEN WENT INTO MY GARAGE TO GET SOME TOOLS AND A LIGHT. WHILE IN THE GARAGE I HEARD A "WHOOSH" AND WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE WHAT MADE THE NOISE. WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE MY CAR WAS ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I THEN CALLED 911. WHEN THEY FIRE DEPT ARRIVED I INFORMED THEM THAT I HAD AMMUNITION IN THE CAR, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT TO PUT IT OUT UNTIL THE AMMO BURNED OFF. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE FIRE HAD REACHED THE REAR...

I DRIVE A 2002 SUBARU WRX IMPREZA, AND IT HAS A GAS LEAK THAT I CAN SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN WHEN ITS COLD OUTSIDE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I FOUND THAT A LOT OF THE SAME MODEL CARS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE THE HARDLINES ON THE ENGINE SHRINK ALLOWING THE SOFTLINES TO SQUIRT GAS ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. SUBARU ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM BUT CLAIMS ITS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND WON'T FIX IT. I FEEL ITS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT I'M BREATHING IN GAS, AND CAUSE ANY TYPE OF SPARK UNDER THE HOOD OF MY CAR COULD LEAD TO AN EXPLOSION WHEN IM DRIVING. *TR

SINCE OWNING MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX, ON OCCASIONS WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD AND VEHICLE HEATING IS ACTIVATED, OVERPOWERING FUEL ODORS ARE CONSISTENTLY PRESENT IN THE CABIN AREA. THE ODOR IS PRONOUNCED AND PERSISTENT AND DOES NOT "BURN OFF" EVENTUALLY. UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, IT IS NOT TOLERABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT OPENING THE CAR'S WINDOWS TO HELP DIFFUSE THEM. NOT DOING SO WILL GIVE OCCUPANTS SYMPTOMS COMMON TO EXPOSURE TO HEAVY DOSES OF FUELS VAPORTS IN AN ENCLOSED AREA: NAMELY HEADACHES AND NAUSEA. THE ISSUE APPEARS TO BE WELL KNOWN WITHIN THE WRX COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY WITH THE 2002 MODEL OWNERS AND NHTSA IS AWARE OF SUBARU OF AMERICA'S (SOA) TSB CONCERNING THE PROBLEM. AS I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, WHICH SEEMS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ISSUE, DOES NOT USUALLY OCCUR FOR EXTENSIVE PERIODS OF TIME, I HAD NOT PURSUED THE ISSUE FOR RESOLUTION...

RAW, UNBURNED FUEL SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE AND INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF VEHICLE DURING WARM-UP IN COLD WEATHER. SMELL DISSIPATES AFTER DRIVING, BUT RETURNS WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED FOR A FEW SECONDS. IT HAPPENS EVERYTIME IT'S VERY COLD OUTSIDE. *TR

CONSTANT GASOLINE LEAKAGE DURING COLD WEATHER (BELOW TWENTY DEGREES FAHRENHEIT). AFTER DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN FOR FORTY FIVE MINUTES, THE CAR STILL REEKED OF GASOLINE. I PULLED INTO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIPS SERVICE AREA CAUSING THE CAR NEXT TO ME TO MOVE BECAUSE OF THE SMELL - BUT THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THERE IS NO RECALL BUT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT $800 TO FIX, BUT THEY WERE BUSY RIGHT NOW. . . THIS DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT, THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE, AND GASOLINE IS NOT HEALTHY TO BREATH ESPECIALLY FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME! *TR

THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO SUBARU ISSUED TSB 09-36-03 TITLED: "FUEL SMELL IN COLD WEATHER.". THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO KILL SOMEBODY UNLESS YOU MANDATE A RECALL. I REPORTED THE ISSUE A FEW YEARS AGO AND YOUR INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED IT WAS NOT A SERIOUS PROBLEM. SINCE THEN I'VE DEALT WITH THE FUEL ODOR ON COLD DAYS. THE ODOR NOW OCCURS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 35 F. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, THE TEMPS WERE IN THE TEENS F AND THE ODOR GOT REALLY BAD. AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, WHITE FUMES STARTED POURING OUT OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOOD AND FROM THE SCOOP. THERE IS SO MUCH FUEL LEAKING NOW THAT IT'S BEING VAPORIZED INTO A WHITE SMOKE AND SPEWS OUT OF THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 1 OR 2 MINUTES. I OPENED THE HOOD TO CONFIRM THERE IS NO FIRE, WHICH THERE WAS NOT. BUT THERE...

OUR 2002 SUBARU WRX 2.0L TURBO HAS DEVELOPED A FUEL LINE LEAK (HIGH PRESSURE SIDE) BELOW THE INTAKE. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALED A SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN 09-36-03 "FUEL SMELL IN COLD WEATHER" WARNING OF THIS ISSUE WITH THE 2002 2.0L ENGINE. THE PROBLEM IS CLEARLY MUCH MORE THAN A FUEL SMELL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS LEAK THAT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE SOMEONE TO BE KILLED IN A FUEL FIRE. THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN FLAW AND A VERY DANGEROUS ONE AT THAT. A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED. I'D BE SURPRISED THERE ISN'T PENDING LITIGATION. *TR

PROBLEM MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WAGON WITH VIN CURRENTLY HAS 89,000 MILES. I STARTED GETTING A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL THROUGH THE VENTS IN NOVEMBER WHEN THE TEMPERATURE STARTED COMING DOWN. LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD, I FOUND NO APPARENT LEAKS BUT THE SMELL WAS STRONG. LOOKING ONLINE FOR SOLUTIONS, I CAME ACROSS NUMEROUS FORUMS ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. MOST NOTABLY THIS ONE: HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=138069&HIGHLIGHT=FUEL+SMELL. I ALSO FOUND SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN 09-36-03 DATED 04/01/03. SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN 09-36-03 THIS BULLETIN STATES: SOME 2002 MODEL IMPREZA WRX (2.0L TURBO) MAY EXPERIENCE A FUEL SMELL IN COLD WEATHER (TEMPERATURE <14 DEGREES F) FROM THE RUBBER HOSE CONNECTOR, LOCATED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, BETWEEN TWO DIRECT FUEL-FEED METAL LINES TO THE INJECTORS. THE CHANGING OF THE PIPE AND HOSE SIZE WAS ADOPTED, STARTING WITH ENGINE NUMBER 673467 TO BETTER ALIGN THE TWO FUEL LINES. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY SHORTENING THE FUEL PIPE AND LENGTHENING THE...

THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF MY 2002 SUBARU WRX SMELLS LIKE RAW GASOLINE WHEN I START THE CAR IN COLD TEMPERATURES. I HAVE READ STORIES OF OTHER WRX OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, AND IT IS A LEAKY FUEL LINE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I AM CONCERNED THAT ONE OF THESE TIMES, THE FUEL IS GOING TO CATCH FIRE AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU WRX. IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT SMELLS RAW FUEL WITHIN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE METAL FUEL LINES THAT RUN UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE LEAKING GASOLINE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED FOR THE REPAIR. THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WOULD BE $460. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

FUEL LEAK IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT VERY LOW AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURES I LOCATED THE LEAK AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. THE DAY I TOOK THE CAR THERE AIR TEMPS WERE 20 DEGREES WARMER AND I DID NOT EXPERIENCE A LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A LEAK I TOLD THEM THE LEAK OCCURS AT VERY LOW TEMPERATURES ONLY AND TOLD THEM THE LOCATION OF THE LEAK ALSO I GAVE THEM A COPY OF A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN PERTAINING TO THIS VERY PROBLEM. THEY SENT ME ON MY WAY SAYING IT SEEMS TO BE FINE EVEN WITH MY EXPLANATION. THAT NIGHT TEMPERATURES DROPPED AND THE FUEL LEAK RETURNED IT SEEMS THAT THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE IT THEMSELVES. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THE CAR FOR FEAR OF A FIRE IT LEAKS LARGE AMOUNTS...

ON VERY COLD DAYS I HAVE A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN THE CAR WITH THE HEAT ON. IT IS SO STRONG I GET DIZZY AND NAUSEOUS AND HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN AND SHUT THE HEAT OFF. I HAVE A 6 WEEK OLD BABY IN THE CAR WHO'S DAYCARE PROVIDER COMPLAINS ABOUT HER CLOTHES AND CAR SEAT SMELLING LIKE GAS. I HAVE TRACKED DOWN THE PROBLEM AND ATTRIBUTED IT TO A KNOWN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 09-36-03. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS ISN'T A RECALL? RAW FUEL VAPOR IS EXPLOSIVE AND A CARCINOGEN. AS IT IS NOW, I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR ON COLD DAYS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

USUALLY IN THE MORNING WHEN I TURN ON THE CAR, AS SOON AS I WOULD DRIVE OFF TO WORK I WOULD CATCH A THE SMELL OF RAW GAS INSIDE MY CAR! AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST FROM THE OUTSIDE THAT MADE ITS WAY THROUGH MY CABIN BUT IT KEPT HAPPENING FOR DAYS. YESTERDAY [12-17-08] WAS THE WORST! ITS BEEN COLD THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS & RAINING HARD. TO REMOVE THE FOG ON MY WINDSHIELD I HAD TO TURN ON THE FAN AND THAT'S WHEN THE RAW FUEL SMELL MAGNIFIED! I COULD NOT STAND IT & NEITHER COULD MY PASSENGERS. WE HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOWS TO AIR OUT THE CAR.*TR

CAR PRODUCES A STRONG FUEL INSIDE THE CABIN ON COLD MORNINGS. FUEL IS VISIBLE ON THE ENGINE BLOCK WHERE THE FUEL LINE IS LEAKING. *TR

1) WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, AND WHEN THE TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW 40 DEGREES, A STRONG PUNGENT SMELL OF GASOLINE IS APPARENT IN THE CABIN. 2) THE FAILURE IS THE FUEL LINES IN THE VEHICLE AND HOSES ARE IMPROPERLY DESIGNED, CAUSING A SHRINKING OF THE SIZE OF THE HOSES. THIS PROBLEM IS A TSB AND KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURE, BUT THIS SHOULD NOT BE A TSB , BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD NOT JUST FOR MILEAGE REASONS BUT FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH PROBLEMS 3) NOTHING WAS DONE, CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY RE NOT HONORING THIS WARRANTY. *TR

AFTER STARTING THE CAR ENGINE ON COLD MORNINGS (APPROX 32 DEGREES AND BELOW), STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL ENTERS THE CABIN THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR EVERY WINTER SINCE I PURCHASED IT PRE-OWNED 4 YEARS AGO. TSB #09-36-03 HAS BEEN ISSUED REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, BUT I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE A RECALL INSTEAD BECAUSE OF THE HIGH RISK TO ONES HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND FOR PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO PURCHASED THE CAR USED AFTER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL PARTS USED DURING MANUFACTURING AND THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONSUMER. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX SPORT WAGON, VIN# . I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THERE IS A RECURRING HEAVY FUEL VAPOR PRESENCE IN THE VEHICLE CABIN AND ALSO NOTICEABLE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY AFTER HAVING DRIVEN AND PARKED IN A CLOSED GARAGE. THIS CONDITION OCCURS ONLY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS APPROXIMATELY 40 F OR LOWER, AND CAN PERSIST FOR OVER 30 MINUTES (DURING THE COURSE OF MY TYPICAL COMMUTE). THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE OVER SEVEN YEARS AGO. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE NHTSA HAS OPENED AND CLOSED AN INVESTIGATIVE ACTION # PE04002, WITHOUT SUBSEQUENT ACTION DIRECTED FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO ISSUE A RECALL. PERHAPS THIS FALLS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE EPA, OSHA OR THE CONSUMER PRODUCTS SAFETY COMMISSION AS A SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH SITUATION, AND THEREFORE DOES NOT TRIGGER ACTION UNDER NHTSA, HOWEVER I STRONGLY URGE RE-EVALUATION OF THIS SITUATION GIVEN...

RAW GASOLINE ODOUR IN THE CABIN DURING THE FIRST 5 MINUTES OF STARTING THE CAR IN COLD WEATHER. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 SUBARU WRX SEDAN THAT IS AFFECTED BY TSB 09-36-03 FUEL LEAK I HAVE EXPERIENCED HEADACHES, DIZZINESS AND NAUSEA FROM THE FUMES ENTERING THE CABIN AS WELL AS DECREASED FUEL MILEAGE AND FEAR THAT MY CAR COULD CATCH FIRE AT ANY TIME I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT AND DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER MODE OF TRANSPORTATION TODAY I FOUND AT LEAST A COUPLE OF DOZEN OTHER PEOPLE LIKE ME WITH THIS PROBLEM THE BELIEF THAT THIS ONLY OCCURS IN COLD NORTHERN AREAS IS ABSOLUTELY INACCURATE AS I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IT IS WORSE IN COLDER WEATHER BUT STILL HAPPENS IN WARMER CLIMATES I AM OUTRAGED THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED HOW MANY REPORTS DOES IT TAKE FOR SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT SUBARU IS NOT STANDING BY THEIR CLAIM FOR SAFETY BEING FIRST ARE YOU WAITING FOR...

1. FAULTY FUEL LINES AND CONNECTIONS WHERE UNDER COLD TEMPERATURES, FUEL LEAKS ONTO ENGINE AND FUEL SMELL ENTERS CABIN OF VEHICLE. 2. EVERY TIME THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE DROPS CLOSE TO FREEZING. DIZZINESS OCCURS WHILE SITTING INSIDE VEHICLE TO WHERE THE WINDOWS HAVE TO BE ROLLS DOWN CANCELING THE EFFECTS OF HAVING THE HEATER RUN TO WARM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. LATELY THE SMELL HAS BECOME INTOLERABLE THE MORE PROBLEMATIC. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AS OF CURRENTLY BUT THERE APPEARS TO BE A FIX PER VEHICLE MANUFACTURER BUT AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *TR

SUBARU HAS RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN # 09-36-03 DATE 04-01-03 FUEL SMELL / LEAK WHEN OUTSIDE TEMP GOES BELOW ~14 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. FUEL LEAK IS FROM FUEL LINES SUPPLYING FUEL TO THE PASSENGER SIDE INJECTORS, LEAK IS ON TOP OF ENGINE. I HAVE THIS LEAK BELOW 40DEGREES. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED SUBARU YET BUT THIS IS FOR ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

DURING COLD WEATHER I CAN SMELL GAS FUMES IN MY CABIN AND SEE GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINES IN THE ENGINE. *TR

SEVERE SMELL OF GASONLINE IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN OUTSIDE TEMP IS <40 DEG F. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR. I TOOK IT TO DEALER LAST YEAR AND THEY TOLD ME THEY TIGHTENED UP CLAMPS BUT THAT HAD NO EFFECT. *TR THIS ISNT A RECALL?? OVER 140 COMPLAINTS FO RAW FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE AND NO RECALL?? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE IN A CAR FIRE??

IN COOL OR COLD WEATHER, THERE IS A VERY STRONG ODOR OF RAW FUEL INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ANYONE INSIDE OR NEAR THE CAR IS EXPOSED TO HARMFUL GASOLINE FUMES, THESE VAPORS ARE TOXIC WHEN CONCENTRATED AND MAY CAUSE DIZZINESS AND HALLUCINATIONS IN SMALLER AMOUNTS. THERE IS ALSO CONCERN OF POTENTIAL FIRE DANGER. FUEL ODOR HAS BEEN PRESENT YEAR-ROUND ON MY CAR, AND ALSO ON MANY OTHER 2002 AND 2003 SUBARU IMPREZAS. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE THAT SUBARU NEEDS TO ADDRESS, BUT THEIR POSITION SEEMS TO BE THAT IT IS THE CUSTOMER'S FAULT AND RESPONSIBILITY. THIS REPAIR, TO CORRECT A DESIGN FLAW IN THE SUBARU WRX, WILL COST THE LOYAL CUSTOMER SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. THANKS SUBARU, THANKS A LOT. *TR

EXTREMELY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE CABIN AREA. TO THE POINT WHERE WINDOWS ALL HAVE TO BE ROLLED DOWN, SCARED THAT CAR MAY EXPLODE. NOTICED THAT IT IS WORSE ON COLD DAYS MORESO THAN ON HOT DAYS. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED WHAT LOOKS TO BE GASOLINE STAINS ON OUR DRIVEWAY, WHICH ARE LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA OF WHERE OUR 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX USUALLY PARKS.

DURING THE WINTER, OUR 2002 WRX HAS SMELLED LIKE EXHAUST OR RAW FUEL IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO SURBARU AND WERE TOLD THE RUBBER FUEL LINE SHRINKS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS AND FUEL LEAKS. THEY DID A NOTICE, BUT NOT A RECALL - WHICH MEANS YOU PAY NOT THEM. IT COST $700 IN PARTS & LABOUR ($15 FOR THE PART) - THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAS TO BE REMOVED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I CALLED SUBARU AMERICA DIRECTLY AND WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T SELL ENOUGH CARS IN THE NORTH TO WARRANT THE COST OF DOING A RECALL ON ALL THE SUBARU'S. MAYBE IF ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAIN THEY WILL RETHINK THEIR STRATEGY.

RAW FUEL SMELL COMING FROM ENGINE AREA. *JB

WHEN ITS VERY COLD OUTSIDE VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT .. 2002 SUBARU WRX SEDAN. *JB

CAR WAS OUT SIDE OVER NIGHT, TEMPS DROPPED BELOW 35, RAW FUEL SMELL IN CABIN AND AROUND CAR. *NM