2002 SUBARU WRX Fuel System Gasoline Problems

I HAVE A 2002 SUBARU WRX SEDAN. WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED, THEY SAID THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK, WHICH IS COMMON A PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL YEAR AND THAT IT WOULD ~$350 TO FIX. I WOULD THINK THAT IF LEAKING FUEL WAS A "COMMON PROBLEM", THEN THERE WOULD BE A RECALL TO GET THIS FIXED. INHALING GAS FUMES AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A CAR FIRE SEEMS MORE OF A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE, MORE THAN JUST A QUICK FIX ITEM. *JB

DURING THE WINTER MONTHS THE CAR BEGINS TO EMIT THE SMELL OF GAS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT - SO MUCH THAT I HAVE TO ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN OR I BEGIN TO GAG. MOST LIKELY THIS IS A FUEL LEAK BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO LOCATE IT. THIS IS ON A 2002 SUBARU WRX SEDAN PURCHASED IN APRIL 2001. *JB

IN REGARDS TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE04002 I HAVE A 2002 SUBARU WRX WITH 34000 MILES AND LIVE IN HOUSTON, TX. I FIRST ENCOUNTERED THE PROBLEM WHEN VISITING MY FAMILY IN FT. WORTH SEVERAL YEARS AGO. IT WAS NOT VERY COLD, BUT THERE WAS SNOW ON THE GROUND. I STARTED THE CAR AND TURNED ON THE HEATER TO LET CAR WARM UP. WHEN I RETURNED ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LATER, I DETECTED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE BEFORE GETTING IN. THE FUMES INSIDE WERE UNBEARABLE AND I HAD TO AIR OUT THE CAR BEFORE DRIVING, BUT THE ORDER PERSISTED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. I LEFT FOR HOUSTON THAT EVENING AND THOUGHT THE FUMES WERE JUST A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE. LAST NIGHT I VISITED A FRIEND FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS. IT RARELY GETS VERY COLD IN HOUSTON, BUT AT 9 P.M. LAST NIGHT WHEN I LEFT THE TEMPERATURE WAS PROBABLY JUST...

WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, THERE IS A STRONG GAS ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN. *AK

WHEN IT GETS REALLY COLD OUT I GET A VERY NOXIOUS SMELL OF RAW GAS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF MY 2002 SUBARU WRX. THE SMELL ALSO FILLS MY GARAGE WHEN I PARK THE CAR. THE FUMES ARE VERY POTENT AND I AM FEARFUL OF A FIRE. FROM WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IT IS DUE TO FUEL LEAKS AT THE FUEL LINES, BUT THEY CAN'T BE REACHED UNLESS YOU REMOVE THE MANIFOLD AND IT IS A $500 JOB. MY VEHICLE HAS 95000 MILES ON IT, BUT I KNOW I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THOUGH THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF THAT. THIS IS A SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUE.*AK

ANY TIME THE TEMPERATURE GOES BELOW FREEZING YOU CAN SMELL RAW GASOLINE IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR. *JB

WHEN WEATHER HAS DROPPED TO 30F OR BELOW, I SMELLED VERY STRONG GASOLINE FUMES IN AND AROUND VEHICLE. SEARCHED NASIOC AND FOUND OTHERS HAD PROBLEM. ALL FOUR CLAMPS HOLDING FUEL LINES ON UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE LOOSE TO THE POINT THAT THEY COULD BE SPUN AROUND. *NM

STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. SMALL LEAK UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS IN THE MID 20S OR BELLOW. STOPS WHEN ENGINE WARMS UP. *NM

I OWN A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A GAS SMELL IN THE CABIN AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE MY CAR WAS ACTING UP BUT I KNOW REALIZE THAT THIS IS A WIDELY RECOGNIZED PROBLEM. I CANNOT DRIVE AROUND WITH MY WINDOWS OPEN IN SUBZERO WEATHER IT IS RIDICULOUS. I REALIZE THAT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A LOOSE FUEL FITTING OR TWO THAT YOU NEED TO REMOVE PARTS TO GET TO. THIS IS EXPENSIVE AND SUBARU NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MISTAKE. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I NEED TO GET IT FIXED BUT I AM A COLLEGE KID THAT PAYS FOR MY OWN SCHOOL AND LIVES ON MY OWN, I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX A FACTORY MALFUNCTION. *NM

FUEL ODOR AND SEEPAGE WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING DURING COLD WEATHER. WARMING UP OF THE ENGINE DOES NOT STOP THE ODOR. WHILE THE ENGINE IS NOT WARMED UP LIQUID FUEL SEEPS OUT. ONCE THE ENGINE WARMS UP FUEL VAPOR SEEPS OUT. THE SEEPAGE OCCURS WHENEVER THE WEATHER IS COLD. FOR NOTE, THIS RELATES TO DEFECT INVESTIGATION PE04002.*AK

STARTING TWO WEEKS AGO, I HAVE ENCOUNTERED A FUEL SMELL WHEN STARTING MY CAR IN COLD WEATHER. IT'S SO BAD I REALLY AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT TIMES AND THE ODOR INSIDE THE CAR IS REALLY BAD. I OPENED THE HOOD ON THE CAR ONE MORNING WHEN I SMELLED IT AND IT LOOKED THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING SMELL OF GASOLINE, ALMOST LIKE IT WAS LEAKING SOMEWHERE. I AM GOING TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA AS THIS CANNOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE. *NM

AFTER COLD WEATHER THERE WAS VERY STRONG GASOLINE FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS CONTINUED EVEN WHEN THE TEMPERATURES ROSE TO 30 DEGF. FUMES WERE SO STRONG THAT PASSENGERS BECAME DIZZY AND LIGHT HEADED AND WINDOWS HAD TO BE OPENED FOR FRESH AIR. *JB

THERE IS A VERY HEAVY RAW FUEL SMELL COMMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT! I LIVE IN MINNESOTA AND THIS WEEK WAS VERY COLD (0 DEGREES F). I CAN SEE FUEL LEAKING IN MY ENGINE BAY AND GAS FUMES ARE ALL OVER WHEN I POP MY HOOD. I HAVE A 2002 SUBARU WRX AND MY CAR HAS A TECHINCAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUT FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND MY CAR COULD START ON FIRE AT ANY MOMENT WITH FUEL LEAKING ON MY HOT ENGINE. WHY DOESN'T SUBARU FIX THIS FOR FREE WHEN IT IS PUTTING PEOPLE'S LIVES IN DANGER? *AK

ANY TIME THE WEATHER IS COLD THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE AND AROUND THE CAR.

I GET A RAW FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN OF MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX IN COLD WEATHER. *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE IDLES, FUEL LEAKS. AS A RESULT, A FOUL ODOR SEEPS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *AK *JB

MY 2002 SUBARU WRX HA SA RAW FUEL SMELL WHEN ITS COLD. THE DEALER SAY PARTS ARE ON ORDER. THIS WAS A MONTH AGO. I'M WORRIED IT MIGHT CATCH FIRE. THERE IS A TSB, BUT I'M NOT GETTING ANY CLOSER TO HAVING THE PROBLEM CHECKED/FIXED. *AK

SMELL OF GASOLINE IN CAR WHEN TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 5 DEGREES F. *JB

I NOTICED MY 2002 SUBARU WRX HAS FUEL SMELL COMING INTO THE CABIN WHEN I OPEN THE VENT TO ALLOW AIR FROM OUTSIDE. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS AROUND 30F TO 40F. I AM REALLY CONCERN IF IT WOULD CAUSE FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK

SMELL OF FUEL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF 02 SUBARU WRX ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. NOTICEABLE WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR AND RUNNING CLIMATE CONTROL. DISSIPATES IN APPROXIMATELY 15 MINS. ALSO NOTICEABLE ONE NIGHT IN GARAGE AFTER EXITING THE CAR. HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 3-4 TIMES THIS WINTER. NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE. *LA

STRONG SMELL OF RAW GAS DURING ENGINE START-UP WHEN COLD OUTSIDE. *LA

STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NOW UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS. *LA

OVERPOWERING RAW FUEL SMELL IN INTERIOR CABIN IN COLD WEATHER, SUSPECT LEAK IN ENGINE BAY THAT HAS RECENTLY BEEN BROUGHT UP AS A TSB BY SUBARU. *LA

2002 SUBARU WRX WAGON - STRONG GASOLINE ODOR IN CAR WHEN COLD. DEALER ADVISED PURGE VALVE WAS REPLACED, FOUND SUBARU TSB 09-36-03 WHICH DESCRIBES MY PROBLEM, STILL HAVE GASOLINE ODOR IN VERY COLD WEATHER. *LA

I OWN A 2002 SUBARU WRX. THERE IS A VERY STRONG GAS ODOR EMINATING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND VENT DURING COLD WEATHER. I HAVE TOLD THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME TO LOOK AT IT. IT IS MY STRONG FEELING THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ON THEIR TAB.

GAS LEAK FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE BAY. ONLY OCCURS IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS.

SINCE THE WEATHER HAS GOTTEN COLD HERE IN MICHIGAN (BELOW FREEZING) THERE HAS BEEN A STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF MY 2002 SUBARU WRX. IT IS MOST APPARENT UPON START UP. THE SMELL AT TIMES WILL BE SO STRONG THAT IT WILL BRING YOU TO THE POINT OF VOMITING OR PASSING OUT IF YOU DO NOT OPEN THE WINDOWS DOWN.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED GAS FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

MY CAR MATCHES THE DESCRIPTION OF ISSUE PE04002. I AM FILING THIS SINCE I BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND ADDRESS THIS. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE FOR THE PAST TWO WINTERS, BUT ONLY NOW BECAME OF AWARE OF THE TSB THROUGH THE INTERNET. IT CONCERNS ME CUSTOMERS HAVE NOT BE PROACTIVELY CONTACTED NOR HAS THERE BEEN UNIFORM DEALER TREATMENT OF THIS ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THE SAFETY IMPACTS OF THIS LIKELY FUEL LEAK.*AK

GAS SMELL ENTERING CABIN VIA AIR VENTS DURING COLD WEATHER OPERATION.

THERE IS A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL THAT COMES THROUGH THE VENTS WHENEVER I START THE CAR IN COLD TEMPERATURES (10 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR BELOW). THE SMELL WILL LINGER UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN MOVING FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES OR SO. THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR WOULD SIT OVERNIGHT IN COLD TEMPERATURES IT WOULD ALSO HAPPEN AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT AT MY WORK DURING THE DAY TIME. *LA

ON A COLD MORNING, I STARTED THE CAR AND NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE CABIN WHEN THE HEATER WAS TURNED ON. WHEN LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD, I COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THIS LEAK. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THAT THEY CANNOT FIX IT FOR FREE SINCE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. IN FACT, THEY QUOTED ME $250 FOR THE WORK! NOW TO ME, LEAKING GASOLINE FOR ANY REASON SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, AND I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OTHER EARLY 2002 MODEL YEAR WRX OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD HOPE THAT SUBARU OF AMERICA WOULD GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR FREE SINCE ALL IT WOULD TAKE IS A STRAY SPARK TO HAVE A FIRE AND SERIOUS LEGAL ACTION...

FUEL SMELL WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. I KNOW THERE IS A TSB ON IT BUT A FUEL LEAK SEEMS LIKE AN AWFUL BIG PROBLEM. DEALER IS FIXING IT UNDER WARRANTY BUT I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE PARTS TO COME IN. *LA

I GET A OVERWHELMING FUEL SMELL WHEN STARTING MY CAR. MY MILEAGE IS HORRBILE. I BELEIVE THERE IS A FUEL LEAK IN MY CAR.*AK

DURING NORMAL DRIVING ON DAYS WHERE AMBIENT TEMPERATURES EXCEED 90 DEGREES, AN OVERWHELMING SMELL OF GASOLINE ENTERS THE CABIN AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THE GASOLINE FUMES OFTEN REMAIN IN THE CABIN FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED.