Subaru WRX Complaints (2002)

427 consumer complaints on file.

#10369658December 8, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU WRX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE ABS ACTIVATED. HE WAS UNABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A RAPID STOP. HE STATED THAT IT WAS LUCK THAT THE VEHICLE IN-FRONT TURNED LEFT; AND HE WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR, BECAUSE THE ABS FAILURE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 02/09/11*LJ UPDATED 02/28/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10320354March 17, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 02 WRX I LIVE IN ARMIDALE AUSTRALIA. I JUST SPENT A LOT OF MONEY FIXING THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN THE CAR HEATS UP IT CAN BURN OUT THE EXHAUST SENSOR AND CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE TURBO.I NOTICE ONCE THERE WAS NO SENSOR LEFT IT GAVE MY CAR COMPUTER NOTHING TO GO OFF . IN RESULT COSTING ME 3000 DOLLARS TO FIX .WRX DRIVERS TAKE CARE AND PLEASE GET YOUR SENSORS CHECKED TO SEE IF THEY ARE IN ANYWAY FAULTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310073February 12, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310076February 12, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SEVERAL TIMES (ABOUT ONCE A YEAR ON AVERAGE) SINCE I PURCHASED MY SUBARU WRX IN 2001 THE BRAKES BRIEFLY FAIL. THE DESCRIPTION SEEMS IDENTICAL TO THAT OF THE 2010 PRIUS IN THAT THERE IS NO BRAKING FOR A BRIEF TIME WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, RAILROAD TRACKS OR SIMPLY GOING DOWNHILL ON A WET ROAD. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT I WOULD GUESS HAPPENED IN THE FALL OF 2009 WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL WITH SUDDEN BRAKING REQUIRED ON A WET SURFACE. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP I ALERTED OUR SUBARU DEALER OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY DID "A FIRMWARE UPDATE". I DON'T THINK THIS MADE A DIFFERENCE BUT SINCE IT IS A RARE BUT SCARY OCCURRENCE I REALLY COULD NOT TELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308500February 10, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307601February 8, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL SMELL FOR MY SUBARU WRX 2002 MODEL. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303387January 30, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298672January 8, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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 IS SINCE IT IS JUST AS DANGEROUS IN MY STATE AS IN ANY OF THE STATES LISTED ON THE RECALL. BTW, MY CAR WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED AND REGISTERED IN ONE OF THE COVERED STATES...MINNESOTA. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298249January 5, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
I HAVE THE FUEL LEAK PROBLEM COVERED IN RECALL NUMBER 09V468000 IN MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZZA WRX BUT MY CAR IS REGISTERED IN CALIFORNIA AND APPEARS NOT TO BE COVERED. I CAN SMELL GAS AND SEE IT POOL ON THE ENGINE, ABOVE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD NEAR TURBO COMPONENTS, WHEN STARTING MY CAR AT ABOUT 30 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON IN THE MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS OF CALIFORNIA. THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS IF THE FUEL IGNITES IN THE ENGINE BAY. WHY AREN'T ALL OF THESE CARS BEING RECALLED? THE STATE SELECTION CRITERIA SEEMS ARBITRARY, SINCE ALL STATES EXPERIENCE COLD ENOUGH WEATHER FOR THIS PROBLEM TO PERSIST. DO I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MY CAR CATCHES FIRE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM TAKEN SERIOUSLY? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298146January 4, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
I HAVE THE FUEL LEAK/ SMELL ISSUE COVERED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V468000, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA09011. I HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS BUT IT APPEARS TO BE WORSE THIS WINTER IN THAT IT HAPPENS AT TEMPERATURES JUST BELOW FREEZING NOW. IN PREVIOUS WINTERS IT WOULD HAVE TO BE BELOW 20 DEGREES BEFORE I WOULD NOTICE THE SMELL OF RAW GASOLINE. I NOTICE THE PROBLEM WHEN STOPPED AND IDLING IN THE COLD WEATHER. IN PARTICULAR WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. MY CAR WAS PURCHASED IN AND REGISTERED IN MASSACHUSETTS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY IT WAS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. MASSACHUSETTS IS FURTHER NORTH THAN CO AND PARTS OF NE, IA AND NY WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297439December 29, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
I HAVE THE FUEL LEAK PROBLEM COVERED IN RECALL NUMBER 09V468000 IN MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZZA WRX BUT MY CAR IS REGISTERED IN PENNSYLVANIA AND APPEARS NOT TO BE COVERED. I CAN SMELL GAS AND SEE IT POOL ON THE ENGINE WHEN STARTING MY CAR BELOW ABOUT 30 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON IN PENNSYLVANIA. THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHY AREN'T ALL OF THESE CARS BEING RECALLED? EVEN A CAR REGISTERED IN FLORIDA MAY SPEND A FEW DAYS IN A NORTHERN STATE AND LEAK GASOLINE WHEN STARTED. DO I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MY CAR CATCHES FIRE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292750November 18, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292519November 17, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291855November 11, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291865November 11, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291455November 9, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290473October 31, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290216October 29, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL LEAK AT STARTUP WHEN CAR IS COLD, USUALLY BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288756October 17, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282906September 4, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Subaru WRX