Subaru WRX Complaints (2002)

427 consumer complaints on file.

#10052730January 9, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL SMELL IN CAR, LOOKED IN THE ENGINE BAY, SAW SMALL PUDDLE OF FUEL ON ENGINE BLOCK AND MOIST HOSES. TSB RELEASED FROM SUBARU FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT WILL NOT FIX BECAUSE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS AN EXTREMELY VOLATILE SITUATION. FORCED TO BUY PARTS AND FIX MYSELF FOR $300.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052750January 9, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX, LEAKED RAW GASOLINE OVER ENGINE BLOCK IN COLD WEATHER, STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE CABIN. CORRESPONDS TO SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN #09-36-03. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX OR ADMIT ANY PROBLEM UNLESS THEY CAN DUPLICATE IT, THEY CANNOT UNLESS IT GETS REAL COLD AND THEY START THE CAR EARLY IN THE MORNING. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE RAW GAS LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I KNOW I AM NOT THE FIRST WRX OWNER TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM!!LEASE IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO GET SUBARU TO HELP ME FIX THIS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052640January 8, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
IN COLD WEATHER, BELOW 20 FAHRENHEIT, I EXPERIENCE A SEVERE RAW GASOLINE ODOR FROM THE VENTS AT IDLE. THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG UNDER THE HOOD AS WELL. SUBARU HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE ISSUE ADDRESSING THE LEAKING GASOLINE WITH A NEW FUEL PIPE AND HOSES. MY DEALER AGREED TO APPLY THE BULLETIN WITH NO CHARGE AS "GOOD FAITH" EVEN THOUGH MY MILEAGE IS OUT OF THE 3YR/36K WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AS LEAKING GASOLINE IN THE ENGINE BAY IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SUBARU NEEDS TO STEP UP AND PROPERLY ADDRESS THIS POTENTIAL HAZARD. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052643January 8, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LEAKING OF RAW GASOLINE, FROM UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS PROBLEM EXHIBITS ITSELF WHEN THE TEMPERATURES FALL BELOW FREEZING. IT IS VERY EVIDENT IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE AS YOU CAN SMELL THE GASOLINE. THE GASOLINE IS VISIBLY PADDLING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK, WHERE TWO FUEL LINE RUN BELOW THE TURBO INLET PIPE. IN MY OPINION, THIS POSES A RATHER SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. LEAKING GASOLINE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD EASILY LEAD TO A DANGEROUS FIRE. I HAVE READ DOZENS AND DOZENS OF SIMILAR REPORTS BY SUBARU IMPREZA OWNERS. I WOULD HATE TO SEE SOMEONE GET HURT OVER SOMETHING THAT COULD EASILY BE FIXED. THANKS IN ADVANCE. MICHAEL MOORE *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052645January 8, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
SMELL OF LEAKING GAS WHEN THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES ARE EXTREMELY COLD (BELOW 17 DEGREES F). ORIGINAL DATE OF SMELL WAS JAN OF 2002. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052649January 8, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. I OWN A 2002 SUBARU WRX, AND WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, I GET A VERY INTENSE GASOLINE SMELL IN THE CAB OF THE CAR. READING ON THE SUBARU FORUMS, IT SEEMS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF OTHER SUBARU WRX OWNERS, SOME OF WHICH HAVE GOTTEN IT FIXED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY, BUT MOST OF US HAVE NO MORE WARRANTY LEFT. I HAVE GONE TO MY LOCAL DEALER (OGDEN SUBARU) ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND HE TREATED ME WITH SUCH DISRESPECT THAT IT OUTRAGES ME. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE LABOR TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WAS $450 DOLLARS, AND THE PARTS ARE $350 DOLLARS. THEN HE PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT I WAS USING THE WRONG OCTANE OF FUEL, AND I WAS "REVVING" THE ENGINE WHEN MY CAR IS COLD, WHICH IS '!@#$% TO BEGIN WITH. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT FROM TOO SMALL OF FUEL HOSES ON THE FUEL RAIL, AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD FROM THE FUMES OF THE GAS IN THE CAB OF THE CAR, SO WHY THE '!@#$% IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THESE PARTS? TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT IM GOING THROUGH, I HAVE TO DRIVE TO WORK EVERY DAY WITH MY REAR WINDOWS UNROLLED TO GET THE FUMES OUT (I LIVE IN NORTHERN UTAH, THERE IS 3 FEET OF SNOW ON THE GROUND), AND I CANNOT TURN MY HEATER ON BECAUSE IT VENTS MORE GAS SMELL INTO MY CAR. THEY SAY THAT GAS IS NOT AS FLAMMABLE AS THE VAPORS IT GIVES OFF, HOW LONG AM I GOING TO HAVE THIS HAZARD BEFORE THE PROBLEM IS FIXED? ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE, TO HELL IF I AM GOING TO PAY FOR A REPAIR FOR A PART ON MY CAR THAT IS NOT MY FAULT AT ALL, YET ITS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GET A LAWYER INVOLVED WITH THIS SITUATION, BUT IF I HAVE TO, I WILL, AND IM SURE HE WILL BE AS OUTRAGED AS I AM. -ERIK P.S. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH MYSELF AND WITH MANY OTHER SUBARU WRX OWNERS, I THINK ITS TIME WE GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052680January 8, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052685January 8, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LEAK FROM PASSENGER SIDE FUEL LINES ON 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. LEAKS WHEN TEMPERATURES FALL INTO THE 30 DEGREE FAHRENHEIT RANGE. FUEL VAPORS ARE CIRCULATED INTO THE CABIN WHEN THE EXTERNAL AIR SOURCE IS SELECTED ON THE CLIMATE CONTROL. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052686January 8, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LEAK DUE TO COLD WEATHER ON A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WAGON. COVERED BY SUBARU TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 09-36-03, DATED APRIL 1, 2003. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052699January 8, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
I OWN A 2002 SUBARU WRX, WHEN IT GETS COLD OUT SIDE BELOW 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND YOU TURN THE HEATER ON. YOU GET A GAS SMELL COMING OUT OF THE HEATING DUCTS. SUBARU KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HAVE ISSUED A TSB FOR IT BUT NO RECALL. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A MISALIGNMENT OF THE FUEL HOSES WHICH CAN CAUSE THEM TO LEAK. THIS COULD BE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON IT. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052570January 7, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY
ON COLD DAYS THE CAR SMALLS OF RAW FUEL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052598January 7, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
MY 02 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX HAS A FUEL LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP WILL CHARGE ME TO FIX THE LEAK. THEY KNOW IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND WON'T FIX IT FOR FREE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052466January 6, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
SECOND ATTEMPT TO FILE COMPLAINT PREVIOUS EFFORT WOULD NOT INCLUDE DATA ON COMPLAINT INFO PAGE. COLD WEATHER FUEL LEAK AS DISCRIBED IN SUBARU TSB 09-36-03 DATED 04/01/03.*AK RAW FUEL ESCAPING FROM FRONT OF RUBBER HOSE SECTION IDENTIFIED IN TSB , TEMP 3 DEG F. FUEL BEGINS TO ESCAPE MINUTES AFTER START OF CAR. AREA UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND AIR INTAKE TUBE WET WITH RAW FUEL, CLOUDS OF FUEL VAPOR SEEN RISING FROM FRONT OF CAR WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052393January 5, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
IN COLD WEATHER YOU CAN SMELL THE STONG ODOR OF RAW FUEL COMING IN THE CABIN OF MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. THERE IS A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN OUT TO THE DEALERS REGARDING THIS MATTER. IT EXPLAINS THAT THERE WAS A POORLY DESIGNED FUEL LINE WHICH LEAKS WHEN COLD. I CAN SEE VISABLE LEAKAGE OF FUEL FROM THE SPECIFIED LINE. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS REFUSED TO FIX MY CAR BECAUSE I HAVE PUT A DIFFERENT EXHAUST PIPE ON MY CAR EVEN THOUGH I AM WITHING THE 60K MILE WARRANTY WHICH COVERS THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY THE EXHAUST HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL LINE LEAKING, BUT AS USUAL SUBARU OF AMERICA IS LOOKING FOR ANY EXCUSE, EVEN ILLEGITIMATE AND ILLEGAL ONES, TO AVOID PERFORMING WARRANTY WORK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052444January 5, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX HAS KNOWN ISSUE OF LEAKY FUEL LINES WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE DROPS BELOW 20 DEGREES. THIS IS WELL-KNOWN AND SUBARU WILL NOT DO A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. IN FACT I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT IF THE CAR IS PAST THE 3 YEAH/36,000 MILE MARK SUBARU WILL NOT EVEN FIX THE PROBLEM FOR FREE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052322January 4, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS OVER SENSITIVE - WILL OFTEN CAUSE FAILURE OF BRAKING POWER WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS/POTHOLES/ROAD SEAMS DURING NORMAL BRAKING. WILL CAUSE EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES DESPITE GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS AND SLOW TRAVEL SPEED. BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR AND CAR FAILS TO STOP. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051505January 2, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, EQUIPMENT
MY 2002 SUBARU WRX SEDAN HAS DISPLAYED UNRELIABLE ABS BEHAVIOR. THIS HAS RESULTED IN MY FIRST ACCIDENT IN 10 YEARS OF DRIVING. THE CAR APPEARS TO LOOSE VIRTUALLY ALL BREAKING POWER WHEN ENCOUNTERING ANY ROAD IMPERFECTIONS. WHILE THE ABS SYSTEM SHOULD ENGAGE IN SUCH AN EVEN, IT SHOULD DISENGAGE AS SOON AS IT CLEARS THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WHILE DRIVING, I HAVE NOTICED THE WRX CONTINUES TO LOOSE BREAKING POWER. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A 35-MPH ROAD, I ENCOUNTERED A MINOR COLLISION CAUSED BY A CAR BEING OBSTRUCTED OR CUT OFF. NORMALLY AT THIS SPEED I WOULD ASSUME 5-6 CAR LENGTHS TO BE SUFFICIENT TO STOP THE CAR, BUT WHILE BREAKING I ENCOUNTERED A SMALL DIP IN THE ROAD SURFACE. WHEN THE CAR PASSED OVER THE DIP, THE ABS ENGAGED, AFTER THAT POINT THE CAR CONTINUED TO LOOSE BREAKING POWER UNTIL I COLLIDED WITH THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. DURING THE YEAR I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM A NUMBER OF TIMES NON OF WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I INITIALLY ATTRIBUTED IT TO THE BRAKE AND ROTOR WEAR, BUT AFTER REPLACING THE WHOLE BREAKING SYSTEM ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT, THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED. IT APPEARS TO BE SYSTEMIC TO THE ABS DESIGN/PROGRAMMING.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#10051534January 2, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CABIN OF CAR SMELLS OF GASOLINE. FUEL LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED ON EARLY MODELS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050958December 22, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHEN THE WEATHER BEGAN TO TURN COLDER, I SMELLED FUEL COMING FROM SOMEWHERE UNDER THE HOOD. THE SMELL WOULD PERSIST THE WHOLE TIME I DROVE THE CAR AND WOULD BE ESPECIALLY EVIDENT WHEN THE CAR WAS IDLING AND THE VENT WAS ON. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS PROBLEM (TSB# 09-36-03) AND THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED AS A FREE REPAIR BECAUSE MY CAR HAD OVER 60,000 MILES AND THUS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THAT A PROBLEM LIKE THIS IS NOT TRIVIAL AND SHOULD NOT SIMPLY BE A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT INSTEAD A RECALL. SUBARU SHOULD REPLACE THE OFFENDING PARTS FOR FREE; HAVING FUEL VAPOR CIRCULATING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CERTAINLY SEEMS TO ME TO BE CAUSE FOR GRAVE CONCERN. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY COMPLAINT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050959December 22, 2003
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
LAST WEEK AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, THE CLUTCH PEDAL STARTED FEELING A BIT LOOSE (IE SOFT UNTIL IT WAS DEPRESSED HALF-WAY) AND WAS STICKING TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED FULLY. IT BECAME INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT AT ALL AND I WAS QUITE FORTUNATE TO HAVE NOT CAUSED ANY ACCIDENTS AS I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. HAD I BEEN AT HIGHER SPEED AND BEEN FOR EXAMPLE ATTEMPTING TO PASS SOMEONE AND THE PEDAL WOULD HAVE FAILED IN THE SAME WAY, MUCH MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. IT THEN BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR ON A COLD MORNING UNTIL I HAD PUMPED THE CLUTCH FOR AWHILE AND LET THE CAR WARM UP. ONCE I HAD DONE THIS, I COULD SOMETIMES SHIFT WITH NO PROBLEMS, BUT THE PEDAL WOULD STILL STICK TO THE FLOOR MOST OF THE TIME MAKING ME HAVE TO PULL IT BACK UP WITH MY FOOT. AFTER CALLING THE LOCAL DEALER, I FOUND THAT SUBARU HAS IDENTIFIED THIS AS AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR AND HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB# 03-52-03) CONFIRMING THAT A HOSE FAILURE IS AT FAULT. SUBARU WILL NOT REPLACE MY HOSE FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE I AM OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. CONSIDERING THE QUICK ONSET OF THIS PROBLEM AND THE POTENTIAL HAZARD TO THE DRIVER AND OTHERS, IT WOULD SEEM THAT SUBARU SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE OFFENDING HOSE WITH ONE THAT WILL NOT FAIL FREE OF CHARGE REGARDLESS OF WARRANTY STATUS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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