Subaru WRX Complaints (2003)

60 consumer complaints on file.

#10181274January 31, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
I OWN A 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WAGON. ON COLD MORNINGS (LIKE TODAY: 3F), THERE IS A RAW FUEL SMELL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I'VE TALKED TO OTHER IMPREZA OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, APPARENTLY THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW INVOLVING A FLEXIBLE FUEL HOSE CONNECTING THE RIGID FUEL LINES. I'VE JUST TRIED CONTACTING SUBARU OF AMERICA (SOA) REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY SEEM TO BE FIGHTING MANY OWNERS ON COVERING THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180944January 28, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
RAW FUEL SMELL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX, A KNOWN PROBLEM ON 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WITH FUEL PIPES/HOSES/CLAMPS. DEALERS DENY THERE IS A PROBLEM FOR 2003 MODELS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180870January 27, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
STRONG GAS SMELL IN THE CABIN ON A COLD DAY PROBABLY A GAS LEAK. STRONGER WHEN VEHICLE IS STOP. SMELL ENOUGH TO GET A GOOD HEADACHE AND DIZZY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180758January 25, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
GAS SMELL COMING THROUGH AIR VENTS OF 2003 SUBARU WRX WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED WITH OUTSIDE AIR VENTS OPEN. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. NHTSA HAS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM IN 2002-2003 WRX MODELS, AND A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF INTERNET AUTOMOTIVE WEBSITES DISCUSS THIS PROBLEM. SINCE GASOLINE IS FLAMMABLE, AND AUTOMOBILE FIRES ARE DANGEROUS, I AM REQUESTING NHTSA TO REOPEN ITS FILE ON THIS MATTER AND TO ISSUE A RECALL SINCE NHTSA HAS ALREADY FOUND THAT A FUEL HOSE ON THE ENGINE, IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, IS LEAKING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175870December 11, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
WHEN USING WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN THE RAIN, DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM SLIDES PAST AREA OF WINDSHIELD AND GETS STUCK ON SIDE PILLAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED FIVE TIMES ON THE SAME TRIP WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 50 M.P.H. ON FREEWAY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEN BECOME INOPERABLE UNTIL WIPER ARM IS FREED FROM SIDE PILLAR. FREEING WIPER ARM REQUIRED DRIVING TO NEAREST FREEWAY EXIT IN THE RAIN WITH INOPERABLE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. CHECKED TIGHTNESS OF WIPER ARM AND WAS FOUND TO BE TIGHT AND SECURE. HOWEVER, WIPER ARM WAS FOUND TO HAVE A LOT OF "PLAY" IN IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152452March 11, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1. FUEL LEAKS FROM THE FUEL RAIL WHEN DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. 2. FUEL LEAKS FROM FUEL RAIL AND RUBBER FUEL LINE THAT IS POSITIONED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHILE OPERATING IN COLD CLIMATE. THIS CONDITION CAUSES FUEL TO LEAK ON TO THE HOT ENGINE CAUSING SMOKE TO RISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND POSSIBLY IGNITE RAW FUEL, IT ALSO CAUSES THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT TO FILL WITH A STRONG GAS SMELL. 3. CORRECTION-REPLACEMENT OF FUEL RAIL AND RUBBER FUEL LINE AS INDICATED IN THE CAR MAKERS SERVICE BULLETIN. OLD PART NOT AVAILABLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144178December 1, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LEAKAGE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY 2003 SUBARU WRX IMPREZA. THERE WAS A BULLETIN ON 2002 MODELS. I HAVE HAD FUEL LEAKAGE WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW 32 DEGREES. SUBARU SAYS THAT MY YEAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIR. BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY REPORTED IN EARLIER MODELS.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138435October 4, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
IN MY 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX, ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, WHEN I HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD (COULD BE AN EXPANSION JOINT IN A BRIDGE OR A CRACK IN THE ROAD SURFACE THAT HAS BEEN PATCHED) WHILE BRAKING, THE ABS KICKS IN AND DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO BRAKE. AFTER ABOUT ONE SECOND HAS PASSED, THE ABS TURNS OFF AND I GRIND TO A HALT. I HAVE LARGER-THAN-STOCK, HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES, AND ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE STOCK BRAKES ARE NOT CAPABLE OF APPLYING ENOUGH PRESSURE TO LOCK UP THE BRAKES. BUT IF I HIT A SMALL HICCUP IN THE ROAD, THE ABS TURNS ON AND DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO APPLY ANY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BRAKING POWER. AS SOON AS IT DISENGAGES, THE INCREASE IN BRAKING POWER IS QUITE SIGNIFICANT. I HAVE YET TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT, BUT I HAVE LEARNED TO LEAVE EXTRA DISTANCE BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. SUBARU IS DOING A "VOLUNTARY RECALL" TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AFTER AN INVESTIGATION BY YOUR ORGANIZATION. I FIND IT ASTOUNDING THAT YOU WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. IF THIS IS THE CASE, THEN I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO REVISE THE METHODS YOU USE TO DEVELOP AN EXPERIMENT. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM. IT IS RELATIVELY EASY TO REPLICATE. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO REPLICATE IT, THEN YOU HAVE NOT DEVELOPED AN EXPERIMENT TO EFFECTIVELY TEST FOR THIS DEFECT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136989September 19, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE BRAKING SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS CROSSING OVER A SHARP TRANSITION (BREAK IN PAVEMENT, TRAIN TRACKS OR CHOPPY ROUGH PAVEMENT) IN THE ROAD AND UNDERGOING LIGHT TO MODERATE BRAKING, THE VEHICLE STOPS DECELERATING FOR ABOUT 1/2 TO 1 SECOND AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPS VERY CLOSE TO THE FIREWALL. THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REPRODUCE, BUT DOES HAPPEN ABOUT ONCE EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS. WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT SCARES THE HELL OUT OF THE DRIVER. THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT BRAKING FORCE GOES TO ZERO VARIES. ON ONE OCCASION, I CAME VERY CLOSE TO REAR ENDING A CAR IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. I ALSO DRIVE A NON ABS EQUIPPED VEHICLE (87 FORD MUSTANG) OVER THE SAME ROADS. THE WRX STOPPING DISTANCE OVER THIS PART OF ROADWAY, WHERE THE FAILURE OCCURS AT 25 MPH, IS AT LEAST ONE CAR LENGTH GREATER THAN THE MUSTANG OVER THE SAME PART OF ROAD. ON SMOOTH ROADS, THE WRX WILL EASILY STOP IN LESS DISTANCE THAN THE MUSTANG. THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT MAKE THIS BEHAVIOR SO DANGEROUS. 1) THAT IT SCARES THE DRIVER SO BADLY WHEN IT HAPPENS. 2) THAT THE BRAKING CAPABILITY OF THE CAR VARIES UNPREDICTABLY. APPARENTLY NHTSA HAS ALREADY CLOSED THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE. I FOUND IT ON YOUR WEBSITE UNDER EA03024. THERE IS ONLY A BRIEF DESCRIPTION ON YOUR WEBSITE OF THE OUTCOME, BUT BASICALLY IT LOOKS LIKE "NO PROBLEM FOUND". THIS PROBLEM MAY BE DIFFICULT TO REPRODUCE, BUT I ASSURE YOU THAT IT IS VERY REAL. DRIVERS ARE NOT IMAGINING THE PROBLEM. THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND SOA (SUBARU OF AMERICA) HAVE DENIED THAT THERE IS ANY PROBLEM. ONE OF THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP COMMENTED TO ME THAT WRXS HAVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT SINCE THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THE ABS SYSTEM THEY ARE FORCED TO DENY THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. SINCE SUBARU WON'T ADMIT TO THE PROBLEM, THE ONLY SOLUTION TO IT HAS BEEN TO DISABLE THE ABS BY REMOVING ITS POWER FUSE IN THE CAR. AT LEAST NOW I KNOW WHAT THE CAR IS GOING TO DO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113597March 7, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO INJURIES TO REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111075February 8, 2005
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE DRIVER WAS SHIFTING TO SECOND GEAR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE HEARD A POP, AND WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS, PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR CHECKUP, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT SECOND GEAR WAS BROKEN, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107854January 25, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
AFTER A COLD WEEKEND THE INSIDE OF THE CABIN SMELLS OF RAW FUEL. I SEE THE MANUFACTURER HAS A TSB FOR FIXING THIS IN THE NORTH AND CANADA, BUT NO MENTIONS OF IT IN THE SOUTH. ALSO, THEY SAY IT HAPPENS IN 02 VEHICLES, BUT I HAVE AN 03 AND IT JUST STARTED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096093October 20, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE TAKING A RIGHT HAND UPHILL TURN OVER A BUMP, ABS APARENTLY ACTIVATED AND STOPPED BRAKING FUNCTIONS. I WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP AND HIT A CURB, CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO CAR. I HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD ISSUES WITH ABS ACTIVATING WHEN IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO IN MODERALTY LIGHT RAIN, WHICH WAS WHAT THE WEATHER WAS LIKE DURING THIS INCIDENT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10091377September 20, 2004
AIR BAGS, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
FOLLOW-UP ON PREVIOUS COMPLAINT NUMBER: 04V342000.DRIVER WAS RESTRAINED BY A SEAT BELT. MEDICAL COMPLAINTS: 2 CERVICAL VERTABRAE FRACTURES, PATELLA (KNEE) FRACTURE AND PNUEMOTHORAX.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10086277August 5, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I JUST HAD THE CAR IN WITH 6600 MILES FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY PERFORMED THE 7500 MILE CHECK UP AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THAT AFTERNOON I FIRST NOTICE THE BRAKES FEEL SOFT AND NOT SLOW THE CAR I SHOOK IT OFF THINKING I FELT IT WRONG. I NOTICED IT 2 DAYS LATER AGAIN AND DECIDED I SHOULD GET IT BACK TO THE DEALER BUT BEFORE I COULD I LOST THE BRAKES AS I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND WENT OVER A CURB THROUGH A SING BEFORE I GOT IN CONTROL AND TURNED OUT OF THE GRASS I WAS IN. I HAD BODY WORK DONE AND SOME FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS REPLACED BUT NOTHING DONE TO BRAKES NO ONE FOUND ANYTHING WRONG. MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE IT INSPECTED AND I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM. THAT WAS OCTOBER OF 2003 AND THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN. I HAVEN'T HAD IT BACK TO DEALER YET I AM WAITING TIL I CAN CAUSE THE PROBLEM CONSISTENTLY SO THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. AFTER HEARING OTHERS PROBLEMS WITH DEALERS SAYING IT'S FINE FOR THEM I WANT TO MAKE SURE I CAN PROVE IT FOR THEM.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080598July 8, 2004
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078471June 19, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHILE AT A FULL STOP, I WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND (THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ( 20MPH?) IN MY 2003 SUBARU WRX WAGON- RESULTING IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK AND IN DAMAGE TO THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE 'SEAT FRAME' (THE BODY SHOP'S TERM). *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10072419May 11, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I OWN A 2003 SUBARU WRX 5 SPEED WAGON. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A DISTRESSING AND REPEATABLE LOSS OF BRAKING UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE SO THE PARTICULAR DATE DOESN'T SEEM THAT RELEVANT, BUT I WAS FORCED TO CHOSE ONE BELOW. THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE AS FOLLOWS: UNDER AGGRESSIVE BRAKING, A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD SEEMS TO CAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM TO ACTIVATE THEREBY DECREASING BRAKE SYSTEM PRESSURE AND BRAKING MOMENT. I AM CERTAIN THAT THIS IS NOT A NORMAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ABS SYSTEM AND AM CONCERNED THAT I MAY EXPERIENCE THIS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY VEHICLES WITH AND WITHOUT ABS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS SORT OF FAILURE OR PREMATURE ACTIVATION OF THE SYSTEM BEFORE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN APRIL OF 2003 AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES DURING THE YEAR I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. I CANT BE CERTAIN, BUT IT MAY BE THE CASE THAT THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN GEAR WITH THE CLUTCH ENGAGED AND OF COURSE NO PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION UNDER WAY REGARDING THIS ISSUE, AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT MY INFORMATION WILL HELPFUL IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. I AM AVAILABLE FOR FURTHER INPUT AND WOULD WELCOME ANY INFORMATION REGARDING PROGRESS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE. SINCERELY, MICHAEL PALLOTTA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068404May 6, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VEHICLE ABS UNNECESSARILY ENGAGES AND INCREASES THE STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN TIRES ROLL OVER BUMPS, WAVY PAVEMENT OR HOLES. IT REQUIRES QUICK RELEASE OF BRAKE PEDAL AND REENGAGEMENT TO DEACTIVATE ABS AND BE ABLE TO STOP ADEQUATELY. POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENT IF STOPPING DISTANCE IS LONGER THAN REQUIRED STOPPING DISTANCE. I CAN REPLICATE THE PROBLEM CONSISTENTLY WHEN DRIVING OVER RAIL CROSSINGS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068040April 29, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT IS BEING INVESTIGATED CURRENTLY BY YOU. THE NHTSA # IS: EA03024 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH MY ABS BRAKES OF MY 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX DID NOT ENGAGE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES JUST LIKE I NORMALLY DO AND THE BRAKE SANK VERY QUICKLY, AND THEN SUPPLIED VERY LITTLE BRAKING POWER. THE PERFORMANCE OF MY BRAKES WAS VERY VERY POOR COMPARED TO WHAT THEY USUALLY FELT LIKE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF APROXIMATELY 45MPH. THIS RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. I RAN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER PERSON. THIS WAS OF COURSE DEEMED MY FAULT. THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN LATE JANUARY THIS YEAR (2004). THE CAR WAS REPAIRED, BUT I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS SINCE THEN. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO STEER AROUND THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND TRY APPLYING THE BRAKES AGAIN TO MAKE THEM WORK CORRECTLY.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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