Subaru WRX Complaints (2002)

427 consumer complaints on file.

#10104289December 22, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LEAKS WHEN STARTING MY CAR (02 SUBARU WRX) IN COLD WEATHER. STRONG FUMES WOULD ENTER THE CABIN THROUGH HEAT VENT CAUSING NAUSEA. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104301December 22, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
GAS SMELL COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF 2002 WRX SUBARU OF AMERICA ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM AND WON'T COVER IT AS A POWER TRAIN ISSUE. CAR SPILLS GASOLINE ON TOP OF ENGINE WHEN COLD. DEALERS DO NOT "FIND" THE ISSUE UNTIL RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104321December 22, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL SMELL IN CABIN DURING VEHICLE OPERATION IN COLD WEATHER. LEFT DRIVER FEELING WOOZY AFTER 30 MINUTES. VEHICLE BARELY OUTSIDE WARRANTY PERIOD. DEALERSHIP CHARGES $350 TO REPLACE FUEL HOSES WHICH LEAK DURING COLD WEATHER AS A RESULT OF A DESIGN FLAW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104328December 22, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE ON STARTUP WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE. WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED JUST PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM ARISING. SUBARU NEEDS TO DO A RECALL FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104340December 22, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
GASOLINE SMELL WHEN STARTING CAR IN COLD WEATHER (<20F). THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM ON MY 02 SUBARU WRX. THE FIRST EVENT WAS AT APPROX 15000 MILES AND THE FUEL LINE CLAMPS WERE TIGHTENED. A SECOND TIME AT 45000 MILES AND THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE (BECAUSE THE CAR WAS WARM IN THE DEALERSHIP.) NOW AT 73,000 MILES IN 20F WEATHER, THE SMELL HAS RETURNED WHEN STARTING THE CAR WITH THE ENGINE COLD. I CAN SEE THE GASOLINE PUDDLING BELOW THE PROBLEM HOSE CLAMPS. SUBARU HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS NOW AND ISSUED A TSB, BUT THE DNAGEROUS FUEL LEAK PROBLEM PERSISTS! OF COURSE, THE REPAIR THEY DID ON MY CAR (TIGHTENING THE CLAMPS) WHILE IT WAS IN WARRANTY WAS NOT A PERMANENT FIX, AND I FACE POTENTIAL REPAIRS AT MY COST FOR A PROBLEM SUBARU SHOULD HAVE FIXED BY NOW. NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFETY DEFECT (FUEL PUBBLING ON THE ENGINE), IT IS ALSO LIKELY AN EMISSIONS DEFECT (RAW GASOLINE VAPORS TO THE ATMOSPHERE) AND A PASSENGER HEALTH RISK FROM BREATHING GASOLINE VAPORS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS LONG-KNOWN PROBLEM! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104335December 22, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1) COLD WEATHER - UNDER 35 DEGREES 2) FUEL LEAK ON TOP OF ENGINE CAUSED BY FAULTY FUEL LINE FITTING. 3) DEALER FIX, UP TO $800+ DOLLARS, FIXED WITH REDESIGNED PARTS, CUSTOMER PAYS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104351December 22, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
ON COLD MORNINGS, DURING WARM-UP A PRONOUNCED RAW FUEL SMELL IS EVIDENT IN THE CAR AND ESPECIALLY UNDER THE HOOD OF MY 2002 SUBARU WRX, IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, NEITHER OF WHOM COULD REPLICATE THE COMPLAINT, BUT FURTHER RESEARCH HAS TURNED UP A TSB FROM SUBARU ON THE MATTER, YET THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT ACT ON THAT. I FEEL THIS CONDITION POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY THREAT, AS IT CAN EASILY LEAD TO A FIRE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104214December 21, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE VENTS AND UNDER THE HOOD. VERY RAW AND STRONG. FUEL LEAK! SUBARU OF AMERICA FIXED THIS UNDER WARRANTY LAST YEAR, BUT NOW ITS BACK AND ARE GOING TO CHARGE FOR THIS FIX.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104224December 21, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 32 DEGREES THERE IS A RAW FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN. UPON OPENING THE HOOD I CAN SEE FUEL COMING FROM THE LINES. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH A RECALL FROM SUBARU. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104273December 21, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
CAR: 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WAGON, 25,000 MILES VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND UNDER HOOD OF VEHICLE UPON COLD START (<35 DEG. F) AND WHILE IDLING THEREAFTER. SMALL PUDDLE OF RAW LIQUID FUEL UNDER CAR AFTER SITTING PARKED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104150December 20, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
IN COLD WEATHER, WITH THE HEATER ON THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN PASSENGER CABIN. IDENTIFIED BY TSB 03-0906: FUEL RAIL LEAK. SUBARU OF AMERICA WILL NOT COVER THIS FIX AS MY MILEAGE IS AROUND 45,000 AND THUS OUTSIDE THE WARANTY PERIOD.*AK MY FEELING IS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE (GASOLINE LEAK AND NOXIOUS FUMES IN THE PASSENGER CABIN) OR AT LEAST AN EMISSIONS ISSUE AND SHOULD BE FIXED FOR FREE. INSTEAD THE DEALER ESTIMATES THIS IS A $600 FIX.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104153December 20, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE CAR APPEARS TO HAVE A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE BAY. WITH RECENT COLD WEATHER, THE CAR BEGINS TO SMELL STRONGLY OF FUEL WHILE DRIVING, AND ESPECIALLY WHILE IDLING, EVEN AFTER 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS INFORMED ME THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR A FUEL RAIL PROBLEM THAT INCLUDES MY VIN, BUT THIS IS NOT A RECALL. THEY ARE UNCLEAR ON WHETHER THEY WILL PAY FOR THE REPAIR DETAILED IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN. ONE SUBARU SERVICE CENTER TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS COLD-WEATHER RELATED, AND "NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT." THEY DID NOT FEEL THE PROBLEM WARRANTED SERVICE. ANOTHER SERVICE CENTER AGREED TO SEE MY CAR TOMORROW. IF THE CAR IS LEAKING FUEL FROM A KNOWN PROBLEM AREA (RELATED TO SUBARU TSB 09-36-03) I WOULD HOPE THE COMPANY WOULD HAVE MORE INTEREST IN AT LEAST LOOKING AT THE CAR BEFORE DISMISSING CONCERNS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104162December 20, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
SMELL OF FUEL VERY STRONG INSIDE VEHICLE.PULLED OVER AND POPPED HOOD.NOTICED POOLS OF RAW FUEL ON INTAKE MANIFOLD ON PASSENGERS SIDE.REMOVED PUDDLES AND TIGHTENED FUEL HOSE CLAMPS(12/12/04).TEMPERATURE DROPPED TO 15F THE OTHER DAY AND THE SMELL OF GAS IS BACK.CANNOT SEE ANY PUDDLES AT THE MOMENT.FROM SUBARU ENTHUSIETS WEBSITES THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WHEN THE TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW FREEZING FOR THE WRX'S.VERY DANGEROUS!THE TURBOCHARGER IS MOUNTED NOT TO FAR AWAY FROM THE FUEL PUDDLES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104169December 20, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
IN MY 2002 SUBARU WRX SEDAN, I SMELLED STRONG RAW FUEL(GASOLINE) SMELL AFTER STARTING UP THE CAR IN THE COLD MORNING (AFTER FIRST SNOW). SMELL WAS SO TERRIBLE THAT IT MADE ME DIZZY WHILE DRIVING. I PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD, AND IT WAS EVEN WORSE SMELL UNDER THE HOOD. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF REPORTS OF RAW FUEL SMELL FOR 2002 SUBARU WRX MODEL, BUT SUBARU DIDN'T PUBLISH A RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF ANYTHING SPARKS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I AM SURE IT WILL IGNITE THE GASOLINE FUME AND WILL CAUSE FIRE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102970December 14, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, TIRES
TRAVELING ON A DAMP, BUMPY ASPHALT ROAD IN SEATTLE (TEMPURATURE WAS IN THE MID-40'S). LIGHT AHEAD TURNS RED - I APPLY THE BRAKES AS USUAL, BUT THE PEDDLE SUDDENLY SINKS ABOUT AN INCH AND I FEEL ABS COME ON. IT FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES HAVE NO STOPPING POWER AND ARE ONLY WORKING AT ABOUT 10%. I LET UP ON THE BRAKES AND TRIED AGAIN, AND WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, ON SOME METAL DRAWBRIDGE GRATING. IT SEEMS AS IF THE ABS COMES ON IN TIMES WHEN IT SHOULD NOT, WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKES TO PRACTICALLY NOT WORK. IF A CAR HAD BEEN CLOSER IN FRONT OF ME, I WOULD HAVE HIT IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102358December 8, 2004
SUSPENSION
I OWNED THE CAR FOR 5K MILES AND THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ARE BAD. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR A 2 YEAR OLD CAR. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SUBARUS. THE DRIVETRAIN IS NOISY, SO IT IS HARD TO DETECT DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND CAN REALLY DAMAGE THE CAR IF NOT FOUND. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102396December 8, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL INSIDE CABIN DURING COLD WEATHER. 27 DEGREES AND BELOW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100564November 26, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
STARTED THE CAR FIRST THING IN THE MORNING TO DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES TO THE STORE. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 48 DEGREES F. AFTER RETURNING DIRECTLY FROM THE STORE (THE SAME 1.5 MILES) THERE WAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE AS I STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR. I SMELLED AT THE GAP BETWEEN THE HOOD AND DRIVER'S FENDER AND DETERMINED THE ENGINE BAY TO BE THE SOURCE OF THE GASOLINE SMELL. I USED A FLASHLIGHT TO SEARCH FOR ANY VISIBLE LEAKS, BUT I COULD NOT SEE THE GASOLINE. THE SMELL WAS INCREDIBLY STRONG THOUGH. IT SEEMED TO BE THE STRONGEST RIGHT ABOVE THE MANIFOLD BETWEEN THE INTERCOOLER, MANIFOLD, AND TURBO. I'M VERY WORRIED OF AN ENGINE FIRE DUE TO THE LEAKING. I'M TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR EXAMINATION OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098626November 10, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ANY TIME THE WEATHER IS COLD THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE AND AROUND THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098050October 31, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT RELEASE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TWICE. VEHICLE CONTINUED GOING AT 67 MPH. FORTUNATELY I DOWNSHIFTED AND STOPPED VEHICLE WITHOUT HITTING THE 6 OTHER VEHICLES AT THE STOP LIGHT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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