Subaru WRX Complaints (2002)

427 consumer complaints on file.

#10250689December 4, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE A 2002 SUBARU WRX SEDAN THAT IS AFFECTED BY TSB 09-36-03 FUEL LEAK I HAVE EXPERIENCED HEADACHES, DIZZINESS AND NAUSEA FROM THE FUMES ENTERING THE CABIN AS WELL AS DECREASED FUEL MILEAGE AND FEAR THAT MY CAR COULD CATCH FIRE AT ANY TIME I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT AND DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER MODE OF TRANSPORTATION TODAY I FOUND AT LEAST A COUPLE OF DOZEN OTHER PEOPLE LIKE ME WITH THIS PROBLEM THE BELIEF THAT THIS ONLY OCCURS IN COLD NORTHERN AREAS IS ABSOLUTELY INACCURATE AS I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IT IS WORSE IN COLDER WEATHER BUT STILL HAPPENS IN WARMER CLIMATES I AM OUTRAGED THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED HOW MANY REPORTS DOES IT TAKE FOR SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT SUBARU IS NOT STANDING BY THEIR CLAIM FOR SAFETY BEING FIRST ARE YOU WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO PASS OUT DO TO THE FUMES AND CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT OR FOR A SUDDEN BURST OF FLAMES FROM THE RAW FUEL LEAKING YOU DO KNOW THE TURBOCHARGER CREATES A LOT OF HEAT ESPECIALLY UNDER HARD DRIVING CONDITIONS NO REPORT CAN POSSIBLY PROVE THAT A FUEL LEAK WON'T CAUSE A FIRE NOT TO MENTION THE FUMES WHICH ARE VERY STRONG AND WILL MAKE YOU SICK WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW THESE ARE EXPENSIVE CARS AND SUBARU SHOULD BE HELD TO STANDARD OF HIGH QUALITY THEY CLAIM POUR INTO THEIR PRODUCTS PLEASE HELP US I MY CAR HAS 94,000 MILES AND IS IN GREAT CONDITION ASIDE FROM THE FUEL LEAK MENTIONED THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING SUBARU NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR PRODUCTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249550November 22, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1. FAULTY FUEL LINES AND CONNECTIONS WHERE UNDER COLD TEMPERATURES, FUEL LEAKS ONTO ENGINE AND FUEL SMELL ENTERS CABIN OF VEHICLE. 2. EVERY TIME THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE DROPS CLOSE TO FREEZING. DIZZINESS OCCURS WHILE SITTING INSIDE VEHICLE TO WHERE THE WINDOWS HAVE TO BE ROLLS DOWN CANCELING THE EFFECTS OF HAVING THE HEATER RUN TO WARM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. LATELY THE SMELL HAS BECOME INTOLERABLE THE MORE PROBLEMATIC. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AS OF CURRENTLY BUT THERE APPEARS TO BE A FIX PER VEHICLE MANUFACTURER BUT AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248854November 14, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
I HAVE A 2002 SUBARU WRX THAT HAS A FUEL LEAK WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD. IT OCCURS USUALLY ON START UP AND LASTS USUALLY 10-15 MINUTES. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR (SEE THE FOLLOWING WEB LINK) HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=131755 MANY CAR OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT SUBARU REFUSES TO CORRECT IT DESPITE THE OBVIOUS DANGER (IE FUEL DRIPPING ONTO THE ENGINE MANIFOLD). SEVERAL FIRES HAVE EVEN BEEN REPORTED - ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248227November 10, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
SUBARU HAS RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN # 09-36-03 DATE 04-01-03 FUEL SMELL / LEAK WHEN OUTSIDE TEMP GOES BELOW ~14 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. FUEL LEAK IS FROM FUEL LINES SUPPLYING FUEL TO THE PASSENGER SIDE INJECTORS, LEAK IS ON TOP OF ENGINE. I HAVE THIS LEAK BELOW 40DEGREES. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED SUBARU YET BUT THIS IS FOR ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246318October 22, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX-----VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL IN CABIN OF CAR DURING COLD WEATHER DRIVING. FUMES IN CABIN ARE SO BAD AS TO CAUSE NAUSEA AND HEADACHE AFTER PROLONGED EXPOSURE. THIS IS RELATED TO SUBARU OF AMERICA TSB#09-36-03, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE04002. NOT ONLY AM I CONCERNED ABOUT FUEL IGNITION IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BUT STUDIES ALSO SHOW THAT GASOLINE FUMES ARE CARCINOGENIC. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I OWNED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2001, HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVER SINCE. FINALLY I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF "DEALING WITH IT". DEALERSHIPS HAVE LOOKED AT MY CAR AND TOLD ME THAT NOTHING IS WRONG, AND I'VE HAD ENOUGH. THIS IS DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245495October 15, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DURING COLD WEATHER I CAN SMELL GAS FUMES IN MY CABIN AND SEE GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINES IN THE ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227244May 11, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKE PEDAL ON MY 2002 SUBARU SOMETIMES GETS SOFT (LOOSES BRAKE PRESSURE), SPECIALLY WHEN IT'S COLD AND THE SITS PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE DEALER HAS CHANGED AN EXPANSION VALVE( ? ), BUT THE PROBLEM COMES BACK ON OCCASION. THIS PROBLEM MAKES ME FEEL INSECURE ABOUT MY BRAKE SYSTEM. THE DEALER SAYS EVERYTHING IS OK, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223612April 7, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
I PURCHASED MY 2002 SUBARU IN OCTOBER OF 2001. THE FOLLOWING WINTER DURING A PARTICULARLY COLD TRIP TO THE MOUNTAINS I NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. I WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE IT ONCE I GOT HOME. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP GRESHAM NISSAN SUBARU IN GRESHAM OREGON ABOUT IT AT MY NEXT OIL CHANGE THEY SAID THEY DIDN?T FIND ANYTHING. I DID NOT TAKE THE CAR INTO COLD WEATHER AGAIN UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS WELL OUT OF WARRANTY. WHEN I DID I NOTICED AN EVEN STRONGER SMELL OF GAS. I DECIDED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THE LEAKING FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM CORRECTED BEFORE I MADE A MOVE FROM PORTLAND OREGON TO THE SIGNIFICANTLY COLDER CLIMATE IN MADISON WISCONSIN. IT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO PAY ALMOST ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO CORRECT A DEFECT THAT WAS INHERENT IN THE VEHICLE FROM THE TIME IT WAS NEW. ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS DEFECT MAY CAUSE AN EXPLOSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221017March 13, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN THE CAR WHEN STARTING FROM COLD . WE ARE FORCED TO IDLE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE HEAT SYSTEM OFF AND CAN ONLY TURN IT ON WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR THE FUMES ARE OVERPOWERING. SYMPATHETIC COMMENTS FROM THE SUBARU DEALER BUT UNABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT A RECALL IS COSTLY FOR SUBARU, BUT THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216872February 4, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WE JUST HAD AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF SNOW & COLD WEATHER HERE WHERE I LIVE IN OREGON. MY WRX SUDDENLY DEVELOPED AN EXTREMELY STRONG, TOXIC, RAW FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE CAR WHEN IT WAS FIRST STARTED IN THE MORNING. I CALLED MY DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY KNEW WHAT IT WAS, AND THAT THERE IS A TSB TO FIX THE FUEL LINE LEAK. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT SUBARU DID NOT THINK IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE SO WOULD NOT COVER IT OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AND WANTED $600 TO FIX! THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE! I HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOWS TO GET FRESH AIR TO BE ABLE TO BREATHE AND AM CONCERNED THAT THE CAR MIGHT CATCH FIRE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216576January 31, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
VERY STRONG RAW FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE CAR COMING THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM AS WELL AS STRONG EXTERIOR FUEL SMELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216445January 29, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL SMELL COMES FROM RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN ITS COLD OUT (UNDER 50). THE SMELL FILLS THE INSIDE OF THE CAR WHILE I DRIVE. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER OWNERS OF MY CAR AND THIS IS COMMON. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215602January 21, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
UNBEARABLY STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. TEMPERATURE 20 F AND BELOW. 62,000 ON CAR, NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE. ALWAYS EXPOSED TO SAME CLIMATE CHANGES AND EXTREMES IN TEMPERATURE. UNABLE TO DRIVE CAR, NAUSEATED AND SEVERE HEADACHE ENSUED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215301January 18, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
STOPPED AT LIGHT AND NOTICED STRONG FUEL ODOR IN CABIN. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, NOTICED LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKING ONTO TOP OF ENGINE BLOCK, AND RUNNING DOWN TO EXHAUST COMPONENTS. CONSIDERING QUANTITY AND LOCATION OF LEAKING FUEL, IT SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215189January 16, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
SOA GOLD PLUS ADDED SECURITY 7 YEAR/100,000 MI CONTRACT COVERAGE SO EXTENSIVE IT'S EASIER TO LIST WHAT IS NOT COVERED! 2002 WRX 64,500 MI NOW AT METRIC SUBARU DIX HILLS, NY BLEW OUT TRANS/MAN CLUTCH ASSEMBLY & WANTS $3,600. METRIC REPLACED MANUAL CLUTCH ASS 62,980 MI, COSTING $1,175 & BROUGHT BACK CAR LESS THAN 400 MI LATER BECAUSE OF CRUNCHING WHEN SHIFTING IN FIRST & REVERSE & WASN'T FIXED BECAUSE METRIC COULDN'T VERIFY COMPLAINT. FEW DAYS LATER GEAR STUCK IN REVERSE & CAR WOULDN'T BUDGE WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF STREET. SUBARU TOWED CAR TO METRIC, COULDN'T VERIFY COMPLAINT AS GEAR BECAME UNSTUCK. NEW YEARS DAY, WITH DROPPED CLUTCH PEDAL COULDN'T GET INTO GEAR SO SUBARU TOWED CAR BACK TO METRIC. UPON CALLING SOA RECEIVED # 1072552 FROM LES HANDLEY AND AFTER SIGNING $500. AUTH TEAR DOWN CHG WAS THEN TOLD TRANS/MAN CLUTCH ASSEMBLY BLOWN OUT/ GEARS STRIPPED/CHIPPED. SOA REFUSES TO AUTHORIZE DEALER TO FIX THE CAR ASSERTING ABUSED CAR AND DRIVEN AGGRESSIVELY. METRIC EXPLAINED MANUAL TRANS A PROBLEM AND WE SEE RESEARCHING WEBSITE, NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS NEARLY SAME IDENTICAL STORY OF TRANS & MAN CLUTCH ASSEMBLY BLOWN OUT/GEARS STRIPPED/CHIPPED WITH SOA DENYING REPAIRS ASSERTING ABUSE. IS IT POSSIBLE EVERY OWNERS TALE OF WOE IS A LIE? SUBARU REPLACED OUR TRANS 29,068 MI AFTER FINDING GEARS, SYNROS AND SLEEVES DEFECTIVE. SUBARU THREE MONTHS LATER AT 29,740 MI FOUND TRANSMISSION LEAKING, SEEING TRANSMISSION CASE POROUS & REPLACED IT. 42,546 MI SUBARU REPLACED WORN REVERSE TRANS SHIFT RAIL AND CLIP. SOA CUSTOMER CARE REP, PATRICIA HUNG UP ON US WHILE WE TRIED TO OBTAIN SATISFACTION ON CLAIM FOR REPAIRS UNDER SERVICE CONTRACT, STATING DEALERSHIP SERVICE REPS INFORMED HER WE ABUSED THE CAR AND DROVE IT AGGRESSIVELY, A FACT THEY OUT AND OUT DENIED TO OUR FACE WHEN CONFRONTED ON THAT MATTER. SERVICE REP INFORMED US THEY SENT PICS AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM AND REQUESTED AUTHORIZATION FOR REPAIR & WAS DENIED WITH OUR SERVICE REP FEELING SOA WAS LOOKING TO AVOID THIS EXTREMELY EXPLOSIVE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214674January 13, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
RAW FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN OF MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX, WHEN I PARK MY CAR IN MY GARAGE AT NIGHT THE RAW FUEL SMELL CAN ALSO BE SMELLED THROUGHOUT THE GARAGE AFTER THE CAR IS SHUT OFF. SUBARU DEALERSHIP WILL FIX IT FOR A 85 DOLLAR PART AND TWO HOURS OF SERVICE TIME, WHICH IS AROUND 230 DOLLARS, AT MY EXPENSE WHEN IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT, THAT IS WRONG TO DO IN MY OPINION. IN MY OPINION SUBARU SHOULD FIX IT FOR FREE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213800January 5, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WE HAD A COLDER THAN NORMAL SPELL BELOW FREEZING FOR A DAY. UPON DRIVING THE SUBARU WRX 2002 MODEL, I NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING INTO THE CABIN. ONCE RETURNING HOME EXAMINED THE ENGINE AND NOTICED FUEL PUDDLING UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I SUSPECT THAT IT IS THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE INTERFACE/CLAMP AND THE RUBBER HOSE CONNECTED TO IT UNDER THE MANIFOLD LEAKING/ SEEPING. IT'S LOCATION AND FUMES POSE A FIRE SAFETY HAZARD AND OCCUPANT SAFETY HAZARD. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213698January 4, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
AN EXTREMELY STRONG ODOR OF UNBURNT FUEL ENGULFED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE, GIVING MY PASSENGER AND I A HEADACHE. THE ODOR HAS RETURNED EVERY DAY SINCE THEN. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213653January 3, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX AT TEMPERATURES OF 40 DEG F AND BELOW THE PASSENGER FUEL LINES LEAK FUEL RAW FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK AND GENERATE LARGE AMOUNTS OF VAPORS THAT ARE DRAWN INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. AT LOWER TEMPERATURES THE PROBLEM IS WORSE. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT CALLS TO TIGHTEN THE LINE BUT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AT ALL, AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT THEY DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT THIS PROCEDURE WILL FIX THE ISSUE. THE TOXIC FUMES GIVE ME NAUSEA AND IRRITATE MY EYES SINCE THEY ARE SO STRONG IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I CLOSE THE RECIR TO PREVENT FRESH AIR FROM COMING INTO THE CABIN BUT THE WINDOWS FOG UP QUICKLY AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF THEM WHILE DRIVING IN THE COLD WEATHER. I ALSO CONSIDER THIS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. THERE ARE COUNTLESS OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND TO DATE THERE IS NO FIX FOR PEOPLE DRIVING THE 2002-03 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. THE FOLLOWING LINK IS AN EXAMPLE OF JUST SOME OF THE PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE. SEARCHES ON THE NET WILL YIELD MANY MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213198December 30, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
SEVERE SMELL OF GASONLINE IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN OUTSIDE TEMP IS <40 DEG F. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR. I TOOK IT TO DEALER LAST YEAR AND THEY TOLD ME THEY TIGHTENED UP CLAMPS BUT THAT HAD NO EFFECT. *TR THIS ISNT A RECALL?? OVER 140 COMPLAINTS FO RAW FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE AND NO RECALL?? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE IN A CAR FIRE??
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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