Subaru WRX Complaints (2002)

427 consumer complaints on file.

#10212196December 18, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
RUBBER FUEL LINE CONNECTING TWO SECTIONS OF HARD METAL FUEL LINE LEAKS IN COLD TEMPERATURES (UNDER 35 DEGREES). PROBLEM NOT YET CORRECTED BY DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212110December 17, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
RAW FUEL SMELL IN COLD WEATHER IN MY 2002 SUBARU WRX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212165December 17, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE 40'S TODAY. NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. WAS ABLE TO LOCATE AND VERIFY A LEAK FROM ONE OF THE FUEL HOSES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD (I HAVE VIDEO TO PROVE THAT THERE IS A LEAK). HAVE OBTAINED AND INSTALLED NEW FUEL LINE ON THE ENTIRE FUEL DELIVERY RAIL. NOW, AFTER PERFORMING MORE RESEARCH I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ACTUAL FUEL RAIL AND NOT THE HOSES. I ALSO KNOW THAT SUBARU KNOWS OF A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE ORIGINAL FUEL RAIL. ASIDE FROM BEING A DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARD, THIS DEFECT IS ALLOWING POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF CARS TO RELEASE COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF HYDROCARBONS INTO THE AIR. THIS SAFETY HAZARD AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD NEEDS TO BE HIGHLY CONSIDERED AS THE BASIS OF A RECALL! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211572December 12, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LEAK AND SMELL FROM FUEL HOSES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211230December 8, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
STARTING CAR IN COLD WEATHER RESULTS IN RAW GASOLINE LEAKS INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. PROBLEM PERSIST UNTIL CAR IS VERY WARM. HAZARDS ARE RISK OF FIRE, DRIVER ILLNESS DUE TO BREATHING FUMES AND ENVIRONMENTAL RELEASE OF GASOLINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211161December 7, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
FUEL LEAK ON 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. FUEL LEAKS/SPRAYS FORM FUEL LINES ONTO MANIFOLD. STRONG FUEL SMELLS FILL CABIN WITH VAPORS. POSSIBLE CHANCE OF FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONTACTED SUBARU WITH NO RESOLUTION. FIND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210636December 3, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
IN COOL OR COLD WEATHER, THERE IS A VERY STRONG ODOR OF RAW FUEL INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ANYONE INSIDE OR NEAR THE CAR IS EXPOSED TO HARMFUL GASOLINE FUMES, THESE VAPORS ARE TOXIC WHEN CONCENTRATED AND MAY CAUSE DIZZINESS AND HALLUCINATIONS IN SMALLER AMOUNTS. THERE IS ALSO CONCERN OF POTENTIAL FIRE DANGER. FUEL ODOR HAS BEEN PRESENT YEAR-ROUND ON MY CAR, AND ALSO ON MANY OTHER 2002 AND 2003 SUBARU IMPREZAS. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE THAT SUBARU NEEDS TO ADDRESS, BUT THEIR POSITION SEEMS TO BE THAT IT IS THE CUSTOMER'S FAULT AND RESPONSIBILITY. THIS REPAIR, TO CORRECT A DESIGN FLAW IN THE SUBARU WRX, WILL COST THE LOYAL CUSTOMER SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. THANKS SUBARU, THANKS A LOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209772November 24, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX EXHIBITS A VERY STRONG RAW GASOLINE SMELL AFTER RUNNING IN COLD WEATHER. I FIND THE PROBLEM MOST PRONOUNCED AFTER A TEMPERATURE CHANGE. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY CAR WILL CATCH ON FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207439October 30, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
EARLY MODEL YEAR 2002 SUBARU IMPREZZA WRX - EXHIBITS A VERY STRONG RAW GASOLINE ODOR WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS 60F OR BELOW AND THE ENGINE IS COLD. THE SMELL IS SO STRONG THAT THE WINDOWS OF THE CAR MUST BE OPENED IN ORDER NOT TO GET SICK FROM THE VAPORS. A VERY SIMILAR IF NOT IDENTICAL ISSUE IS RECORDED BY SUBARU AS SERVICE BULLETIN 09-36-03, HOWEVER THE TEMPERATURE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE BELOW FREEZING FOR THE PROBLEM TO OCCUR. AS STRONG AS THE ODOR IS FROM THIS PROBLEM, THERE IS CLEARLY RAW FUEL POOLING OR SPILLING SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE WELL OVER 1500 POSTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE ON THE FOLLOWING SITE: HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=131755 THERE ARE OTHER FORUMS WITH INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE REPORTS OF RAW FUEL POOLING ON SOME PEOPLE'S MANIFOLDS. THIS REPRESENTS A CLEAR DANGER TO PEOPLE AND PROPERTY, AND SHOULD BE RECONSIDERED BY THE NHTSA AS A MANDATORY RECALL FOR ALL SUBARU WRX VEHICLES WITH ENGINES PRIOR TO 673467 AS LISTED IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN. IF THE NHTSA WAITS UNTIL A VEHICLE CATCHES FIRE OR EXPLODES BEFORE MAKING THIS A RECALL, IT WILL BE A POTENTIAL TRAGEDY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY AVOIDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193443June 15, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE CAR SEEMS TO HAVE A TEMPERATURE RELATED FUEL LEAK THAT ALWAYS OCCURS IN COOL OR COLD WEATHER AND MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IF THE ENGINE IS COLD OR WARM. THERE IS AN EXTREMELY STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE PASSENGER CABIN, SO MUCH SO THAT WINDOWS MUST BE ROLLED DOWN IN COLD WEATHER. THE CAR IS OFF WARRANTY AND I'VE HAD IT IN TO MY MECHANIC WHO CAN'T LOCATE A PROBLEM. HE SUGGESTED TIGHTENING THE FUEL CAP VERY SNUGLY AFTER REFUELING BUT THIS HAS MADE NO DIFFERENCE. THE SMELL OCCURS ALMOST DAILY IN WEATHER BELOW 35-40 DEGREES. THE CAR IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND WAS INSPECTED FOR PIN HOLES, LOOSE CONNECTIONS IN THE EMISSIONS/FUEL SYSTEM BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. I OCCASIONALLY SEE ONE OR TWO SPOTS OF WHAT SMELLS LIKE GAS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. I AM SURPRISED AT THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND THAT SUBARU HAS NOT TAKEN THIS SERIOUSLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192711June 7, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
EXTREMELY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE CABIN AREA. TO THE POINT WHERE WINDOWS ALL HAVE TO BE ROLLED DOWN, SCARED THAT CAR MAY EXPLODE. NOTICED THAT IT IS WORSE ON COLD DAYS MORESO THAN ON HOT DAYS. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED WHAT LOOKS TO BE GASOLINE STAINS ON OUR DRIVEWAY, WHICH ARE LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA OF WHERE OUR 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX USUALLY PARKS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189109April 27, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
2002 SUBARU WRX SEDAN. STRONG FUEL SMELL COMES FROM PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A MINOR FUEL LEAK OCCURS OCCASIONALLY DURING COLD WEATHER. TOOK IT TO SUBARU DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE LEAK SINCE THE WEATHER WARMED UP. SERVICE REP RECALLED SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH ANOTHER CUSTOMER WHO PAID $400 FOR REPLACING A FUEL LINE. FUEL LEAKS ARE SAFETY HAZARDS AND SHOULD BE FIXED AS RECALLS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185806March 21, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DURING SOME COLD WEATHER OF ABOUT 20 FARENHEIT I RECENTLY I SMELLED A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE VEHICLE COLD START EMISSIONS, BUT IT CONTINUED AFTER A LONG DRIVE (60 MINUTES) AND WAS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING. I POPPED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL SO IT APPEARED THE SMELL WAS ORIGINATING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IN COLD WEATHER, AND MY GAS MILEAGE DROPPED TO ABOUT 16 MPG HIGHWAY. THIS IS COMPARED TO ABOUT 28 MPG I NORMALLY GET ON THE HIGHWAY.*AK AFTER THE WEATHER WARMED UP, THE GAS SMELL MOSTLY SUBSIDED AND GAS MILEAGE RETURNED TO NORMAL UPON SEARCHING ONLINE I DID FIND THAT SUBARU HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS ISSUE THAT EXPLAINS THESE SYMPTOMS AS A DEFECT IN THE LENGTH OF THE FUEL HOSE AND RAIL WHICH CAUSES FUEL TO LEAK. BUT UPON TALKING TO THE DEALER, THEY WANTED ME TO PAY FOR A TECHNICIAN TO ATTEMPT TO VERIFY THE ISSUE, WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE NOW THAT THE WEATHER IS WARM. THEY ALSO WILL NOT COMMIT THAT SUBARU WILL PAY FOR THE REPAIR IN ANY CASE. THE REPAIR IF I PAY FOR IT WILL BE MORE THAN $500, BUT I FEEL IT IS A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE. IT'S A HEALTH ISSUE BECAUSE GASOLINE FUMES ARE A RECOGNIZED CARCINOGEN, AND A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE HAVING 40% OF THE GASOLINE DISPERSE IN THE ENGINE BAY COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. ALSO, WAITING FOR THE SYMPTOM TO APPEAR IS TOO LATE, AND DOES NOT RELIABLY IDENTIFY WHICH VEHICLES MAY BE AFFECTED. A VEHICLE MAY MOSTLY BE IN A MODERATE CLIMATE, AND THEN IS DRIVEN IN COLD WEATHER, AND SUDDENLY HAS A PRESSURIZED GAS LEAK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185436March 18, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
I OWN A 2002 SUBARU WRX. IN FEB. 2007 I STARTED THE CAR AND STRONG GASOLINE SMELL ENTERED THE CABIN. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOW DEFECT IN THE 2002 MODEL WHEN STARTING IN COLD WEATHER. THE DEALER KNEW THE TROUBLE WELL AND FIXED IT WITH CHANGE IN FUEL LINE NEAR INTAKE MANIFOLD. MY QUESTION IS WHY THIS SERIOUS FLAW DID NOT TRIGGER A RECALL WHEN A FIRE COULD CERTAINLY RESULT FROM LEAKING FUEL NEAR THE MANIFOLD?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185448March 18, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
ON MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX SEDAN WHENEVER I GO OVER A BUMP OR IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD (NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL) THE ABS KICKS IN AND IF I HIT THE BRAKES DIRECTLY AFTERWARDS THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND I HAVE SEVERELY WEAK BREAKS FOR 2-3 SECONDS THEN THEY COME BACK. IVE REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS, PADS, AND BRAKE FLUID AND THE ISSUE STILL HAPPENS. SUBARU OF AMERICA CLAIMS IT IS NOT A PROBLEM BUT HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE WITH ANY OTHER CAR WITH ABS. IM VERY FAMILIAR WITH ABS AND KNOW HOW IT WORKS THE PROBLEM IS AFTER IT ENGAGES IF YOU BRAKE AGAIN 2-3 SECONDS AFTER IT ENGAGED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AS IF THERES ONLY 20% BRAKEING FORCE. IVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS ONE TIME I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT GOING 5MPH AND THIS HAPPENED AND I ALMOST DRIFTED INTO A PARKED CAR. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. PLEASE VIEW THIS WEBSITE HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=102893 MANY 2002 AND UP SUBARU OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCEING THIS. THE ABS ISNT THE PROBLEM AGAIN ITS THE LOSS OF BRAKEING AFTER THE ABS WAS ENGAGED MAYBE THE ABS COMPUTER ISNT WORKING CORRECTLY/FAST ENOUGH? THANK YOU
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185269March 16, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DURING THE WINTER, OUR 2002 WRX HAS SMELLED LIKE EXHAUST OR RAW FUEL IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO SURBARU AND WERE TOLD THE RUBBER FUEL LINE SHRINKS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS AND FUEL LEAKS. THEY DID A NOTICE, BUT NOT A RECALL - WHICH MEANS YOU PAY NOT THEM. IT COST $700 IN PARTS & LABOUR ($15 FOR THE PART) - THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAS TO BE REMOVED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I CALLED SUBARU AMERICA DIRECTLY AND WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T SELL ENOUGH CARS IN THE NORTH TO WARRANT THE COST OF DOING A RECALL ON ALL THE SUBARU'S. MAYBE IF ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAIN THEY WILL RETHINK THEIR STRATEGY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184841March 12, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
STRONG FUEL SMELL AFTER VEHICLE START UP. THIS HAD BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME (AROUND 1 MONTH). TOOK VEHICLE IN TO SERVICE AND DISCOVERED FUEL LEAKING UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FROM THE INJECTOR RAILS. FUEL WAS SPILLING ONTO THE MANIFOLD. DISCOVERED SUBARU TSB # 01-123-90 COVERING THE ISSUE AND REPAIR NEEDED. THE REPAIR TOOK 1+ WEEKS DUE TO PART UNAVAILABILITY AND $380. CONNECTOR HOSE REFERENCED IN THE SUBARU TSB WAS REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184896March 12, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BEGINNING IN THE WINTER OF 2003- 2004 (I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JUNE OF 2003), I WOULD CLEARLY SMELL GASOLINE WHENEVER I TURNED MY CAR ON IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW 40 DEGREES OR SO). THE SMELL WOULD REMAIN FOR A LITTLE WHILE. I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT OF THIS AS A MAJOR PROBLEM, BUT I ALLOWED MY PREGNANT SISTER TO BORROW MY CAR AND ON A PARTICULARLY COLD DAY, IT MADE HER SO NAUSEOUS SHE VOMITED AND COULDN'T REMAIN IN THE CAR. I HAD TO BORROW A FRIENDS CAR TO GO PICK HER UP, THEN HAVE HER DRIVE WITH ME TO MY FRIENDS HOUSE 30 MINUTES AWAY SO I COULD GIVE HIM HIS CAR BACK. AFTER THIS EMBARRASSING SITUATION, I DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE THIS AND CAME ACROSS A WEBSITE THAT 2002 SUBARU WRX OWNERS TRADE INFORMATION ON. I FOUND OUT THAT SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE JANUARY OF 2003, BUT NEGLECTED TO LET THE BUYERS KNOW ABOUT IT. I ACTUALLY BOUGHT THE CAR AFTER THEY RELEASED THEIR TSB ABOUT THIS, BUT NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT. I AM REALLY AGGRAVATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, FOR SO MANY YEARS AND NEITHER SUBARU OF AMERICA, THE NHTSA, NOR ANYONE ELSE HAS DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SHAME ON ALL PARTIES INVOLVED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184642March 9, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
RAW FUEL SMELL FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMES INTO CABIN OF VEHICLE WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS LOWER THAN 20 DEGREES F. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184226March 5, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
RAW FUEL SMELL COMING FROM ENGINE AREA. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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