Subaru WRX Complaints (2002)

427 consumer complaints on file.

#10139304October 11, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DRIVING DURING VERY LIGHT RAIN IN LEFT LANE ABOUT 30 MPH, CAR IN FRONT (ABOUT 2-3 CAR-LENGTHS AHEAD) STARTS BRAKING. I PRESSED THE BRAKES AND ABS CAME ON WITHOUT ANY REASON, THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN ALMOST AT ALL, FORCING ME TO SWITCH THE LANE QUICKLY TO THE RIGHT. WHILE SWITCHING LANES, CAR STARTED SKIDDING AND DIVING THE NOSE TO THE RIGHT/TAIL TO THE LEFT, I TRIED TO CORRECT THE NOSE TO THE LEFT, BUT THAT CAUSED A MORE DANGEROUS SKID TO THE LEFT, TOWARD ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I TURNED THE WHEEL RIGHT AGAIN, TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL, BUT THE CAR SPUN OUT AND HIT A TREE ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD WITH THE DRIVER'S DOOR. I WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL AND STAYED THERE OVERNIGHT FOR OBSERVATION, RELEASED NEXT DAY. NOBODY WAS INJURED, THE TREE HAD A FEW VERY SMALL SCRATCHES. I AM STILL WAITING TO FIND OUT IF THE CAR WILL BE REPAIRABLE OR TOTALED. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130063July 26, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
IF I TRY TO BRAKE OVER ROUGH OR SLIPPERY PAVEMENT IN MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX, THE ABS SYSTEM SHUTS OFF THE BRAKES. POTHOLES, MANHOLE COVERS, FROST HEAVES, ICY PATCHES, ANY OF THESE CAUSE THIS BEHAVIOR. ALSO, IN NOVEMBER 2004, WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT ABOUT 30 TO 35 MPH ON DRY AND MOSTLY CLEAN PAVEMENT, A TRUCK DRIVING IN FRONT OF ME BRAKED GRADUALLY. I HIT MY BRAKES TO MAINTAIN A DISTANCE, BUT IT WAS A SECTION OF RIPPLED PAVEMENT AND THE ABS SYSTEM SHUT OFF THE BRAKES SO COMPLETELY FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS. MY CAR WAS ACTUALLY PICKING UP SPEED DUE TO THE DOWNHILL. I AM SURE THAN IN ANY OTHER CAR I'VE HAD, I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD ANY TROUBLE SLOWING DOWN. I AVOIDED REAR-ENDING THE TRUCK BY SLOWING THE CAR WITH AGGRESSIVE ENGINE BRAKING. I ALSO STEERED TOWARDS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AT THAT MOMENT AND THE PAVEMENT WAS CLEANER, SO I COULD SLOW DOWN. ANOTHER TIME I REAR-ENDED A VEHICLE THAT STOPPED IN FRONT OF A POTHOLE, ALTHOUGH DAMAGE WAS MINOR. I'VE ALSO HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF SCARY NEAR - MISSES WITH REAR-ENDING OTHER VEHICLES, AND ON A FEW OCCASIONS SLID OUT INTO INTERSECTIONS WITH FROST HEAVES LEADING UP TO A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, BECAUSE MY BRAKING SPACE ESTIMATE WAS FAR LESS THAN I ACTUALLY NEEDED. I RECENTLY REPLACED ALL BRAKE PADS AND DISCS. THE REAR PADS FIT IN THE CALIPERS SO TIGHTLY I HAD TO POUND THEM OUT WITH A HAMMER AND PUNCH. BOTH PADS AND ROTORS WERE WORN VERY UNEVENLY. REPLACEMENT REAR PADS FIT IN THE SAME WAY. THEN I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE FIT, SO I GROUND DOWN THE TABS TO GET A GOOD SNUG FIT RATHER THAN AN INTERFERENCE FIT AND JAMMING, SO THEY SLIPPED INTO PLACE NORMALLY. AFTER MAKING THIS CHANGE TO MY BRAKES, THEY WORK VERY WELL. I NEARLY SOLD THE CAR DUE TO THIS ISSUE, BUT INSTEAD DROVE IT FOR A WHILE WITH THE ABS SYSTEM DISABLED. MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER TOLD ME THIS IS HOW ABS SYSTEMS ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS CLEARLY A BIG PROBLEM.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121971May 23, 2005
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I HAVE EXPERIENCED "CLUTCH SHUDDER" ON MY 2002 WRX. THE DEALERSHIPS I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO (3) SAID THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM SO HAVE LEFT IT UNADDRESSED. THE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY LIKE IT WAS BEING JACKHAMMERED WHEN FIRST DRIVEN. NO DEALER WILL REPAIR IT UNDER THE TSB THAT WAS ISSUED BY SUBARU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121112May 16, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
WHILE DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, WELL WITHIN ACCEPTABLE SPEEDS, APPROACHING A RIGHT HAND TURN WITH NO TRAFFIC I SLIGHTLY MOVED LEFT ON THE ROAD (OVER THE BUMP STRIP, BUT NOT INTO THE OTHER LANE) TO GET A SMOOTHER ANGLE INTO THE TURN.UPON BRAKING, THE DRIVERS FRONT TIRE SQUEALED/SLID, NO ABS PULSE AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS FAR CLOSER TO THE FLOOR THAN NORMAL.I LET OFF AND DOWNSIFTED TO NO AVAIL.I HIT THE CURB (ONLY, THANKFULLY) BUT DID EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY CAR RENDERING IT UNDRIVABLE.I NOW HAVE NO FAITH IN MY ONCE CHERISHED CAR AND ONCE IT IS REPAIRED AM CONTEMPLATING REPLACING IT.WHY HAVENT THEY FIXED THIS???????!?!?!?
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108777April 6, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED FUMES COMING FROM THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE FUEL HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT ALTITUDE AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, FUEL WOULD LEAK OUT OF THE LINE DUE TO THE RUBBER CONNECTION ON THE METAL VALVES. THE CABIN WOULD FILL UP WITH FUEL ODOR'S WHICH WERE VERY STRONG. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112650March 7, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL SMELL DURING COLD STARTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112550March 5, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, THERE IS A STRONG GAS ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112041February 23, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ODOR OF GASOLINE IN PASSENGER CABIN CAUSED BY LEAKING FUEL LINE. FUMES CAUSING DRIVER DIZZINESS AND HEADACHES. SUBARU REPAIRED THE LEAK BY TIGHTENING A FUEL LINE CONNECTION. THE PROBLEM RETURNED AND SUBARU CAN NOT LOCATE SOURCE OF FUEL ODOR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111931February 22, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN IT GETS REALLY COLD OUT I GET A VERY NOXIOUS SMELL OF RAW GAS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF MY 2002 SUBARU WRX. THE SMELL ALSO FILLS MY GARAGE WHEN I PARK THE CAR. THE FUMES ARE VERY POTENT AND I AM FEARFUL OF A FIRE. FROM WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IT IS DUE TO FUEL LEAKS AT THE FUEL LINES, BUT THEY CAN'T BE REACHED UNLESS YOU REMOVE THE MANIFOLD AND IT IS A $500 JOB. MY VEHICLE HAS 95000 MILES ON IT, BUT I KNOW I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THOUGH THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF THAT. THIS IS A SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110701February 17, 2005
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PLACE MY CAR IN NEUTRAL IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO BACK INTO FIRST GEAR. SO I HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND PUT IT INTO SECOND GEAR. I HAVE ALREADY COMPLAIN TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. THEY JUST SAY THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106729February 16, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK FROM THE HOSE, MAKING IT DANGEROUS FOR A FIRE TO OCCUR. CONSUMER WILL TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS.*AK *EH *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110499February 14, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
I HAVE 2002 SUBARU WRX. IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL IS PRESENT IN THE PASSEGER COMPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. SUBARU HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 09-36-03), FOR THE PROBLEM (SO THEY RECOGNISE IT DOES EXIST). I HAVE INQUIRED ABOUT THE WORK NECESSARY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, ISSUED UNDER THIS BULLETIN. THE COST WITH PARTS AND LABOR REACHES ALMOST FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS, WHICH I THINK IS RIDICULOUS. I ALSO REALIZE THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS COMPLETED AN INVESTIGATION (NHTSA PE4002), AND FOUND NO SAFETY PROBLEMS. EVEN IF THERE IS NO PHYSICAL SAFETY PROBLEM, I BELIEVE SUBARU SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIRS, SINCE IT REALIZES THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ITS HEALTHY TO BE DRIVING AROUND BREATHING GASOLINE FUMES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110337February 11, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LEAK, TOOK TO DEALER GILLMAN SUBARU IN HOUSTON AND THEY STATED MANY CARS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT SUBARU OF NORTH AMERICA WON'T PAY FOR REPAIRS. I BELIEVE IF THEY HAVE MANY CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM THEY SHOULD FIX IT AT THEIR EXPENSE AND ISSUE A RECALL. FUEL LEAKS CAN CAUSE FIRES AND PUT PASSENGERS IN DANGER. I HAVE A 2002 SUBARU WRX, VIN#[XXX]. SERVICE MANAGER(AMIR) AT GILLMAN SUBARU PHONE#713-776-6330. SUBARU OF NORTH AMERICA PHONE#1800-782-2783. *JB *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110248February 10, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
STRONG FUEL SMELL IN PASSENGER CABIN, TEMPERATUER WAS ABOUT 10 F. THIS SEEMS TO BE KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT I WISH TO ADD TO THE LIST. DEALER TOOK 2 WEEKS TO ORDER PARTS, AND IT WILL COST ME $475 DOLLARS TO FIX A SAFTEY/HEALTH ISSUE THAT SUBARU KNOWS ABOUT. THE FIRST DAY I DEVELOPED A LOT OF EXCESS MUCUS & HEADACHE BEFORE I FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. I GUESS BREATHING 93 OCTANE DURING A COMMUTE WILL DO THAT TO A PERSON. SUBARU SHOULD BE PRESSURES TO MAKE THIS A RECALL. I PUT THE A/C ON RECIRCULATE UNTIL THE ISSUED WAS FIXED, BUT WHEN I WOULD GET OUT TO SCRAPE ICE OFF OF THE WINDOWS I COULD SMELL LOTS OF FUEL OUTSIDE. NOT SAFE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109984February 7, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE FUEL LINES HAVE A FAULTY HOSE CLAMP THAT LEAKS FUEL IN COLD TEMPERATURES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110023February 7, 2005
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE CAR NEVER SHIFTED GEARS EASILY FROM WHEN NEW. AT 13,000 MILES THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLUTCH UNDER WARRANTY WITH AN '03 SPEC CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THE SHUDDERING CEASED, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WHINED EXCESSIVELY AND IT WAS STILL DIFFICULT TO SHIFT GEARS, ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD. LAST WEEK, IN VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, ALL POWER WAS LOST AND THE TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE SHIFTED AND I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, INSPECTED BY REP AND DEEMED TO BE ABUSED, THEREFORE, NO COVERAGE UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN IS SUBARU GOING TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM IN THAT THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION IS NOT ENGINEERED TO HANDLE THE INCREASE POWER OF THE WRX MOTOR? THERE WAS NO ABUSE, NO RACING OR DRIVER ERROR ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FAILURE. I AM FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108323January 31, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LEAKING FROM FUEL LINES DURING COLD STARTS (LESS THAN 32 DEG. F AMBIENT TEMPS.). EXTREMELY STRONG FUEL ODER BEING TRANSMITTED INTO PASSENGER CABIN FROM THE AIR VENTILATION SYSTEM. CAN SEE VISIBLE FUEL DRIPPING ONTO ENGINE FROM FUEL LINES. HAD CAR REPAIRED BY DEALER UNDER SUBARU TSB IN MARCH OF 2004 AND PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. SEEMS WORSE NOW THAN IT WAS BEFORE THE REPAIR. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE CAR CATCHING FIRE AND THE DEALERS INABILITY TO FIX THE FUEL LEAK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108238January 30, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
REFERENCE PE04002 . FIRST LEAKED AT 18 DEGREES F, JAN.2004. THE LEAK DOES'T GO AWAY AFTER ENGINE WARMS. IT GOES AWAY AFTER THE HOSE WARMS. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND COLD AIR IS BLOWING ON THE HOSE, IT KEEPS LEAKING. NOT NOTICEABLE IN CABIN UNLESS YOU COME TO A STOP. DID NOT KNOW OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN TO GET IT FIXED. VEHICLE IS OVER MILEAGE FOR WARRANTY WORK , SO SUBARU WANT'S TO CHARGE ME $400 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. NOW IT STARTS LEAKING BELOW 50 DEGREES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108005January 27, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL ODOR IN CABIN DURING COLD WEATHER. I HAVE SEARCHED THE DEFECTS/RECALL PAGES FOR THIS ISSUES AND FOUDN THAT IT HAS BEEN CLOSED DUE TO THE OCCURANCE ONLY LASTING FOR A FEW MOMENTS. THIS IS NOT TRUE! THE FUELL LEAKAGE CONTINUES DURING ANY COLD WEATHER USE, NOT JUST AT STARTUP. I FIND THIS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAD BECOME EXTREMELY DIZZY ON A NORMAL DAILY COMMUTE (15-20 MINUTES). THE ODOR IS CONTINUOUS AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE IN NOT IN MOTION (I.E. STOP AND GO TRAFFIC). I CONSIDER THIS FUEL LEAK A MAJOR ISSUE WITH DRIVER SAFETY, AND FOR THOSE ON THE ROAD AT THE SAME TIME AS ANYONE ELSE WITH A 2002 WRX IN COLD WEATHER. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND A MEMBER OF SAE (SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS), AND CONSIDER ANY OVERLOOK OF THIS PROBLEM BY SOA (SUBARU OF AMERICA) TO BE AN ENORMOUS RELIABILITY ISSUE. I HOPE THAT THE PROPER AUTHORITIES CAN STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT AND FIX THOSE VEHICLE MANUFACTURED WITH THIS VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107786January 24, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL SMELL INSIDE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN A 2002 SUBARU WRX WAGON DURING COLD WEATHER. VISUALLY DETECTED FUEL LEAK UNDER PASSENGER SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HOW TO FIX IT WITH AN UPDATED FUEL RAIL AND HOSE. CAR IS IN FOR SERVICE NOW. NOTICED THIS SEVERAL OTHER TIMES BUT NEVER SPOTTED FUEL UNTIL YESTERDAY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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