Subaru WRX Complaints (2002)

427 consumer complaints on file.

#10056962February 10, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
EVERY DAY MY 2002 SUBARU WRX HAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE CABIN. AT FIRST THIS EFFECT WAS ONLY APPARENT WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD, BUT NOW IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I START THE CAR EVEN IN BAY AREA WEATHER OF 55 F AS LONG AS THE ENGINE IS COLD. THIS LASTS FOR 20 MINUTES OR SO AND MAKES ME DIZZY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION BOTH IN THE DANGER OF FUEL EXPLOSION AND ALSO THE POSIBILITY OF TOXIC EFFECTS TO THE PASSENGER. THIS IS ALSO A VIOLATION OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT. I WOULD URGENTLY RECOMMEND THAT A MANDATORY RECALL BE ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK OWNER STATED THAT HE WAS DIZZY BUT DIDN'T REQ MED ATTENTION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056826February 9, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND SUBSEQUENT HARD BRAKING LED TO LOSS OF CONTROL. THE REAR END SWAYED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT THE RIGHT BARRIER, THEN TURNED AROUND, FRONT RIGHT HIT THE LEFT BARRIER. THE VEHICLE HAD HISTORY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP ON SURFACES WITH THE SLIGHTEST BUMPS, AS FOUND ON EXIT RAMPS AND INTERSECTIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FOR THE BRAKES BY THE DEALER AND HAD FOUND NO PROBLEM. SUBARU DECLINED TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AFTER THE ACCIDENT FOR POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING DEFECT REGARDING THE ABS. IT IS STILL IN MY GARAGE FOR POSSIBLE INSPECTION.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056789February 8, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY 2002 SUBARU WRX HA SA RAW FUEL SMELL WHEN ITS COLD. THE DEALER SAY PARTS ARE ON ORDER. THIS WAS A MONTH AGO. I'M WORRIED IT MIGHT CATCH FIRE. THERE IS A TSB, BUT I'M NOT GETTING ANY CLOSER TO HAVING THE PROBLEM CHECKED/FIXED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056712February 7, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
OVERWHELMING GASOLINE FUEL SMELL IN THE INTERIOR CABIN AND ENGINE COMPARTMENTS IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056734February 7, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LEAK ON INTAKE MANIFOLD, CAUSING STRONG GAS ODER AND POTENTIAL FOR FIRE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056577February 5, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
SMELL OF GASOLINE IN CAR WHEN TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 5 DEGREES F. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056480February 3, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I NOTICED MY 2002 SUBARU WRX HAS FUEL SMELL COMING INTO THE CABIN WHEN I OPEN THE VENT TO ALLOW AIR FROM OUTSIDE. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS AROUND 30F TO 40F. I AM REALLY CONCERN IF IT WOULD CAUSE FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056344February 2, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I WAS TRAVELING ON A STREET WITH SOME CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. THERE WAS A SMALL ROAD IRREGULARITY ON THE ROAD. THIS ROAD IRREGULARITY SPANS ACROSS BOTH OF THE FRONT WHEELS. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE (BEFORE I CAN FEEL THE ROAD IRREGULARITY), THE CAR CONTINUED TO LEAP FORWARD FOR A MOMENT AND THE BRAKING DISTANCE WAS MUCH GREATER THEN I ANTICIPATED AND NOT THE NORMAL BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR. HAVE THERE BEEN A CAR I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT MY CAR'S ABS BRAKING SYSTEM HAS A PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056247January 31, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL SMELL IN CABIN OF VEHICLE ON COLD DAYS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056212January 30, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
MY 2002 SUBARU WRX WITH 39,000 MILES DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CONSISTENT WITH THAT DESCRIBED IN SUBARU TSB 09-36-03. THE FUEL ODOR ENTERED THE PASSENGER CABIN THROUGH THE VENTALLATION SYSTEM. TEMPERATURE ON 1/9/2004 WAS BETWEEN 0 AND 10 DEGREES FARENHEIT. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER ON SATURDAY, 1/10/2004. ON 1/12/2004 I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF >$500 TO REPAIR. I ASKED ABOUT ANY SERVICE BULLETINS AND DEALER SAID NO TSB EXISTED AND THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS ISSUE BEFORE. I DIRECTED THEM TO TSB IN QUESTION AND THEY LATER INFORMED ME REPAIR WOULD BE COVERED AS A "GOOD FAITH" REPAIR EVEN THOUGH OUT OF WARRANTY. REPAIR WAS NOT COMPLETED UNTIL 1/29/2004 BECAUSE PART KIT WAS ON BACK ORDER. RESIDUAL FUEL ODER REMAINS IN PASSENGER CABIN. HOPEFULLY WILL DISAPPEAR IN TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055211January 29, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LEAK IN THE WINTER. KNOWN PROBLEM. SUBARU ISSUED A TSB ON THE MATTER BUT WILL NOT FIX IF CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. FUEL COMES OUT OF A LINE AND POOLS UP AND BURNS OFF ON THE MANIFOLD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055085January 28, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
OWNER OF A 02 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. GAS SMELL OBSERVED FROM ENGINE DURING VERY COLD WEATHER 15-20 DEG. FUEL LEAK FROM BELOW MANIFOLD. WAS TOLD BY DEALER MY CAR IS OVER 36000 MILES AND IS NOT COVERED BY SUBARU. I ASSUMED AN EMISSIONS RELATED PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED FOR MORE THAN 36000 MILES. WAS GIVEN A $650 REPAIR ESTIMATE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054976January 27, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I OWN A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WAGON, WHICH COMES STANDARD WITH ABS BRAKES. I'D HEARD THROUGH A VARIETY OF CHANNELS THAT THERE WAS AN ABS ISSUE WITH THE CAR, IN THAT UNDER SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES THE DRIVER COULD MOMENTARILY LOSE ALL BRAKING ABILITY. I HAD MY DOUBTS, HAVING OWNED THE CAR FOR 2 YEARS BEFORE MY INCIDENT OCCURRED, BUT IT DID FINALLY HAPPEN TO ME. I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT THAT HAD TURNED RED. THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35-40 MPH AND BEGAN BRAKING WITH A LIGHT-MODERATE PEDAL PRESSURE. ABOUT 200 FEET BEFORE THE INTERSECTION, THERE IS A SEAM IN THE PAVEMENT AND THE LATTER PIECE OF ROADWAY IS ABOUT 1-2 INCHES BELOW THE PART BEFORE IT. IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S A VERY SMALL DROP OFF. UPON HITTING THIS DROP OFF AND MAINTAINING PEDAL PRESSURE, THE ABS BRIEFLY CYCLED (FELT AS A VIBRATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL) AND THEN THE CAR STOPPED DECELERATING FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS. IT WAS AS IF I'D LIFTED COMPLETELY OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, YET I HAD NOT. ONCE I REALIZED I WASN'T GOING TO STOP, I RELEASED THE PEDAL AND REAPPLIED IT VERY QUICKLY. BRAKING FORCE WAS RETURNED, AS IF THERE WERE NO PROBLEM. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME I'VE EXPERIENCED THE INCIDENT. I'VE DRIVEN MANY ABS-EQUIPPED CARS IN THE PAST, AND AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT ABS BRAKING FEELS LIKE. I'M ASE CERTIFIED IN BRAKING SYSTEMS, AND HAVE RACED BOTH ABS AND NON-ABS EQUIPPED CARS AT AN AMATEUR LEVEL. WHAT I FELT WAS NOT NORMAL ABS OPERATION, AND HAD THERE BEEN A CAR STOPPED AT THE INTERSECTION AHEAD OF ME I MAY WELL HAVE RUN INTO IT. I ENJOY MY CAR QUITE THOROUGHLY, AND LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT. I'M NOT 'OUT TO GET' SUBARU. BUT THERE IS DECIDEDLY A FLAW IN THE ABS SYSTEM THAT MANY OTHERS AND NOW MYSELF HAVE EXPERIENCED. I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD AGAIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054994January 27, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
MY 2002 SUBARU WRX HAS A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN STARTED IN COLD WEATHER (UNDER APPROX. 30 DEGREES F). THE SMELL EVENTUALLY GOES AWAY AS THE ENGINE WARMS UP. THIS HAPPENED LAST WINTER AND THIS WINTER. SUBARU HAS ISSUED A TSB ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT MY CAR IS OUT OF THE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY PERIOD. ALSO, I CAN'T LEAVE IT OVERNIGHT AT A DEALERSHIP ON A COLD NIGHT (TO ALLOW THE ENGINE TO COOL COMPLETELY) TO ALLOW THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE THE PROBLEM THEMSELVES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE LEAKING FUEL MIGHT BE ENOUGH TO START A FIRE. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT IS ONLY ISSUING A TSB, AND IS NOT ALWAYS PAYING FOR REPAIRS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055035January 27, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
I HAVE NOTICED RAW FUEL SMELL COMING IN FROM THE VENTILATION DUCTS WHEN THE HEATER IS ON DURING COLD WEATHER. THE SMELL WEAKENS WHEN DRIVEN BUT RETURNS WHEN STOPPED COMPLETELY. THIS INCIDENT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS NEAR FREEZING OR BELOW. I HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR AS A 2002 MODEL IN JULY OF 2001. THIS MAY BE A FUEL LEAK AND I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ASAP BY SUBARU. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS A WEAR AND TEAR SITUATION BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY MORE WRX OWNERS IN THE COUNTRY WHO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054889January 26, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
SMELL OF FUEL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF 02 SUBARU WRX ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. NOTICEABLE WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR AND RUNNING CLIMATE CONTROL. DISSIPATES IN APPROXIMATELY 15 MINS. ALSO NOTICEABLE ONE NIGHT IN GARAGE AFTER EXITING THE CAR. HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 3-4 TIMES THIS WINTER. NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054849January 25, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
STRONG SMELL OF RAW GAS DURING ENGINE START-UP WHEN COLD OUTSIDE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054867January 25, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NOW UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054784January 24, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I DRIVE A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX SEDAN. THE ABS SYSTEM IS TERRIBLE ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAS NUMEROUS TIMES FAILED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM, REGARDLESS OF PEDAL POSITION. ONE TIME SPECIFICALLY THIS CAUSED ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO AVOID HITTING A DEER, AND DOING 4000 DOLLARS OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DENIES ANY PROBLEMS, BUT I WAY MORE THAN ENOUGH STOPPING DISTANCE WHERE ANY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP. THE SURFACE WAS ROUGH ASPHALT. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATED 55 MPH (SPEED LIMIT), AND WAS 200 FT AWAY FROM THE DEER WHEN I FIRST APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10054799January 24, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
OVERPOWERING RAW FUEL SMELL IN INTERIOR CABIN IN COLD WEATHER, SUSPECT LEAK IN ENGINE BAY THAT HAS RECENTLY BEEN BROUGHT UP AS A TSB BY SUBARU. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Subaru WRX