Subaru WRX Complaints (2002)

427 consumer complaints on file.

#10054743January 23, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
OVERWHELMING FUEL SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE TO THE POINT OF MY EYE'S TEARING DUE TO THE STRONG SMELL OF FUEL AND PULL THE CAR OVER TO GET OUT AND BREATHE FRESH AIR. STRONG EVEN WITH THE HOOD CLOSED YOU CAN SMELL THE FUEL STANDING BY THE CAR. CANNOT DRIVE VEHICLE OR HAVE CHILDREN IN CAR. ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGES PREMATURELY WHEN NOT NEEDED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO TRAVEL OVER A LONGER DISTANCE THAN NEEDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054768January 23, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2002 SUBARU WRX WAGON - STRONG GASOLINE ODOR IN CAR WHEN COLD. DEALER ADVISED PURGE VALVE WAS REPLACED, FOUND SUBARU TSB 09-36-03 WHICH DESCRIBES MY PROBLEM, STILL HAVE GASOLINE ODOR IN VERY COLD WEATHER. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054701January 22, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THERE IS A SMELL OF GAS ON MY 2002 WRX FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AFTER I START THE CAR. I'VE READ ON SOME INTERNET FORUMS THAT THERE MAY BE AN INCOMPATIBILITY BETWEEN ONE OF THE GAS HOSES AND THE GAS RAILS. THE SMELL SEEMS WORST WHEN IT IS COLD OUT. IT IS VERY NOTICABLE WHEN I HAVE OUTSIDE AIR VENTING ENABLED. IT SEEMS ODD THAT I WOULD EVER SMELL GASOLINE AND FEAR THIS MAY BE DANGEROUS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054652January 22, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I OWN A 2002 SUBARU WRX. THERE IS A VERY STRONG GAS ODOR EMINATING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND VENT DURING COLD WEATHER. I HAVE TOLD THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME TO LOOK AT IT. IT IS MY STRONG FEELING THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ON THEIR TAB.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054564January 21, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TERRIBLE FUEL SMELL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF MY 2002 SUBARU WRX ON COLD DAYS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054566January 21, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
GAS LEAK FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE BAY. ONLY OCCURS IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054571January 21, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
MY SUBARU '02 WRX SEDAN HAS DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK IN COLD WEATHER. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALERSHIP (RAFFERTY SUBARU IN NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA) AND THEY MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON FUEL LEAKS IN SUBARU WRX'S, AND THAT IT WOULD TAKE WEEKS TO GET REPLACEMENT PARTS TO FIX IT. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY ALLOWING CUSTOMERS TO DRIVE THEIR CARS WITH FUEL LEAKS AND WAITING FOR THEM TO COME IN IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS. I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE COMMONALITY OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL I VISITED THE IMPREZA OWNERS WEB SITE (WWW.NASIOC.COM) AND FOUND MANY, MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I AM POSTING HERE TO TRY TO PUT MORE ATTENTION ON THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BY AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. THANK YOU, KEN RIMPLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054606January 21, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
I HAVE A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WHICH HAS A STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING THROUGH THE VENTS DURING WARM-UP/DRIVING IN SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES. HOWEVER, ONCE THE CAR WARMS UP....THE FUEL SMELL GOES AWAY UNTIL THE CARS COOLS OFF AGAIN AND THE WHOLE THING STARTS AGAIN. I HAVE READ THE TSB AND HAVEN'T HAD TIME IN GOTO SUBARU BECAUSE I HAVE SOME CONCERNS AS TO WHETHER IT WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF SINCE I AM BEYOND MY 3/36 WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO THEM ONCE ABOUT A YEAR A AGO FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY SMELLED IT BUT COULDN'T FIND A "LEAK" SO THEY JUST TIGHTENED ALL THE CLAMPS DOWN. BUT NOW IT'S BACK AND I CAN SEE FUEL ON THE SOLID FUEL LINE UNDER THE INTAKE ELBOW. I AM HOPING A RECALL IS IN ORDER. THANKS NHTSA. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054609January 21, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
WHEN BRAKING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES OR BUMPS ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE ABS KICKED IN AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR LEAVING ME WITH ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES FOR A SECOND UNTIL I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL AND REAPPLIED PRESSURE. THIS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST CRASH INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHICH WAS STOPPED AT THE STOPLIGHT. I HAD TO CHANGE INTO THE RIGHT TURN LANE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054497January 20, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
SINCE THE WEATHER HAS GOTTEN COLD HERE IN MICHIGAN (BELOW FREEZING) THERE HAS BEEN A STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF MY 2002 SUBARU WRX. IT IS MOST APPARENT UPON START UP. THE SMELL AT TIMES WILL BE SO STRONG THAT IT WILL BRING YOU TO THE POINT OF VOMITING OR PASSING OUT IF YOU DO NOT OPEN THE WINDOWS DOWN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055395January 20, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED GAS FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054521January 20, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY CAR MATCHES THE DESCRIPTION OF ISSUE PE04002. I AM FILING THIS SINCE I BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND ADDRESS THIS. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE FOR THE PAST TWO WINTERS, BUT ONLY NOW BECAME OF AWARE OF THE TSB THROUGH THE INTERNET. IT CONCERNS ME CUSTOMERS HAVE NOT BE PROACTIVELY CONTACTED NOR HAS THERE BEEN UNIFORM DEALER TREATMENT OF THIS ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THE SAFETY IMPACTS OF THIS LIKELY FUEL LEAK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054541January 20, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. DURING SNOWY CONDITIONS AT APPROXIMATELY 15MPH, I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY SOFTLY. THE PEDAL WAS VERY STIFF AND DIDN'T DEPRESS AT ALL (NO TRAVEL AT ALL). THE ABS DIDN'T ACTIVATE AND NO BRAKING OCCURED, I PRESSED HARDER AND STILL NOTHING. THE CAR DIDN'T SLIDE AT ALL, DIDN'T SLOW AND NO BRAKING OCCURED AT ALL. I LET ALL PRESSURE OFF THE PEDAL AND AGAIN GENTLY PRESSED THE PEDAL AGAIN. THE CAR SLOWED TO A STOP LIKE NORMAL. IT WAS -5 DEG F. OUTSIDE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE OR SINCE THIS INCIDENT BUT IN 17 YEARS OF DRIVING I'VE NEVER HAD A CAR DO THIS. I WOULD HAVE GONE RIGHT INTO THE INTERSECTION IF I HADN'T BEEN BREAKING VERY EARLY DUE TO THE CONDITIONS. I STRESS THAT THE INITIAL APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY GENTLE AND NO MATTER HOW HARD I SUBSEQUENTLY PUSHED THE PEDAL DIDN'T DEPRESS AT ALL AT ANY TIME UNTILL I LET UP PRESSURE AND TRIED AGAIN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054411January 18, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
AFTER RUNNING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES ON A COLD MORNING, A STRONG FUEL SMELL COULD BE DETECTED IN CABIN AND UNDER HOOD. FUEL VAPOR/CLOUD WAS VISIBLE WHEN HOOD WAS LIFTED. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054331January 17, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHEN COLD (BELOW 20 DEG F) CAR EXHIBITS SEVERE FUEL ODOR IN INTERIOR. UPON INSPECTION, IT IS CLEAR THAT FUEL IS LEAKING OUT OF FUEL LINES OVER TOP OF ENGINE AND COVERING TOP OF HOT ENGINE. FIXED ONCE BY DEALER LAST WINTER BY TIGHTENING HOSE CLAMPS, BUT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. SO MUCH GAS LEAKS OUT THAT SMOKE POURS FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054332January 17, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
FUEL LEAK ON TOP OF ENGINE. THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM AS THERE IS A NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF REPLACEMENT PARTS FROM SUBARU. 2002 SUBARU WRX. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054360January 17, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
EARLY 2002 SUBARU WRX FUEL SMELL(LEAK) IN COLD WEATHER - PROBABLY AS MENTIONED IN SUBARU TSB 09-36-03 THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY PROVIDED A LOANER CAR AT NO COST WHILE THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP. THE PARTS ARE CURRENTLY BACKORDER. I HOPE SUBARU WILL COVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY MILEAGE HAS BEEN EXCEEDED SINCE THIS PROBLEM REQUIRED A RE DESIGN OF THE FUEL LINE COMPONENTS. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054269January 16, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL SMELL. A FUEL DELIVERY LINE CAME LOOSE UNDER COLD CONDITION (20F), RESULTING IN FUEL POURING ONTO THE HOT ENGINE BLOCK. THE FUEL DELIVERY LINE WAS UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054293January 16, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LEAK IN SUBARU WRX IN COLD WEATHER. THIS IS RELATED TO THE OTHER COMPLAINTS OF "FUEL SMELL". I ACTUALLY WITNESSED FUEL LEAKING LAST YEAR AND BROUGHT IT TO A DEALER TO BE FIXED. THEY TIGHTENED THE FITTINGS ON MY FUEL LINES AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. A YEAR LATER, WITH THE EXTREME COLD WEATHER WE ARE HAVING, THE PROBLEM IS BACK. THE SMELL IN THE CABIN DURING MORNING WARM UPS IS UNBEARABLE, I CANNOT TURN MY HEAT ON UNTIL THE CAR IS IN MOTION. I AM BRINGING MY CAR TO BE FIXED UNDER THE APRIL SERVICE BULLETIN ON TUESDAY, BUT WISH TO FILE A COMPLAINT SO THAT SUBARU MIGHT ISSUE A RECALL TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF ITS CUSTOMERS. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053243January 15, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
2002 SUBARU WRX - FUEL LEAK UNDER THE HOOD. SMELLS LIKE GAS IN THE CAR ON COLD DAYS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, HOWEVER IT IS NOT A RECALL. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE UPGRADED TO A RECALL DUE TO SAFETY MATTERS. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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