Subaru WRX Complaints (2002)

427 consumer complaints on file.

#10050961December 22, 2003
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW, IN THE MORNING WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED, THE CLUTCH SHUDDERS WHEN IT IS INITIALLY ENGAGED INTO FIRST GEAR. THE CAR OFTEN SHAKES VIOLENTLY. THE PROBLEM USUALLY GOES AWAY WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP, BUT RETURNS THE NEXT MORNING. I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT THIS IS GOOD FOR THE CLUTCH, AND IS DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. SUBARU ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM (THEY HAVE ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN) BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH IF IT IS NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY PERIOD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050893December 21, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL SMELL INSIDE CAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050722December 18, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS ACTIVATES IN UNNECESSARY SITUATIONS. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN ON MY STREET, ON CLEAN DRY ASPHALT, THE ABS ACTIVATED WHEN GOING OVER A SMALL POTHOLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS NO BRAKING POWER UNTIL I RELEASED AND REAPPLIED THE BRAKE. THIS EXACT SITUATION HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 10-15 TIMES AT THE SAME LOCATION. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE UNNECESSARY ABS ACTIVATION AND BRAKE FAILURE IN OTHER LOCATIONS WHERE I HAVE DRIVEN OVER BUMPS OR PAVEMENT IRREGULARITIES. THE RESULT IS USUALLY THE ACTIVATION OF ABS, THEN THE LOSS OF BRAKING POWER, AND THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE BRAKES BE RELEASED AND REAPPLIED. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THIS IS NOT THE PORPER OPERATION OF AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS BEHAVIOR HAS NOT YET CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR ANY DAMAGE, BUT IT IS EASY TO SEE THAT IF I WERE IN CLOSER PROXIMITY TO OTHER VEHICLES OR OBJECTS, THE RESULT COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049720December 14, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
GASOLINE AND EXHAUST SMELL IN CABIN DURING COLD WEATHER; HAS OCCURED SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW; SUBARU DEALER CLAIMS THEY CAN'T SMELL IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049685December 13, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
RAW FUEL SMELL FOR ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN COLD WEATHER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049649December 12, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I GET A OVERWHELMING FUEL SMELL WHEN STARTING MY CAR. MY MILEAGE IS HORRBILE. I BELEIVE THERE IS A FUEL LEAK IN MY CAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049650December 12, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
MY CAR A 2002 SUBARU WRX LEAKES FUEL FROM THE FUEL RAIL WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPATURE IS BELOW 14F (I HAVE WHITENESS IT UP TO ~40F) THIS IS A KNOW PROUBLEM NOTED UNDER SUBARU TSB 09-36-03.. IT IS EXTREAMLY DANGEROUS FUEL IS LEAKED ON TO THE HEADS WHERE IT IS BOILED .. THEN FLOWS DIRECTLY INTO THE CABIN HVAC SYSTEM .. SCHEDULED FOR REPAIR 12-15-03 I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND GIVEN THE OPTION TO REPAIR IT DUE TO LIVING IN A COLD CLIMATE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047292November 21, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ABS ON MY 2002 SUBARU WRX WAGON ENGAGES IN SITUATIONS WHEN IT SEEMS THAT IT SHOULD NOT ENGAGE. IT FEELS LIKE THERE ARE NO BRAKES SOMETIMES. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047166November 19, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS SYSTEM WILL ENGAGE OVER ROUGH ROADS, BUMPS, RAILROAD TRACKS, MANHOLE COVERS OR ANY UNEVEN ROAD SITUATION EVEN WHEN ABS IS NOT NEEDED. THE SYSTEM THEN TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS TO RECOVER AND ALLOW NORMAL BRAKING. THIS RESULTS IN GREATLY INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND DRIVER UNEASINESS. GENERALLY, HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS (LESS THAN 40 MPH) WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, TRAFFIC SIGNAL, OR STOPPED TRAFFIC. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047028November 16, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
LACK OF BRAKING FORCE WHEN ABS CYCLES ON. OCCURS ON BUMPY OR SLIPPERY SURFACES. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046337November 4, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO TURN A CORNER TOO FAST AND VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A BRICK WALL. CONSUMER WAS THROWN AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD AND BROKE HIS NOSE. THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT WORN , AND FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS CITED BY THE POLICE FOR DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10043735October 28, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2002 SUBARU WRX ABS FAILURE. WHEN DECELLERATING ON BUMPY SURFACES, THE ABS ON MY 2002 WRX WILL ENGAGE, SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE.N EXTREMELY SLICK SURFACES, LIKE SLUSH, THE ABS WILL ACTIVATE AND DISENGAGE THE BRAKES COMPLETELY, RESULTING IN NO STOPPING AT ALL. IN JANUARY OF 2003, MY CAR ROLLED THROUGH A RED LIGHT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION BECAUSE THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK. THE WHEELS WERE NOT LOCKED OR SLIDING, THE ABS ENGAGED AND FAILED TO STOP THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT I WAS ALREADY WELL INTO THE INTERSECTION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043811October 28, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTILOCK BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED ACCIDENT. A VECHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED QUICKLY SO I APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY PRESSURE. ALTHOUGH I WAS GOING ONLY 30-35 MPH AND HAD SEVERAL CAR LENGTHS TO STOP, THE BRAKES LOCKED AND THE PEDAL WENT SOFT AND I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR CAUSING ME TO REAR-END THE VECHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE HAD SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN THE PAST WITH THE WRX WHERE THE ABS WOULD TRIGGER WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP WITH MODERATE BRAKE PRESSURE AND THE PEDAL WOULD GO SOFT (RATHER THAN THE KICKBACK I EXPECT WITH ABS), BUT IT WAS NEVER IN A SITUATION THAT WOULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURED ON DRY PAVEMENT, AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, AND I DO NOT RECALL WHETHER I HIT A BUMP DURING THE INCIDENT TRIGGERING THE BRAKE PROBLEM. GIVEN THE DISTANCE AND THE SPEED, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP WELL BEFORE HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IN MY PAST EXPERIENCE WITH ABS BRAKES ON OTHER CARS, THERE IS STRONG FEEDBACK TO THE DRIVER DURING ABS OPERATION, NOT THE SOFT, INEFFECTIVE PEDAL THAT OCCURS ON THE WRX.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043600October 26, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS ENGAGES WHEN BRAKING ON SURFACES WITH GOOD TRACTION IF TIRE(S) GOES OVER A BUMP FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHEN TIRE RETURNS TO GOOD TRACTION SURFACE. CAUSES LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE RELEASED THEN REAPPLIED IN ORDER TO REGAIN BRAKING POWER. ABS IS COMPLETELY INEFFECTIVE ON LOOSE SURFACES, SUCH AS GRAVEL. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041586October 10, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WAS DRIVING THE SUBARU WRX IN A NORMAL FASHION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO CLASSIC SUBARU, THEY OPENED IT UP AND 2ND GEAR WAS STRIPPED OF ALL THE TEETH. THEY WILL NOT FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY CLAIMING IT WAS ABUSED. THIS IS NOT TRUE. THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS THAT ARE STRIPPING OUT OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE THEY ARE ENGINEERED INCORRECTLY. THERE IS NO WAY THEY CAN PROVE ABUSE. THE CAR WAS ONLY TRAVELING 10MPH WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 23,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR AT ALL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041055October 1, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
MANY INCIDENTS. I WAS DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, AROUND 25, COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN AND THERE WAS A CAR AHEAD OF ME. A SECOND OR SO AFTER I APPLIED THE BRAKES I WENT OVER SOME SMALL BUMPS ON DRY PAVEMENT AND IT FELT LIKE ABS WAS COMING ON, THE PEDAL DROPPED, BUT THEN IT WENT WAY DOWN AND IT WASN'T PULSING. BASICALLY THE CAR FELT LIKE IT LOST THE MAJORITY OF ITS BRAKING POWER AND DID NOT RETURN UNTIL I LIFTED UP AND PUSHED DOWN AGAIN BRIEFLY. I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN MANY TIMES WHERE A SMALL AMOUNT OF BUMPS IN THE ROAD WILL CAUSE THE ABS "OVERREACT" FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040410September 23, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLUCTUATED WILDLY WHILE DRIVING, AND CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND WAS GIVEN BACK TO THE CONSUMER, DEALER CLAIMED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039032September 17, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I WAS DRIVING ALONG IN MY 2002 SUBARU WRX WAGON ON SOME LOCAL ROADS AND I WAS COMING UP TO A STOP ON SOME ROUGH PAVEMENT , GIVING MYSELF PLENTY OF ROOM TO STOP WHEN THE ABS KICKED IN AND THEN MY PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WASN'T STOPPING. IT FINALLY BOUNCED A FEW TIMES AND THE CAR CAME TO A STOP- FAR BEYOND WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS ISSUE MANY TIMES AND I FEEL, AS OTHERS DO, THE ABS ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE IS SIMPLY AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN- AND MANY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SUCH AS A RESULT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038928September 15, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS FAILED TO RESUME BRAKING AFTER BEING ACTIVATED BY BUMPS IN ROAD ON CLEAN, DRY ASPHALT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037498September 9, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
HYDRAULIC ANTI-LOCK BRAKES CAUSE BRAKES TO FAIL WHILE TRAVERSING BUMPY SURFACE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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