2002 Subaru Impreza

On September 6, 2011, Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc, on behalf of Subaru of America, Inc notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (MY) 2002 through 2007 Subaru Impreza, MY 2003 through 2008 Subaru Forester, and MY 2005 through 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the salt belt states including the District of Columbia (DC). For the purpose of this investigation, salt belt states include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and DC.ODI's analysis of consumer complaint data identified 11 reports alleging failure of either the right or left lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these complaints were associated with vehicles currently registered or originally sold in a salt belt state. Through a similar analysis of complaint and warranty data submitted to ODI by Subaru, ODI identified 18 consumer complaints and 6 warranty claims associated with failure of the left or right front lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these consumer complaints associated with vehicles either currently registered of originally sold in a salt belt state.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

THE DESIGN OF THE FUEL LINE (METAL RAIL/RUBBER HOSE INTERFACE) IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO FUEL ODOR AND/OR SEEPAGE IN EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS.OWNERS MOST OFTEN NOTICED FUEL ODOR IN THE OCCUPANT COMPARTMENT AREA DURING INITIAL COLD ENGINE START-UP.ONCE THE ENGINE IS WARMED, THE ODOR/SEEPAGE ISSUE DISSIPATES.FROM SUBARU'S DATA, ODI NOTES THAT THE INCIDENT RATES ARE HIGHER IN STATES WITH COLDER TEMPERATURES.THERE WAS ONE ALLEGATION OF A FIRE INCIDENT IN WHICH THE OWNER HAD REPORTED THAT HE NOTICED FUEL ODOR A FEW DAYS EARLIER, BUT ODI COULD NOT CONFIRM THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE. TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, SUBARU WILL REPLACE THE FUEL LINE WITH A LONGER RUBBER HOSE SEGMENT VERSION/DESIGN ON 5,724 MY 2002-2003 VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH SEPTEMBER 12, 2002 IN 16 STATES (AK, CO, IA, ID, ME, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NH, NY, SD, VT, WI & WY).IN ADDITION, SUBARU WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 12 YEARS/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON VEHICLES IN THE REMAINING 34 STATES.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED (SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 09V-468)

COMPLAINANTS REPORT FUEL LEAKAGE MOST FREQUENTLY IN WINTER DURING INITIAL COLD ENGINE STARTUP.OWNERS WILL EITHER NOTICE A FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE OCCUPANT COMPARTMENT OR FUEL ODOR/LEAKAGE AT THE FUEL LINES ON THE RIGHT SIDE ATOP THE ENGINE. ONCE THE ENGINE HAS WARMED, THE ODOR/LEAKAGE MAY CEASE.SUBARU REVISED THE FUEL PIPE/HOSE DESIGN FOR MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003-04 WRX VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER AUGUST 2003.SUBARU ALSO INTRODUCED A MY 2004 IMPREZA STI VEHICLE WITH A DIFFERENT ENGINE AND FUEL PIPE/HOSE LAYOUT.OUT OF THE TOTAL OF 994 COMPLAINTS, 944 CONCERN MY 2002-03 WRX VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH AUGUST 2003.SUBARU ALSO REPORTS ONE FIRE ON A MY 2002 WRX VEHICLE THAT OCCURRED IN FEBRUARY 2006.IN MARCH 2009, ODI INSPECTED AND VIDEO TAPED A MY 2002 WRX VEHICLE WITH A FUEL LEAK DURING COLD ENGINE START UP.THE VIDEO WAS PROVIDED TO SUBARU AND IS IN THE INVESTIGATION FILE. THIS INVESTIGATION IS BEING UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-011) TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.

SUBARU REPORTS THAT THE FUEL ODOR IS CAUSED BY FUEL SEEPAGE DURING COLD START OF THE ENGINE UNDER EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES. THE LEAK OCCURS IN A FUEL LINE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.IT REPORTS THAT THE FAILURE IS DUE TO THE MISALIGNED ANGLE BETWEEN TWO FUEL DELIVERY LINES WHICH RESULTED IN SUCH FUEL SEEPAGE DURING THE FIRST FEW SECONDS OF COLD ENGINE START DURING THESE COLD TEMPERATURES.SUBARU REPORTS THAT THE TWO FUEL LINES ARE CONNECTED WITH A HOSE THAT BECOMES TOO STIFF IN VERY COLD TEMPERATURES TO CONFORM TO THE MISALIGNMENT. SUBARU HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 09-36-03) TO REPLACE THE FUEL LINES WITH NEW LINES THAT ARE PROPERLY ALIGNED AND THAT HAVE A LONGER CONNECTING HOSE.ODI PHONE CALLS TO MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS CONFIRM THAT FUEL ODOR IS NOTICABLE DURING VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND COLD START BUT GOES AWAY AS THE ENGINE WARMS UP, AND THE ODOR IS NOT PRESENT IN WARMER TEMPERATURES. A FEW OWNERS REPORT THAT ATTEMPTS TO ELIMINATE THE LEAKAGE BY TIGHTENING THE CONNECTING HOSE CLAMPS IS NOT EFFECTIVE IN ELIMINATING THE FUEL ODOR.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL MONITOR THIS ISSUE AND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

A CHILD OWNS THIS VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11481318

Incident

Aug 25, 2022

The contact owns a 2002 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while reversing, the vehicle felt as if there was a flat tire on the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the front driver's side tire was about to detach. Additionally, the driver’s side front lower control arm was fractured. Prior to the failure, the contact had driven over a railroad track and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle had previously been serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA ID

11443990

Incident

Dec 16, 2021

Mileage

170,000 mi

The passenger side lower control arm was rusting out without my knowledge and while driving, a part of it broke in half which caused my front passenger side while to turn the wrong way and ripped apart the CV Axle causing me to swerve to the left and promptly stopping the vehicle causing cars behind me to swerve out of the way. Thankfully, I was in the far left lane which avoided me smashing into another car. After research, I found a recall that included my car's make, model, year, and VIN range but was not applied to my car due to it not being registered in a "salt state". Had this car been treated in the first place like other same model cars were, it would not have had this issue. The car was purchased and has been in the Northern Virginia area for its whole life. Virginia is not a salt state, however, this car has been in and out of WV, MD, PA & DC which are all salt states. This car was originally purchased in Alexandria, VA which borders Washington DC. The NHTSA Campaign Number is: 11V464000 (SUBARU’S SAFETY RECALL NUMBER WVX-34). I reached out to Subaru Dealerships in my area which helped me open a case with Subaru of America. My case representative said that Subaru of America is not authorized to add vehicles to a recall and that only the NHTSA can do that. I emailed the NHTSA who then recommended that I submit a formal complaint with the NHTSA.

NHTSA ID

11420171

Incident

May 10, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WOULD SOUND INADVERTENTLY WITHOUT BEING ACTIVATED BY THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT FIRST THE HORN WOULD SOUND ONCE HOWEVER, RECENTLY THE FAILURE WAS MORE FREQUENT AND FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,973. *BF

NHTSA ID

11375430

Incident

Nov 12, 2020

Mileage

154,973 mi

HELLO, I HOPE THIS MESSAGE FINDS YOU SAFE AND WELL. MY PROBLEM IS AS FOLLOWS: CONTROL ARM FAILURE EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN PREVIOUS RECALL FROM 2011 (LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE AT HANGAR BRACKET; SAFETY RECALL: WVX34|NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 11V464000). I WAS NEVER PERSONALLY NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL, THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE LEADING TO A NEAR ACCIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS WHAT ALERTED ME TO THE PROBLEM. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT, APPROXIMATELY 50MPH, WHEN THE HANGAR BROKE COMPROMISING THE STEERING AND CAUSING ME TO NEARLY CRASH. ACCORDING TO SUBARU OF AMERICA, THEY 'FIXED' THE PROBLEM WITH A RUST-PROOFING SPRAY, AND ARE DENYING ME ANY GOOD FAITH REPAIRS CITING THAT IT WAS ADDRESSED, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT FAILED ANYWAYS AND SUBJECTED MYSELF AND OTHERS TO POTENTIAL SEVERE PERSONAL INJURY. AFTER MANY (NOT RETURNED) PHONE CALLS, THEY HAVE TOLD ME THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT (INCURRING 'ASSESSMENT FEES') AND THE WOMAN I SPOKE WITH TODAY FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA TOLD ME THEY WOULD OFFER MINIMAL IF ANY FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE ISSUE. ALL I WANT IS MY VEHICLE TO FUNCTION AS THE MANUFACTURER INTENDED, NOT FOR SOMEONE TO SLAP A BANDAID ON THE ISSUE, CALL IT 'FIXED' AND BASICALLY GIVE ME - A LOYAL CUSTOMER TO SUBARU - THE FINGER. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A COMPANY TO BEHAVE IN THIS MANNER, ESPECIALLY FOR A PROBLEM THAT WAS CLEARLY INCORRECTLY ADDRESSED TO BEGIN WITH. MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS AND IS NOT DRIVEABLE. I AM INCURRING INTENSE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND FINANCIAL BURDEN FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE MY VEHICLE TO CARRY OUT TASKS THAT ARE REQUIRED OF ME AS A MEDICAL STUDENT. I HAVE INVESTED SIGNIFICANT TIME AND ENERGY INTO THIS, ONLY FOR SOA TO FEED ME THE SAME LINE OF BS THAT THEY'RE NOT AT FAULT AND THEY'VE 'FULFILLED THEIR OBLIGATION' FOR THIS RECALL. ATTACHED IS A PICTURE OF THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARM (FRONT PASSENGER).

NHTSA ID

11343484

Incident

Jul 23, 2020

Mileage

54,000 mi

STRONG SMELL OF FUEL UPON START-UP WHEN IN SUB-FREEZING CONDITIONS. IT HAS OCCURRED TWICE IN 2019, WHICH ARE THE ONLY RECENT TIMES IT HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO THOSE CONDITIONS. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN FEBRUARY, 2019. THE SECOND WAS IN NOVEMBER, 2019. RECALL 09V468000 APPLIES TO MY MODEL VEHICLE, BUT ONLY IN CERTAIN STATES. THE RECALL, THEREFORE, DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VIN, ALTHOUGH THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RECALL NOTICE APPEARS TO MATCH THE SYMPTOMS OF MY CAR. AFTER SPEAKING WITH SUBARU, THEY INDICATED THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE MY VIN IS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11288256

Incident

Nov 30, 2019

Mileage

73,000 mi

PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND IT STARTED ROLLING BACKWORDS.... SAME EXACT DAY IN WAS AT A STOP LIGHT ON A INCLINE AND MY CAR ROLLED BACKWORDS FASTER THEN IT SHOULD WHILE IN DRIVE. CAR HAS 101000 MILES

NHTSA ID

11288238

Incident

Dec 10, 2019

Mileage

101,000 mi

SAFETY RECALL: WVX34 I HAD THIS WORK DONE AT A DEALERSHIP. THEY DID A PUNCH TEST.THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS PASSED ON JULY 9, 2019 AND WERE UNDERCOATED AT 192630 MILES. TODAY AUGUST 10, 2019 THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET THE VEHICLE HOME AND TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY WERE UNABLE TO TELL ME IF THIS WOULD BE COVERED OR I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I AM CONCERNED SUBARU'S ACTIONS REGARDING THIS ISSUE ARE INADEQUATE.

NHTSA ID

11242967

Incident

Aug 10, 2019

Mileage

195,000 mi

This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood covers from Generation 4 EyeSight cameras.

This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.

This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.

This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for vehicles exhibiting DTC B2A20.

This bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder reservoir service procedures.

This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.