2002 Subaru Impreza Fuel system Problems

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

IN COLD TEMPERATURES THE FUEL LEAKS FROM RUBBER FUEL LINES ONTO THE FUEL RAIL AND MANIFOLD RESULTING IN A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING INTO THE VEHICLES CABIN. WHEN AT A STOP WITH THE VEHICLE IDILING THE SMELL IS OVERWHELMING. NOT NEARLY AS BAD WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11176149

Incident

Dec 15, 2018

Mileage

141,000 mi

VERY STRONG SMELL OF RAW GASOLINE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CABIN THAT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH SPILLED FUEL BUT THERE WASN'T ANY SPILLED IN EITHER LOCATION. THE SMELL IS STRONGEST WHILE DRIVING WITH HEAT OR A/C ON TO THE POINT THAT WINDOWS HAD TO BE OPENED BECAUSE THE FUMES WERE IRRITATING THE EYES. AFTER SPEAKING WITH A MECHANIC, WAS TOLD THAT A COMMON PROBLEM IS THE RUBBER FUEL LINES THAT RUN ALONG THE TOP OF THE ENGINE DRY ROT AND BREAK CAUSING RAW GASOLINE TO SPILL ONTO THE HOT ENGINE AND TURBOCHARGER POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FIRE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11111095

Incident

Oct 30, 2013

Mileage

93,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR WITHOUT WARNING. SUBARU OF WINCHESTER (3019 VALLEY AVE, WINCHESTER, VA) DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT A MANAGER WOULD CALL THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 151,000.

NHTSA ID

11097817

Incident

Jan 2, 2018

Mileage

151,000 mi

I WAS DENIED THE FUEL LINE RECALL DUE TO I LIVE IN OHIO AND OHIO IS NOT ON THE LIST OF "COLD STATES." I AM FORCED TO BREATH GASOLINE FUMES AND MY ENGINE SMOKES BURNING OFF THOSE GASOLINE FUMES. JUST WAITING FOR THE CAR TO BLOW UP. THANK YOU, SUBARU *TR

NHTSA ID

10991039

Incident

May 1, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS NOW, WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, SITTING IN THE GARAGE, THEN YOU START IT UP AND YOUR VENTS ARE OPEN TO THE OUTSIDE AIR, THE INTERIOR SMELLS OF GASOLINE. I LIVE IN HAWAII AND THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER OUR STATE. THE ONLY WAY TO NOT LET THE SMELL IN THE INSIDE COMPARTMENT IS TO CLOSE THE VENTS.

NHTSA ID

10985635

Incident

Jan 1, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM SUDDENLY FAILED CAUSING THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO LOWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION) BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR PRESENT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OF REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10836851

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

Mileage

135,000 mi

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS 35 DEGREASE AND BELOW THE FUEL LINE TENDS TO LEAK FUEL/VAPOR AND THE SMELL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS UNBEARABLE, AND I'M SURE THAT IT'S NOT SAFE NOR ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ETHER.

NHTSA ID

10781178

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

Mileage

85,000 mi

DURING COLD TEMPERATURES THERE IS A GAS LEAK. CAR IS AN IMPREZA OUTBACK SPORT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR WRX FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10670181

Incident

Dec 23, 2014

Mileage

117,000 mi

DURING COOL WEATHER CONDITIONS FROM COLD STARTUP THE ENGINE HAS HEAVY FUEL/GAS SMELL WHICH IS TRANSPORTED INTO THE VEHICLE CABIN CAUSING UNHEALTHY BREATHING CONDITIONS FOR ANY OCCUPANTS. CALLED SUBARU COOPERATE AND THE DEALER, THEY STATED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR A LEAKING FUEL RAIL BUT NOT ON OUR MODEL. AFTER MUCH INTERNET SEARCHING IT APPEARS THE RECALL SHOULD BE FOR ALL SUBARUS WITH THE SAME ENGINE AS THE PROBLEM IS ENGINE RELATED AND NOT MODEL RELATED. THE ORIGINAL RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL SUBARUS WITH THE SAME ENGINE CONFIGURATION. THE COMPANY IS GETTING OFF EASY WITH A LIMITED RECALL OF LESS THAN 6000 VEHICLES NATION WIDE WHEN THERE ARE CLEARLY MANY MANY MORE OUT THERE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551175

Incident

Oct 5, 2009

Mileage

91,337 mi

WHEN THE WEATHER IS MILDLY COLD, AND IT IS APPROXIMATELY 50 DEGREES OR LESS, AND THE VEHICLE SITS PARKED FOR AT LEAST 4-5 HOURS, TYPICALLY OVERNIGHT AND/OR IN A GARAGE, THERE IS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF FUEL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. THE SMELL DISSIPATES AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND WILL NOT RETURN UNLESS THE CAR SITS PARKED FOR AT LEAST 4-5 HOURS OVERNIGHT AND/OR IN A GARAGE. *KB

NHTSA ID

10441576

Incident

Dec 24, 2009

Mileage

104,481 mi

ODOR OF FUEL IN THE INTERIOR OF MY 2002 SUBARU WRX IMPREZA I CONTACT SUBARU AND ADVISED THEM OF THIS VIA THEIR 800 COMPLAINT NUMBER AND REFERRED TO CAMPAIGN 09V-468 AND NHTSA ACTION #EA09011. I WAS TOLD I COULD TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER AT MY OWN COSTS AND GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED! I ADVISED THEM THAT THE CAMPAIGN STATES MY VEHICLE IS COVERED FOR ADDITIONAL 12 YEARS RE: THE PROBLEM AND IT FELL ON DEAF EARS. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

NHTSA ID

10380798

Incident

Jan 8, 2011

Mileage

110,243 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA RS. THE CONTACT NOTICED A VERY STRONG GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED BY A DEALER FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OVER TIME HE NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY RECURRED WHILE DRIVING IN VERY COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V468000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10341666

Incident

Nov 1, 2006

Mileage

60,000 mi

DURING THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX HAS HAD THE STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. ITS NOT CONSISTENT NOR DOES IT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT OFTEN ENOUGH THAT IT CONCERNS ME. I HAVE CALLED SUBARU'S HEADQUARTERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY JUST KEEP TELLING ME THERE IS NO RE-CALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, SO THEY WON'T FIX IT. I'M CONCERNED THIS IS A REAL SAFETY PROBLEM THAT SUBARU REFUSES TO ADDRESS NOR FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10320241

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

RECALL NOTICE 09V468000 FOR 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS VEHICLE AS STATED IN THE RECALL HE RECEIVED. AS A RESULT, HE PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL LINE AND HOSE. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10299169

Incident

Dec 30, 2008

Mileage

150,325 mi

I HAVE A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WAGON, ALSO KNOWN AS THE "OUTBACK SPORT". THE CAR REEKS OF GASOLINE RECENTLY. SUBARU RECENTLY RECALLED SOME 2002 IMPREZAS BECAUSE THE FUEL LINE LEAKED FUEL IN COLD WEATHER. THE RECALL # IS 09V468000. IT HAS BEEN QUITE COLD HERE IN NC RECENTLY WITH TEMPS IN THE TEENS AND 20S. THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR SEEMS IDENTICAL TO THE PROBLEM THAT WAS THE SUBJECT OF THE RECALL, BUT MY CAR MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE GAS SMELL IS VERY STRONG AND I AM AFRAID THAT THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS AND SET MY CAR AND POSSIBLY MY HOUSE ON FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10297993

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

50,000 mi

SUBARU RECENTLY ISSUED A RECALL, (RECALL NO. WVK-21), FOR LEAKING FUEL IN '02-'03 WRX'S. AS STATED, ONLY SOME VEHICLES ARE COVERED. I CALLED THE SUBARU PHONE # TO CHECK ELIGIBILITY, AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL, BUT THAT I SHOULD HAVE A DEALER FIX IT, AT MY OWN COST, ASAP, BECAUSE LEAKING FUEL IS DANGEROUS. WELL AT LEAST THE SUBARU REP ADMITTED IT, IF SO WON'T AS A COMPANY. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO EXTEND THIS RECALL TO ALL 02-03 WRX'S. THE LEAK IS BAD ENOUGH THAT I SEE RAW FUEL DRIPPING ONTO THE PAVEMENT BELOW MY CAR, THAT ALONE IS A HORRENDOUS SAFETY RISK, AS WELL AS A MAJOR SOURCE OF POLLUTION. THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY THIS VEHICLE WOULD PASS ANY EMISSIONS TEST WITH THE AMOUNT OF UNBURNED HYDROCARBON ESCAPING. AS IT IS NOW, THE VEHICLE IS UNDRIVEABLE IF THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS BELOW ZERO, IT SIMPLY LEAKS TOO MUCH FUEL TO EVEN BE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WITHOUT AN INSTANT HEADACHE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10296854

Incident

Dec 20, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

GETTING A RAW FUEL SMELL IN AND AROUND VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER ON 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA OUTBACK. RESEARCHED PROBLEM ON INTERNET AND DETERMINED POSSIBLE FIX INVOLVING TIGHTENING THE CLAMPS THAT CONNECT THE RUBBER FUEL LINE HOSES TO THE RIGID HOSE LINES (EIGHT CLAMPS TOTAL). TIGHTENED CLAMPS BUT PROBLEM RECURRED TWO DAYS LATER. GASOLINE SMELL IS SOMEWHAT OVERPOWERING INSIDE CAR AND INSIDE GARAGE WHERE CAR IS PARKED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295928

Incident

Dec 12, 2009

I RECENTLY BOUGHT AN 02 SUBARU AND IT SEEMS THAT EVERY TIME I COLD START THE CAR WHEN IT GETS BELOW FREEZING OUTSIDE THERE IS A HORRID GAS SMELL IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT IS VISIBLE THAT THERE IS A POOL OF GAS ACCUMULATING ON THE MOTOR FROM UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I HAVE JUST NOTICED THIS AND CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS. LOOKING ONLINE IT SEEMS TO BE A REGULAR ISSUE AND THERE IS NO RECALL OR INFORMATION ON HOW DANGEROUS IT IS TO HAVE RAW FUEL ON A HOT ENGINE. I AM AT A LOSS AND A LITTLE CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295353

Incident

Dec 11, 2009

Mileage

63,000 mi

RAW FUEL SMELL PLUS LEAKING FUEL IN 40*F OR BELOW TEMPERATURES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10292698

Incident

Nov 16, 2009

Mileage

148,100 mi

THIS IS A COMPLAINT TOWARDS SUBARU OF AMERICA (SOA). THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED FUEL FUMES IN THE CABIN OF MY VEHICLE. PLEASE REVIEW THE FORUMS ON THIS ONLINE. THIS CANNOT GO ON , WE HAVE TO LEAVE OUR GARAGE DOOR OPEN TO DISPELL THE FUMES, ITS A FIRE HAZARD. SOA WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS VEHICLE FUEL SYSTEM DEFECT. IT NEEDS TO BE ON A SAFETY RECALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY YEAR WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACHES BELOW FREEZING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TOO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANTED $$$ TO CORRECT THE DEFECT (APPROX $500). *TR

NHTSA ID

10254054

Incident

Dec 5, 2005

Mileage

25,000 mi

I NOTICED A FUEL ODOR IN THE CABIN AND TRACED IT TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON INSPECTION I NOTED FUEL POOLING ON THE ENGINE HEADS. I REMOVED IT WITH A PAPER TOWEL FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND VERIFIED IT WAS STILL FLAMMABLE. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY SAID THAT HAPPENS WHEN IT GETS BELOW ZERO OUTSIDE. THE PROBLEM HAS CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO PULL OVER WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE OF FEELING LIGHT HEADED MULTIPLE TIMES, AND MY WIFE HAS PASSED OUT DUE TO THE ODOR WHILE RIDING IN THE CAR AND SUSTAINED A MINOR HEAD INJURY AS A RESULT. IT OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS WHEN THE TEMP. IS BELOW 20 DEGREES F OR SO. I HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOWS WHILE DRIVING TO VENT THE FUMES WHICH CAUSES A HAZARDOUS CONDITION WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10254007

Incident

Dec 15, 2008

Mileage

145,000 mi

THE PREVIOUS WINTER AND THIS ONE, A RAW FUEL SMELL OCCURS ON START UP. UPON OBSERVATION, THERE IS A FUEL LEAK BELOW THE TURBO INLET TUBE, COMING FROM THE FUEL RAIL/HOSE. ONCE WARM, THE SMELL IS GONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253904

Incident

Dec 10, 2008

Mileage

112,000 mi

MY SUBARU 2202 WRX HAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT EVERYTIME IT IS COLD OUT. THEY HAVE A TSB TO FIX THE ISSUE BUT WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIRS IN ALL CASES. THE TSB IS 09-36-03. I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD CARE ABOUT A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT INVOLVES FUEL. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10252564

Incident

Dec 21, 2008

Mileage

60,000 mi

IN COLD WEATHER (FREEZING), THE FUEL RAIL UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS GASOLINE. THE GAS DRIPS DIRECTLY ONTO THE HOT ENGINE. NOT ONLY IS THIS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD (AND KNOWN SOURCE OF A HANDFUL OF FIRES) BUT IT ALSO IS A HEALTH RISK AS THE FUMES FROM THE GAS ENTER INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR WHEN THE HEATER IS IN USE. I HAVE HAD TO KEEP WINDOWS OPEN WHEN DRIVING MY CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER TO PREVENT GETTING SICK FROM THE GAS FUMES. THE ISSUE GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE THE LONGER IT GOES WITHOUT REPAIR. MY MODEL YEAR IS 2002, AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN SINCE 2003 WHEN A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUES TO ALL SUBARU DEALERS. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON THOUSANDS OF CARS AND THERE IS GREAT INCONSISTENCIES IN SUBARU DEALERS REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM. MY CAR IS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WITH 920000 MILES ON THE CAR. WHILE THIS PROBLEM JUST STARTED WITH MY CAR, OTHERS REPORTED THE ISSUE WITHIN THE FIRST 20,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10251977

Incident

Dec 5, 2008

Mileage

92,000 mi