2002 Subaru Impreza 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.

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.

THIN ICE AND SNOW ON ROAD, APPROACHING RED LIGHT AT 28MPH DOWNSHIFTED TO 2ND, SLOWED TO 17MPH, DOWNSHIFTED TO 1ST, SLOW TO 9, LIGHTLY APPLIED BRAKES WITH 4 CAR LENGTHS TO GO, LEFT FRONT MOMENTARILY LOCKED TRIGGERING ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM WHICH PUSHED THE PEDAL UP BUT FAILED TO DO ANYTHING ELSE, WITH ABSOLUTELY NO REDUCTION IN SPEED I STEERED INTO THE SNOWBANK AND STOPPED BESIDE THE VEHICLE AT THE LIGHT AFTER BRUSHING THE BUMPER. FUSE 8 HAS BEEN PULLED TO PREVENT A REPEAT OF THIS INCIDENT.

IT WAS RAINING. I WAS TURNING LEFT AT A LIGHT, SAW ANOTHER CAR COMING TOWARDS ME. I APPLIED BRAKES AND THERE WAS A HESITATION OF BRAKING POWER DUE TO THE ABS SYSTEM. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING IN LOW TRACTION CONDITIONS OR OVER BUMPS. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE SAME YEAR SIMILAR MODEL HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS COMPUTER AND THAT THEY REPLACE THE ABS COMPUTERS FOR THAT ONE BUT THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T FOR MY CAR. *TR

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.

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.

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

FUEL LINES ABOVE THE ENGINE ON BOTH SIDES LEAK FUEL WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE LEAK OCCURS WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED IF THE TEMP IS LOWER THAN 32 DEGREES. AT THE POINT WHERE THE RUBBER FUEL LINE MEETS THE METAL FUEL LINES YOU CAN SEE GAS SPRAY ACROSS THE ENGINE BLOCK AND WILL POOL UP. TIGHTENING THE CLAMPS DOES NOT HELP. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY WINTER SINCE 2007.

AT OIL CHANGE, I WAS CALLED TO LOOK AT HOLE RUSTED INTO FRONT SUBFRAME--SHOCKING AND FRIGHTENING!!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A BURNING OIL ODOR. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EMIT A LOUD VIBRATING NOISE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST FROM THE CONVECTOR REAR MUFFLER, GASKET BOLT, AND DRY BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED AND THE HEAD GASKETS WERE FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED AN OIL LEAK. ALL THE PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

THE TRANSMISSION GEAR WON'T MOVE FROM PARK TO DRIVE. I CALLED TOWING. HE OPEN THE LITTLE COVER AND PUSH IT WITH A KNIFE. THEN, I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT. WAS THE PART DEFECTIVE? I HAD MY MECHANIC CHECK IT BUT I CAN'T RECALL IF HE FIX IT. I HAVE TO CHECK WITH HIM. NOW IT IS WORKING. I AM WONDERING IF OTHER SUBARU OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT TO SECOND GEAR. THE DRIVER TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

I WAS DRIVING UP THE SNOW SIERRA NEVADAS AND MY WINDSHIELD WASHER DOESN'T WORK. NO VISIBILITY. I HAD IT FIX BEFORE BUT SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK. I CRASH INTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HIT THE SNOW AN CHAIN LINK FENCE. I HAVE A BUMPER DAMAGE BUT IT IS NOT BIG. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WR,X AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL, AND THERE WAS A RAW FUEL SMELL COMING FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL SMELL WAS STRONGER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 32 DEGREES. THE CONTACT CURRENTLY HAS THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 119330.*AK THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD A COOLANT LEAD. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR REGULATOR WAS INOPERTIVE, THE CLUTCH HAD A JUDDER, THERE WAS PROBLEM WITH THE ABS. UPDATED

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 CAMPAIGN ID 11V464000 (SUBARU SAFETY RECALL WVX-34) COVERS 2002-2007 IMPREZAS, AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS. THE SAFETY RECALL COVERS CARS REGISTERED IN 20 RUST BELT STATES. MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN REGISTERED IN THOSE STATES, SO IT IS TECHNICALLY NOT COVERED, BUT IT IS DRIVEN THERE REGULARLY SINCE WE LIVE ONLY A FEW MILES AWAY. SUBARU OF AMERICA DID NOT TREAT OR REPLACE MY LOWER CONTROL ARM SINCE IT TECHNICALLY DIDN'T MEET THE RECALL CRITERIA. THE CONTROL ARM BROKE DUE TO RUST WHILE DRIVING - CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LUCKILY MAINTAINED AT TIME OF FAILURE. THE SAFETY RECALL STATES "THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY BREAK AT THE HANGER BRACKETS DUE TO CORROSION", WHICH IT DID. THE SAFETY COMPLAINT HERE IS THAT SURROUNDING STATES FOR SAFETY RECALLS THAT COVER SPECIFIC STATES. VEHICLES, WEATHER AND ROAD TREATMENTS DO NOT STOP AT STATES BORDERS. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPOSED TO THE SAME ROAD TREATMENTS AS VEHICLES IN THE NEIGHBORING STATES AND FAILED, AS PREDICTED BY SUBARU.

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

KEYLESS ENTRY SECURITY WHEN YOU TURN IT ON THE HEADLIGHTS DOESN'T BLINK. ON THE DASHBOARD "SECURITY" WORD IS FLASHING. IT WASN'T THERE BEFORE. *TR

THE ACCELERATOR ON 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA BECAME STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS A PART OF THE AIR CLEANER FILTER HAD FALLEN INTO THE CARBURETOR. *MR *NM

THE BRAKES WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. IT WAS HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND THE OTHER MECHANICS CAN FIND NO DEFECTS. *JB INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PICKED UP SPEED. *TC

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A BURNING OIL ODOR. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EMIT A LOUD VIBRATING NOISE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST FROM THE CONVECTOR REAR MUFFLER, GASKET BOLT, AND DRY BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED AND THE HEAD GASKETS WERE FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED AN OIL LEAK. ALL THE PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. AFTER ADJUSTING THE REAR OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THE BACK OF THE SEAT SUDDENLY RELEASED AND CAUSED THE OCCUPANT TO FALL BACKWARDS WHILE IN THE SEAT. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE OCCUPANT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

THE SEAT TRACK FAILED DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVERS SEAT COMING LOSE. ALL BOLTS REMAINED TIGHT, WAS NOT A FASTENER FAILURE, RATHER A METAL FATIGUE ISSUE WITH THE SEAT TRACK. WAS NOT CAUSED BY CORROSION. I AM RETAINING THE FAILED SEAT TRACK. *TR

KEYLESS ENTRY SECURITY WHEN YOU TURN IT ON THE HEADLIGHTS DOESN'T BLINK. ON THE DASHBOARD "SECURITY" WORD IS FLASHING. IT WASN'T THERE BEFORE. *TR

HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE FOGGING UP ON THE OUTSIDE LMITING THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT RADIATED AT NIGHT. I HAVE CHECKED NUMEROUS OTHER SIMILAR MODEL CARS AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IN SOME DEGREE. SUBARU REFUSES TO TAKE ACTION UNDER THE WARRANTY AND MAINTAINS THAT THE PROBLEM IS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR IN THE ENVIRONMENT". I MAINTAIN THEY SELECTED AN INFERIOR PLASTIC FOR THE HEADLIGHT LENSES.I KNOW THAT SUBARU IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE "LENSES" ARE SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED UNDER ALL THE EXTENDED SUBARU FACTORY WARRANTIES THEY OFFER. *AK

FOIA REQUEST INFOR.,RELATING TO SEATBELT AND SEATBELT PRETENSIONERS IN 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX SEDAN & OTHER VEHICLES. *BF *NM

VEHICLE IS A SUBARU IMPREZA 2002 EQUIPT WITH BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE92 16"TIRES. HIS WEEK AT APPROXIMATELY 10,500 MILES 2 OF THESE TIRES DEVELOPED A PINHOLE LEAK IN THE CENTER OF THE SIDEWALL APPROXIMATELY A WEEK APART. THE LEAK WAS SO TINY THAT IT WAS HARD TO FIND. A CALL TO A MAJOR BRIDGESTONE DISTRIBUTOR ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT PRODUCTIVE. THEY SAID THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF SUCH A PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS IN ANY PREVIOUS TIRES THAT I HAVE USED. CAN YOU SHED ANY LIGHT ON THIS SUBJECT?? THOUGHT IT STRANGE THAT 2 DIFFERENT TIRES OF THE SAME BRAND WOULD HAVE THE SAME DEFECT ABOUT A WEEK APART. THANK YOU.*AK

WITH MY ALLOY WHEELS ON TWO OF MY SUBARU CARS, THE SNOW GETS LODGED IN THE BREAK PADS\ROTORS AND IT TAKES PUMPING THE BREAKS TO FORCE THE SNOW OUT BEFORE THE BREAKS WILL ENGAGE. SUBARU DENIES IT IS A PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENS EVERY WINTER ON BOTH CARS, BUT I HAVE LEARNED TO BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS COMING TO A STOP IN ALREADY WINTRY CONDITIONS. THIS YEAR MY BREAKS DID NOT ENGAGE, WENT THROUGH A STOP INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION, LUCKILY NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER RAN OFF THE ROAD INTO A GAURDRAIL INTO A TREE, AND THEN FLIPPED OVER A FEW TIMES. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK