2003 Subaru Impreza Fuel system Problems

My 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX has a very strong fuel odor that is coming into the cabin when I start my car up on cold days. It's been unusually cold here in Washington state this winter with temperatures in Seattle dipping well below freezing. I see that there is a recall for this exact problem for my exact car (https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2009/RCONL-09V468-4248.pdf). But when I called the dealer (Michael's Bellevue Subaru), and then subsequently called Subaru (1-800-SUBARU3), they told me that they will not fix this issue, since this recall does not apply to my state (Washington). I think that's not right. It is the exact same problem of cold weather causing this fuel line to leak, and they should honor this recall.

NHTSA ID

11448826

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

I NOTICED FRESH SMELL OF GASOLINE EVERYTIME I START THE CAR. I LOOK AT THE FUEL LINE AND ITS SIPPING FUEL.

NHTSA ID

11405009

Incident

Mar 25, 2021

Mileage

130,000 mi

SUBARU OF AMERICA RECALL WVK-21 OCCURED WHILE DRIVING AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE, CAUSING SMOKE TO RISE FROM ENGINE BAY. SUBARU OF AMERICA REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE AS MY VIN DID NOT COME UP IN THEIR SYSTEM WITH THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11399684

Incident

Feb 23, 2021

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE ENGINE BAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V468000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). KEARNY MESA SUBARU (4797 CONVOY ST, SAN DIEGO, CA 92111, (858) 278-7100) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 159,800.

NHTSA ID

11181362

Incident

Feb 19, 2019

Mileage

159,800 mi

FUEL LINE LEAKING GAS IN COLD WEATHER. I REALLY DON'T THINK IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE WITH QUITE A BIT OF GAS LEAKING ALL OVER THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE THAT GETS VERY HOT AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

NHTSA ID

10930227

Incident

Dec 4, 2016

Mileage

148,000 mi

MY CAR IS LEAKING FUEL. I SMELL THE POISONOUS FUEL INSIDE MY VEHICLE EVERY TIME I AM INSIDE IT. I AM LOSING 50 MILES PER FULL TANK. CAN THIS LEAK CAUSE MY CAR TO BLOW-UP AND KILL ME OR OTHERS? I AM SCARED. MY NAME IS [XXX] FROM CLIFTON NEW JERSEY. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED IN NOVEMBER. ISN'T SAFETY MORE IMPORTANT THAN A 3 MONTH EXPIRED WARRANTY? I WORK FOR NJ TRANSIT, I KNOW THE DOT WOULD BE CONCERNED! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10683479

Incident

Jan 15, 2015

Mileage

183,000 mi

EXTREMELY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN CABIN IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW 32 DEGREES F.). *TR

NHTSA ID

10672622

Incident

Jan 12, 2015

Mileage

103,000 mi

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. AS A RESULT, SOME OF THE FUEL LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. RK

NHTSA ID

10565949

Incident

Dec 11, 2013

Mileage

160,000 mi

IT HAS RECENTLY BEEN EXTREMELY COLD IN CHICAGO AND UPON INITIAL STARTUP OF THE VEHICLE THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE CABIN. THE SMELL DOES NOT GO AWAY UNTIL THE CAR IS COMPLETELY WARMED UP. I NOTICED THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. IT WAS SUBARU RECALL NO. WVK-21. I BELIEVE MY CAR SHOULD FALL UNDER THIS RECALL. I CALLED SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR DID NOT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN. BUT THE PROBLEMS I'VE BEEN HAVING FIT THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10564399

Incident

Jan 31, 2014

Mileage

101,800 mi

ONLY ON COLD DAYS I SMELL FUEL WHILE DRIVING, UPON INVESTAGATION I FOUND THAT THE LITTLE RUBBER LINES UNDER THE INTAKE WERE LEAKING FUEL ON TO THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. I CALLED SUBARU AND THEY SAID THE THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT MY CAR IS NOT IN THE RECALL BECAUASE I DON;T LIVE IN THE AFFECTED STATES SO IF I MOVE TO NEWYORK OR MICHIGAN I WOULD BE COVERED WELL I LIKE OHIO SO IF THIS COULD GET EXPANDED THAT WOULD BE GREAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10560917

Incident

Nov 27, 2013

Mileage

88,000 mi

FOLLOWING INITIAL STARTUP IN COLD WEATHER, FUEL LEAK OCCURS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. LEAK CAUSES GASOLINE ODOR IN VEHICLE CABIN AND POSES FIRE HAZARD. ONCE ENGINE IS WARM, AFTER A FEW MINUTES, LEAK AND ODOR DISSIPATE. INITIAL OCCURRENCE WAS IN 2008 AT HIGH ALTITUDE. PROBLEM DID NOT RESURFACE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHERE NIGHT TIME TEMPERATURES ARE NOW LOW ENOUGH FOR ISSUE TO MANIFEST. SINCE RELOCATING TO SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, WHERE OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER, PROBLEM OCCURS ON EVERY MORNING START IN COLD WEATHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558335

Incident

Dec 3, 2008

Mileage

45,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS SMELLED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE SIGN OF A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FUEL LINE AND CLAMPS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V468000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ID

10496089

Incident

Dec 28, 2011

Mileage

61,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SMELLED OF GASOLINE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL DELIVERY LINE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V468000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP), BUT WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 137,000.

NHTSA ID

10487971

Incident

Dec 10, 2012

Mileage

137,000 mi

FUEL LEAKING FROM LINES IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF 2003 (MAN. DATE JULY 2002) SUBARU WRX SEDAN. LEAK APPEARS TO BE TRIGGERED BY COLD TEMPERATURES. FUEL POOLS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VERY STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER, WHO DID NOT THINK IT WAS A SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10294580

Incident

Dec 3, 2009

Mileage

99,850 mi

2003 SUBARU WRX. COLD START RAW FUEL SMELL. FUEL LEAK UNDER INTAKE ON PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10292364

Incident

Nov 16, 2009

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE IS STARTED IN THE MORNINGS, A FUEL LEAK OCCURS. THE METAL FUEL RAIL WILL SHRINK IF THE TEMPERATURE REACHES BELOW 30 DEGREES. THE CONTACT REFERENCED TSB NUMBER 09-3603. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10257600

Incident

Nov 6, 2008

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA. IN FREEZING WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT COULD SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. THE ODOR WAS SO STRONG AS IF SOMEONE DOUSED THE VEHICLE IN GASOLINE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ORIGIN OF THE ODOR, BUT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE INTENSE SMELL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS; THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,654 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000. 4/01/09 *NJ THE CONSUMER HUSBAND FOUND GAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THE CONSUMER FOUND THE LEAK HAPPENS WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. UPDATED 04/07/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10255327

Incident

Jan 10, 2006

Mileage

37,654 mi

2003 SUBARU IMPREZA SPORT WAGON. IN COLD WEATHER, STRONG SMELL OF RAW GASOLINE FILLS THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IT SICKENS MY CHILDREN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255030

Incident

Jan 10, 2009

DUE TO A FLAWED DESIGN RELATED TO THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM, WHENEVER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 14 DEGREES A RUBBER HOSE CONTRACTS AND GASOLINE LEAKS OUT OF A FUEL RAIL CONNECTION ABOVE THE ENGINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS FLAW IS OUTLINED IN SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN (#09-36-03). I THINK IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION HAVING RAW FUEL LEAKING ONTO AN ENGINE ESPECIALLY SINCE THE SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE CAR IS EXTREMELY STRONG. THIS DESIGN ISSUE SHOULD HAVE FORCED A RECALL, YET IT HAS NOT AND SUBARU DEALERS ARE CHARGING IN EXCESS OF $500 TO CORRECT THE SITUATION BY REPLACING THE RUBBER HOSE WITH ONE THAT IS 30MM LONGER. THE LEAKING FUEL SITUATION HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IT. IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING MORE SEVERE EACH WINTER WITH TODAY BEING NO EXCEPTION. THE TEMPERATURE HERE IN CHEYENNE THIS MORNING WAS IN A LOW TEENS AND EVEN AS I WENT TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE I COULD SMELL GAS AS I STOOD NEXT TO THE CAR. WHEN I TURNED ON THE FAN FOR THE HEATER THE CABIN FILLED WITH GAS FUMES. A QUICK SEARCH OF THE INTERNET REVEALED THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMMENTS, POSTINGS AND THREADS BY OWNERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS HAZARDOUS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10248816

Incident

Nov 14, 2008

2003 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RUBBER CONNECTOR BETWEEN FUEL LINES. CONSUMER FEELS THAT IT SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PART AND WOULD LIKE ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR COST. *NJ THE CONSUMER SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GAS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10244870

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER AND HAD IT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO A TSB (REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL LINES). THE CONTACT HAD TO ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THAT COMPONENT. WEEKS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO ANOTHER TSB (ADD CLAMPS TO FUEL LINES). SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10241842

Incident

Jun 15, 2008

Mileage

135,000 mi

I HAVE A COLD WEATHER FUEL LEAK UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS FUEL LEAK CAUSES THE CABIN OF THE CAR TO FILL UP WITH VOLATILE FUMES. IT IS A VISIBLE LEAK AND DRIPS ON TOP OF THE ENGINE NEAR SOURCES OF IGNITION. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND 3 OF MY LOCAL DEALERSHIPS AND THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BUT ONLY RANK IT AS A SERVICE BULLETIN NOT A RECALL. THIS PROBLEM EXISTS WITH ALL SUBARU WRX OWNERS IN A COLD CLIMATE. USE A SEARCH ENGINE ON THE INTERNET FOR (COLD WEATHER FUEL LEAK WRX ECT..) AND YOU WILL FIND THOUSANDS OF AFFECTED OWNERS. SUBARU WANTS $500-$900 FOR THE REPAIR. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD FOR EXPLOSION, HEALTH, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10213139

Incident

Dec 1, 2007

Mileage

80,000 mi

FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS IN COLD WEATHER, USUALLY BELOW 32 DEGREES, THE SMELL OF GASOLINE EXISTED IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD IT CHECKED DURING AN LOCAL STATE INSPECTION AND DISCOVERED FUEL WAS LEAKING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THIS. I CONTACTED THREE(3) LOCAL DEALERS, THAT ALL NEW ABOUT TSB 09-36-03. THEY ALL QUOTED THE SAME $500 ESTIMATE TO REPAIR. TWO OF THE DEALERS, SUBARU OF DALLAS AND HUFFINES SUBARU IN DALLAS TEXAS INFORMED ME THAT FAILURE TO CORRECT THE CONDITION COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE. GIVEN THE SEVERE NATURE OF THE DEFECT, THAT THE MANUFACTURER CLEARLY KNOWS ABOUT, THIS SHOULD BE UPGRADED TO A RECALL. 1) THE DANGER OF LEAKING FUEL DUE TO A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. 2) THE HAZARDS OF INHALING GASOLINE FUMES 3) THE ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD AND VIOLATIONS OF EPA REGULATIONS RELEASE GASOLINE AND GASOLINE VAPORS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10183290

Incident

Feb 9, 2007

Mileage

25,000 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO WARM THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. HE IMMEDIATELY LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW A CONSTANT DRIPPING OF FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE. HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THE FAILURE ON JANUARY 20, 2007. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MAY 2006. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED IN THE WINTER MONTHS. THE VEHICLE HASD THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE04002 WHICH HAS BEEN CLOSED, AND DID NOT RESULT IN A RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10181413

Incident

Jan 20, 2007

Mileage

68,000 mi

SEE ODI NUMBER 10179098 (CONT). I DO NOT KNOW IF SUBARU WILL ASSUAGE MY CONCERNS, BUT I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE NOT REPORT THIS ISSUE. FIRST I THINK YOU HAVE UNDERESTIMATED THE FIRE DANGER. TRUE THERE HAVE BEEN NO FIRES CAUSED DIRECTLY BY THIS PROBLEM (I THINK), BUT THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS IN THE COLD, THERE ARE RELATIVELY FEW WRXS (WHEN COMPARED TO FORD EXPLORERS), AND PEOPLE WHO DRIVE THEM NORMALLY ARE GEARHEADS AND TAKE PRETTY GOOD CARE OF THEIR CARS--I.E. WHEN THEY SMELL FUEL THEY FIX THEIR CAR RAPIDLY, OR THEY HAVE ALREADY MODIFIED THEIR CAR WITH DIFFERENT FUEL LINES AND NO LONGER HAVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TO QUESTION HOW THOROUGHLY YOU INVESTIGATED THIS ISSUE SINCE YOUR INVESTIGATION ONLY LASTED 5 MONTHS. WERE INDEPENDENT TESTS PERFORMED? FROM YOUR STATEMENT YOU SEEM TO BE TAKING SUBARU'S WORD. THE SMELL CONTINUES AFTER THE CAR IS RUNNING, SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF FUEL ARE INVOLVED, AND THE FUEL DRIPS ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK OR TURBO-VERY HOT COMPONENTS. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS ISN'T A FIRE HAZARD. SECONDLY, THE FUMES ARE NOXIOUS. THE FIRST TIME THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED I WAS TRANSPORTING MY NEWBORN BABY DAUGHTER HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL. THIS IS OUR ONLY CAR. PLEASE CONSIDER IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR CHILD RIDING AROUND IN A VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I THINK THIS IS AS MUCH OF A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE FIRE DANGER. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP WITH ANY INVESTIGATION. I WILL PROVIDE AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT, OR ALLOW YOU TO COME TO MY HOME DO ANY DIAGNOSTICS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MY CAR. I HAVE TO ADMIT, I AM SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTED AT NHTSA'S RESPONSE TO THIS ISSUE. IT SEEMS THAT MANY HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE, AND THE INVESTIGATION HAS NOT BEEN REOPENED. AS A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE I KNOW IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC. I HOPE YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY. I WILL BE SENDING A COPY OF THE NOTE TO MY CONGRESSWOMAN, MY SENATORS, THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE; SCIENCE; AND TRANSPORTATION, AND THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. *NM

NHTSA ID

10179100

Incident

Dec 26, 2006

Mileage

52,800 mi