2003 Subaru WRX Fuel system Problems

CAR WAS RECALLED IN APPROXIMATELY 2009 FOR A FUEL LEAK WHICH COULD CAUSE AND ENGINE FIRE. I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE OWNED THIS CAR I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 2003. THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. TO FIX IT, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REMOVED AND 3 SHORT FUEL LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED. WORK WAS DONE BY ALPINE AUTOMOTIVE IN LAKE ZURICH, ILLINOIS. I'VE REACHED OUT TO SUBARU WHO SAY THEY KNOW OF NO ISSUE. HOWEVER, I FOUND AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN 2009 IN US NEWS & WORLD REPORT, SAYING THAT THE WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE WAS BEING EXTENDED BY 12 YEARS , WHICH PUTS THE CAR STILL IN WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE.. *BF

NHTSA ID

11181970

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

FUEL LEAKING ONTO MY ENGINE BLOCK COULD RESULT IN MY CAR ENGULFING IN FLAMES, NO RECALL FOR IT ON MY CAR BUT I SEE IT EVERYWHERE AND IT'S A SUPER COMMON PROBLEM. THE CABIN OF THE CAR ALWAYS SMELLS LIKE GAS USUALLY IN THE COLD, BUT WHEN I SMELL THE ENGINE IT SMELLS BADLY OF RAW GASOLINE.

NHTSA ID

11063189

Incident

Jan 2, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU WRX. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BYERS AIRPORT SUBARU (LOCATED AT 401 N HAMILTON RD, COLUMBUS, OH 43213). THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V468000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DEMANDED THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/24/17*LJ UPDATED 10/25/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

11015766

Incident

Nov 9, 2015

Mileage

110,000 mi

WHEN IT GET COLD OUT, THE FUEL LINE STARTS LEAKING AND THERE IS THE SMELL OF GAS IN THE CAR. THERE HAS BEEN A LIMITED RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE DEPENDING ON WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. I LIVE IN A STATE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREA. THIS DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD CORRECT IT NO MATTER WHAT STATE I LIVE IN (ILLINOIS). THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND ASK THAT THEY FIX THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10788271

Incident

Oct 30, 2015

Mileage

105,000 mi

IN COLD WEATHER THE FUEL LINES LEAK ON THE 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX! THERE WAS A LIMITED RECALL IN CERTAIN NORTHERN STATES, HOWEVER IT GETS COLD IN MANY STATES WHERE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CAR HAS BECOME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE B/C I CAN SMELL THE GAS WHICH MEANS THERE IS THE DANGER OF IGNITION. SUBARU KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE AND SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR ALL CARS AFFECTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10670820

Incident

Jan 7, 2015

Mileage

164,000 mi

ON THE MORNING OF FEB 3, 2014 I STARTED MY CAR AND IT SMELLED VERY STRONGLY OF RAW GAS. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE TOW COST $84.70. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT MORNING THAT SUBARU ISSUED A RECALL BEGINNING DECEMBER 31, 2009 FOR 2002 AND 2003 SUBARU WRXS WHERE THE FUEL LINE LEAKS IN EXTREME COLD. UNFORTUNATELY, THE RECALL INCLUDED ONLY 16 STATES, AND OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO THE OTHER 34 STATES NOT NAMED IN THE RECALL (I RESIDE IN ONE OF THE 34 FOR THE "EXTENDED WARRANTY"). I PROMPTLY PHONED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WEBSTER GROVES SUBARU ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE, [XXX], ADVISED ME TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE OVER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. CONSIDERING THIS IS TALKING ABOUT RAW GAS AND AT LEAST ONE FIRE HAS BEEN REPORTED IN RELATION TO THE RECALL, I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS SUGGESTION. BOTH SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THE DEALERSHIP AFFIRMED THAT THE CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF IT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE RECALL. AFTER DIRECTLY TELLING [XXX] I WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE IT IS DANGEROUS (THE RECALL EVEN STATES THAT IT IS DANGEROUS!), SHE AGREED TO CALL HER DISTRICT MANAGER THEN RETURN MY CALL. THIS IS NOT THE WHOLE OF MY CONCERN. WE HAVE HAD COLDER WEATHER ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES THIS YEAR AND I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OR THE ISSUE BY SUBARU, AND I GATHER OTHER INDIVIDUALS WERE NOT AS WELL AND THEIR SAFETY COULD BE AT RISK. WHILE IT WOULD BE IDEAL FOR SUBARU TO PAY FOR THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE, I ULTIMATELY HOPE THEY WILL NOTIFY ALL 2002 AND 2003 SUBARU WRX OWNERS OF THIS POTENTIAL HAZARD FOR THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE! THIS IS NOT JUST A SMALL OPTIONAL RECALL, BUT ONE THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM TO DRIVERS, THEIR PASSENGERS AND FELLOW DRIVERS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10562885

Incident

Feb 3, 2014

Mileage

127,000 mi

FUEL LINE LEAKS RAW GASOLINE FUMES INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER. GAS FUMES ARE OVERPOWERING INSIDE THE VEHICLE, AND POSSIBLY CREATES A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD OF FIRE/ EXPLOSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10298393

Incident

Jan 5, 2009

Mileage

53,000 mi

OCCASIONALLY MY WRX SMELLS LIKE RAW GAS. THREE TIMES WHEN I HAVE BEEN DRIVING TO MT. LEMON, UP A VERY STEEP ROAD, I HAVE HAD A VERY STRONG (UNBEARABLE) GAS SMELL ENTER THE CAR. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I AM JUST "OVERFILLING THE TANK," HOWEVER, I NEVER TRY TO FILL THE TANK BEYOND THE AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF POINT ON THE GAS PUMP. I HAVE ALSO SMELLED GAS OCCASIONALLY WHEN DRIVING BUT NEVER AS STRONG AS WHEN I DRIVE TO MT. LEMON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10293620

Incident

Aug 15, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

2003 SUBARU WRX, RAW FUEL SMELL IN CABIN BEFORE ENGINE IS WARM AND COOLANT TEMPERATURES ARE WARM. HAPPENS INFREQUENTLY BUT WOULD LIKE TO GET RID OF THE SMELL. SEEMS LIKE IT'S A POPULAR PROBLEM FOR THE CARS IN THIS PRODUCTION RANGE. FIRST NOTICED IT ON THE DATE SHOWN BUT OCCURS MORE OFTEN WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW 50F. *TR

NHTSA ID

10291926

Incident

Nov 5, 2008

Mileage

89,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 SUBARU WRX WAGON. AS TEMPERATURES APPROACH FREEZING THE FUEL LINES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE BEGIN TO LEAK, HEAVILY, DURING COLD START UP. THIS CAUSES RAW FUEL SMELL TO ENTER THE CABIN AS WELL AS CREATING A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION WITH RAW FUEL OPENLY POOLING ON THE ENGINE. SUBARU AND THEIR DEALERS ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND IT IS FIXABLE, HOWEVER IT REQUIRES REMOVAL OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD - A VERY LABOR INTENSIVE JOB - WHICH MAKES IT A COSTLY REPAIR FOR THE CONSUMER TO BEAR. I ACQUIRED THE CAR LAST YEAR AND THE PROBLEM OCCURRED THROUGHOUT LAST WINTER AND HAS RECURRED ALREADY ONCE THIS FALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10290208

Incident

Dec 10, 2008

Mileage

85,000 mi

I WOULD LIKE TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT AFTER READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING WITH MY 2003 SUBARU WRX. VERY STRONG RAW GASOLINE FUMES INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DURING COLD WEATHER STARTUP. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR. THIS PROBLEM JUST STARTED THIS WINTER. YES SUBARU OF AMERICA IT'S HAPPENING ON THE 2003 MODELS ALSO. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOME DIRECTION AS HOW TO PROCEED WITH THIS DEVELOPING SAFETY PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261738

Incident

Jan 10, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 SUBARU WRX. MY CAR STARTED TO SMELL LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING A FEW DAYS AGO IN THE ENGINE BAY. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GOES BELOW 30 DEGREES THE INSIDE CABIN STARTS TO STRONGLY SMELL LIKE RAW FUEL. THE VAPORS CAN CAUSE HARMFUL AND EVEN DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND IT SEEMS THAT ITS A WIDELY COMMON ISSUE WITH SUBARU WRX'S FROM 2002 TO 2004. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND GOT THE CAR EXAMINED. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE CLAMPS THAT HOLD THE GAS LINES INTACT WERE VERY LOOSE. HE SAID THAT THE DURING HIGH FUEL PRESSURE THE FUEL LINES COULD SEPARATE AND CAUSE A ENGINE FIRE. I HAVE CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY TOLD ME THERE'S A BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUE. IT SEEMS THAT THIS CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND IT SOUNDS TO ME THAT SUBARU OF AMERICA IS NOT WILLING TO REPAIR THE $500 ISSUE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER FUEL ISSUE WITH ANOTHER SUBARU MODEL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V303000). THE SUBARU OUTBACK HAD A RECALL BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOOSE CLAMP AT THE FILLER CAP THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FUEL LEAK. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR THE FUEL LEAK IN THE WRXS? THE LEAK HAPPENS VERY CLOSE TO THE ENGINE. ANY TYPE OF HEAT OR IGNITION COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR EVEN DEATH! PLEASE RESEARCH THIS ISSUE AS IT COULD BECOME A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM! *TR

NHTSA ID

10251008

Incident

Dec 4, 2008

Mileage

55,000 mi

I AM WRITING WITH RESPECT TO THE INVESTIGATIONS CONCERNING FUEL LEAKS IN THE 2002-2003 MODELS OF THE SUBARU IMPREZA WRX MODELS. I PURCHASED A WRX IN FEBRUARY OF 2003. LIKE OTHER REPORTS, MY CAR INITIALLY EMITTED A FUEL ODOR ONLY ON COLD DAYS. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP, BEL AIR SUBARU, TO HAVE THE PROBLEM INVESTIGATED. THEY INFORMED MY THAT I HAD A FAULTY FUEL LINE, REPLACED THE FUEL LINE, AND CHARGED ME $800.00. THE FOLLOWING WEEK I STILL SMELLED FUEL. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP; THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANOTHER LEAK. I WAS TOLD BY THE SALES MANAGER TO "WAIT FOR THE PROBLEM TO FULLY MANIFEST ITSELF." IN THE MEANTIME, I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ON YOUR WEBSITE. MY INTERPRETATION OF THE REPORT WAS THAT THIS WAS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN, SO I INITIALLY DROPPED THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, AS THE PROBLEM PROGRESSED, THE FUEL LEAK BEGAN TO OCCUR EVEN IN WARM WEATHER AND EVEN WHEN THE ENGINE WAS WARM. NOW, APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS FROM THE INITIAL REPAIR, I AM BEING TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT I HAVE A LEAK IN MY FUEL HOSES. THE DEALERSHIP INSISTS THAT THIS IS A SEPARATE REPAIR ISSUE THAT DID NOT EXIST WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR THE FIRST TIME. AGAIN, I HAVE BEEN QUOTED A PRICE OF $800.00 TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. I AM RELUCTANT TO SPEND $800.00 MORE DOLLARS TO TRY TO ELIMINATE THE FUEL LEAK AFTER THE RESULTS I GOT LAST TIME. IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THE FUEL LEAKS IN THESE VEHICLES PROGRESS TO A LEAK THAT IS NO LONGER SIMPLY A COLD WEATHER PROBLEM, IS THIS NOW CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE? SUBARU HAS BEEN UNHELPFUL IN HELPING ME SOLVE THIS DILEMMA. CAN YOU HELP? *TR

NHTSA ID

10242845

Incident

Nov 1, 2006

Mileage

65,000 mi

I OWN A 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WAGON. ON COLD MORNINGS (LIKE TODAY: 3F), THERE IS A RAW FUEL SMELL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I'VE TALKED TO OTHER IMPREZA OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, APPARENTLY THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW INVOLVING A FLEXIBLE FUEL HOSE CONNECTING THE RIGID FUEL LINES. I'VE JUST TRIED CONTACTING SUBARU OF AMERICA (SOA) REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY SEEM TO BE FIGHTING MANY OWNERS ON COVERING THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10181274

Incident

Jan 31, 2007

Mileage

57,000 mi

RAW FUEL SMELL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX, A KNOWN PROBLEM ON 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WITH FUEL PIPES/HOSES/CLAMPS. DEALERS DENY THERE IS A PROBLEM FOR 2003 MODELS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10180944

Incident

Jan 28, 2007

Mileage

76,000 mi

STRONG GAS SMELL IN THE CABIN ON A COLD DAY PROBABLY A GAS LEAK. STRONGER WHEN VEHICLE IS STOP. SMELL ENOUGH TO GET A GOOD HEADACHE AND DIZZY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10180870

Incident

Jan 25, 2007

Mileage

47,325 mi

GAS SMELL COMING THROUGH AIR VENTS OF 2003 SUBARU WRX WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED WITH OUTSIDE AIR VENTS OPEN. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. NHTSA HAS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM IN 2002-2003 WRX MODELS, AND A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF INTERNET AUTOMOTIVE WEBSITES DISCUSS THIS PROBLEM. SINCE GASOLINE IS FLAMMABLE, AND AUTOMOBILE FIRES ARE DANGEROUS, I AM REQUESTING NHTSA TO REOPEN ITS FILE ON THIS MATTER AND TO ISSUE A RECALL SINCE NHTSA HAS ALREADY FOUND THAT A FUEL HOSE ON THE ENGINE, IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, IS LEAKING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10180758

Incident

Jan 18, 2007

1. FUEL LEAKS FROM THE FUEL RAIL WHEN DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. 2. FUEL LEAKS FROM FUEL RAIL AND RUBBER FUEL LINE THAT IS POSITIONED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHILE OPERATING IN COLD CLIMATE. THIS CONDITION CAUSES FUEL TO LEAK ON TO THE HOT ENGINE CAUSING SMOKE TO RISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND POSSIBLY IGNITE RAW FUEL, IT ALSO CAUSES THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT TO FILL WITH A STRONG GAS SMELL. 3. CORRECTION-REPLACEMENT OF FUEL RAIL AND RUBBER FUEL LINE AS INDICATED IN THE CAR MAKERS SERVICE BULLETIN. OLD PART NOT AVAILABLE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10152452

Incident

Feb 24, 2006

Mileage

73,000 mi

FUEL LEAKAGE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY 2003 SUBARU WRX IMPREZA. THERE WAS A BULLETIN ON 2002 MODELS. I HAVE HAD FUEL LEAKAGE WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW 32 DEGREES. SUBARU SAYS THAT MY YEAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIR. BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY REPORTED IN EARLIER MODELS.*JB

NHTSA ID

10144178

Incident

Nov 28, 2005

AFTER A COLD WEEKEND THE INSIDE OF THE CABIN SMELLS OF RAW FUEL. I SEE THE MANUFACTURER HAS A TSB FOR FIXING THIS IN THE NORTH AND CANADA, BUT NO MENTIONS OF IT IN THE SOUTH. ALSO, THEY SAY IT HAPPENS IN 02 VEHICLES, BUT I HAVE AN 03 AND IT JUST STARTED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10107854

Incident

Jan 22, 2005

Mileage

34,035 mi