2004 Subaru WRX Owner Complaints

HAVING RECENTLY MOVED TO A COLD WEATHER STATE, I DISCOVERED THAT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING THERE IS A SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE PASSENGER CABIN. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, SUBARU APPEARS TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IN FACT ISSUED A RECALL ON EARLIER MODEL VEHICLES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE FUEL LINES AND CLAMPS SHRINK IN COLD WEATHER ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK AT THE FUEL FILTER OR MORE PROBLEMATICALLY ONTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEAR THE TURBO. THIS HAS BEEN RESOLVED IN NEWER MODEL VEHICLES, BUT FOR SOME REASON SUBARU DECIDED NOT TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE 2004-2005 VEHICLES HAVING THIS PROBLEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE WARMS UP, THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE REDUCES OR ELIMINATES THE LEAKS. ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO TIGHTEN THE HOSE CLAMPS, I SUSPECT THAT NEXT WINTER I WILL BE FACING THE SAME ISSUE AND/OR A $500-1000 REPAIR BILL FROM THE DEALER.

NHTSA ID

11084965

Incident

Dec 19, 2017

Mileage

60,000 mi

DURING COLD WEATHER FUEL SMELL COMING FROM ENGINE AND IS LEAKING

NHTSA ID

11057300

Incident

Dec 28, 2017

I HAVE A 2004 WRX AND WHENEVER IT GETS COLD LOTS OF FUEL LEAKS FROM UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THERES A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE IN 2002 2003 BUT IT STILL DOES IT ON MY CAR

NHTSA ID

10946917

Incident

Jan 2, 2017

Mileage

103,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL/SUBARU RECALL CAMPAIGN WQR-53 NHTSA RECALL NO. 15V-323 RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN MAY 2015 EXPLAINING THAT THE AIRBAG WAS RECALLED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. LETTER STATES THAT UNTIL THE REPAIR IS PREFORMED, DO NOT ALLOW PASSENGERS TO RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I RECENTLY RECEIVED ANOTHER LETTER WITH THE SAME INFORMATION STATING THAT WHEN SUBARU ACQUIRES A SUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF PARTS TO PERFORM THE REPAIR, THEY WILL CONTACT ME ABOUT MAKING AN APPOINTMENT. I CALLED SUBARU 6 MONTHS AGO AND WAS TOLD THAT A DEALERSHIP SHOULD "LEND" ME A VEHICLE UNTIL THE REPAIR IS COMPLETE. I LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES WITH DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA AND NO ONE RETURNED MY PHONE CALL. IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND I AM NOT ABLE TO HAVE PASSENGERS IN MY VEHICLE. I USE MY CAR FOR WORK AND I NEED THIS FIXED. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR UNTIL IT IS FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10897983

Incident

May 1, 2015

DURING VEHICLE OPERATION IN COLDER WEATHER (32 DEG F OR COLDER), THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY. FUEL LINES ARE LEAKING IN AN AREA CLOSE TO THE AIR INTAKE. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN DURING WARMER WEATHER.

NHTSA ID

10819641

Incident

Jan 10, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

WAS NOTIFIED IN JULY 2015 OF DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WITH WARNING TO NOT USE THE PASSENGER SEAT.UPON FOLLOWUP WITH SUBARU ON 10-1-2015 WAS TOLD THAT PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL AFTER 12-1-2015. THIS MEANS 5 MONTHS WITHOUT FULL USE OF MY VEHICLE. THEIR LETTER REGARDING NHTSA RECALL 15V-323 INFORMED M TO CONTACT NHTSA AT THIS WEBSITE IF SUBARU FAILED TO REMEDY THE VEICLE WITHOUT CHARGE IN A TIMELY MANNER. 5 TO 6 MONTHS IS NOT A TIMELY MANER.

NHTSA ID

10779126

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL COMING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DURING VERY COLD OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10672351

Incident

Jan 14, 2015

Mileage

209,000 mi

IN BELOW-FREEZING TEMPERATURES, THERE IS A FUEL SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY. IT SEEMS TO START AT APPROXIMATELY 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, AND BECOMES INCREASINGLY STRONG AT LOWER TEMPERATURES. ON A RECENT MORNING WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS 9 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, THE SMELL WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE A LIGHT-HEADED SENSATION. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM, WITH THERE ALREADY BEING A RECALL FOR SIMILAR VEHICLES. MANY VEHICLES EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL, INCLUDING MY OWN, SEEM TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. EVEN WORSE, SOME WHO HAVE HAD THE RECALL FIX PERFORMED HAVE STATED THAT THE FIX PRESCRIBED BY THE RECALL DOES NOT ALWAYS RESOLVE THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10671183

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

170,000 mi

AS A RESULT OF A MULTI-VEHICLE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSING THE FEMALE OCCUPANT TO HAVE A FRONTAL SKULL FRACTURE FROM SHRAPNEL LIKE PIECES AND NEURO TRAUMA. THESE INJURIES LEAD HER TO BE UNCONSCIOUS AND ON LIFE-SUPPORT FOR 6 DAYS AND ULTIMATELY HER DEATH......UPDATED 11-24/14 *BF

NHTSA ID

10654124

Incident

Nov 1, 2003

FUEL LINES LEAK UPON COLD START UP IN THE WINTER. FUEL LEAKS ALL OVER ENGINE BLOCK, MY FEAR THAT THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE. SUBARU'S ANSWER IS TO BRING IT IN, SPEND MONEY TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT. ALL THE WHILE THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A COMP CAR AND THIS IS MY ONLY CAR. WITH WORK, SCHOOL AND TRYING TO MOVE AT THAT TIME IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO RELEASE THE CAR TO THEM AND HOPE IT LEAKED ON THAT DAY FOR THE TECH OR RISK HANDING OUT CASH EVERY TIME I TAKE IT IN FOR THEM TO LOOK AT. THEY KNOW THEY HAVE AN ISSUE THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX ANY LONGER. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR SOME WRX'S AND THEY SAY THE PROBLEM WAS TAKEN CARE OF IN 2004, OBVIOUSLY NOT. IT APPEARS MY CAR WAS BUILT IN MID 2003...... AND IS POSSIBLE IN MY OPINION THAT MY CAR COULD HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH THESE FAULTY PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10626516

Incident

Jan 8, 2014

Mileage

139,000 mi

WHEN IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES, MY CAR IS LEAKING GASOLINE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. GASOLINE FUMES ARE ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSING NAUSEA,DIZZINESS AND COUGHING (HENCE I AM CLAIMING/CONSIDERING THIS AS PERSONAL INJURY). I CANNOT ALWAYS CLOSE THE EXTERNAL VENT BECAUSE OF FOGGING. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING. WORSE, I AM AFRAID OF THE ENGINE CATCHING FIRE. I WILL TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. I JUST WANT TO REPORT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563930

Incident

Dec 5, 2013

Mileage

91,000 mi

AFTER STARTING MY CAR IN COLD WEATHER, I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS. I FOUND THAT THERE WAS GAS POOLING ON TOP OF MY ENGINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THE GAS STOPPED LEAKING, BUT WHEN I TURNED IT ON AGAIN, I COULD SEE IT DRIPPING ON TO THE LOCATION THAT IT WAS POOLING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561735

Incident

Jan 27, 2014

Mileage

125,000 mi

ON COLD MORNINGS LESS THAN 10 DEGREES A STRONG FUEL SMELL ENTERS THE VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE WAS SUBJECT TO RECALL ON 2002 AND 2003 MODEL CARS YET 2004 MODELS ALSO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A WIDE RANGING PROBLEM THAT EFFECTS MANY CARS ALL THE UP TO THE 2007 MODEL YEAR OF THE SUBARU IMPREZA. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED SINCE 2002 ON THE LARGEST SUBARU IMPREZA WEB FORUM. HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=131755. IT'S ABOUT TIME SUBARU FIXES THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561186

Incident

Jan 4, 2010

Mileage

75,000 mi

WHEN I START MY CAR WHEN IT IS COLD OUT 20 DEGREES OR BELOW MY GAS LINE NEAR THE FUEL RAIL LEAKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE UNTIL THE CAR WARMS UP. IT LEAKS A LITTLE UP TO ENOUGH TO POOL ON THE ENGINE..IT WORRIES ME BECAUSE IT IS ON THE TURBO SIDE OF THE ENGINE WITH THE EXHAUST WHICH TEMPERATURES CAN REACH UP TO 1500 DEGREES. THE CAR COULD EASILY CATCH FIRE. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN SUBARU IMPREZA WRX MODELS 02-05 AND HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO SUBARUS ATTENTION MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10556567

Incident

Dec 17, 2013

Mileage

88,090 mi

STARTED VEHICLE AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT IN SUB-30 DEGREE WEATHER AND A VERY STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL WAS EVIDENT IN VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED ON MANY MORE OCCASIONS; IN ANY SITUATION WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS GIVEN TIME TO SIT IN COLD WEATHER. AFTER THE CLAMPS WERE TIGHTENED ON THE LINES, THE SMELL WAS DECREASED; BUT AFTER FEAR OF A FIRE THE LINES AND CLAMPS WERE THEN REPLACED BY MYSELF. AS SUBARU OF AMERICA WOULD NOT EXTEND THE RECALL TO MY 2004 VEHICLES AND I COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY RETAIL FOR THE REPAIR. THIS WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING, AS THIS IS MY FIRST SUBARU AND IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE DESIGN WAS FAULTY. AFTER REPLACING THE LINES AND CLAMPS, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED. HOWEVER, I CANNOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF REQUIRED REPAIR IN THE FUTURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10543452

Incident

Oct 6, 2011

Mileage

94,000 mi

AT TEMPERATURES AT OR BELOW 15F THERE IS A FUEL LEAK FROM THE INLET MANIFOLD. CAN SEE GASOLINE LEAKING NEAR WHERE THE FUEL LINE ENTERS THE MANIFOLD. LEAK STOPS ONCE VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10494457

Incident

Jan 22, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHEN THE WEATHER WAS VERY COLD OUT, ABOUT 10F THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE GAS SMELL OUTSIDE THE CAR AND IN THE CABIN WHEN THE HVAC TURNED ON. THIS IS A FUEL LINE ISSUE WHICH IS KNOWN TO SUBARU - THERE IS A RECALL ON 2002-2003 WRX MODELS. HOWEVER THERE IS NO RECALL ON LATER MODELS SUCH AS MY 2004 WRX, WHICH ALSO SUFFER FROM THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10494441

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

Mileage

115,000 mi

I HAVE A 2004 WRX AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LEFT OUTSIDE DURING VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, AT STARTUP, THERE IS A PROMINENT FUEL SMELL. THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR IF I LEAVE THE VEHICLE PARKED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME (3+ HOURS) AT 20 DEGREE F OR BELOW. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS REGARDING THIS DEFECT REPORTED ON THE NASIOC FORUMS. IN ADDITION, THERE IS A RECALL REGARDING THIS SAME DEFECT FOR THE 2002-2003 WRX'S. I AM GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISKS ASSOCIATE WITH RAW FUEL BEING DISPERSED ON THE ENGINE UPON STARTUP.

NHTSA ID

10393598

Incident

Jan 3, 2011

Mileage

80,000 mi

DURING COLD WEATHER (~36 F), THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN. THE SMELL SEEMS TO BE COMING FORM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (PASSENGER SIDE). THE SMELL DISAPPEARS AFTER THE ENGINE WARMS UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10374858

Incident

Jan 5, 2011

Mileage

65,000 mi

2004 SUBARU WRX STI. STRONG FUEL SMELL IN CABIN DURING COLD WEATHER. UPON START OF COLD ENGINE, AFTER A FEW MINUTES. SMELL OVERWHELMS CABIN TILL VEHICLE REACHES OPERATING TEMP. APPROX. 5-10 MIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10369538

Incident

Dec 1, 2007

Mileage

30,000 mi

REAR SUSPENSION STRUTS BIND AND CLUNK DUE TO LUBRICATION ISSUE. BOTH ORIGINAL STRUTS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AS WELL AS ONE OF THE REPLACEMENTS AND PROBLEM HAS RETURNED AGAIN FOR A TOTAL OF 5 FAILED STRUTS. WARRANTY HAS NOW EXPIRED AND REPAIR WOULD BE AT MY COST. THE BINDING HAS PROGRESSED UNABATED AND WILL LIKELY RESULT IN TIME IN COMPLETE FAILURE (FROZEN OR UNRESTRICTED MOVEMENT). *TR

NHTSA ID

10315717

Incident

Jul 1, 2005

Mileage

20,000 mi

DURING COLD WEATHER, STRONG FUEL ODOR IS PRESENT INDICATING A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. EVENT IS REPEATABLE ON ANY DAY WHEN AMBIENT TEMP IS ~36 DEGREES F OR LESS AND LASTS UNTIL ENGINE HAS WARMED (ABOUT 15 MINUTES). DEALERSHIP REPORTS THAT THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN COVERING '02-'03 MY. ODOR IS STRONG ENOUGH IN CABIN TO CAUSE PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIONS (HEADACHE, NAUSEA). *TR

NHTSA ID

10315709

Incident

Dec 15, 2008

Mileage

45,000 mi

EACH TIME THE ENGINE IS STARTED FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER ABOUT 4 HOURS OF NOT RUNNING, AND THE CAR IS PUT INTO MOTION, THE BRAKES FAIL TO EASILY STOP THE CAR. EXTREME PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BRING THE CAR TO A FULL STOP. THIS CONDITION LASTS FOR SEVERAL MINUTES-UP TO APPROXIMATELY 3- WAS PRESENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEW, AND CONTINUES. THE CAR'S UNSTOPPABLE AND CONTINUED FORWARD OR BACKWARD MOTION COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO A PERSON IN FRONT OF OR BEHIND THE VEHICLE IN AN OUTDOOR SPACE SUCH AS A PARKING LOT, OR IN A VERY CONFINED SPACE LIKE A GARAGE. CARS WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ARE AT A DISADVANTAGE HERE, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BE SLOWED BY DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH AS WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. A REPORT TO THE NEW CAR DEALER AND THE REGIONAL MANAGER WERE DISMISSED BY ADVISING SIMPLY THAT GREATER BRAKE PRESSURE BE APPLIED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10313717

Incident

Apr 30, 2004

Mileage

3,000 mi

FUEL LINES ON TOP OF THE ENGINE LEAK DURING COLD WEATHER, BELOW 10 DEGREES F. THERE IS A STRONG FUEL ODOR OUT SIDE THE VEHICLE AND INSIDE WHEN THE VENTS ARE ON. THE SMELL GOES AWAY AFTER THE CAR IS COMPLETELY WARMED UP, 10-20 MINUTES OF DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10298796

Incident

Jan 8, 2010

Mileage

40,000 mi

IT HAS BEEN MUCH COLDER THAN USUAL HERE IN TENNESSEE AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN OF MY 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. IT HAS HAPPENED EVERY TIME I HAVE DRIVEN OVER THE PAST THREE DAYS AND DOES SEEM TO GO AWAY WHEN I ACCELERATE BUT I HAVE COME TO BELIEVE THAT IS BECAUSE THE FUEL VAPOR IS BEING BLOWN AWAY BY THE MOVING OF THE AIR AROUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING. AS SOON AS I SLOW OF COME TO A STOP THERE IS A STRONG RAW FUEL SMELL AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10298232

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

62,000 mi