2005 Saab 9-2X Fuel System Problems

THE SMELL OF RAW FUEL IN THE CABIN ON COLD WEATHER STARTS. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FUEL LEAK UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE AND FUEL SPRAYING AND POOLING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. SO MUCH FUEL LEAKING THAT IT RAN DOWN AND MADE A PUDDLE UNDER THE CAR.

WHEN TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING, THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IN THE CABIN UNTIL THE ENGINE REACHES OPERATING TEMPERATURE. IT IS NOTED THAT THE FUEL LINES ARE LEAKING NEAR THE CLAMPS UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. APPROX. 1 DRIP EVERY 2 SECONDS UNTIL THE ENGINE IS WARM AND THE RUBBER SEALS AGAIN. IT APPEARS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MANY SUBARU MODELS, HOWEVER THERE HAS ONLY BEEN A PARTIAL TSB AND THE 2005MY HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED AT THE TIME OF THIS POSTING. THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG WHEN STOPPED, AND GOES AWAY ONCE IN MOTION. ONCE THE CAR WARMS UP, THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANY SMELL. FUEL LEAK LOCATION IS ALSO VERY NEAR THE TURBOCHARGER, WHICH GETS TO VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE.

BESIDE THE TAKATA RECALL, THE CAR IS LEAKING GAS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 20 DEGREES. THE INTERIOR IS FILLED WITH THE SMELL OF FUEL WHEN IT IS COLD. OBVIOUSLY THE SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO MORE CARS AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS A SEARCH ON GOOGLE FOR GAS SMELL WRX WHEN IT'S COLD. OR SIMILAR. APPARENTLY THE FUEL LINES SHRINK WHEN IT'S COLD AND THE CLAMPS DO NOT HOLD AND LEAK GAS ON A HOT ENGINE RIGHT BY THE MANIFOLD. IT MOST CERTAINLY CAN CAUSE A FIR AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. ESPECIALLY WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.

THIS VEHICLE, BEING MADE BY SAAB AND SUBARU OF AMERICA, IS EXIBITING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AS DESCRIBED BY THE 2002-2003 SUBARU WRX FUEL LEAK RECALL INITIATED BY THE NHTSA IN 2003 (I BELIEVE). THIS ISSUE IS STARTING TO APPEAR, EVEN IN MILD CLIMATES LIKE MINE IN CALIFORNIA, ON VEHICLES WELL BEYOND THE 02-03MY. MY VEHICLE IS EQUIVALENT TO THE 2005 SUBARU WRX WAGON. IT USES THE SAME ENGINE/FUEL SYSTEM. IT DOESN'T GET VERY COLD HERE, BUT ON A 50 DEGREE F DAY THIS MORNING, I HAD A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A ROW. I ANTICIPATE THIS WILL HAPPEN EVERY MORNING, FROM NOW ON. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARD, PROVEN BY THE FACT THE NHTSA ALREADY HAD SOA ISSUE A RECALL PREVIOUSLY FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE "FIX" IS NOT WORKING LONG TERM, SINCE MY VEHICLE FELL INTO MANUFACTURE YEARS AFTER THE FACT. MANUFACTURING CHANGES DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE, THE ISSUE REMAINS, EVEN UP TO THE 2005 MY. I URGE THE NHTSA TO SERIOUSLY INVESTIGATE THIS FUEL LEAKING ISSUE FOR ALL 2002-UP SUBARU BOXER ENGINES. IT'S STILL A MAJOR ISSUE. RAW FUEL EVAPORATING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, AND NOXIOUS VAPORS ENTERING THE VEHICLE CABIN WHILE BEING DRIVEN, NOT A GOOD SITUATION.

EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS STARTED IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES THERE IS STRONG CABIN SMELL RAW GASOLINE FUMES. IT ONLY GOES AWAY AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING. POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. PLEASE HELP. *TR

I NOTICE A STRONG SMELL OF GAS IF THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 20 DEGREES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD AND ALSO A HEALTH HAZARD. THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTED ON THE SUBARU WRX WHICH IS THE SAME CAR AND IT WAS RECALLED. THE SAME NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THE SAAB WHICH WAS BUILT BY SUBARU. *TR

EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS STARTED IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES GASOLINE SPRAYS OUT OF FUEL LINES UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND LEAKS ALL OVER ENGINE, INTERIOR CABIN SMELLS OF STRONG GASOLINE FUMES DURING THIS TIME AND ALSO WHILE DRIVING, POSSIBLE FIRE CONDITION MAY OCCUR. *TR

IN COLD TEMPERATURES MY CAR BEGINS TO SMELL OF FUEL AND BASED ON A MECHANICS DIAGNOSIS, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE FUEL LINE CLAMPS NEEDING TO BE TIGHTENED. IT SEEMS LIKE MANY OF SAAB 9-2X AERO MODELS HAVE THIS ISSUE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY THE COMPANY. IF THIS MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING ISSUES, THERE IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM. *TR

FOR THE WINTER A RAW FUEL SMELL FILLED THE ENGINE AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER ON A COLD STARTUP. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS A LEAKING FUEL LINE UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE QUITE COMMON AFFECTING BOTH SAAB 9-2X AND ITS SUBARU EQUIVALENT THE WRX (BOTH MODELS BUILT BY SUBARU). THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR 02-03 WRX'S, BUT IT APPEARS NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS HAZARDOUS ISSUES IN LATER MODELS. *TR

WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS APPROXIMATELY 35 DEGREES F OR LESS, THERE IS A STRONG RAW FUEL SMELL IN THE VEHICLE FROM COLD STARTUP. THE PROBLEM DISSIPATES AFTER THE VEHICLE COMES UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS A LEAKING FUEL LINE UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $700. THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO BE COMMON IN BOTH THE SAAB 9-2X AND ITS SUBARU EQUIVALENT, THE IMPREZA WRX. BOTH MODELS WERE BUILT BY SUBARU. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2002 AND 2003 SUBARU WRX, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN ISSUED REGARDING THIS VEHICLE. *TR

THIS CAR WHILE BEING BADGED AS A SAAB IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE 05 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. THE SAAB 92X LEAKS RAW FUEL. I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT'S COMING FROM. IN THE 02-03 IMPREZA HAD A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM WHICH UNFORTUNATELY DOES NOT COVER 05. HOWEVER THE FUEL LEAK PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY SUBARU OR GM ANY FUEL LEAK IS HAZARDOUS ESPECIALLY ONE LIKE THIS. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. IT'S NOT SAFE. *TR

DURING COLD WEATHER, FUEL LINES LEAK/SEEP RAW FUEL INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IF LEFT UNTREATED, COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE ENGINE FIRE, LEADING TO INJURY AND DEATH. PLEASE GET SUBARU/SAAB TO FIX ASAP. *TR

STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE OF CAR. INSPECTED UNDER HOOD AND DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL SMELL WAS EMANATING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. *TR

UPON COLD WEATHER STARTUPS (LESS THAN 20 DEGREES) STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL IN CABIN UNTIL CAR WARMS UP. *JS

THIS CAR, WHILE A SAAB BY NAME, IS MADE BY SUBARU AND IS MECHANICALLY IDENTICAL TO A 2005 IMPREZA WRX. SUBARU RECALLED 2002- 2003 WRXS FOR A COLD WEATHER FUEL LEAK. THE RECALL NUMBER IS 01-170-09. THIS CAR BEING TWO MODEL YEARS NEWER IS NOT COVERED HOWEVER IT SUFFERS FROM THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. DURING VERY COLD TEMPERATURES LIKE THE ONES WE ARE EXPERIENCING NOW, (BELOW 20 DEGREES F) RAW FUEL LEAKS FROM A HOSE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS SMELL FLOODS THE CABIN AND IS SO BAD, WINDOWS NEED TO BE ROLLED DOWN. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU FOR ASSISTANCE BUT HAVE YET TO RECEIVE HELP. *TR

ON AND OFF, THERE IS A VERY STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR. HAD TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE WEATHER BECAME VERY COLD. *TR

VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL IN CAR, AND IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AFTER STARTING CAR. AMBIENT OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES FOR THE LAST 4-5 DAYS HAVE BEEN BELOW 20 DEGREES F. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SERVICE IN VERMONT SINCE FEBRUARY 2007, AND IN CONNECTICUT BEFORE THAT WHEN ORIGINALLY PURCHASED NEW. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED BY SUBARU FOR THE 02-03 SUBARU WRX (WHICH SHARES AN IDENTICAL POWERTRAIN/FUELING SYSTEM WITH THE SAAB 9-2X AERO), AS OUTLINED IN RECALL # NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V468000 EA09011 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA09011 (SUBARU RECALL PROGRAM #WVK-21). *TR

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING OR CLOSE TO 45 DEGREES F, THIS CAR WILL LEAK GASOLINE FROM THE FUEL LINES UNDER THE INTAKE IN THE ENGINE BAY. THIS FUEL POOLS ONTO THE HOT ENGINE BLOCK AND CAUSES A FIRE HAZARD. IT ALSO CREATES A SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE VEHICLE CABIN THAT IS SO STRONG THAT THE WINDOWS NEED TO BE LOWERED TO BREATHE PROPERLY AND FOR THE HEALTH OF THE PASSENGERS. THE MAKER OF THIS CAR, FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES (SUBARU) AND THE SELLER (GENERAL MOTORS), KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE DONE NOTHING TO PREVENT A FIRE THAT IS WAITING TO HAPPEN OR MAKE ANY SAFETY RECALLS FOR THIS CAR. *JS

DURING COLD WEATHER THERE ARE FUMES COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE, AND STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN, THE DRIVING IS ONLY POSSIBLE WITH WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN. THE DRIVING AT NIGHT IS NOT POSSIBLE WHEN THE WARM AIR IS TURN ON, MORE GASOLINE SMELL COMES INSIDE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND SINCE SUBARU HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH IMPREZA WRX AND THERE WAS A RECALL, WHY THEY IGNORE THIS WITH SAAB 9-2X THAT HAS SUBARU ENGINE. *TR

WHEN STARTING UP AND DRIVING IN COLD CONDITIONS (TEMPERATURE BELOW 32F, NOT REFERRING TO ENGINE BAY TEMPERATURE BUT AMBIENT), A FUEL LINE 'SHRINKS' OR 'LEAKS' FUEL VAPOR AND LIQUID ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK AND CAUSES A VERY NOTICEABLE AND NAUSEOUS RAW GASOLINE SMELL. THIS CONDITION IS KNOW AND IS IN A RECALL FOR MY2002-2003 SUBARU WRXS WITH THE SAME ENGINE AS THE 2005 SAAB 92-X AERO AS WELL AS OTHER SUBARUS AND IS KNOW TO EXIST BY MANY, MANY SUBARU AND SAAB OWNERS. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN SINCE MINE IS LEAVING GASOLINE DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE CYLINDER HEAD AND COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE WHICH IN MANY CIRCUMSTANCES CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURIES TO MYSELF AND/OR OTHER MOTORISTS. MY CAR IS COMPLETELY STOCK WITH NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE POWER-PLANT OF ANY KIND. *TR