2002 Subaru Impreza Fuel System 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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR WITHOUT WARNING. SUBARU OF WINCHESTER (3019 VALLEY AVE, WINCHESTER, VA) DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT A MANAGER WOULD CALL THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 151,000.

DURING COLD TEMPERATURES THERE IS A GAS LEAK. CAR IS AN IMPREZA OUTBACK SPORT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR WRX FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT MY CAR. *TR

VERY STRONG SMELL OF RAW GASOLINE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CABIN THAT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH SPILLED FUEL BUT THERE WASN'T ANY SPILLED IN EITHER LOCATION. THE SMELL IS STRONGEST WHILE DRIVING WITH HEAT OR A/C ON TO THE POINT THAT WINDOWS HAD TO BE OPENED BECAUSE THE FUMES WERE IRRITATING THE EYES. AFTER SPEAKING WITH A MECHANIC, WAS TOLD THAT A COMMON PROBLEM IS THE RUBBER FUEL LINES THAT RUN ALONG THE TOP OF THE ENGINE DRY ROT AND BREAK CAUSING RAW GASOLINE TO SPILL ONTO THE HOT ENGINE AND TURBOCHARGER POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FIRE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE.

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS 35 DEGREASE AND BELOW THE FUEL LINE TENDS TO LEAK FUEL/VAPOR AND THE SMELL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS UNBEARABLE, AND I'M SURE THAT IT'S NOT SAFE NOR ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ETHER.

FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS NOW, WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, SITTING IN THE GARAGE, THEN YOU START IT UP AND YOUR VENTS ARE OPEN TO THE OUTSIDE AIR, THE INTERIOR SMELLS OF GASOLINE. I LIVE IN HAWAII AND THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER OUR STATE. THE ONLY WAY TO NOT LET THE SMELL IN THE INSIDE COMPARTMENT IS TO CLOSE THE VENTS.

ODOR OF FUEL IN THE INTERIOR OF MY 2002 SUBARU WRX IMPREZA I CONTACT SUBARU AND ADVISED THEM OF THIS VIA THEIR 800 COMPLAINT NUMBER AND REFERRED TO CAMPAIGN 09V-468 AND NHTSA ACTION #EA09011. I WAS TOLD I COULD TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER AT MY OWN COSTS AND GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED! I ADVISED THEM THAT THE CAMPAIGN STATES MY VEHICLE IS COVERED FOR ADDITIONAL 12 YEARS RE: THE PROBLEM AND IT FELL ON DEAF EARS. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

I HAVE A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WAGON, ALSO KNOWN AS THE "OUTBACK SPORT". THE CAR REEKS OF GASOLINE RECENTLY. SUBARU RECENTLY RECALLED SOME 2002 IMPREZAS BECAUSE THE FUEL LINE LEAKED FUEL IN COLD WEATHER. THE RECALL # IS 09V468000. IT HAS BEEN QUITE COLD HERE IN NC RECENTLY WITH TEMPS IN THE TEENS AND 20S. THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR SEEMS IDENTICAL TO THE PROBLEM THAT WAS THE SUBJECT OF THE RECALL, BUT MY CAR MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE GAS SMELL IS VERY STRONG AND I AM AFRAID THAT THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS AND SET MY CAR AND POSSIBLY MY HOUSE ON FIRE. *TR

WHEN THE WEATHER IS MILDLY COLD, AND IT IS APPROXIMATELY 50 DEGREES OR LESS, AND THE VEHICLE SITS PARKED FOR AT LEAST 4-5 HOURS, TYPICALLY OVERNIGHT AND/OR IN A GARAGE, THERE IS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF FUEL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. THE SMELL DISSIPATES AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND WILL NOT RETURN UNLESS THE CAR SITS PARKED FOR AT LEAST 4-5 HOURS OVERNIGHT AND/OR IN A GARAGE. *KB

SUBARU RECENTLY ISSUED A RECALL, (RECALL NO. WVK-21), FOR LEAKING FUEL IN '02-'03 WRX'S. AS STATED, ONLY SOME VEHICLES ARE COVERED. I CALLED THE SUBARU PHONE # TO CHECK ELIGIBILITY, AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL, BUT THAT I SHOULD HAVE A DEALER FIX IT, AT MY OWN COST, ASAP, BECAUSE LEAKING FUEL IS DANGEROUS. WELL AT LEAST THE SUBARU REP ADMITTED IT, IF SO WON'T AS A COMPANY. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO EXTEND THIS RECALL TO ALL 02-03 WRX'S. THE LEAK IS BAD ENOUGH THAT I SEE RAW FUEL DRIPPING ONTO THE PAVEMENT BELOW MY CAR, THAT ALONE IS A HORRENDOUS SAFETY RISK, AS WELL AS A MAJOR SOURCE OF POLLUTION. THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY THIS VEHICLE WOULD PASS ANY EMISSIONS TEST WITH THE AMOUNT OF UNBURNED HYDROCARBON ESCAPING. AS IT IS NOW, THE VEHICLE IS UNDRIVEABLE IF THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS BELOW ZERO, IT SIMPLY LEAKS TOO MUCH FUEL TO EVEN BE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WITHOUT AN INSTANT HEADACHE. *TR

GETTING A RAW FUEL SMELL IN AND AROUND VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER ON 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA OUTBACK. RESEARCHED PROBLEM ON INTERNET AND DETERMINED POSSIBLE FIX INVOLVING TIGHTENING THE CLAMPS THAT CONNECT THE RUBBER FUEL LINE HOSES TO THE RIGID HOSE LINES (EIGHT CLAMPS TOTAL). TIGHTENED CLAMPS BUT PROBLEM RECURRED TWO DAYS LATER. GASOLINE SMELL IS SOMEWHAT OVERPOWERING INSIDE CAR AND INSIDE GARAGE WHERE CAR IS PARKED. *TR

RAW FUEL SMELL PLUS LEAKING FUEL IN 40*F OR BELOW TEMPERATURES. *TR

DURING COOL WEATHER CONDITIONS FROM COLD STARTUP THE ENGINE HAS HEAVY FUEL/GAS SMELL WHICH IS TRANSPORTED INTO THE VEHICLE CABIN CAUSING UNHEALTHY BREATHING CONDITIONS FOR ANY OCCUPANTS. CALLED SUBARU COOPERATE AND THE DEALER, THEY STATED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR A LEAKING FUEL RAIL BUT NOT ON OUR MODEL. AFTER MUCH INTERNET SEARCHING IT APPEARS THE RECALL SHOULD BE FOR ALL SUBARUS WITH THE SAME ENGINE AS THE PROBLEM IS ENGINE RELATED AND NOT MODEL RELATED. THE ORIGINAL RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL SUBARUS WITH THE SAME ENGINE CONFIGURATION. THE COMPANY IS GETTING OFF EASY WITH A LIMITED RECALL OF LESS THAN 6000 VEHICLES NATION WIDE WHEN THERE ARE CLEARLY MANY MANY MORE OUT THERE. *TR

MY SUBARU 2202 WRX HAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT EVERYTIME IT IS COLD OUT. THEY HAVE A TSB TO FIX THE ISSUE BUT WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIRS IN ALL CASES. THE TSB IS 09-36-03. I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD CARE ABOUT A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT INVOLVES FUEL. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *TR

I NOTICED A FUEL ODOR IN THE CABIN AND TRACED IT TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON INSPECTION I NOTED FUEL POOLING ON THE ENGINE HEADS. I REMOVED IT WITH A PAPER TOWEL FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND VERIFIED IT WAS STILL FLAMMABLE. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY SAID THAT HAPPENS WHEN IT GETS BELOW ZERO OUTSIDE. THE PROBLEM HAS CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO PULL OVER WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE OF FEELING LIGHT HEADED MULTIPLE TIMES, AND MY WIFE HAS PASSED OUT DUE TO THE ODOR WHILE RIDING IN THE CAR AND SUSTAINED A MINOR HEAD INJURY AS A RESULT. IT OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS WHEN THE TEMP. IS BELOW 20 DEGREES F OR SO. I HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOWS WHILE DRIVING TO VENT THE FUMES WHICH CAUSES A HAZARDOUS CONDITION WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. *TR

THE PREVIOUS WINTER AND THIS ONE, A RAW FUEL SMELL OCCURS ON START UP. UPON OBSERVATION, THERE IS A FUEL LEAK BELOW THE TURBO INLET TUBE, COMING FROM THE FUEL RAIL/HOSE. ONCE WARM, THE SMELL IS GONE. *TR

IN COLD WEATHER (FREEZING), THE FUEL RAIL UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS GASOLINE. THE GAS DRIPS DIRECTLY ONTO THE HOT ENGINE. NOT ONLY IS THIS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD (AND KNOWN SOURCE OF A HANDFUL OF FIRES) BUT IT ALSO IS A HEALTH RISK AS THE FUMES FROM THE GAS ENTER INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR WHEN THE HEATER IS IN USE. I HAVE HAD TO KEEP WINDOWS OPEN WHEN DRIVING MY CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER TO PREVENT GETTING SICK FROM THE GAS FUMES. THE ISSUE GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE THE LONGER IT GOES WITHOUT REPAIR. MY MODEL YEAR IS 2002, AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN SINCE 2003 WHEN A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUES TO ALL SUBARU DEALERS. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON THOUSANDS OF CARS AND THERE IS GREAT INCONSISTENCIES IN SUBARU DEALERS REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM. MY CAR IS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WITH 920000 MILES ON THE CAR. WHILE THIS PROBLEM JUST STARTED WITH MY CAR, OTHERS REPORTED THE ISSUE WITHIN THE FIRST 20,000 MILES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT OBSERVED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK ONTO THE GROUND. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, WHICH COULD BE CORRECTED BY A PATCH KIT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 01/09/09. *LJ UPDATED 01/12/09.*JB

I JUST PURCHASED THIS 02 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX CAR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR WHEN I STARTED IT AND ALSO ON THE INSIDE, I HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC AND IT WAS SPRAYING OUT OF ONE OF THE HOSES BY THE AIR INTAKE TUBE, HE WAS ABLE TO TIGHTEN IT A LITTLE TO SLOW THE LEAK BUT THE CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WHEN YOU START IT AND DRIVING IT YOU CAN SMELL GAS VERY STRONG ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR, I'M WORRIED TO DRIVE IT FEARING IT MAY START A FIRE. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT SUBARU WILL DO TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND ALSO, I HAVE TO HAVE AN EMISSIONS TEST DONE IN ANOTHER STATE WHERE I WILL BE ATTENDING COLLEGE, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM. THANKS, ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR