2002 Subaru WRX Complaint Log

I DRIVE A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. A WEEK AND A HALF AGO WE HAD TEMPS BELOW ZERO. WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED VERY STRONG GAS SMELLS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS WHILE USING THE DEFROST. AFTER SOME ONLINE INVESTIGATION I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES FOR ANYONE LIVING IN A COLDER CLIMATE. I BELIVE THE PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH THE FITTINGS THAT ATTATCH THE METAL FUEL LINES TO THE FLEXIBLE HOSES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IN COLD WEATHER THESE FAIL, SPILLING GASOLINE ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. NOW THE PROBLEM IS MORE COMMON, EVEN ON COOL, BUT NOT COLD DAYS. I UNDERSTAND THAT SUBARU IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS EVEN ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO DEALERSHIPS ADVISING THEM OF THE FIX FOR THIS (WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE). HOWEVER, IT SHOULD NOT BE THE CONSUMERS RESPONSIBLITY TO PAY FOR A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FIX THAT IS COMMON ON THESE CARS. STRONG GAS FUMES IN THE PASSANGER COMPARTMENT AND GASOLINE SPILLING ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK SHOULD CONSTITUTE ENOUGH OF A SAFETY HAZARD TO JUSTIFY A RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. *AK

SMELL OF FUEL VERY STRONG INSIDE VEHICLE.PULLED OVER AND POPPED HOOD.NOTICED POOLS OF RAW FUEL ON INTAKE MANIFOLD ON PASSENGERS SIDE.REMOVED PUDDLES AND TIGHTENED FUEL HOSE CLAMPS(12/12/04).TEMPERATURE DROPPED TO 15F THE OTHER DAY AND THE SMELL OF GAS IS BACK.CANNOT SEE ANY PUDDLES AT THE MOMENT.FROM SUBARU ENTHUSIETS WEBSITES THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WHEN THE TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW FREEZING FOR THE WRX'S.VERY DANGEROUS!THE TURBOCHARGER IS MOUNTED NOT TO FAR AWAY FROM THE FUEL PUDDLES.*AK

CAR: 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WAGON, 25,000 MILES VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND UNDER HOOD OF VEHICLE UPON COLD START (<35 DEG. F) AND WHILE IDLING THEREAFTER. SMALL PUDDLE OF RAW LIQUID FUEL UNDER CAR AFTER SITTING PARKED. *AK

GAS SMELL COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF 2002 WRX SUBARU OF AMERICA ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM AND WON'T COVER IT AS A POWER TRAIN ISSUE. CAR SPILLS GASOLINE ON TOP OF ENGINE WHEN COLD. DEALERS DO NOT "FIND" THE ISSUE UNTIL RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. *JB

WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY HAD STRONG SMELL OF GAS, FOUND GAS STEAMING OFF THE ENGINE, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE GAS PIPE. IT TOOK OVER $500 TO PUT IN A NEW GAS PIPE BUT IT STILL SMELLS LIKE GAS. THE DEALER KEPT THE OLD PART AND INSTALLED PIPE CP FUEL RETURN PART #17544AA134 AND HOSE PART #807707140. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 44,000 MILES. *JB

DURING COLD WEATHER THERE IS AN AWFUL SMELL OF GASOLINE. IT ALMOST SMELLS AS THOUGH THERE'S A GAS LEAK INSIDE THE CAR. THERE WAS A TSB RELEASED BUT THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM SO NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THE SMELL IS UNBEARABLE AND CANNOT BE HEALTHY.*AK

1) COLD WEATHER - UNDER 35 DEGREES 2) FUEL LEAK ON TOP OF ENGINE CAUSED BY FAULTY FUEL LINE FITTING. 3) DEALER FIX, UP TO $800+ DOLLARS, FIXED WITH REDESIGNED PARTS, CUSTOMER PAYS. *JB

STARTING TWO WEEKS AGO, I HAVE ENCOUNTERED A FUEL SMELL WHEN STARTING MY CAR IN COLD WEATHER. IT'S SO BAD I REALLY AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT TIMES AND THE ODOR INSIDE THE CAR IS REALLY BAD. I OPENED THE HOOD ON THE CAR ONE MORNING WHEN I SMELLED IT AND IT LOOKED THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING SMELL OF GASOLINE, ALMOST LIKE IT WAS LEAKING SOMEWHERE. I AM GOING TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA AS THIS CANNOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE. *NM

TRAVELING ON A DAMP, BUMPY ASPHALT ROAD IN SEATTLE (TEMPURATURE WAS IN THE MID-40'S). LIGHT AHEAD TURNS RED - I APPLY THE BRAKES AS USUAL, BUT THE PEDDLE SUDDENLY SINKS ABOUT AN INCH AND I FEEL ABS COME ON. IT FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES HAVE NO STOPPING POWER AND ARE ONLY WORKING AT ABOUT 10%. I LET UP ON THE BRAKES AND TRIED AGAIN, AND WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, ON SOME METAL DRAWBRIDGE GRATING. IT SEEMS AS IF THE ABS COMES ON IN TIMES WHEN IT SHOULD NOT, WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKES TO PRACTICALLY NOT WORK. IF A CAR HAD BEEN CLOSER IN FRONT OF ME, I WOULD HAVE HIT IT. *AK

I HAVE 2002 SUBARU WRX. IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL IS PRESENT IN THE PASSEGER COMPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. SUBARU HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 09-36-03), FOR THE PROBLEM (SO THEY RECOGNISE IT DOES EXIST). I HAVE INQUIRED ABOUT THE WORK NECESSARY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, ISSUED UNDER THIS BULLETIN. THE COST WITH PARTS AND LABOR REACHES ALMOST FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS, WHICH I THINK IS RIDICULOUS. I ALSO REALIZE THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS COMPLETED AN INVESTIGATION (NHTSA PE4002), AND FOUND NO SAFETY PROBLEMS. EVEN IF THERE IS NO PHYSICAL SAFETY PROBLEM, I BELIEVE SUBARU SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIRS, SINCE IT REALIZES THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ITS HEALTHY TO BE DRIVING AROUND BREATHING GASOLINE FUMES.*AK

THERE IS A FUEL LEAK THAT I CAN SEE UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS WELL BELOW 15 DEGREES (F). THIS IS AN ISSUE EXPERIENCED BY NEARLY ALL 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX OWNERS WHO LIVE IN COLD WEATHER. IT IS ADDRESSED IN TSB 09-36-03. THE PROBLEM WITH THE TSB IS THAT IT DOES NOT FIX ANOTHER SMALLER LEAK. I AM NOT SURE WHERE THAT SECOND ONE IS, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY SMELL THE FUEL AFTER GETTING THE CAR FIXED. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW LEAKING FUEL IS NOT DANGEROUS, BUT I HOPE THIS ISSUE WILL BE RESOLVED. SUBARU OF AMERICA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THIS ISSUE AT THEIR EXPENSE, INSTEAD OF THE WRX OWNERS GETTING IT FIXED FOR SOMETIMES UPWARDS OF $500. I GUESS THAT WON'T HAPPEN UNTIL SOME ONE DIES IN A FIRE.*AK

ON COLD MORNINGS, DURING WARM-UP A PRONOUNCED RAW FUEL SMELL IS EVIDENT IN THE CAR AND ESPECIALLY UNDER THE HOOD OF MY 2002 SUBARU WRX, IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, NEITHER OF WHOM COULD REPLICATE THE COMPLAINT, BUT FURTHER RESEARCH HAS TURNED UP A TSB FROM SUBARU ON THE MATTER, YET THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT ACT ON THAT. I FEEL THIS CONDITION POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY THREAT, AS IT CAN EASILY LEAD TO A FIRE. *JB

I OWNED THE CAR FOR 5K MILES AND THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ARE BAD. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR A 2 YEAR OLD CAR. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SUBARUS. THE DRIVETRAIN IS NOISY, SO IT IS HARD TO DETECT DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND CAN REALLY DAMAGE THE CAR IF NOT FOUND. *JB

I OWN A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A GAS SMELL IN THE CABIN AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE MY CAR WAS ACTING UP BUT I KNOW REALIZE THAT THIS IS A WIDELY RECOGNIZED PROBLEM. I CANNOT DRIVE AROUND WITH MY WINDOWS OPEN IN SUBZERO WEATHER IT IS RIDICULOUS. I REALIZE THAT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A LOOSE FUEL FITTING OR TWO THAT YOU NEED TO REMOVE PARTS TO GET TO. THIS IS EXPENSIVE AND SUBARU NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MISTAKE. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I NEED TO GET IT FIXED BUT I AM A COLLEGE KID THAT PAYS FOR MY OWN SCHOOL AND LIVES ON MY OWN, I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX A FACTORY MALFUNCTION. *NM

STARTED THE CAR FIRST THING IN THE MORNING TO DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES TO THE STORE. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 48 DEGREES F. AFTER RETURNING DIRECTLY FROM THE STORE (THE SAME 1.5 MILES) THERE WAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE AS I STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR. I SMELLED AT THE GAP BETWEEN THE HOOD AND DRIVER'S FENDER AND DETERMINED THE ENGINE BAY TO BE THE SOURCE OF THE GASOLINE SMELL. I USED A FLASHLIGHT TO SEARCH FOR ANY VISIBLE LEAKS, BUT I COULD NOT SEE THE GASOLINE. THE SMELL WAS INCREDIBLY STRONG THOUGH. IT SEEMED TO BE THE STRONGEST RIGHT ABOVE THE MANIFOLD BETWEEN THE INTERCOOLER, MANIFOLD, AND TURBO. I'M VERY WORRIED OF AN ENGINE FIRE DUE TO THE LEAKING. I'M TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR EXAMINATION OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK

FUEL ODOR AND SEEPAGE WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING DURING COLD WEATHER. WARMING UP OF THE ENGINE DOES NOT STOP THE ODOR. WHILE THE ENGINE IS NOT WARMED UP LIQUID FUEL SEEPS OUT. ONCE THE ENGINE WARMS UP FUEL VAPOR SEEPS OUT. THE SEEPAGE OCCURS WHENEVER THE WEATHER IS COLD. FOR NOTE, THIS RELATES TO DEFECT INVESTIGATION PE04002.*AK

FUEL INSIDE CABIN DURING COLD WEATHER. 27 DEGREES AND BELOW. *JB

I OWN A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PLACE MY CAR IN NEUTRAL IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO BACK INTO FIRST GEAR. SO I HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND PUT IT INTO SECOND GEAR. I HAVE ALREADY COMPLAIN TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. THEY JUST SAY THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION. *JB

FUEL SMELL IN CABIN DURING VEHICLE OPERATION IN COLD WEATHER. LEFT DRIVER FEELING WOOZY AFTER 30 MINUTES. VEHICLE BARELY OUTSIDE WARRANTY PERIOD. DEALERSHIP CHARGES $350 TO REPLACE FUEL HOSES WHICH LEAK DURING COLD WEATHER AS A RESULT OF A DESIGN FLAW. *JB

IF I TRY TO BRAKE OVER ROUGH OR SLIPPERY PAVEMENT IN MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX, THE ABS SYSTEM SHUTS OFF THE BRAKES. POTHOLES, MANHOLE COVERS, FROST HEAVES, ICY PATCHES, ANY OF THESE CAUSE THIS BEHAVIOR. ALSO, IN NOVEMBER 2004, WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT ABOUT 30 TO 35 MPH ON DRY AND MOSTLY CLEAN PAVEMENT, A TRUCK DRIVING IN FRONT OF ME BRAKED GRADUALLY. I HIT MY BRAKES TO MAINTAIN A DISTANCE, BUT IT WAS A SECTION OF RIPPLED PAVEMENT AND THE ABS SYSTEM SHUT OFF THE BRAKES SO COMPLETELY FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS. MY CAR WAS ACTUALLY PICKING UP SPEED DUE TO THE DOWNHILL. I AM SURE THAN IN ANY OTHER CAR I'VE HAD, I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD ANY TROUBLE SLOWING DOWN. I AVOIDED REAR-ENDING THE TRUCK BY SLOWING THE CAR WITH AGGRESSIVE ENGINE BRAKING. I ALSO STEERED TOWARDS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AT THAT MOMENT AND THE PAVEMENT WAS CLEANER, SO I COULD SLOW DOWN. ANOTHER TIME I REAR-ENDED A VEHICLE THAT STOPPED IN FRONT OF A POTHOLE, ALTHOUGH DAMAGE WAS MINOR. I'VE ALSO HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF SCARY NEAR - MISSES WITH REAR-ENDING OTHER VEHICLES, AND ON A FEW OCCASIONS SLID OUT INTO INTERSECTIONS WITH FROST HEAVES LEADING UP TO A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, BECAUSE MY BRAKING SPACE ESTIMATE WAS FAR LESS THAN I ACTUALLY NEEDED. I RECENTLY REPLACED ALL BRAKE PADS AND DISCS. THE REAR PADS FIT IN THE CALIPERS SO TIGHTLY I HAD TO POUND THEM OUT WITH A HAMMER AND PUNCH. BOTH PADS AND ROTORS WERE WORN VERY UNEVENLY. REPLACEMENT REAR PADS FIT IN THE SAME WAY. THEN I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE FIT, SO I GROUND DOWN THE TABS TO GET A GOOD SNUG FIT RATHER THAN AN INTERFERENCE FIT AND JAMMING, SO THEY SLIPPED INTO PLACE NORMALLY. AFTER MAKING THIS CHANGE TO MY BRAKES, THEY WORK VERY WELL. I NEARLY SOLD THE CAR DUE TO THIS ISSUE, BUT INSTEAD DROVE IT FOR A WHILE WITH THE ABS SYSTEM DISABLED. MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER TOLD ME THIS IS HOW ABS SYSTEMS ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS CLEARLY A BIG PROBLEM.

STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE ON STARTUP WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE. WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED JUST PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM ARISING. SUBARU NEEDS TO DO A RECALL FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *JB

THIS IS COMPLAINT 1986 ABOUT THE RAW GASOLINE LEAKING ONTO A HOT ENGINE BLOCK, WHEN IS SOMETHING GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT IT???*AK

I WAS DRIVING MY 02 SUBARU WRX ON THE HIGHWAY. I NEED TO STOP SUDDENLY AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, BUT THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN. THIS CAUSE ME TO REAR END A FORD EXPLORER. THIS CAUSE APPROXIMATELY $3800 IN DAMAGES. *NM

TODAY I SENT THE FOLLOWING EMAIL TO SUBARU OF AMERICA CONCERNING THE INVESTIGATION OF ABS DEFECT IN WRX VEHICLES. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND ON NO OCCASION WAS I DRIVING IN AN "AGGRESSIVE" MANNER OR "HARD' BRAKING. NOR WAS MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT TO NHTSA A "PARROTING" OF SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM FROM THE IMPREZA WEBSITE, AS SUBARU HAS ACCUSED. THE ABS IS OVERLY SENSITIVE TO BUMPY SURFACES AND IS A SAFETY RISK, PERIOD. MY EMAIL TO SUBARU OF AMERICA: I HAVE JUST REVIEWED SOA'S LETTER DATED 9/10/04 TO NHTSA RE YOUR INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGED ABS PROBLEMS IN WRX'S. I AM DISMAYED BY SOA'S INABILITY TO DOCUMENT, AND REFUSAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE, THE ABS PROBLEM. I AM INSULTED THAT SUBARU BLAMES THE PROBLEM ON "AGGRESSIVE DRIVING PATTERNS." THE PROBLEM REGULARLY OCCURS AT ONE POINT IN MY DAILY URBAN COMMUTE WHEN I BRAKE FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT OVER A BUMPY SURFACE. I AM USING ONLY 15% OF THE BRAKING CAPABILITY AT 20 MPH WHEN THE ABS FAULT OCCURS-- HARDLY "AGGRESSIVE" OR "HARD" BRAKING, AND HARDLY A SITUATION THAT ONLY AGGRESSIVE PERFORMANCE DRIVERS WOULD ENCOUNTER. WHEN IT OCCURS, THERE IS A SUDDEN, DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN DECELERATION WHICHIS NO LONGER PROPORTIONAL TO PEDAL PRESSURE, AND INCREASED PRESSURE IS INEFFECTIVE WHILE THE ABS IS "CONFUSED" BY THE BUMPY SURFACE. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE HAD SCARY MOMENTS WHEN THE DROP IN DECELERATION HAS RESULTED IN NEARLY REAR-ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I AM VERY PUZZLED WHY AN EVENT, THAT FOR ME IS SO PREDICTABLE AND REPEATABLE, HAS ESCAPED YOUR ANALYSIS. *AK I FURTHER TAKE OFFENSE TO THE CLAIM IN YOUR LETTER THAT MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS TO THE NHTSA WERE DISHONEST REPETITIONS OF PROBLEMS A FEW HAD DESCRIBED ON AN OWNERS WEBSITE. NICE TRY, BUT I CAN ATTEST TO THE VALIDITY OF THE PROBLEM IN MY CAR, HAVING EXPERIENCED IT DOZENS OF TIMES. DISCUSSION ON THE WEBSITE HAS INFORMED OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM AND MAY HAVE PREVENTED SOME ACCIDENTS, SOMETHING I CANNOT SAY FOR SUBARU! CHARLES F. VISSER. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT RELEASE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TWICE. VEHICLE CONTINUED GOING AT 67 MPH. FORTUNATELY I DOWNSHIFTED AND STOPPED VEHICLE WITHOUT HITTING THE 6 OTHER VEHICLES AT THE STOP LIGHT. *JB

ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2004 I WAS TRAVELLING WITH MY MOTHER SOUTHBOUND ON THE 5 FREEWAY. THE TRAFFIC WAS STOP AND GO. I WAS STOPPED ,AND HAD PUT THE CAR INTO FIRST GEAR AND RELEASED THE CLUTCH AND THERE WAS A LOUD POP. FIRST GEAR WAS GONE. I DROVE IT HOME. THE FOLLOWING DAY TOOK IT TO BOB BAKER SUBARU IN CARLSBAD, CA. AN HOUR LATER THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF DRIVER ABUSE AND/OR RACING. THEY DENIED MY CLAIM! I WROTE LETTERS TO SUBARU AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE PHONE CALLS (MOST WERE NEVER RETURNED). ON OCT. 27TH I FINALLY WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND PAID $700 FOR THEM LOOKING AT THE TRANSMISSION AND $205 FOR STORING THE CAR. IT NOW ONLY HAS SECOND GEAR. *AK

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, SOMETHING IS BANGING IN THE FRONT END. ONLY HAPPENS THE FIRST TIME I BACK UP AND APPLY BRAKES. MOVE FORWARD AND IT BANGS AGAIN BUT ONLY THE FIRST TIME I MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. DEALER TELLS ME THE BRAKE SHOES ARE MOVING BUT NOTHING CAN BE DONE, THEY CLAIM IT IS NOT A PROBLEM. *AK

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WAGON. WHILE BRAKING ON UNEVEN ROADS, ESPECIALLY WHEN ENCOUNTERING POTHOLES OR OTHER CONDITIONS WHERE ONE OR MORE TIRES MOMENTARILY LOSE TRACTION, THE ABS WILL ENGAGE AND REMAIN ENGAGED FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME (AFTER THE MOMENTARY OR INSTANTANEOUS LOSS OF TRACTION). THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO BRAKE INEFFECTIVELY OR SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. THIS HAS PUT ME IN UNCOMFORTABLE AND/OR DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN THE CAR DOES NOT BRAKE AS EXPECTED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS ISSUE IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA AND SUBARU, SO I AM AWAITING THE OUTCOME OF THIS INVESTIGATION.

NO WARNING. BRAKES LOCKED UP FULLY ON INTERSTATE 44 GOING 70 MPH. ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND I TAPPED THE BRAKES AND THEY LOCKED UP AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I WAS NOT USING THE BRAKE.*AK

2002 SUBARU WRX WAGON. NO WARNING, DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW (ELECTRIC) SNAPS OUT OF SHEET METAL BENDING THE LIVING CRAP OUT OF IT, SNAPPING NUMEROUS CLIPS AND BENDING THE WINDOW TRACK. FOUND BOLTS ON THE INSIDE OF DOOR WERE SHEARED OFF. CAR HAS ONLY 33,000 MILES. UNACCEPTABLE! *LA

I WAS RECENTLY RIDING WITH WHAT SUBURBAN SUBARU IN VERNON/MANCHESTER, CT SAY WAS 50% LIFE LEFT ON MY BREAK PADS IN MY 2002 WRX SEDAN. WHEN STOPPING FOR A FAST YELLOW TO RED LIGHT CHANGE FROM ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR THEIR WAS NO RESPONSE ON THE BREAK PEDAL. I QUICKLY TOOK MY FOOT OFF AND PRESSED AGAIN, EVEN HARDER THIS TIME, WHICH ENGAGED THE ABS AND LEFT ME COMING TO A BANGING ABS STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 5. LUCKILY ALL THE CARS AT THE INTERSECTION NOTICED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES NOT RESPONDING AT ALL GETS RECOGNIZED AND LOOKED INTO FURTHER. HOWEVER, I CAN PLAINLY SAY THAT AFTER THAT INCIDENT, I DO NOT TRUST THE BREAKS ON MY 02 WRX. I PLAN ON KEEPING THIS CAR, BUT I DEMAND RELIABLE BRAKING LIKE ALL OTHER DRIVERS. *AK

COMPLETE TRANSIENT BRAKE FAILURE - SUBARU 2002 WRX WAGON.JUST EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE, THANKFULLY NOT "DRIVING" AT THE TIME. I WAS BACKING THE CAR DOWN OFF SERVICE RAMPS LAST NIGHT IN MY DRIVEWAY. NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AT THE WHEELS, I MAY HAVE RUN OVER A BLOCK OF WOOD WITH A REAR WHEEL AT THE SAME TIME, BUT ANYHOW JUST AS I CAME DOWN OFF THE RAMPS UNDER VERY LIGHT BRAKING, THE BRAKE PEDAL LITERALLY SANK TO THE FLOOR UNDER MY FOOT, - IT FELT LIKE IT DEFLATED.THE PEDAL JUST REMAINED LIMPLY WHERE IT WAS. APPLICATION / VARIATION OF PRESSURE HAD NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER, DON'T RECALL HEARING THE ABS MECH EITHER AFTER THE INITIAL SINK.*AK I WAS LEFT ROLLING SLOWLY BACKWARDS DOWN MY DRIVEWAY WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY PLANTED ON THE BRAKE - THERE WAS NOT EVEN ENOUGH BRAKING FORCE TO STOP THE CAR FROM A WALKING PACE ROLL. I USED THE E-BRAKE TO STOP. TRIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN AFTERWARDS, AND PRESSURE WAS BACK, LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. VERY SCARY. EVEN THOUGH I'D READ ABOUT THIS, STILL TOOK ME A FEW SECONDS TO REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THIS CLEARLY COULD BE FATAL "ON THE ROAD". SEE HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=487735&PERPAGE=25&PAGENUMBER=1 FOR MORE DETAIL AND REPORTS.

ABS GOES OFF FOR NO REASON ON SLIGHTLY ROUGH ROADS.*AK

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING MY 2002 SUBARU WRX IN A NORMAL MANNER WHEN HE STOPPED AT A LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION. HE WENT TO PULL OUT AND COULD NOT GET INTO GEAR. HE GAVE A LITTLE GAS AND ATTEMPTED TO GET CAR TO GO IN FIRST GEAR, THEN THE LUTCH WENT TO FLOOR AND HE COULD NOT GET CAR TO MOVE, EXCEPT BY DRIFTING. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN TO GARAGE, THEY STATED THAT THE CLUTCH SPRINGS BLEW OUT, THE CLUTCH, 2ND GEAR WAS STRIPPED OF ITS TEETH. SUBARU OF AMERICA IS CLAIMING ABUSE AND WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY. THIS CAR HAS 35750 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR IS ENGINEERED INCORRECTLY, AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. YOU CAN NOT GET CAR TO MOVE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY ISSUE BUT A WARRRANTY ISSUE. SOMEONE NEEDS TO STOP THIS, BEFORE MORE COMPANIES START NEGATING WARRANTIES ALSO. *AK

I WAS PULLING IN TO A GAS STATIONS PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 15 MPH AND HIT A POT HOLE WITH MY PASSANGER SIDE FRONT TIRE AT THE SAME TIME I APPLYED THE BRAKE HEAVLY TO SLOW DOWN FOR THE LATE SEEN HOLE WHEN THE BRAKES GO COMPLETELY HARD. IT FELT AS IF I WASN'T APPLYING THE BRAKES AT ALL, IT TOOK A GOOD 10 TO 15 FT TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP LUCKLY I HAD ENOUGH ROOM TO STOP. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN I ALSO TRY TO SLOW DOWN TO FAST ONCE AND RAN OVER A PARKING CIRB. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES DON'T FEEL LIKE ALL OTHER CARS I HAVE DROVE (PONTIAC SATURN FORD), THEY NEVER PULSE ON LIKE THE OTHER CARS THEY ARE JUST HARD.

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

GAS PERIODIC GAS SMELL IN CAR. COLD CLUCH JITTER.OOR BRAKING PREESSURE, OVER ACTIVE ABS. *AK

NO APPARENT OR KNOWN EVENTS OR CAUSES LEADING TO FAILURE. NO ROCK CHIPS OR DINGS AT ORIGIN SITE AT UPPER EDGE OF WINDSHIELD WHERE FAILURE BEGAN.*AK MY WINDSHIELD WAS IN GOOD CONDITION WHEN LAST DRIVEN WITH NO VISIBLE BREAKS. THE NEXT TIME I DROVE IT, THE WINDSHIELD HAD BEGUN TO CRACK FROM TOP EDGE IN FROMT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND HAD EXTENDED APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHESS. AFTER PARKING THE CAR, I MARKED THE SPOT AT THE END OF THE CRACK. THE NEXT DAY THE CRACK HAD EXTENDED ANOTHER 3 INCHES WITH NO DRIVING OR MOVEMENT INVOLVED. THE CRACK IS NOW APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET IN TOTAL LENGTH. I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO HAVE IT FIXED DUE TO NO LOCAL DEALERS OR GLASS REPAIR SHOPS. HOWEVER, I AM CURRENTLY PLANNING A TRIP TO LUBBOCK (100 MILES ONE WAY) TO HAVE IT REPLACED AS WELL AS ANSWER A VEHICLE RECALL I RECENTLY RECEIVED. IF THE WINDSHIELD NEEDS TO BE KEPT AVAILABLE, I WILL NEED TO KNOW SOON SO I CAN NOTIFY MY DEALER.

ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGES ON DRY PAVEMENT WHEN IT ENCOUNTERS BUMPS, PEDAL GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKING FORCE IS SEVERELY REDUCED. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY CARS WITH ABS AND NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME. I HAVE SORT OF LEARNED TO "DRIVE AROUND" THE PROBLEM, BUT ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS WHERE EMERGENCY BRAKING WAS CALLED FOR IT HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT - ONCE FORCING ME TO DRIVE UP ONTO AND OVER A CURB AND INTO A DITCH. DESTROYING ONE OF MY WHEELS IN THE PROCESS. SOMEONE RAN A RED LIGHT AND I COULDNT STOP FROM 30 MPH IN WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF ROOM WITH A NORMAL BRAKING SYSTEM. PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE SINCE CAR WAS NEW, WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT IT WITH MY DEALER I WAS INFORMED THAT "ALL WRXS DO THAT, ITS NORMAL" BUT AFTER TALKING WITH SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME CAR I CAN TELL YOU THAT ALTHOUGH WE ALL MIGHT EXPERIENCE IT, ITS NOT NORMAL AT ALL AND QUITE SCARY. AS AN EXPERIMENT I FOUND A PARKING LOT WITH SOME BUMPS ON IT THAT WOULD CAUSE THE ABS TO GO NUTTY, I THEN PULLED THE ABS FUSE AND WENT OVER THE SAME PART OF THE PARKING LOT AT THE SAME SPEED AND I COULD GET TONS MORE BRAKING FORCE WITHOUT LOCKING UP THE WHEELS THAN I COULD WITH THE ABS ON, SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY SCREWY HERE. *AK

THE ABS ACTIVATES PREMATURELY DURING THRESHOLD BRAKING ON ROUGH OR UNEVEN DRY PAVED SURFACES (WASHBOARDS ESPECIALLY), CAUSING EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE, LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE. ABS OPERATES AS EXPECTED ON WET SMOOTH SURFACES WITHOUT BEING NOTICED.*AK

I INSTALLED BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES ON MY WIFE'S SUBARU. AFTER LESS THAN 500 MILES THE SIDEWALL DELAMINATED, ALMOST COMPLETELY. PRESSURE WAS 32 LB AND THERE HAD BEEN NO PREVIOUS SIGNS OF PROBLEMS. WHEN I CALLED TIRERACK, THE VENDOR, THEY AT FIRST CLAIMED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRRANTY FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND THEN CLAIMED THAT THE TIRE MUST HAVE BEEN DAMAGED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE RETURNED ALL FOUR TIRES AND CONSIDER THAT THIS TIRE PRESENTS A HAZARD TO SAFETY.*AK

SMELL FUEL LEAK IN CABIN IN LOW TEMPS. WHEN CAR WARMS UP FUEL SMELL GOES AWAY. TEMPS AROUND 15F.*AK

2002 SUBARU WRX, SMELL GAS INSIDE VEHICLE WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHT, USUALLY WHEN COOL OUTSIDE. MECHANIC CHECKED OUT CAR DID NOT FIND LEAK AT 20K MILES. CONTINUED TO OCCUR AND GET WORSE. CONDUCTED A YAHOO SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT A COMMON OCCURANCE IS GAS LEAKS UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEAR THE TURBO AIR INTAKE. SUBARU CANADA HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS. MY MECHANIC CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY DID NOT KNOW OF IT. I GAVE THE INFORMATION I FOUND ON THE INTERNET TO MY MECHANIC AND HE WAS ABLE TO FIND THE LEAK $200 DOLLARS LATER. THIS IS A VERY COMMON AND DANGEROUS SITUATION AND IT APPEARS SOA IS NOT AWARE OF IT. THIS GAS LINE, ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC IS HIGH PRESSURE, ~30 PSI AND A LEAK OR FAILLURE COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS FIRE.

VEHICLE: SUBARU IMPREZA WRX 2002. FUEL SMELL NOTICEABLE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND PASSENGER CABIN IN COLD WEATHER. SMELL MOST NOTICEABLE IN PASSENGER CABIN WHEN VENTS ARE OPEN TO OUTSIDE AIR AND HEATER/FAN IS ON. SMELL BECAME NOTICEABLE IN DECEMBER AND HAS PERSISTED. IT IS CURRENTLY FEBRUARY 16TH AS I FILE THIS REPORT.*AK

STRONG UNBURNED FUEL ODOR IN CABIN OF 2002 SUBARU WRX ALLEGEDLY CAUSED BY LOOSE/MISSIZED FUEL LINES UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD.*AK

I NOTICED MY 2002 SUBARU WRX HAS FUEL SMELL COMING INTO THE CABIN WHEN I OPEN THE VENT TO ALLOW AIR FROM OUTSIDE. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS AROUND 30F TO 40F. I AM REALLY CONCERN IF IT WOULD CAUSE FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK

I WAS TRAVELING ON A STREET WITH SOME CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. THERE WAS A SMALL ROAD IRREGULARITY ON THE ROAD. THIS ROAD IRREGULARITY SPANS ACROSS BOTH OF THE FRONT WHEELS. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE (BEFORE I CAN FEEL THE ROAD IRREGULARITY), THE CAR CONTINUED TO LEAP FORWARD FOR A MOMENT AND THE BRAKING DISTANCE WAS MUCH GREATER THEN I ANTICIPATED AND NOT THE NORMAL BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR. HAVE THERE BEEN A CAR I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT MY CAR'S ABS BRAKING SYSTEM HAS A PROBLEM. *JB

NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR COMING FROM VENTILATION SYSTEM. OUTSIDE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS -8F. OPENED HOOD AND NOTICED A VISIBLE VAPOR CLOUD OF GASOLINE. IMMEDIATELY TOOK TO DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AS I FELT THAT THE CAR WAS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. WAS TOLD THAT PARTS WERE ON "NATIONAL BACKORDER". (THIS INDICATES TO ME THAT THIS MUST BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM.) CAR WAS REPAIRED (AFTER A WAIT OF ONE WEEK) AT A COST OF $534.55 (CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY). REPAIRS INCLUDED "R&R INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED FUEL DELIVERY PIPE", USING PARTS "PIPE CP FUEL RETURN", "HOSE", "GASKET INTAKE MANIFOLD". WEBSITE INVESTIGATING LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS INDEED A VERY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.*AK

2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX, FUEL LEAK DUE TO IMPROPERLY DESIGNED FUEL LINES WHERE A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED HOWEVER SUBARU OF AMERICA REFUSES TO WARRANTY THE PROBLEM AND SAYS ITS NOT A RECALL. I HAVE PUDDLES OF FUEL UNDERNEATH MY INTAKE MANIFOLD AND FUEL VAPOR SURROUNDS THE ENTIRE ENGINE BAY OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN FIRE AND/OR EXPLOSION TO THE VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE HAS ONLY ARISED TO MOST VEHICLES WHO ARE OUT OF THE ORIGINAL 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. MOSTLY 2002 AND EARLY 2003 MODELS.*AK

FUEL SMELL IN CABIN OF VEHICLE ON COLD DAYS. *JB