2002 Subaru WRX Complaint Log

FUEL LEAK ON INTAKE MANIFOLD, CAUSING STRONG GAS ODER AND POTENTIAL FOR FIRE.*AK

MY 2002 SUBARU WRX HAS A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN STARTED IN COLD WEATHER (UNDER APPROX. 30 DEGREES F). THE SMELL EVENTUALLY GOES AWAY AS THE ENGINE WARMS UP. THIS HAPPENED LAST WINTER AND THIS WINTER. SUBARU HAS ISSUED A TSB ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT MY CAR IS OUT OF THE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY PERIOD. ALSO, I CAN'T LEAVE IT OVERNIGHT AT A DEALERSHIP ON A COLD NIGHT (TO ALLOW THE ENGINE TO COOL COMPLETELY) TO ALLOW THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE THE PROBLEM THEMSELVES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE LEAKING FUEL MIGHT BE ENOUGH TO START A FIRE. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT IS ONLY ISSUING A TSB, AND IS NOT ALWAYS PAYING FOR REPAIRS. *JB

SINCE THE WEATHER HAS GOTTEN COLD HERE IN MICHIGAN (BELOW FREEZING) THERE HAS BEEN A STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF MY 2002 SUBARU WRX. IT IS MOST APPARENT UPON START UP. THE SMELL AT TIMES WILL BE SO STRONG THAT IT WILL BRING YOU TO THE POINT OF VOMITING OR PASSING OUT IF YOU DO NOT OPEN THE WINDOWS DOWN.*AK

I HAVE A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WHICH HAS A STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING THROUGH THE VENTS DURING WARM-UP/DRIVING IN SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES. HOWEVER, ONCE THE CAR WARMS UP....THE FUEL SMELL GOES AWAY UNTIL THE CARS COOLS OFF AGAIN AND THE WHOLE THING STARTS AGAIN. I HAVE READ THE TSB AND HAVEN'T HAD TIME IN GOTO SUBARU BECAUSE I HAVE SOME CONCERNS AS TO WHETHER IT WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF SINCE I AM BEYOND MY 3/36 WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO THEM ONCE ABOUT A YEAR A AGO FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY SMELLED IT BUT COULDN'T FIND A "LEAK" SO THEY JUST TIGHTENED ALL THE CLAMPS DOWN. BUT NOW IT'S BACK AND I CAN SEE FUEL ON THE SOLID FUEL LINE UNDER THE INTAKE ELBOW. I AM HOPING A RECALL IS IN ORDER. THANKS NHTSA. *AK

I OWN A 2002 SUBARU WRX. THERE IS A VERY STRONG GAS ODOR EMINATING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND VENT DURING COLD WEATHER. I HAVE TOLD THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME TO LOOK AT IT. IT IS MY STRONG FEELING THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ON THEIR TAB.

FUEL LEAK IN THE WINTER. KNOWN PROBLEM. SUBARU ISSUED A TSB ON THE MATTER BUT WILL NOT FIX IF CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. FUEL COMES OUT OF A LINE AND POOLS UP AND BURNS OFF ON THE MANIFOLD.*AK

DURING COLD WEATHER RAW FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE PASSENGER CABIN. DEALER FIXED THE FUEL HOSES WITH TSB 09-36-03. THE FUEL SMELL IS NOW GONE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, I BELIEVE THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR COULD CAUSE DRIVER TO PASS OUT FROM FUMES. *NM

FUEL LEAK ON TOP OF ENGINE. THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM AS THERE IS A NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF REPLACEMENT PARTS FROM SUBARU. 2002 SUBARU WRX. *CB

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING THROUGH HVAC VENT FROM ENGINE BAY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUN ON COLD DAYS (BELOW FREEZING). THIS SYMPTOM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE. AN INTERNET FORUM CONTAINING MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS TROUBLESOME AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SYMPTOM CAN BE SEEN AT: HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=305748 *CB

STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL COMING INTO THE CABIN OF MY 2002 WRX. PROBLEM HAS RECENTLY BECOME MUCH WORSE, POSSIBLY DUE TO THE VERY COLD WEATHER. DEALER SAYS THEY IDENTIFIED THE LEAK AND NEED TO REPLACE THE FUEL LINES AND SOME OTHER CONNECTORS AND PARTS AT A COST OF $430. *CB

OVER ROUGH SURFACES (INCLUDING POTHOLES, RAILROAD TRACKS, AND RIPPLES IN THE ROAD ) MY ABS SEEMS TO KICK IN WHEN IT IS NOT NEEDED AND CAUSES THE BREAK PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR ON OCCASIONS. *JB

EARLY 2002 SUBARU WRX FUEL SMELL(LEAK) IN COLD WEATHER - PROBABLY AS MENTIONED IN SUBARU TSB 09-36-03 THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY PROVIDED A LOANER CAR AT NO COST WHILE THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP. THE PARTS ARE CURRENTLY BACKORDER. I HOPE SUBARU WILL COVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY MILEAGE HAS BEEN EXCEEDED SINCE THIS PROBLEM REQUIRED A RE DESIGN OF THE FUEL LINE COMPONENTS. *CB

COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. DURING SNOWY CONDITIONS AT APPROXIMATELY 15MPH, I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY SOFTLY. THE PEDAL WAS VERY STIFF AND DIDN'T DEPRESS AT ALL (NO TRAVEL AT ALL). THE ABS DIDN'T ACTIVATE AND NO BRAKING OCCURED, I PRESSED HARDER AND STILL NOTHING. THE CAR DIDN'T SLIDE AT ALL, DIDN'T SLOW AND NO BRAKING OCCURED AT ALL. I LET ALL PRESSURE OFF THE PEDAL AND AGAIN GENTLY PRESSED THE PEDAL AGAIN. THE CAR SLOWED TO A STOP LIKE NORMAL. IT WAS -5 DEG F. OUTSIDE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE OR SINCE THIS INCIDENT BUT IN 17 YEARS OF DRIVING I'VE NEVER HAD A CAR DO THIS. I WOULD HAVE GONE RIGHT INTO THE INTERSECTION IF I HADN'T BEEN BREAKING VERY EARLY DUE TO THE CONDITIONS. I STRESS THAT THE INITIAL APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY GENTLE AND NO MATTER HOW HARD I SUBSEQUENTLY PUSHED THE PEDAL DIDN'T DEPRESS AT ALL AT ANY TIME UNTILL I LET UP PRESSURE AND TRIED AGAIN.*AK

2002 SUBARU WRX WAGON - STRONG GASOLINE ODOR IN CAR WHEN COLD. DEALER ADVISED PURGE VALVE WAS REPLACED, FOUND SUBARU TSB 09-36-03 WHICH DESCRIBES MY PROBLEM, STILL HAVE GASOLINE ODOR IN VERY COLD WEATHER. *LA

UNEXPLAINED CRACKED WINDSHIELD

MY SUBARU '02 WRX SEDAN HAS DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK IN COLD WEATHER. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALERSHIP (RAFFERTY SUBARU IN NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA) AND THEY MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON FUEL LEAKS IN SUBARU WRX'S, AND THAT IT WOULD TAKE WEEKS TO GET REPLACEMENT PARTS TO FIX IT. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY ALLOWING CUSTOMERS TO DRIVE THEIR CARS WITH FUEL LEAKS AND WAITING FOR THEM TO COME IN IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS. I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE COMMONALITY OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL I VISITED THE IMPREZA OWNERS WEB SITE (WWW.NASIOC.COM) AND FOUND MANY, MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I AM POSTING HERE TO TRY TO PUT MORE ATTENTION ON THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BY AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. THANK YOU, KEN RIMPLE. *AK

OWNER OF A 02 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. GAS SMELL OBSERVED FROM ENGINE DURING VERY COLD WEATHER 15-20 DEG. FUEL LEAK FROM BELOW MANIFOLD. WAS TOLD BY DEALER MY CAR IS OVER 36000 MILES AND IS NOT COVERED BY SUBARU. I ASSUMED AN EMISSIONS RELATED PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED FOR MORE THAN 36000 MILES. WAS GIVEN A $650 REPAIR ESTIMATE. *AK

FUEL LEAK IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FILLS PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WITH GAS VAPORS. HAPPENS WHEN COLD, -15 F. *AK

WHEN COLD (BELOW 20 DEG F) CAR EXHIBITS SEVERE FUEL ODOR IN INTERIOR. UPON INSPECTION, IT IS CLEAR THAT FUEL IS LEAKING OUT OF FUEL LINES OVER TOP OF ENGINE AND COVERING TOP OF HOT ENGINE. FIXED ONCE BY DEALER LAST WINTER BY TIGHTENING HOSE CLAMPS, BUT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. SO MUCH GAS LEAKS OUT THAT SMOKE POURS FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *CB

I HAVE HAD INSTANCES WHERE MY ABS WOULD NOT WORK WHEN I HIT A IRREGULARITY IN THE ROAD SURFACE, OR WHEN I GO OVER A SPEEDBUMP.*AK

STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IN THE CABIN. SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ND IS MOST APPARENT WHEN THE FAN IS ON TAKING AIR FROM THE OUTSIDE.*AK

I DRIVE AN 2002 SUBARU IMPREAZA WRX, THIS MORING I WENT TO START THE CAR AND I SMELLED A VERY STONG GASOLINE ODOR IN THE CABIN OF MY VEHICLE! I OPENED THE HOOD OF MY CAR TOOK A LOOK AROUND AND SAW A FUMES RISING BY ONE OF THE FUEL LINES I SMELT THE AREA AND SMELLED LIKE GAS.*AK

FUEL SMELL FROM LEAK IN COLD WEATHER CAUSED BY A RUBBER HOSE CONNECTOR LOCATED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BETWEEN TWO DIRECT FEED METAL LINES TO THE INJECTORS.*AK

RAW FUEL SMELL FROM ENGINE'S COMPARTMENT IN COLD WEATHER. *LA

DURING COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, CAR LEAKS FUEL FROM RUBBER FUEL LINE. FUEL DRIPS ONTO HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS AND PRESENTS A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. ALTHOUGH SUBARU ISSUED A BULLETIN ABOUT THIS MATTER, I FEEL IT WARRANTS AN IMMEDIATE RECALL DUE TO THE SERIOUS RISK OF ENGINE FIRE AND PERSONAL INJURY. *LA

VERY INTENSE SMELL OF GAS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE CAR (I COULD SMELL IT 10 FEET FROM CAR). THERE IS SOME TYPE OF SUBARAU TSB FOR 02 WRX THAT INVOLVES REPLACING FUEL LINES THAT ARE OVER THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BECAUSE IN COLD WEATHER (LESS THAN 16 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT) GAS LEAKS. THIS CAN START A FIRE AND POTENTIALLY KILL SOMEONE. SUBARU KNOWS ABOUT THIS BUT REFUSES TO FIX PROBLEM IF WARRANTY EXPIRED. *LA

RAW FUEL SMELL IN THE COCKPIT DURING COLD (IE. BELOW 20F) WEATHER. *AK

SMELL OF GASOLINE IN CAR WHEN TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 5 DEGREES F. *JB

WHILE THE VEHICLE IDLES, FUEL LEAKS. AS A RESULT, A FOUL ODOR SEEPS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *AK *JB

BEGINNING IN THE WINTER OF 2003- 2004 (I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JUNE OF 2003), I WOULD CLEARLY SMELL GASOLINE WHENEVER I TURNED MY CAR ON IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW 40 DEGREES OR SO). THE SMELL WOULD REMAIN FOR A LITTLE WHILE. I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT OF THIS AS A MAJOR PROBLEM, BUT I ALLOWED MY PREGNANT SISTER TO BORROW MY CAR AND ON A PARTICULARLY COLD DAY, IT MADE HER SO NAUSEOUS SHE VOMITED AND COULDN'T REMAIN IN THE CAR. I HAD TO BORROW A FRIENDS CAR TO GO PICK HER UP, THEN HAVE HER DRIVE WITH ME TO MY FRIENDS HOUSE 30 MINUTES AWAY SO I COULD GIVE HIM HIS CAR BACK. AFTER THIS EMBARRASSING SITUATION, I DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE THIS AND CAME ACROSS A WEBSITE THAT 2002 SUBARU WRX OWNERS TRADE INFORMATION ON. I FOUND OUT THAT SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE JANUARY OF 2003, BUT NEGLECTED TO LET THE BUYERS KNOW ABOUT IT. I ACTUALLY BOUGHT THE CAR AFTER THEY RELEASED THEIR TSB ABOUT THIS, BUT NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT. I AM REALLY AGGRAVATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, FOR SO MANY YEARS AND NEITHER SUBARU OF AMERICA, THE NHTSA, NOR ANYONE ELSE HAS DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SHAME ON ALL PARTIES INVOLVED. *JB

THERE IS A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL THAT COMES THROUGH THE VENTS WHENEVER I START THE CAR IN COLD TEMPERATURES (10 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR BELOW). THE SMELL WILL LINGER UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN MOVING FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES OR SO. THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR WOULD SIT OVERNIGHT IN COLD TEMPERATURES IT WOULD ALSO HAPPEN AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT AT MY WORK DURING THE DAY TIME. *LA

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED GAS FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

TERRIBLE FUEL SMELL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF MY 2002 SUBARU WRX ON COLD DAYS. *AK

MY 2002 SUBARU WRX WITH 39,000 MILES DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CONSISTENT WITH THAT DESCRIBED IN SUBARU TSB 09-36-03. THE FUEL ODOR ENTERED THE PASSENGER CABIN THROUGH THE VENTALLATION SYSTEM. TEMPERATURE ON 1/9/2004 WAS BETWEEN 0 AND 10 DEGREES FARENHEIT. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER ON SATURDAY, 1/10/2004. ON 1/12/2004 I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF >$500 TO REPAIR. I ASKED ABOUT ANY SERVICE BULLETINS AND DEALER SAID NO TSB EXISTED AND THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS ISSUE BEFORE. I DIRECTED THEM TO TSB IN QUESTION AND THEY LATER INFORMED ME REPAIR WOULD BE COVERED AS A "GOOD FAITH" REPAIR EVEN THOUGH OUT OF WARRANTY. REPAIR WAS NOT COMPLETED UNTIL 1/29/2004 BECAUSE PART KIT WAS ON BACK ORDER. RESIDUAL FUEL ODER REMAINS IN PASSENGER CABIN. HOPEFULLY WILL DISAPPEAR IN TIME.

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE A FOUL FUEL SMELL SEEPED THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. *AK

GAS SMELL ENTERING CABIN VIA AIR VENTS DURING COLD WEATHER OPERATION.

FUEL LEAK FROM PASSENGER SIDE FUEL LINES ON 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. LEAKS WHEN TEMPERATURES FALL INTO THE 30 DEGREE FAHRENHEIT RANGE. FUEL VAPORS ARE CIRCULATED INTO THE CABIN WHEN THE EXTERNAL AIR SOURCE IS SELECTED ON THE CLIMATE CONTROL. *LA

SMELL OF LEAKING GAS WHEN THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES ARE EXTREMELY COLD (BELOW 17 DEGREES F). ORIGINAL DATE OF SMELL WAS JAN OF 2002. *LA

2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX, LEAKED RAW GASOLINE OVER ENGINE BLOCK IN COLD WEATHER, STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE CABIN. CORRESPONDS TO SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN #09-36-03. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX OR ADMIT ANY PROBLEM UNLESS THEY CAN DUPLICATE IT, THEY CANNOT UNLESS IT GETS REAL COLD AND THEY START THE CAR EARLY IN THE MORNING. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE RAW GAS LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I KNOW I AM NOT THE FIRST WRX OWNER TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM!!LEASE IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO GET SUBARU TO HELP ME FIX THIS.*AK

SMELL OF FUEL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF 02 SUBARU WRX ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. NOTICEABLE WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR AND RUNNING CLIMATE CONTROL. DISSIPATES IN APPROXIMATELY 15 MINS. ALSO NOTICEABLE ONE NIGHT IN GARAGE AFTER EXITING THE CAR. HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 3-4 TIMES THIS WINTER. NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE. *LA

VERY STRONG FUEL/GAS ODOR IN 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. GETS WORSE IN COLDER WEATHER. DEALER IS REPAIRING UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS WELL PAST THE 3/36 WARRANTY PERIOD. HANDLED COMPLETELY TO MY SATISFACTION.

FUEL LEAK DUE TO COLD WEATHER ON A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WAGON. COVERED BY SUBARU TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 09-36-03, DATED APRIL 1, 2003. *LA

FUEL SMELL IN CAR, LOOKED IN THE ENGINE BAY, SAW SMALL PUDDLE OF FUEL ON ENGINE BLOCK AND MOIST HOSES. TSB RELEASED FROM SUBARU FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT WILL NOT FIX BECAUSE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS AN EXTREMELY VOLATILE SITUATION. FORCED TO BUY PARTS AND FIX MYSELF FOR $300.*AK

SECOND ATTEMPT TO FILE COMPLAINT PREVIOUS EFFORT WOULD NOT INCLUDE DATA ON COMPLAINT INFO PAGE. COLD WEATHER FUEL LEAK AS DISCRIBED IN SUBARU TSB 09-36-03 DATED 04/01/03.*AK RAW FUEL ESCAPING FROM FRONT OF RUBBER HOSE SECTION IDENTIFIED IN TSB , TEMP 3 DEG F. FUEL BEGINS TO ESCAPE MINUTES AFTER START OF CAR. AREA UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND AIR INTAKE TUBE WET WITH RAW FUEL, CLOUDS OF FUEL VAPOR SEEN RISING FROM FRONT OF CAR WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS

I OWN A 2002 SUBARU WRX, WHEN IT GETS COLD OUT SIDE BELOW 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND YOU TURN THE HEATER ON. YOU GET A GAS SMELL COMING OUT OF THE HEATING DUCTS. SUBARU KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HAVE ISSUED A TSB FOR IT BUT NO RECALL. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A MISALIGNMENT OF THE FUEL HOSES WHICH CAN CAUSE THEM TO LEAK. THIS COULD BE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON IT. *LA

THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LEAKING OF RAW GASOLINE, FROM UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS PROBLEM EXHIBITS ITSELF WHEN THE TEMPERATURES FALL BELOW FREEZING. IT IS VERY EVIDENT IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE AS YOU CAN SMELL THE GASOLINE. THE GASOLINE IS VISIBLY PADDLING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK, WHERE TWO FUEL LINE RUN BELOW THE TURBO INLET PIPE. IN MY OPINION, THIS POSES A RATHER SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. LEAKING GASOLINE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD EASILY LEAD TO A DANGEROUS FIRE. I HAVE READ DOZENS AND DOZENS OF SIMILAR REPORTS BY SUBARU IMPREZA OWNERS. I WOULD HATE TO SEE SOMEONE GET HURT OVER SOMETHING THAT COULD EASILY BE FIXED. THANKS IN ADVANCE. MICHAEL MOORE *LA

IN COLD WEATHER, BELOW 20 FAHRENHEIT, I EXPERIENCE A SEVERE RAW GASOLINE ODOR FROM THE VENTS AT IDLE. THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG UNDER THE HOOD AS WELL. SUBARU HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE ISSUE ADDRESSING THE LEAKING GASOLINE WITH A NEW FUEL PIPE AND HOSES. MY DEALER AGREED TO APPLY THE BULLETIN WITH NO CHARGE AS "GOOD FAITH" EVEN THOUGH MY MILEAGE IS OUT OF THE 3YR/36K WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AS LEAKING GASOLINE IN THE ENGINE BAY IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SUBARU NEEDS TO STEP UP AND PROPERLY ADDRESS THIS POTENTIAL HAZARD. *LA

RAW FUEL ODOR FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT JUST AFTER STARTING CAR. ODOR GOES AWAY AFTER CAR HAS WARMED UP. OCCURS IN COLD WEATHER, USUALLY WHEN TEMPERATURE IS LESS THAN 20 DEGREES. HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY OCCURRING SINCE JANUARY 2003. DEALER TIGHTENED SOME CLAMPS ON 2003, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS NOW THAT WEATHER IS COLD AGAIN. RAW FUEL ODOR IS VERY STRONG WHEN CAR SITS OUT IN WEATHER BELOW 0 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

2002 SUBARU WRX - FUEL LEAK UNDER THE HOOD. SMELLS LIKE GAS IN THE CAR ON COLD DAYS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, HOWEVER IT IS NOT A RECALL. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE UPGRADED TO A RECALL DUE TO SAFETY MATTERS. *CB

AFTER RUNNING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES ON A COLD MORNING, A STRONG FUEL SMELL COULD BE DETECTED IN CABIN AND UNDER HOOD. FUEL VAPOR/CLOUD WAS VISIBLE WHEN HOOD WAS LIFTED. *CB