2002 SUBARU Impreza

the fuel lines are too short from factory so when it get cold outside the lines shrink and cause a fuel leak in the engine bay and also gas fumes in the cabin

OUR 2002 WRX IMPREZA; FOR THE SECOND TIME OUR TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE BLOWN OUT WITH GEARS STRIPPED AND CHIPPED. FIRST EPISODE WAS 29,068 MILES WITH SUBARU REPORTING ON THAT INVOICE THE GEARS, SYNROS AND SLEEVES DEFECTIVE. AT 42,546 MILES SUBARU REPLACED WORN REVERSE TRANSMISSION SHIFT RAIL AND CLIP. AT 62,977 MILES MANUAL CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED BY SUBARU.AT 64,496 SUBARU FOUND TRANSMISSION AND MANUAL CLUTCH ASSEMBLY BLOWN OUT WITH GEARS STRIPPED AND CHIPPED AND OUR NEWLY INSTALLED MANUAL CLUTCH ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY SHATTERED. RESEARCH AFTERWARDS ON THE INTERNET (NHTSA.DOT.GOV, CONSUMERFFAIRS.COM, SAFERCAR.GOV, FORUMS/NASIOC.COM) REVEAL MANY, MANY NUMEROUS SAME TYPE COMPLAINTS, WITH WARRANTY REPAIRS BEING DENIED AS SUBARU OF AMERICA IS ASSERTING CAR WAS ABUSED. OUR SERVICE TECHNICIAN FEELS PERHAPS SUBARU OF AMERICA, WELL AWARE OF THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS DENYING WARRANTY REPAIRS POSSIBLY TO AVOID HAVING A RECALL CAMPAIGN TRIGGERED AS NUMEROUS CARS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WE HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN NUMEROUS TIMES FOR SERVICING SINCE PURCHASING IT AFTER EXPERIENCING CRUNCHING, CLASHING AND GRINDING WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT INTO OR OUT OF GEAR. MOST TIMES THE “TECHNICIAN CHECKED OUR CONCERN BUT WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY OUR COMPLAINT AT THIS TIME” WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ABOVE NOTED REPAIRS. IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING SUBARU ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM WITH LATER YEAR MODEL CARS BUT HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE INITIAL AND UNDERPERFORMING TRANSMISSION ON EARLIER WRX MODELS.

My car is a total lemon. I pre-ordered the 2002 WRX in 2001 and was very anxious to receive it. As soon as I got the car the check engine light was on. The dealer diagnosed the problem as a cam position sensor wich they replaced 3 times. They told me I revved the car too high to throw the code. The code was thrown at 6200 RPM and the engine redlines at 7000. The dealership refused to work on this problem after the 3rd time.at 45000 miles my car began to miss and not run correctly. The dealership could not find any problem with it. I took it to another shop to get a 2nd opinion. They found that the cam position sensor had malfunctioned and caused my car to missfire when I would hit a bump in the road. They replaced the sensor and charged me a fee of $800 due to the massive troubleshooting work that led up to solving the problem. Finally the problem that I had since the car was brand new was fixed at the full cost to me.at 48000 my transmission was the next to go. I lost the ability to shift my car in any gear. I had it towed to the dealership as the powertrain warranty is 60000 miles. They dismantled my transmission to find 2nd gear stripped. They then denied to cover this under warranty as it was labeled abuse. They charged me $800 dollars for their time. Then then gave me a quote for $4500 extra dollars to replace the transmission. I had my car towed to the same shop that fixed my check engine light. They installed a new transmission for me at the cost of $2200.My transmisson has also broke again at 65000 miles. Now I have a car that doesn’t run that I am paying on. I can not sell a car that doesn’t run. Subaru does not care that their cars are JUNK. I really do not know what to do now.

I have had problems with the transmission in my Subaru WRX. In July, the transmission had started to whine. When I returned it to the dealer, they reported that the problem was in the center differential. The car was in the shop for 3 weeks while most of the time was spent waiting for the viscous coupling assembly. Shortly after the car was returned to me (about 4 weeks), the transmission started to grind when engaging first gear. Again I returned the car to the dealer, and the car remained there for almost 5 weeks. In that time, the dealer replaced synchros for first gear as well as some other components. When they test drove the car, they found that the release bearing would have to be replaced. When they removed the transmission, it was determined that the pressure plate would have to be replaced as well. On the next test drive, the transmission would grind when engaging third gear. Again the transmission was removed and torn down and repaired. During all of this, the dealer was hampered by parts shortages at Subaru Canada. When I finally got the car back, the transmission would slip into neutral from fifth gear when there was no load on the gears. This usually happened when cruise control was engaged on the highway. This first occurred when driving home from picking up the car.While I was waiting for word from the dealer as to what their solution would be, I was called away for a family funeral. This was to be a 900 mile driving trip. Part way along the trip, the transmission started to whine. I called the dealer from the side of the road and they arranged for me to drive to the dealership and arranged for a loaner car to continue my trip. The car was in the shop this time for about two weeks. Finally, after sending a letter to the president of Subaru Canada, they replaced thecomplete transmission. However, the car has only 80000 Km (50000 Mi) on it and I am not confident that the problem is resolved. Is this going to happen again at 160000KM?

First let me say that I am a 33 yr. old IT professional, not a 16 yr. old drag racer. I have been very unhappy with the transmission ever since the car was about 1 month old. It started with not wanting to shift into 2nd gear under moderate to hard acceleration. Sometimes it would grind but go into 2nd and sometimes it would just grind. That was then followed by (a few months later) grinding noise going into 4th gear. After about 18,000 miles it also got to where it would not go into 1st gear unless you were completely stopped. I was constantly reading horror stories on the internet about people’s transmissions breaking in their WRX and Subaru calling it abuse and not honoring the warranty. At about 26,000 miles, I finally decided to take it to the dealership I bought it from to see what could be done. After explaining my problems to them at the desk(they hadn’t even looked at it yet), the first thing out of their mouth was…”Sounds like symptoms of abuse”. My mind immediatly flashed back to all the horror stories I had read. We got into a heated debate at which point I left. Since then I have just learned to live with the problems. This is the first brand new car I have ever owned, and besides the transmission, I absolutely LOVE the car. I only want Subaru to admit that the transmission is poorly designed and replace or fix it.(Subaru redesigned the transmission in the 03’s) My wife wants a new Subaru BAJA, but until Subaru steps up to the plate with my WRX it’s not going to happen. My transmission is still intact and operational, but that’s probably because I have been driving it so VERY easy lately. I expect sometime soon(probably after the warranty expires, not that it matters) the transmission will break and I’ll be stuck with a $460/month payment plust the cost of replacing the tranny. This is the 3rd Subaru I have owned but it will be the last if Subaru doesn’t do something soon.

evidence of a leak. The fuel residue is clearly visible, even to an untrained eye. I told him not to go to any trouble — just pop the hood and take a look. He decided that they could do that, but then he said he would have to cover himself by having me sign some sort of statement or waiver saying that I _refused_ to have the work done and was taking full responsibility if, quote: \"You drive down the road and the car bursts into flames\". He claimed he had to \’cover himself\’. I said that it was too bad that SOA didn\’t seem to be as concerned as he was about liability. If they were, they would do the right thing — either a voluntary recall or (at the very least) a \"Customer Satisfaction Campaign\" like they did for the faulty ABS system on the early model WRX\’s (after the NHTSA investigation). On our way to pick up the car, I called SOA one last time (hoping to speak with someone in their legal department) and as we were pulling into the dealership parking lot, I was told that the supervisor who reviewed my case (Renee Fricke) decided to go ahead and authorize payment in full for the repair. Too bad they didn\’t make that offer to begin with — I would have been able to get my car back around noon yesterday and would have avoided a lot of stress and aggravation. When I went into the service department, Clyde told me they would start on the repair right then and finish up this morning. Also, I still had Chenell from SOA on the phone and she spoke with Clyde and confirmed that SOA would reimburse me 100%. Unfortunately, I still have to pay Sharrett up front, and then hope SOA actually sends us a check. It\’s not clear why SOA doesn\’t just pay the dealer directly. Then last night, I got a message from Clyde saying that they had ordered the wrong intake manifold gaskets and wouldn\’t be able to do the job until tomorrow (Wednesday). So at this point, SOA has just succeeded in aggravating me and the job has stretched out from being done by Monday at noon, to Monday evening, to Tuesday morning, to at this point some indeterminate time late tomorrow (maybe). Oh, and the loaner car that Clyde initially offered me? That\’s no longer available — seems they\’re all being used. My weekend is Sunday/Monday, which is why we dropped the car off Sunday evening to have the work done by Monday noon, or COB at the latest. Now, I\’m being forced to take a day (maybe two) off from work. I suppose I could pay for a rental car but that hardly seems worth it — and it is a cost I should not have to incur. Bottom line: * This car has had several serious problems, including at least two actual recalls — one for the driver\’s seat hardware coming loose, and another that had to do with the cruise control cable potentially causing the throttle to stick open. * In addition, the front rotors were known to warp — mine did and were turned and then when they warped a second time they were replaced under warranty. * The clutch had/has a \’judder\’ problem that was the subject of a TSB. SOA apparently paid for some owners to have their clutch assemblies replaced — IF they could get a dealer to recreate the problem, which wasn\’t always easy. Although I have experienced this problem, it did not seem severe enough to go to the trouble of taking it in to the dealer to have the clutch replaced. In my case, when it happens it is usually only the first couple times the clutch is engaged when it is cold and damp. * The driver\’s door window regulator hardware came loose (another common problem). This was also repaired under warranty. * The ECU had to be re-flashed, which apparently could only be done at SOA in New Jersey. This took several days, and in that case I was provided with a rental vehicle. Unfortunately, the first car they gave us was obviously way out of alignment, the brakes vibrated, and the tires were seriously worn. The second was some sort of stripped cargo van, and the third was a brand new full size, Dodge 4X4 crew cab pickup. It seems to me that a dealership should give a person a car that is comparable to the one that they own. * The WORST problem was with the ABS. This was actually investigated by the NHTSA and resulted in a \’customer satisfaction campaign\’ that did not really seem to correct the problem. Actually, there are two braking problems — oversensitive ABS and almost total loss of braking force with the pedal going to the floor. The latter happened to me twice, both times on smooth, dry blacktop. However, it is _very_ intermittent and hard to recreate. The SOA \"fix\" for both of these problems was to replace the ABS ECU (but only if the customer asked of course). The letter SOA sent out said in effect that there a) was no problem with the brakes or the ABS, b) any perceived problem was just that — all in the customer\’s mind, c) the replacement ECU would only alter the \"feel\" of the brakes, not affect their operation or shorten stopping distances. So, either the \"fix\" did nothing, or (hopefully) it actually did address one or both of the above problems and SOA just didn\’t want to come out and admit that the problems existed. Once again, there are several threads about the ABS problem and the experiences people have had on www.nasioc.com. The following thread is probably the most comprehensive: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?p=17042606&posted=1#post17042606 This is a widespread problem, and there is no guarantee that the new ECU fixed it. In my case, the ABS seems to be a bit less sensitive (allows more lock-up before activating) but the other problem — loss of braking force — is so intermittent that there is no way to know if it will reoccur, especially since SOA denies the problem exists and claims the ECU will only change the braking \’feel\’. The two times my brakes failed I (and those in front of me on the road) were extremely lucky that I had some place to go — an empty dedicated left turn lane the first time, and the median/left shoulder of I-270 the second. Other WRX owners haven\’t been so lucky. At least with the ABS, they sent out a letter. With this fuel leak problem, they\’re keeping it quiet and when customers complain, they are playing games with them — jerking them around instead of stepping up and apologizing, fixing the problem efficiently at no cost, and offering a loaner car if necessary. Although it has had more problems than a high quality modern car should, I still like my WRX. It is SOA that I am not impressed with. There is a forum on www.nasioc.com that deals with warranty problems. Some of the experiences that Subaru customers report having are _outrageous_. Granted, a car like the WRX (or WRX STi) is often raced and/or modified. For those reasons, some warranty claims are legitimately denied — but there are many other cases where a customer is obviously not at fault and the dealer (and often the \’regional service rep\’) blow him or her off — refusing to fix problems that should clearly be covered under warranty. I know that customer service continues to go downhill as corporations become more and more short-sighted and focus more on short-term profits. This is certainly not an issue with the auto industry alone, but how a company like Subaru handles a serious safety issue like gasoline spraying out under the hood of a car onto a hot engine, causing the overpowering smell of raw fuel to fill the passenger compartment seems like a good area to focus on. The fuel leak in Subaru TSB #09-36-03 should be the subject of a recall — in fact there should have been a recall when this problem was first discovered over 4 years ago. PS: I finally got my WRX back on Friday, 02-09-07 — 4 days after it was promised. Even though the dealer didn\’t have all of the intake manifold gaskets that were required, the repair could have been completed by Tuesday if SOA had agreed to pay 100% up front, as they should have.

Differential fluid out; Subaru blames a non-dealer oil change error for problem hence not covered under warranty. Owner had to spend over $350 for replacement auto rental. Owner drove car for 1,700 miles after disputed non-dealer oil change to date when differential fluid outage discovered.

Clutch shudder when in first gear or reverse in the morning. The steering wheel and drive train vibrate alot. Subaru \"cannot\" duplicate the incident and frankly, sucks. The car has no modifications and only has 27k miles. The problem first appeared after only 10k miles and has been to two seperate dealerships who tell me the party line.

SUBARU IS AWARE OF A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WITH 2002 AND EARLIER VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY THE IMPREZZA, WHICH IS WHAT MY CAR IS. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2002 AND HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN THE SCHEDULED MAINTENENCE AND OIL CHANGES. APPARENTLY A LETTER WAS SENT OUT BY SUBARU AT ONE TIME ADVISING OWNERS OF THESE CARS TO PUT A CONDITIONER IN THEIR CAR TO HELP ANY POTENTIAL LEAKAGE, HOWEVER THIS WAS NEVER MENTIONED TO MY BY ANY SUBARU SERVICE CENTER, OR BY MAIL FROM THE SUBARU CORPORATION.
NOW AT APPROXIMATELY 66k MILES MY ENTIRE ENGINE HAS BEEN FLOODED WITH BY THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I HAD IT AT SUBARU SERVICE FOR MORE THAN TEN DAYS, PICKED IT UP TODAY AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON.
THEY ALSO CLAIM NOT TO HAVE HAD A HEAD GASKET MANUFACTURER’S PROBLEM, BY THE WAY. I AM STILL PAYING THE BANK FOR THIS CAR. SUBARU KNEW IT HAD A PROBLEM, IT SHOULD HAVE DONE A RECALL. THIS HAS COST ME $1700 SO FAR. PLEASE HELP! THANK YOU.

2002 subaru impreza with a leaking head gasket. consumer states that the dealer said they would pay for half of the cost of the repairs. consumer was then informed that both head gaskets were leaking. *kb the cylinders were leaking coolant. *jb

2002 subaru impreza developed a fuel leak.***no answer required***. *mr *nm

Foia request infor.,relating to seatbelt and seatbelt pretensioners in 2002 subaru impreza wrx sedan & other vehicles. *bf *nm

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.

I brought my subaru impreza 2001 wagon in for oil change into my subaru service on 11/4/2016. i was informed that the front subframe was rusty and they could stick a screw driver through a hole. i was able to leave with the car but they were concerned for the future and recommended repairing if we are keeping the car. i have already had the control arm replaced before the control arm recall on this model due to excessive rust; luckily it broke in a parking lot and not at high speed. this is logically the same issue where the front subframe part did not get treated well enough just like the control arm that caused the recall. please make subaru cover this as a recall. i would like to keep this car for more years to come, but the cost of the subframe part, that should not be this rusted out, is as much as the blue book value of the car. plus i searched up "subframe" here on the site for subarus from 2000 through 2005 and found 31 complaints; and that is obviously people that took the time to come to this site. how many complaints does it take to hold a car company accountable for a defect that is clearly the same issue as another part that has already been recalled?

At oil change, i was called to look at hole rusted into front subframe--shocking and frightening!!!

I was denied the fuel line recall due to i live in ohio and ohio is not on the list of "cold states." i am forced to breath gasoline fumes and my engine smokes burning off those gasoline fumes. just waiting for the car to blow up. thank you, subaru *tr

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.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. while driving 30 mph, the lower control arm rusted and fractured, the front passenger side wheel began bouncing uncontrollably, and the steering wheel began moving and vibrating uncontrollably. the contact forced the vehicle off the road and into a ditch on the left side of the road on a two lane highway. the vehicle was towed. a dealer was not contacted. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue and stated that nhtsa campaign number: 11v464000 (suspension) was already inspected on the vehicle. it was determined that the lower control arm did not need to be replaced. the failure mileage was 163,000. ..updated 10/25/17 *bf consumer stated front lower control arm corroded in exact spot that was inspected during recall. this important safety recall test is inconsistent way to inspect vehicles. the rust proof coating applied was ineffective if at all applied. updated 10/4/18*jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. while turning into the driveway at approximately 2 mph, the front passenger side wheel collapsed from the axle and fractured. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the lower control arm was rusted and fractured without warning. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to a local dealer. the manufacturer stated that there was no recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

Fuel lines above the engine on both sides leak fuel while the engine is running. the leak occurs when the gas pedal is depressed if the temp is lower than 32 degrees. at the point where the rubber fuel line meets the metal fuel lines you can see gas spray across the engine block and will pool up. tightening the clamps does not help. this has happened every winter since 2007.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. while reversing from a parking space, a popping sound emitted from the vehicle and the steering wheel seized without warning. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front driver and passenger side lower control arms fractured and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 11v464000 (suspension). the failure mileage was 145,466.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. when the contact started the vehicle, there was a burning oil odor. when the accelerator pedal was depressed, the rear of the vehicle began to emit a loud vibrating noise. the contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the exhaust from the convector rear muffler, gasket bolt, and dry belt needed to be replaced. in addition, the front subframe was rotted and the head gaskets were fractured, which caused an oil leak. all the parts needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. the approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. the contact stated that the horn would sound inadvertently without being activated by the driver. the contact stated that at first the horn would sound once however, recently the failure was more frequent and for a longer period of time. the contact had not taken the vehicle to be diagnosed or repaired. neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 154,973.

2002 subaru with rotted sub frame with only 129,000 miles. unsafe to drive.

Hello, i hope this message finds you safe and well. my problem is as follows: control arm failure exactly as described in previous recall from 2011 (lower control arm broke at hangar bracket; safety recall: wvx34|nhtsa campaign: 11v464000). i was never personally notified of the recall, the catastrophic failure leading to a near accident at highway speeds is what alerted me to the problem. i was driving straight, approximately 50mph, when the hangar broke compromising the steering and causing me to nearly crash. according to subaru of america, they 'fixed' the problem with a rust-proofing spray, and are denying me any good faith repairs citing that it was addressed, despite the fact that it failed anyways and subjected myself and others to potential severe personal injury. after many (not returned) phone calls, they have told me they would look at it (incurring 'assessment fees') and the woman i spoke with today from subaru of america told me they would offer minimal if any financial support for the issue. all i want is my vehicle to function as the manufacturer intended, not for someone to slap a bandaid on the issue, call it 'fixed' and basically give me - a loyal customer to subaru - the finger. this is totally unacceptable for a company to behave in this manner, especially for a problem that was clearly incorrectly addressed to begin with. my car has been sitting for almost 2 weeks and is not driveable. i am incurring intense psychological and financial burden from not being able to utilize my vehicle to carry out tasks that are required of me as a medical student. i have invested significant time and energy into this, only for soa to feed me the same line of bs that they're not at fault and they've 'fulfilled their obligation' for this recall. attached is a picture of the affected control arm (front passenger).

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.

Put my car in park and it started rolling backwords.... same exact day in was at a stop light on a incline and my car rolled backwords faster then it should while in drive. car has 101000 miles

Safety recall: wvx34 i had this work done at a dealership. they did a punch test.the lower control arms passed on july 9, 2019 and were undercoated at 192630 miles. today august 10, 2019 the passenger side control arm broke while driving at 70 mph. i was able to safely get the vehicle home and towed to the dealership. they were unable to tell me if this would be covered or i will have to pay for the repair. i am concerned subaru's actions regarding this issue are inadequate.

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.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. while reversing out of the driveway, the front lower control arm factured and seperated. both front wheels turned outward and the front suspension failed, which lowered the front end of the vehicle to the ground. the vehicle was unable to be driven due to the failure. the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 11v464000 (suspension) and nhtsa action number: pe11011 (suspension). the vehicle was towed to the dealer (autobarn subaru of countryside, 6191 joliet rd, countryside, il 60525, (708) 497-3999) for diagnostic testing. the manufacturer was notified and stated that there were no open recalls to provide a remedy. no further assistance was provided other than suggesting that the dealer replace the parts. the failure mileage was not available.

Subaru impreza outback sport 2002, passenger lower control arm had corrosion bad enough to cause complete separation and failure causing loss of vehicle steering control while driving on a highway at approximately 40 mph. contacted subaru of america and subaru dealership, subaru was not within the vin numbers specified under the current recall to repair this identical issue of corrosion of the lower control arm. also the u frame brace was so extremely corroded that it crumbled and fell apart similar to the control arm corrosion. other damage directly related to the control arm failure include, damage to body and fender when tire was stuffed backward into the fender during the failure at speed. damage to tire, damage to anti roll bar end link, damage to drive axle and drive axle boots and damage to seal and housing at transmission differential, damage to lower ball joint.

The front passenger side control arm broke into two pieces causing loss of control of the vehicle. this caused the right from tof the vehicle to drop down, it caused the tire to contact the fender at rear of wheel opening and caused the front wheels to point in two different directions. the occurred on a city street (luckily) while backing and turning after exiting a driveway. there is a recall, but it allowed subaru to "inspect" the control arm back in 2011 and not replace it, which allowed it's failure anyway and so was ineffective.

Nhtsa campaign id 11v464000 (subaru safety recall wvx-34) covers 2002-2007 imprezas, as well as other models. the safety recall covers cars registered in 20 rust belt states. my vehicle has never been registered in those states, so it is technically not covered, but it is driven there regularly since we live only a few miles away. subaru of america did not treat or replace my lower control arm since it technically didn't meet the recall criteria. the control arm broke due to rust while driving - control of the vehicle was luckily maintained at time of failure. the safety recall states "the front lower control arm may break at the hanger brackets due to corrosion", which it did. the safety complaint here is that surrounding states for safety recalls that cover specific states. vehicles, weather and road treatments do not stop at states borders. the vehicle was exposed to the same road treatments as vehicles in the neighboring states and failed, as predicted by subaru.

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.

My car has a sub frame under the front end. i have read theories about why it is there but it still seems to be a question. i believe the info about it being an additional safety feature for the us market. it can be removed without changing anything else. they rust and mine is a group of rusted frame like material ready to fall and damage the underside of my car and any one behind me. if this is a safety feature it should be recalled and replaced, if is not then there should be an answer about why it is there and is it needed.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. the contact stated that while driving at 15 mph, the front passenger side lower control arm suddenly failed causing the passenger side of the vehicle to lower. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the lower control arm had fractured. the contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 11v464000 (suspension) but the failure persisted. the contact also indicated that there was a fuel odor present while operating the vehicle. the cause of the failure was not diagnosed of repaired. the failure mileage was 135,000.

Recent tire rotation at my local garage identified very badly corroded subframe on the right had side. the left side subframe appears fine. i am debating whether to get it repaired because i will cost roughly 50% of the cars value. from a safety perspective i will probably get the work carried out because my kids travel in the car and i don't want a catastrophic failure to occur. it's disappointing that subaru didn't consider this issue at the same time as the control arm recall although perhaps there was no corrosion at the time.

Vehicle had recall campaign for rust on front lower control arms performed (among the first cars fixed in the campaign), and the lower control arms and lower subframe are badly rusted, rendering the car unsafe. subaru dealer recommended contacting subaru of america (soa) and soa declined to help at all. this is a failed recall repair, since the problem is exactly what it was recalled for.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. the contact stated that while reversing from a parking space, there was a loud noise. the contact discovered that the front passenger side wheel was not in place and the lower control arm was fractured in half. the vehicle was left at a parking lot. the contact also stated that the vehicle was repaired in 2012 for a recall on the lower control arm issued by the manufacturer. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 203,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. after adjusting the rear of the driver's seat, the back of the seat suddenly released and caused the occupant to fall backwards while in the seat. during the incident, the occupant sustained a concussion. medical attention was received. the cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified. the failure mileage was 105,000.

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.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. the contact stated that while in park, the contact noticed that the front driver side control arm had slightly detached from the vehicle due to corrosion. the contact, a certified mechanic, diagnosed that the lower control arm needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 11v464000 (suspension). the failure mileage was 131,390.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. after taking possession of the vehicle, it was discovered that both the front driver and passenger side control arms fractured due to severe rusting and corrosion. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 90,000.

Thin ice and snow on road, approaching red light at 28mph downshifted to 2nd, slowed to 17mph, downshifted to 1st, slow to 9, lightly applied brakes with 4 car lengths to go, left front momentarily locked triggering anti-lock system which pushed the pedal up but failed to do anything else, with absolutely no reduction in speed i steered into the snowbank and stopped beside the vehicle at the light after brushing the bumper. fuse 8 has been pulled to prevent a repeat of this incident.

Took my car in for tires and along with bad wheel bearing, i was told by the mechanic that the front subframe was almost rotted out. as i live in a cold snowy area and i often drive my grandchildren around in this vehicle, i'd like to know what is being done about this? i see that there are other owners of the same model, year, make that have similar complaint. i am also very upset that i was sold this car in 01/12 and was not informed of the front control arm recall. 5 months after i bought this car, i had to have this replaced. it was in the shop for 2 days, the parts had to be ordered from a subaru dealer, why was i not informed of this problem at that time either? *tr

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

I took my 2002 subaru impreza for its yearly new york state inspection. at this time we were told the subframe is rusted beyond repair. and it is un safe to even drive the car. the car is otherwise in great shape. it does have 170,000 miles but other than that the car has given us no problems. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. the contact stated that the rear suspension was exhibiting corrosion. the vehicle was previously serviced under nhtsa campaign number: 11v464000 (suspension). the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 150,000 and the current mileage was 168,000.

The right front control arm sheered in half while driving at speed. later inspection revealed it was due to corrosion. a recall was issued for this exact same part on september 10, 2011, and the recall was complied with on this car in 2012, yet the part still failed in a dangerous condition less than two years later. *tr

2002 impreza was taken to two subaru dealerships, both of which found that the subframe was seriously rotted, as was the lower support for the radiator. both conditions were deemed by the dealerships to make the car's safety to drive questionable. subaru of america was contacted by this writer about this, and about a failing head gasket which was also discovered by the two dealerships at about the same time, and a subaru customer service representative replied that they could do nothing about the situation due to the car's age. *tr

The 2002 subaru impreza is subject to a recall on its control arms (nhtsa campaign number: 11v464000). our car's passenger side control arm corroded to the point of failure about 1.5 years ago. now we have discovered the same level of corrosion on a nearby part, also on the front passenger side. we discovered that the engine cradle (aka k-frame, aka front crossmember) is showing severe corrosion, similar to that shown by the control arm that previously corroded through and broke on our car. our understanding is that it is hard to predict what would happen should this part fail, but would pose a significant danger particularly if it happened at high speed. the similarity between the corrosion of our control arms and now our engine cradle exceeds that of normal wear and tear. this was the reason that the control arms were previously recalled. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. the contact stated that while traveling approximately 5 mph, the steering wheel became uncontrollable. upon inspection, it was found that the driver's side front wheel was abnormally angled inward. the contact also mentioned that the vehicle was inspected by the dealer under nhtsa campaign number 11v464000 (suspension) five months prior to the failure and the contact was informed that no repair was necessary. the manufacturer was contacted about the failure. the vehicle was being repaired. the failure mileage was 168,000.

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

When i took out the underneath plastic cover below the engine for cleaning purposes, i saw severe rust on the" sub-frame" where both lower arms are attach to it.i went to the subaru dealer for inspection on nov. 9, 2013. they told me that, it is not in the recall list, so i will need to pay for the costly repairs .when i ask one of the associates if it safe to drive,he said no, it is not safe to drive and also if collision occurs. they scheduled my car for free estimates on nov.11,2013. no accident this time.i just want to drive my car safe.please help me,thanks

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an unrelated repair when they were advised that the sub frame exhibited severe corrosion. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 94,000.

The seat track failed due to metal fatigue. this resulted in the drivers seat coming lose. all bolts remained tight, was not a fastener failure, rather a metal fatigue issue with the seat track. was not caused by corrosion. i am retaining the failed seat track. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. the vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign id number: 11v464000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower arm) and was taken to the dealer for the recall repairs. the technician advised that the front lower control arm would not have to be replaced. instead, the technician added rust proof to the front lower control arm. approximately one month later while driving approximately 25 mph, the contact heard a banging and grinding sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the technician advised that the front lower control arm separated and fractured the sway bar linkages. the wheel was pushed inward into the wheel well, causing body damage to the vehicle. the technician advised the contact the lower control arm, bushings and sway bar linkages would have to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 159,500.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. while having the vehicle inspected for routine maintenance, the contact was informed that the sub frame was corroded. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing who stated that the sub frame would have to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 115,541.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. the contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under nhtsa campaign id number: 11v464000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower arm). the contact stated that the dealer bolted the recalled component to the sub-frame, which was rusted. the contact was concerned that the vehicle could separate from the wheels due to the stress on the rusted component. the manufacturer was notified of the failure, but denied any assistance with repairs to the vehicle. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 103,000 and the current mileage was 104,000.

While pulling into my driveway at about 3-5 mph in august 2011, the right front lower control arm broke due to corrosion. when this happened it broke the sway bar links that connect to the control arm. the mechanic that specializes in subarus in my area found that the sub frame was also rotted out due to corrosion (the control arms bolt to the sub frame). he replaced the sub frame, both left & right lower control arms, and both left & right sway bar links in order to get back to a road safe vehicle. in november 2011 i was notified by subaru that there was a recall campaign wvx-34 , nhtsa recall no.11v-464 for the lower control arms. i submitted all necessary information under paragragh titled "if you have previously paid for a repair" and never heard from subaru (they said "it may take up to 60 days"). after 90+ days i emailed them only to find out on feb 21, 2012, "i had the opportunity to review your claim and unfortunately, it appears that your request for reimbursement was denied based on the fact that the part that was replaced is not an affected component of this recall ." i responded, " please review the repair order again. both lower control arms were replaced ( the right actually broke and the left was rusted through) that is exactly what the recall is about. it was further found that the sub frame was also rotted through. the control arms bolt to the sub frame, so just replacing the control arms would not have made the vehicle road worthy." i received a check for $723 with no explanation what was being covered (it cost me $1449.36 for repairs). i called subaru and was told that covered both lower control arms and $100 towing. i again asked for the claim to be reviewed and they said they would now pay for the links but not the sub frame. you can't safely bolt new control arms to a rotten subframe. subaru needs to inspect and repair this also and pay!!! *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza ts. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for unrelated maintenance when the contact was advised that the entire sub frame was corroded and required replacement. the vehicle was repaired at the contact's expense of $712.18. the manufacturer was notified of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 196,863. updated 02/13/12 *bf updated 04/26/12

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreeza wrx. the contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 11v464000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower arm). in addition to the repairs, the dealer stated that the subframe also needed to be replaced due to corrosion. the manufacturer was notified, but the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 290,000 and the current mileage was unknown.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken in to the dealer for repairs under a manufacturer's recall when the mechanic advised him that the mounting frame was completely corroded. the dealer stated that in order to remedy the failure, the cross members needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the problem who advised the contact that they would contact him at a later date. the vin was not available. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 129,000.

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

Extreme corrosion of front sub-frame. fast onset. no sign of issue and then approx. less than 1 year later total penetrating corrosion was visible in an area of it. was noticed during completion of an existing safety recall due to excessive corrosion and failure of the lower control arms. can provide digital photos of the issue upon request. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. the contact stated that the vehicle was included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 11v464000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower arm). the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the contact was informed that the front frame rails and sub-frame were also corroded. the contact was also informed that these additional components were not included in the recall. the vehicle was not repaired because the additional components were not included in the recall and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not safe to drive. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. the failure and current mileages were 92,181. updated 02/09/12*lj the dealer informed the consumer the frame rails were corroded to the point that the vehicle was unsafe to drive due to the same salt corrosion which produced a recall. the consumer was informed the sub frame would have to be replaced at her cost in order for the recall part to be replaced. the manufacturer agreed to the reimburse the consumer a partial amount. updated 02/13/12

Rt control arm failed while my daughter was north bound on the west side highway in nyc. she was able to control car and exit highway. inspection by my mechanic indicated the part had rusted away. i had him replaced both as i intended to trade it in and i didn't want to endanger anyone who might get the car. car was traded in for a new subaru in august 2010. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for routine maintenance when the technician advised that the front lower control arm was corroded. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 11v464000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower arm) but was advised by the manufacturer that the vin was not included in the recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 109,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. the contact was driving 15 mph when the front passenger side wheel turned in the opposite direction. the contact also stated that there was a leak from the engine. the vehicle was towed to a private mechanic where they confirmed that the right sub frame and control arms were corroded and detached. in addition, the brake cable had seized. the manufacture was not contacted. the vehicle was repaired. the failure and the current mileages were 40,000.

The front passenger side control arm broke due to rust damage. happened when backing out of the garage. vehicle cannot be steered. subaru has issued a recall for this exact issue for the same model year but has excluded my vin number. *tt

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. the contact stated that while driving at low speeds and reversing from the driveway, the front lower control arm had fractured. the vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and they advised him that they were aware of the failure. the failure and current mileages were approximately 100,000.

See previous complaint w/same vehicle----failure of right side lower control arm on 1-14-2011 at odo 49093. this current complaint is failure of left side lower control arm on 8-28-11. 2002 subaru impreza 2.5ts wagon with 51764 miles. always best of preventative maintenance. driving slowly on city street. clunking sound from left front, difficulty steering. recognized problem from previous failure of right side lower control arm. returned to my driveway (less than a mile) and called wrecker. repair cost: $458.95. contacted subaru customer/dealer services----no acknowledgement of responsibility for this or previous failure. "out of warranty, you live in a snow/salt area, etc". *tr

As i pulled into my driveway after work, everything seemed normal. the car had driven fine all the way home, including on the highway. a few hours later when i went out to the car to leave, is when i found the problem. as i began to back up the car began making a shuddering sound, and backed up crooked. it felt like something in the drivetrain was binding severely. i got out to check underneath with a flashlight, and i noticed the drivers side front lower control arm had separated into two pieces. this occurred where the front control arm bushing is attached to the rest of the control arm. comparing side to side, the front wheels are not even close to parallel now. luckily this did not result in an accident, as only a few miles prior i was cruising down the highway at 65 mph! i'm assuming the small bump at the end of my driveway is what finally caused the failure, but it just as easily could have been a bump or pothole on the highway.

Traveling at 40 m mph, i suddenly heard a loud pop and then the car went out of control, crossed the road and stopped in the ditch on the opposite side of the road from where i was traveling. after a tow to the service station, i discovered a snapped lower control arm on the right side front wheel. the left is very corroded as well. the skid damaged the axle, sway bar and tie rod as well on the right side.

The passenger side lower control arm broke while leaving the driveway. it was about midnight. attempts were made to drive the car. however once i checked the steering and noticed that the two front wheels were not tracking together, i left the car where it was since it was dark and i could not see what the issue was. next morning a tow truck was called and he showed me where the lower control arm had sheared off. at the lower section of the control arm. the rest of it was completely corroded. once the car was delivered to the repair garage, it was put on the hoist and the driver's side lower control arm was checked. using a hammer the mechanic was able to put a large hole in the control arm section above the base of the control arm. the control arm in profile section looks like a triangle. he put a hole in the upper front leg of the triangle. i have contacted transport canada as well to alert them of the issue and file a complaint. i have the old parts. i have installed two new control arms and the sway bar link kit for a total cost of $ 1,384 cdn. just last week the car had been on a road trip at night i was extremely fortunate that the lower control arm did not fail then. i am shocked that both arms were so badly corroded and one completely failed. the car was made in april 2001. i am also concerned because i own a 2005 subaru forester and i do not know if this may be a similar issue for the forester's lower control arms with respect to corrosion at the same place and whether this will happen to the forester in 3 years time. *tr

In the day or two prior to the event, the car felt out of alignment. in order to get the car to drive straight i had to keep the wheel turned ~15%. when i was driving on the highway at ~65mph, i hit an undulation in the road. this must have put increased load on the suspension component. all of a sudden the i heard a pop and the car started to go out of control. there was screeching from the tires and i struggled with the wheel to keep the car going straight as traffic was all around me. i managed to keep the car somewhat in control and merged to the shoulder where i came to a stop. it turned out the front passenger lower control arm had broken. the weld on it had corroded and it separated. this is vital to keeping the cars ability to steer. i got the part replaced, along with a new axle and sway bar end-link that were damaged in the incident. the total repair was over $1000. *tr

2.5 ts with 49,093 miles. wagon was always given best of preventative maintenance. driving slowly on city street. clunking sound from right front wheel area. some difficulty with braking and steering. assumed it was ice buildup on brakes/suspension. after about 10 minutes increased speed on country road and became much worse, almost lost control of steering but got off the road safely. lower control arm had broken and caused rust-riddled front subframe to collapse. replaced lower control arm, front stabilizer link and front subframe. $1218.02. *tr

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

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza wrx. while driving less than 5 mph in the driveway, the front end of the vehicle collapsed. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where they stated that the front passenger side lower control arm was cracked. in addition, the front driver side lower control arm exhibited a stress hairline crack. the front passenger and driver side lower control arms were replaced on the vehicle. the failure mileage was 79,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza rs. the contact noticed a very strong gasoline odor inside of the vehicle. the vehicle was not examined by a dealer for the cause of failure. the contact stated that over time he noticed that the failure only recurred while driving in very cold weather conditions. an authorized dealer confirmed that the contacts vin was not included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 09v468000. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 127,000. the vin was unavailable.

2002 subaru imprezza. consumer states that the left steering control arm rusted and broke while driving. *gr it was also noted the vehicle needed rear a cross member. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. the contact stated that water penetrated the radiator causing it to fail. the front subframe, front driver lower control arm, bushings, and ball joint were all corroded due to the water damage. the control arm broke in multiple pieces and resulted in loss of vehicle control. the vehicle was taken to a repair shop where the mechanic recommended that all of the parts be replaced. the contact called the manufacturer. the current and failure mileages were approximately 139,000. updated 12/01/10. *lj the consumer stated the water/puddle shorted out the engine fans which caused the vehicle to overheat and was not the cause of the rotted subframe. updated 12/08/10

During the past several years my 2002 subaru impreza wrx has had the strong smell of fuel. its not consistent nor does it happen all the time but often enough that it concerns me. i have called subaru's headquarters about this problem and they just keep telling me there is no re-call for this problem, so they won't fix it. i'm concerned this is a real safety problem that subaru refuses to address nor fix. *tr

Recall notice 09v468000 for 2002 subaru impreza wrx. *nj the consumer stated he experienced the same problem with his vehicle as stated in the recall he received. as a result, he paid for the replacement of the fuel line and hose. the consumer is requesting reimbursement. *jb

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

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

I recently bought an 02 subaru and it seems that every time i cold start the car when it gets below freezing outside there is a horrid gas smell in the cabin of the car. on further investigation it is visible that there is a pool of gas accumulating on the motor from underneath the intake manifold. i have just noticed this and called the dealer and they said they had never heard of this. looking online it seems to be a regular issue and there is no recall or information on how dangerous it is to have raw fuel on a hot engine. i am at a loss and a little concerned for my safety. *tr

Strong fuel smell in cold weather. *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

I was driving down us rt 2 in bolton vt when had sudden steering wheel wobble. car then veered to the right and off the road. car went about 20 feet off the road. i was very lucky that a field was to the right. after getting out, i noticed that the left side front wheel was sitting several inches too far to the rear, rubbing against the body. my mechanic indicated that a lower control arm was severely corroded and broke off of the front subframe. the subframe itself is also corroded. this is only on the left side; the right side is fine. the car's body is generally in good shape. i would not have expected this part to be at all weak or corroded. i have the old control arm. my mechanic is going to replace the corroded portion of the subframe. *trw updated 01/13/11 *bp updated 02/14/11 *bp updated 03/11/11 updated 03/14/11 updated 03/30/11

I was just informed that the sub frame on my vehicle is rotted and that my car is no longer safe to drive. this vehicle is only a 2002 with less then 94,000 miles. to correct the problem, i would need to spend around $2000.00 to replace the entire front and rear subframe. if this problem wasn't noticed and i had continued to drive the car, the consequences would be serious injury or death. the car would crumble if it was involved in an accident. or i could just be driving along the interstate and it could basically fall apart, causing an accident. *tr

Contact owns a 2002 wrx imperza. current and failure mileage was 71,000. contact stated while backing out of the driveway the driver side lower control arm broke in half due to rust. the manfacturer offered to pay for 50% of the repairs but the contact they should pay the total cost. contact feels this is a safety issue because the vehicle could have been driving on the highway while the lower control broke and caused a crash. jo updated 06/03/11

With my alloy wheels on two of my subaru cars, the snow gets lodged in the break pads\rotors and it takes pumping the breaks to force the snow out before the breaks will engage. subaru denies it is a problem. this happens every winter on both cars, but i have learned to be extra cautious coming to a stop in already wintry conditions. this year my breaks did not engage, went through a stop into a busy intersection, luckily no oncoming traffic. *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 had a replace my battery. my battery is new and my car won't start without jump starting it. it is a new battery. i brought to the dealership. they said there was a loose connection. they connected the wires. i was charged for diagnostic. *tr

I was driving up the snow sierra nevadas and my windshield washer doesn't work. no visibility. i had it fix before but sometimes it doesn't work. i crash into the side of the road and hit the snow an chain link fence. i have a bumper damage but it is not big. *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

Keyless entry security when you turn it on the headlights doesn't blink. on the dashboard "security" word is flashing. it wasn't there before. *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

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

The transmission gear won't move from park to drive. i called towing. he open the little cover and push it with a knife. then, i was able to shift. was the part defective? i had my mechanic check it but i can't recall if he fix it. i have to check with him. now it is working. i am wondering if other subaru owners have the same problem. *tr

This is a complaint towards subaru of america (soa). this is the third year that i have experienced fuel fumes in the cabin of my vehicle. please review the forums on this online. this cannot go on , we have to leave our garage door open to dispell the fumes, its a fire hazard. soa will not accept any responsibility for this vehicle fuel system defect. it needs to be on a safety recall. this has happened every year when the temperature reaches below freezing. i took the vehicle too the local dealership and they wanted $$$ to correct the defect (approx $500). *tr

2002 subaru impreza xrx gas fumes and smell when the weather is cold. it is common on 2002 subaru's these cars should be recalled because of the danger of a fire and this has not happened to date. the cost for a repair is high because the fuel lines and under the manifold. i noticed this smell the first year i bought the car that is the date in the incident box. *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

It was raining. i was turning left at a light, saw another car coming towards me. i applied brakes and there was a hesitation of braking power due to the abs system. this also happens when driving in low traction conditions or over bumps. i went to the dealer and they said that the same year similar model had problems with the abs computer and that they replace the abs computers for that one but they said they wouldn't for my car. *tr

2002 subaru impreza sport - abs "fires" during routine braking leading to increase stopping distance. returned car to dealer and advised that "rear wheel bearing was bad" ... refused repair because there was no other indication of bad bearing (noise, heat, smell, vibration, resistance during free spin). took car to second independent repair center. no bad bearing found. turned rotors but this did not completely solve problem. abs continues to fire during routine braking. *tr

Just learned that my 2002 impreza sport has a leaking head gasket when the car only has 72,000 on it. the car has never gotten over 23 miles per gallon, even when it is highway driven. the car has had very very little mileage on it since it was purchased three years ago with 55,000 on it. no mention of any problems during its 60,000 mile maintenance. this came out of the blue. *tr

My 2002 subaru impreza outback sport was also diagnosed in 4/08 with a leaking head gasket @ 81k by the dealer when i took it for a brake service. i bought the car new and gas mileage has been only ok. it has never overheated, ever, which is why i took it to an independent mechanic rather than spend the $3k the dealer wanted. an external leak was noted and i'm keeping an eye on it. i've heard rumors of problems with leaking head gaskets on this vehicle. why not covered or monitored? *tr

Head gaskets on both sides of engine leaking oil and coolant at 20000 miles and 2.5 yrs old. oil and coolant leak transfers on tires and exhaust. this can cause fire and loss of control. subaru only acknowledges problem on other vin on impreza (my vehicle 2002 impreza outback wagon) and forester. even though forester uses the identical engine as impreza. *tr

2002 subaru impreza recall notice. consumer states that the hatch strut broke and ripped out when she was just lifting the tailgate. causing the tailgate to land on her head which resulted in a mild concussion. *nj the consumer stated a recall had been issued for the defect. recall # 08v135000. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 08v135000 (latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch). the vehicle was taken to the dealer for repair and the contact was informed that the parts were unavailable. afterwards, when he attempted to use the rear liftgate, one of the liftgate struts separated from the vehicle. the liftgate struck the contact's head and caused a knot. the manufacturer was called, but the contact has yet to receive a response. the failure mileage was 58,000.

2002 subaru impreza with a leaking head gasket. consumer states that the dealer said they would pay for half of the cost of the repairs. consumer was then informed that both head gaskets were leaking. *kb the cylinders were leaking coolant. *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

2002 subaru impreza wrx during cold temperatures a fuel line leaks. there is a service bulletin for this problem (tsb: 09-36-03), but it has not been made a recall. if enough fuel accumulates i would expect. *tr

Strong fuel smell in passenger compartment of car, following start of vehicle in the morning. sounds similar to nhtsa action number pe04002 except this is happening in temperatures 40-50 degree farenheit. *cn

Car develops a fuel leak from the defective fuel lines in cold temperature (winter). gasoline dripping onto engine block and filling inside cabin with heavy smell of gas fumes. subaru of america is aware of the problem since april of 2003 but unwilling to fix the problem at their expense. defect is due to the incorrect manufacturer's design of fuel rails and hoses and is being fixed by installation of new updated parts. *tr

On cold mornings there is a tremendous gasoline smell in side the car. this seems to only happen when the car has sat overnight and when the overnight temp goes below 35f. gas can be smelled in the engine bay and what looks like gas can be seen pooling on the passenger side of the motor. i decided to file this report after speaking with other 2002 subaru impreza wrx owners who indicated that they have the same issue. i believe that this issue presents a fire hazard and that if this issue is wide spread, a mandatory recall is in order. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. the contact noticed a strong gasoline odor while the vehicle was idling. she took her vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the fuel line was too close to the exhaust manifold, causing fumes to emit and possibly start a fire. the vehicle is currently being repaired. the current and failure mileages were 118,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza. while driving 35 mph the vehicle would not stop when the brake was depressed, this caused him to crash into the rear of the vehicle in front of him. the contact was injured. the police report was filed. as of august 2, 2007, the dealer was inspecting the vehicle. the current and failure mileages were 60,000.

When the weather is under 20 degrees f, there are strong gasoline fumes inside the passenger compartment of the automobile. it makes me dizzy, causing the necessity to drive with the windows down in single digit temperatures. subaru is aware of this problem and they have issued a service bulletin, but they will not fix many cars that are no longer under warranty. this is a health concern, an emissions concern, and a safety concern, as raw gasoline is leaking somewhere in the engine bay.

My 2002 subaru has gas fumes in the cabin whenever the weather is cold. the colder the weather the stronger the fumes. subaru is aware of the issue, the have a bulletin on this very issue, however the dealer refuses to cover this issue. over the phone the service manager was confident that subaru would not cover this issue. he informed me that it was just fumes leaking. knowing a little about how gasoline is ignited, i know that the fumes are what combustion, and that is what i am concerned about. if subaru is so concerned about safety, one would thing that explosive fumes would be on their list. however both subaru of america, and subaru of annapolis did nothing to reassure me that this would be covered. when i called subaru of america again, they told me to contact another dealer and see what they would do. this is the last subaru i will every buy! *jb

Tl*- the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza wr,x and stated that the vehicle was leaking fuel, and there was a raw fuel smell coming from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. the fuel smell was stronger when the vehicle was running and the temperature was below 32 degrees. the contact currently has the vehicle at the dealership. the failure and current mileage were 119330.*ak the vehicle also had a coolant lead. the drivers side door regulator was inopertive, the clutch had a judder, there was problem with the abs. updated

Raw fuel smell in cold weather. had to replace cd player. seals on windows fell off. brakes pump when hitting the brake when debris on road. (rocks,etc.). *nm

2002 subaru impreza ts - fuel smell in cold weather. when starting my impreza ts at temperatures below 32f there is a distinct and overpowering fuel smell in the cabin of the vehicle. there is a technical service bulletin released for the wrx model but not the ts. please address the exclusion of the ts model as this issue is a significant health and safety concern. *jb

Raw fuel smell noticed while car is on. seems to be coming from engine bay. has just begun to occur as temperature has dropped below freezing. *nm

In very cold temperatures (below 30f), the smell of raw fuel enters the cabin. subaru has a tsb for this issue, but i think this should be a recall issue considering that fuel vapor is highly flammable and is also a known carcinogen. *nm

Began smelling odor of raw fuel inside of my 2002 subaru impreza. after a short research i found it to be a common problem during cold weather. contacted a dealer and was told that it is not covered under warranty or recall. *jb

When the weather is cold, my 2002 subaru wrx develops a fuel leak in the engine compartment underneath the intake manifold on the passenger side. leak rate is about 1 drop per second. vehicle has 64,000 miles. i just recently moved to a colder climate area. *nm

I just wanted to share with you a very recurring, and very unsafe problem regarding the subaru wrx impreza. i came home tonight to a strong smell of gasoline coming from the engine bay of my car. i proceeded to open my hood and investigate. what i found was actual fuel leaking from a part of my car! this fuel can ignite and even explode if it were to touch something hot (turbo charger, cat converter) well upon going online, i looked the problem up, and it seems a lot of wrx impreza owners are having this exact same problem. this is a problem noted since 2002 and subaru has done nothing about this! in the link i am about to provide to you, it will show many cases of people dealing with subaru, in some cases with very poor customer service. http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131755 that website is just one website representing the countless amounts of people experiencing the same exact problem. i do not see how subaru cannot create a recall on something so extremely unsafe. *jb

I drive a 2002 subaru impreza wrx sedan. when i start the car on cold mornings and turn on the heater with the air recirculation off, a distinct smell of gas comes through the air vents. then, when i open the hood to look for the problem, the smell of gas is even stronger and more noticeable. much like other wrx owners, i have been unable to trace this problem. because of this, i have not made any attempts to fix it. gasoline is widely known to be carcinogenic among many other unfortunate things, and the presence of gasoline in an engine compartment along with sparks and high heat seems extremely dangerous. this problem has been documented by many, many other people for over three years now. *jb

In the first winter after purchasing my 2002 subaru impreza wrx, there was a strong smell of gasoline in the passenger cabin as well as around the car. the problem persisted in the following years particularly during cold winter days, however dealerships were not able to replicate the problem. one dealership attempted to replace the fuel filter and spray "deodorant" into the vents to help, but the strong smell of gasoline persisted on cold days, particularly when we wanted to turn the heat on. the smell of gasoline is not only nauseating, but most likely very harmful to myself and my family. on occasion, it is impossible to drive the car with the heat on and consequently we need to drive with the windows down, in the cold, with the heat off. nm

Dt*: the contact stated while depressing the brake pedal on bumpy roads, there was a longer stopping distance. this occurred on two other occasions and the dealer replaced the rear wheel bearings. the vehicle was driven to the dealer a third time, who determined the rear wheel bearings needed to be replaced again. updated 10/17/2006 - the rear wheel bearing was replaced twice. *nm

My car is subaru impreza wrx sport wagon. i used to gas my car at shell gas station in highland park. a lot of times i found water in my car's gas tank. i use the 93 octane, because my car has turbo. please check the 93 octane gas on the shell gas station. *jb

Steering roll connector failed. causes horn, cruise, and driver's side air bag to stop functioning. part is poorly designed, wires are held in place by paper. this subsystem is unsafe. *nm

Not a new as others have it too and subaru knows of the trouble. upon first starting the 2002 subaru wrx there is a raw gas smell due to a defective part within the fuel system. both the nhtsa and subaru know of this but i have been told by dealers that the full cost of this manufacture defect must be paid by the car owner-i was told by a dealer that failure to do this would result in engine fires. i found this info within this site and cannot understand why subaru is not working with the nhtsa to assist people driving potential fire hazards in fixing as fast as possible the defect. *nm

During one cold day i noticed that my car (2002 subaru wrx) had a raw gas smell after starting up, like a fuel leak. *jb

In cold weather (sub-freezing), i smell gasoline vapors in the passenger compartment of my 2002 suburu impreza wrx. the smell of gasoline is equally strong under the hood. one must drive with the windows open, with no heat, so as to avoid light-headiness. *jb

2002 subrau wrx. long drive in sub-zero weather after which a extreme fuel smell was entering the car at stops. after arriving home i quickly looked under the hood where i could see and smell fuel vaporizing on the left (passenger) side of the engine compartment. the fuel vapor was originating from the hose mentioned in pe04002, subaru tsb #09-36-03. this is contrary to the problem only existing during cold start conditions as my car was fully warmed up and after 2 hours driving. the fuel vapor filled up my garage to the extent that i was forced to open the garage door. according to subaru this is not a recall and thus i need to pay to fix this issue-- however after my experience tonight i'm scared to drive my car in sub-zero weather. i urge nhtsa to re-examine action number pe04002 as the amount of fuel vapor coming from my car this evening could have very easily caused a fire had an ignition source been introduced anywhere around my car. *jb

During recent cold weather, i noticed a strong odor of unburned fuel in the passenger cabin. research indicated this is addressed by tsb 009-36-03, however a fuel leak of any nature should be considered for recall due to the risk to health and life. *jb

We have terrible gasoline fumes in my wife's car when it's cold outside. it's coming from the engine compartment and getting into the cabin. it's so overpowering that my wife and children can not be in the car with the windows closed. it even gave her a headache today after she drove it with the windows open. it's a 2002 subaru impreza ts wagon. i have done some research online and i have found that this is a common problem with this model, yet there has not been a recall. i have seen the investigation report pe04002. our problem persists even when the car is fully warmed up. i drove it for 45 minutes, and it was just as bad at the end of the trip as it was at the beginning. *jb

Raw fuel smell with temperatures below 20 degrees f and raw fuel in engine compartment with temperatures below 0 degrees f. smell occurs anytime car sits in sub 20f temperatures. actual leak with raw fuel occurred after car sat out overnight in sub zero degree temperatures. small smoldering fire signified by small amount of grey smoke coming from engine compartment upon start up. car has been taken to dealer three times for problem over two years and still leaks. most recently after leak they replaced fuel rail system, but car still leaks. *nm

Fuel leak near engine. raw fuel smell in cabin. *jb

This issue is for a 2002 subaru impreza wrx wagon. there is a strong fuel smell in the vehicle cabin when the car is stoppped at idle. the subaru mechanic said there is a clip attaching the fuel line from the tank to the engine under the intake manifold which is loose. they adjusted the clip but said it would be about $800 to fix if the problem occurred again since they would have to remove the intake manifold to repair. the smell came back a couple of days later. *ak i have done research, and there is a tsb for this particular issue, but no recall. looking at postings on this issue, there are hundreds if not thousands of people with the same issue. it seems to be particular with the 2002 wrx. it seems for an issue that has enough history to occur to generate a tsb that is also such a potential safety issue would warrant a recall.

Side view mirror attachment to vehicle failed, mirror unusable. researched to find this is a common problem with this car. dealer refused to replace it. ordered the part and replaced it myself. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated there was coolant leaking from the radiator. the vehicle was taken to the dealership where it was determined to have a blown radiator which needed to be replaced. the vehicle is unable to be driven and no repairs have been made.

In reference to nhtsa action number : pe04002 & the occurrence of being overcome by vapors in my my02 subaru impreza rs. starting last night there is a very apparent hazardous fuel vapor leak into the cabin of my vehicle via the hvac system due to a previously noted faulty fuel line part i have contacted my dealer & was advised there was a tsb which did not involve coverage & replacement of the defective part due to me being over 60,000 & my engine 2.5 rs not being listed in the tsb. may i ask, what does a warranty have to do with replacement of a previously documented, & confessed defective part placed on a vehicle by the manufacturer? the part is known & established as defective. the effects of the failure with the known defective part are a serious health hazard & should be immediately addressed via recall/replacement. i travel 40 minutes each way each work day with my son in the vehicle. i also have a pregnant wife who is going to be forced by your lack of action, to be exposed to very dangerous fumes. some errors with the previous investigation: the vapors do not go away when engine warms up, in fact mine is very much more evident when the engine is warm. fuel consumption has significantly gone up, pointing to a significant leak of gasoline to where? hot engine components. the fire concern which was dismissed is not my problem, i can jump out of a burning car¿¦ the extreme vapors which caused me to get nauseous & a severe headache in just a 20 minute time spent in the car on lunch, are my concern. *jb

I purchased a used 2002 subaru impreza wrx and have been smelling gas. i have read a previous investigation, pe04002. i understand there is no immediate safety concern for fire, but when driving over long periods the smell does not go away and has caused light headedness for myself and passengers, to the point that i have had to pull over and get out of the car. i also am curious why a recall has not been issued for a known defect, found and acknowledged by the manufacturer. leaking gas is dangerous to inhale and dangerous to the environment. i would urge you to investigate this issue further. *nm

I purchased a new 2002 wrx three years ago and am inhaling gasoline fumes in my car when driving in cold weather. the subaru dealer told me that they are aware of this problem with the "cold fuel smell". i think that inhaling gasoline fumes is very hazardous, especially when driving. i hope and beg that subaru corporation will recall this common fault. *nm

My 2002 subaru wrx is becoming increasingly difficult to drive in cold weather. the smell of raw fuel has recently become intolerable during cold temperatures. i am forced to use recirculation on the ventilation system and drive with my windows open if freezing weather to help with the gas smell. i have tracked the leak down to a two-inch rubber hose section under the intake manifold on the passenger side. it appears that the clamps are loose and cannot be tightened without removal of the manifold. i have seen that a technical service bulletin has been issued on this matter. i called my dealer to have this safety and health issue repaired. to my dismay, i discovered that it is not covered under a recall or warranty. my car currently has 48,270 miles on it and has been impeccably maintained. the dealer has verbally quoted $400-$500 for the repair. upon searching the internet and the nhtsa, i see that fuel vapor odor in the cabin in certain 2002 wrx's is a well-documented defect. i hope for my sake, subaru's sake, and the sake of others with this problem, that subaru of america, inc. will show itself as a standup organization that will make good to it's loyal customers. as an 11 year mechanical engineer in the design and manufacturing industry, and an automobile enthusiast, i can explain that this leak is due to three conditions. 1) improperly torqued hose clamps during factory assembly, 2) fuel line material shrinkage/stiffening due to cold temperatures, leading to further loosening of clamps, and 3) misalignment of fuel lines. subaru should repair this fuel leak at their cost; avoiding health and safety issues, and loss of future customers. this is not a condition caused by the operator of the vehicle by any means and should not be placed on the operators shoulders. over time this leak will become more severe and may possibly ignite under certain conditions or cause dizziness in the more severe cases. *jb

When the temperature gets below 20 degrees fahrenheit fuel lines leak on the engine of my 2002 subaru impreza rs. the leak can be clearly smelled from inside the car. this issue is known by subaru and they won't designate this as a recall. they do consider this a technical service bulletin and only service this under warranty. otherwise, it's up to the owner to spend upwards of $350 to have a subaru dealer perform the repairs. *jb

Dt: the contact stated the hatchback/lifgate fell out because the screws holding the liftgate in place stripped due to wearing. the dealership determined it was assembled improperly, and to contact the manufacturer before having the repairs done. the vehicle is a 2002, subaru impreza wrx. *ak

On 1 or 2 occasions in the past couple years i have smelled a gas fumes during very cold weather on my 2002 subaru wrx wagon. i was not often or very strong, so i did not pay much attention. this winter it has been happening more, any time the temperature gets into the low 20's, it is a much stronger smell and lasts quite a while (several minutes). i did some digging on your site and found action number pe04002. i plan to visit my dealer and have the service bulletin completed, but wanted to make you aware that the problem may get worse over time, i currently have 66,000 miles on the vehicle and have driven it since july 2001. *jb

I have a 2002 subaru impreza wrx. there is a fuel smell coming from under the hood, near the passenger side by the intake manifold. this happens when i start the car in the mornings when it is cold outside. there is a technical service bulletin from subaru on this matter, but i think it should be a recall item since this involves a fuel smell coming from substandard parts. *nm

2002 subaru impreza developed a fuel leak.***no answer required***. *mr *nm

2002 subaru impreza gives off a strong fuel odor.***no answer required***. *mr the dealer told the consumer the odor was normal and that it was due to the rich fuel in cold weather. *jb

In january,2005 i purchased a used 2002 subura wrx impreza from a private owner. the previous owner gave me all receipts of all repairs done to the car.on the receipt it shows that he complained to the car dealer called rafferty subura in p.a. of screeching noise fro the front brakes. the dealer replace the pads and lubricated the brakes. that was at 36k miles. the car now has 38k miles and i have the same screeching noise in the front brakes. i brought it to my mechanic and he had to replace the brakes pads. the screeching noise still exists. i look up on the web for any similar complaints about subura and their brakes. i found tons of complaints about the same problem. www.carsmart.com/content/research/forums/index.cfm/action/posts/fid/1959 some of the complaints wrere register with nhtsa. i need to know what is being done about this. several of the complaints people have gotten into accidents.

(1) defective seat mount design, and bad manufacturer repair. (2) driver front seat mount( left front mount were mount attaches to seat rail failed under hard braking and accelaration. (3) nothing at this time. manufacturer upgrade was performed.

The accelerator on 2002 subaru impreza became stuck in the open position. the dealership determined that the cause of the problem was a part of the air cleaner filter had fallen into the carburetor. *mr *nm

Consumer turns the ignition on and vehicle accelerate on its own. when the vehicle is turned off for about 10 to 15 minutes and turned back on the vehicle has the same problem. *ak

Car check engine light comes on going downhill in 3rd gear, car then shuts down and i loses control of car. occurred on numerous occasions over the last 10 months and 20,000 miles or so. taken to 2 different dealers , for a total of 5 visits and problem has not been corrected. the manufacturer was notified by registered mail and has done nothing to correct the problem. i am getting the run around from the manufacturer and both dealers, they are ignoring a very dangerous situation.*ak

It started before warranty was up on my vehicle which is a 2002 subaru impreza wrx. after 30,000 miles noticed gas smell in cabin after starting in cold weather. i tracked smell coming from gas leaking from fuel rail. it was a steady drip which i video taped. i took it to the dealer 5 times for the problem, on the fith time they wanted to charge me to fix due to being over the milage for the warranty.*ak

2002 subaru impreza wrx - i was taking my five yr. old grandson home when we became aware of a heavy smell in the car. i thought it smelled like antifreeze, but he said 'gas' mamaw. i hurried to get him home, and before i got back home my throat was sore and my nose bothered me from the awful fumes. my husband took the car to the dealer today and they may call back when they get their loaner freed up but i don't think we are big on the priority list. they said antifreeze was leaking from the rear of the engine. it has 55,000 or so miles on it now. *jb

While driving 30 mph consumer smelled gas fumes, then smoke started to come out from under the hood. consumer continued to drive. dealership was notified, but did not see a problem. *ak

I drive a 2002 subaru impreza wrx manufactured in feb 2001. i have owned the vehicle for 3 months. i noticed the failure during the first day the temperature dropped below freezing. the failure is described as a very strong scent of noxious fuel into the passenger cabin of the vehicle. the scent is present when the vehicle is started with a cold engine and the outside temperature is below freezing. the scent dissipates after 5 minutes of running the engine. this occurs every time these conditions are present which can be multiple times daily. the consequences to date have simply been discomfort but i am concerned that long term exposure may have lasting damage to my and my passengers lungs and eyes. so far i have not taken any corrective action as the discussion forum at www.nasioc.com has many postings describing failed attempts of fixing the problem by subaru trained mechanics. *nm

Fuel smell/leak during cold temperatures; about 30 and below. very strong smell. so strong we are afraid to drive it during these times. first started this season (2004). out of warranty. 2002 subaru wrx. purchased 3-12-2001. *ak

Upon start up and driving in cold weather a strong fuel smell emitted from the vehicle. the owner has contacted the dealer and the manufacturer and was told that this is common. provide further details. *jb

The brakes worked intermittently. it was hard to stop the vehicle. the dealer and the other mechanics can find no defects. *jb instead of stopping the consumer stated that the vehicle picked up speed. *tc

While driving 25 mph, the driver was unable to shift to second gear. the driver tried numerous times and the vehicle stalled. the driver tried to restart the vehicle and was not able to do so. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic informed the driver that the transmission needed to be replaced. please provide further details. *jb

2002 subaru impreza wrx, raw fuel smell in cabin and leak coming from near manifold when the temperature is below freezing and car is cold started. *jb

Strong gas odor in cabin when temps are below 30 out side. this is the same problem reported last year with no recall or resolution by dealer/nhtsa. *nm

This is a common problem among my2002 subaru owners who have the ej20t 2.0 liter tubocharged motor. i have a 2002 wrx. when the weather gets very cold (near freezing) there is a fuel leak on the passenger side of the engine. the smell is so strong it enters into the cabin. subaru knows about it and there is a tsb service bulletin. i strongly reccomend a recal on all of the cars that had the "old" style fuel rails. please see - http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=482496 for more information.*ak

2002 subaru wrx emits a gas smell, due to a leaking fuel line, into the cabin. this is a known problem with subaru (see service bulletin 09-36-03). in my opinion this potentially dangerous situation is an engineering oversight and should be repaired at no cost to the consumer. *nm

Gasoline smell/leak in sub-zero temperatures. originates from engine compartment, passenger side. noticed pooling of gas in engine block cracks. *jb only occurs when under 20 degrees f. *jb

1.events: chronic gasoline smell/fumes in 2002 subaru wrx in cold weather conditions (under 34 degrees). 2.dealer has checked out the car once in summer of 2004 and reported no problems even though i was inhaling gasoline fumes on every cold morning since i bought the car. second time i brought in the car monday dec 19. 2004 the warranty was expired and the dealer wanted to charge me $425 to fix the problem they just found. *ak

2002 subaru impreza wrx, fuel leak on passanger side of engine compartment under intake manifold. occurs in low tempuratures and leads to a strong raw gas odor in the cabin.*ak issue has not been resolved

During cold weather my 2002 subaru impreza wrx has a smell of raw fuel inside the cabin. could possibly start a fire. not safe, should be fixed under a recall. *ak

After 54000 miles a slight to strong raw fuel smell has become more noticeable especially during inclement weather conditions. i am located in florida so the temperature does not drop that low and the raw fuel smell is becoming more apparent. *ak

Fuel smell is in the cabin of my car. symtom <30 degrees, and this is a known hose issue in the wrx. *ak

Tsb 09-36-03 dated 04/01/03 issued by subaru for the 2002my impreza wrx lists that some models may experience a fuel smell in cold weather, if you are smelling fuel, it's fuel vapors, and fuel is leaking period. this is an unsafe condition i would think! this needs to be an official recall so dealerships can?t charge people to fix this defect if their cars are out of warranty. then this issue can be fixed properly and no longer be a hazard.*ak

Vehicle service several time due to gas smell, unsafe to drive. *bf consumer was told that a mouse nest was the cause of the gas smell in her vehicle and was charged $140.74. the consumer showed the mechanic where the fuel was pooling on the engine. problem still not resolved. *tc

Foia request infor.,relating to seatbelt and seatbelt pretensioners in 2002 subaru impreza wrx sedan & other vehicles. *bf *nm

Headlight lenses are fogging up on the outside lmiting the amount of light radiated at night. i have checked numerous other similar model cars and they all have the same problem in some degree. subaru refuses to take action under the warranty and maintains that the problem is "normal wear and tear in the environment". i maintain they selected an inferior plastic for the headlight lenses.i know that subaru is aware of this problem because "lenses" are specifically excluded under all the extended subaru factory warranties they offer. *ak

2002 subaru wrx - i took the car in for 30,000 mile service, car was running fine, no complaints. when i got the car back, i noticed that it was difficult to downshift into first gear, and i was sometimes missing the shift - grinding gears. i have never had a problem like this in any car before. the problem is more severe at higher speeds, and is getting progressively worse over the last 5000 miles. i have taken the car back to the dealer twice, the first time they "couldn't see anything wrong", the second time they noted that the "sencros" were going bad. i have just returned from the dealership and talking to the service tech, who claims this is a problem he sees a lot on wrxs, and that "there isn't anything i can do about it"!! the dealership has promised to "look into what we can do", but meanwhile the car is getting less and less functional. i am deeply concerned that the intention of the dealership is to stall till the warranty runs out (i'm getting close) then tell me it's my problem to deal with. i believe this is a safety issue because not being able to shift into first gear has the potential to cause a chain reaction pile-up, as there are stoplights highways on hills near where i live. an incident of stalling due to shifting problems could cause following traffic to badly misjudge the speed of the stalling car in situations where the light has changed and there is slow moving traffic followed by faster traffic (previous light turns sooner, lights not coordinated).*ak

I have a 2002 subaru impreza rs, this vehicle seems to be like lots of others, the vehicles shudders and jerks alot when i'm pulling off in the morning, evening, whether its cold or hot. i took it to shelors which wanted to tear it apart and charge me, when the car is still under warranty. this vehicle does this atleast 3 times a week. the car only has 35588 miles so actually its still under the new car warranty. i have a hard time sometimes getting the car into reverse (manuel trans.) i haven't had any acciden't as of this date so, i'm putting the date that i'm filling this out into the incident date box.*ak

My car is a total lemon. i pre-ordered the 2002 wrx in 2001 and was very anxious to receive it. as soon as i got the car the check engine light was on. the dealer diagnosed the problem as a cam position sensor wich they replaced 3 times. they told me i revved the car too high to throw the code. the code was thrown at 6200 rpm and the engine redlines at 7000. the dealership refused to work on this problem after the 3rd time. at 45000 miles my car began to miss and not run correctly. the dealership could not find any problem with it. i took it to another shop to get a 2nd opinion. they found that the cam position sensor had malfunctioned and caused my car to missfire when i would hit a bump in the road. they replaced the sensor and charged me a fee of $800 due to the massive troubleshooting work that led up to solving the problem. finally the problem that i had since the car was brand new was fixed at the full cost to me. at 48000 my transmission was the next to go. i lost the ability to shift my car in any gear. i had it towed to the dealership as the powertrain warranty is 60000 miles. they dismantled my transmission to find 2nd gear stripped. they then denied to cover this under warranty as it was labeled abuse. they charged me $800 dollars for their time. then then gave me a quote for $4500 extra dollars to replace the transmission. i had my car towed to the same shop that fixed my check engine light. they installed a new transmission for me at the cost of $2200. my transmisson has also broke again at 65000 miles. now i have a car that doesn't run that i am paying on. i can not sell a car that doesn't run. subaru does not care that their cars are junk. i really do not know what to do now.

Grinding of the gears when shifting from 3rd-4th gear. started with a very mild noise, has progressed to a loud grind. took it in for warrant service and they said that the determination of warranty coverage would be made by a regional representative after the transmission was removed. i checked on the internet and found that many other owners were experiencing the same problem and being denied warranty coverage after the transmission was removed unless they were willing to sign one time repair agreement voiding the remainder of the warranty. i have been told by the dealer that i will probably be required to sign one even though i have not agreed to have the transmission removed or dissassembled yet. they are unwilling to give me any information on the number of similar repairs that have been covered or denied under warranty and will not give me any objective criteria that will be used to make the warranty determination.

Differential fluid out; subaru blames a non-dealer oil change error for problem hence not covered under warranty. owner had to spend over $350 for replacement auto rental. owner drove car for 1,700 miles after disputed non-dealer oil change to date when differential fluid outage discovered.

Clutch shudders in first and second gears until engine warms up (~20mins). vehicle has less than 17,000 miles and this has been a problem since the first day of ownership. i brought the vehicle to the dealer and was told this was normal. i find that explanation unacceptable since many others have complained with the same problem. i find this to be a safety issue since i have to rev the engine up to get the clutch to engage, potentially lurching me into traffic and causing an accident. *jb

Very strong fuel smell in passenger compartment that is especially apparent in cold weather. *jb

Abs intermittently kicks in on dry, smooth road at low speeds, with light pedal pressure. dealer checked and said all is normal. problem is not readily reproducible, but very disconcerting when it happens, causing prolonged stopping distances. none of my other vehicles with abs ever acts this way. *ak

Vehicle is a subaru impreza 2002 equipt with bridgestone potenza re92 16"tires. his week at approximately 10,500 miles 2 of these tires developed a pinhole leak in the center of the sidewall approximately a week apart. the leak was so tiny that it was hard to find. a call to a major bridgestone distributor about this problem was not productive. they said they have no record of such a problem. i have never seen this in any previous tires that i have used. can you shed any light on this subject?? thought it strange that 2 different tires of the same brand would have the same defect about a week apart. thank you.*ak

Gas smell in car cabin in a 2002 wrx in cold weather conditions. *la

While driving transmission locked up bringing the vehicle to a sudden stop. other problems with vehicle include the steering pump, brakes and the windshield.*ak *mr

Was coming to a stop sign and there was a man hole cover recessed into the road. had foot on brake, light pressure to come to the stop sign. when the wheel hit the manhole cover, i could feel abs kick in (vibration in pedal) and the car lost all braking power momentarily. if there had been someone in front of me, i probably would have hit them. *ak

When driving driver started smelling gas coming from the engine. *ak a leaking rubber fuel hose under the intake manifold cased the gas smell. *nm

When it is cold out (in new england) there is a raw fuel smell. my mpg goes from 23 mpg to 17 mpg. i am afraid that their car will catch fire because it smells like a fuel leak. from what i hear there is a subaru technical service bulletin on the fuel lines cracking under extreme cold, but it hasn't been recalled. *la

Faulty desing of the fuel lines on a 2002 subaru wrx are causing a fuel leak (enough to puddle on the manifold). dealer (as well as subaru of america) will not cover the problem under warranty, even though there is a nationwide service bulletin about the issue. my car has several non-related modifications, so my warranty will not cover the issue. this is a very serious health/safety issue, and for subaru to not be forced to recall or at least offer free repairs of it is completely unsatisfactory. this poses a dager to myself, my family, and possibly any one who walks by my car in a praking lot with a cigarette. subaru should be taking the responsibility for faulty design, and if for no other reason than respect for their customers her in america, offer to fix this issue no matter the mileage on the car, or the modifications that may be done to it.*ak

The consumer stated that the vehicle had a very strong gas smell when the temperature was below 14 degrees. the consumer stated that there was a fuel leak. there is a bulletin describing the same problem. *nm

While driving the consumer smelled fuel coming through the vents. there was a gas leak in the engine compartment. this problem only occurred when the weather was extremely cold. the consumer indicated that there was a "tbs" on this issues. the dealer could not find anything wrong with the vehicle. *nm

My 2002 subaru impreza wrx has a raw fuel/gasoline smell in the cabin when the vents are on outside air. it is most noticable at startup, or when the car is stationary, but running. i've had the problem since my first winter in the automobile (winter '01-'02) and i have been consistantly reassured (by 2 dealers) that it's "completely normal" to have the fuel smell, and to keep my vents on recirculate until the car is warm. i believe there is a tsb issued by soa, however i am out of warranty, and many dealers will not acknowledge the tsb. the fuel smell is strong enough to cause a headache, and certainly smells strong enough to be hazardous in the bay of an internal combustion engine. the smell also seems dangerously close to the turbo/exhaust manifold side of the engine bay, which is obviously very hot.

While driving at any speed smelled fuel odor at cold temperatures. there was a fuel leak on top of the exhaust manifold.*ak

On my 2002 subaru impreza wrx, the car leaks fuel and a raw fuel smell is strong in the cabin whenever the car is driven when the outside temperature is below 20 degrees fahrenheit. *la

Very stong fuel smell entering the cabin during extreme cold weather. *ak

I own a 2002 subaru wrx wagon. the cold morning (-3f) of january 9, 2004, i smelled fuel inside the cabin of my car a few minutes after i started the car. the gasoline scent was strong around the immediate area outside and inside the vehicle. the scent can also be sensed under the hood. after a drive, the scent remained. even after i reached my destination 15 miles and 30 minutes later, i can still smell fuel under the hood. i have called village subaru (61 powdermill rd. acton, ma 01742 978-897-1128) and scheduled a service on monday. thank you, - alex teng. *ak

On jan. 5, 2004 as i was driving my 2002 subaru wrx i could smell fuel coming in from the vents. i pulled over and popped the hood to get a very strong scent of fuel around the intake manifold. subaru has issued a tsb on this, but why there is no recall is still bothersome to me. leaking fuel in the engine compartment is not a good thing and this needs to be a recall. there have been several complaints from other wrx owners on this same issue.*ak

Fuel smell inside car during cold whether. *ak

2002 subaru impreza wrx fuel leak in cold weather conditions.*ak

Extreme fuel odor inside passenger cabin of my 2002 subaru impreza wrx,especially in cold weather conditions for the last four months. i have only 29000 miles on the odometer presently. i have noticed increased fuel consumption recently may be because of a possible fuel leak somewhere -please enquire and advise-thanks, anil sekhar. *cb

Subaru of america has a technical service buliten about model year 2002 subaru impreza wrx's having a leaky fuel like where it enters the injectors. this bulliten is not covered if the car is out of warrenty. yet the fuel leak is so bad that when the air conditioning is turned on there is a very strong fuel smell comin from the vents. i feel that this bulliten should be a recall and not a bulliten. this kind of problem causes a huge safety rick and if a car were to catch fire from the leaky fuel it could not only destroy the car but also hurt or kill the driver and passengers. *ak

I have a 2002 subaru impreza wrx, and i can smell fuel odor in my vehicle at cold temperatures. i purchased the car within 4 weeks of the north american release of the vehicle.*ak

Gas leek in engine bay. *la

Fuel rails leak in cold weather causing fuel smell in car and possible risk of fire. subaru has issued a technical service bulletin on this. *cb

On the days of jan 7, 8 and 9 2004 with temps below 25f degrees, a very strong odor of gasoline was present within and ouside of the cabin of the 2002 subaru impreza wrx. the smell could be overwhelming at times of colder temps (>15degrees) and would deminish after some driving. took auto into dealer on 8 jan. even though dealer service rep could smell the odor of gasoline when driving it back to the garage area, the technicians could not replicate the issue. was told by the service rep that this is not a safety issue. service rep was aware of tsb issued by subaru for a very similar item, but they needed to replicate the issue within the confines of the garage to be sure. four days later (and counting) i am waiting for colder temps to cause the gasoline odor for the techs.*ak

I have a 2002 subaru impreza wrx sedan which has an apparent fuel leak in cold weather. subaru has a technical service bullitain out on this problem to fix it (they do know about it), but it has yet to be made a recall. i first experienced this problem the other night when it was very cold outside, and there was a very strong fuel odor in the cabin. i asked some of my friends who also drive wrx's if they have had experience with this, and they said that they have been having the problem recently as well. after doing some research, the tsb was discovered and the source became clear. fuel was leaking onto the engine, which poses not only a foul odor, but also an extremely dangerous fire hazzard. please get subaru to make this a recall so that they can prevent anything bad from happening to one of their customers. i doubt they would want their "subaru" name to become known as the "cars that catch on fire". make this problem a recall as soon as possible so no lives are lost. ak

Fuel leak in cold weather. can smell fuel inside the car when the outside air vent is on. gas mileage is also lower in really cold weather (may or may not be related). *la

Vehicle has problems shifting gears when driving.*mr while driving the vehicle would not go into gear . as a result the vehicle stopped in the middle of the road. the vehicle was new with only a few thousand miles. the vehicles transmission has been replaced once under warranty but now that the transmission failed again the dealer refused to repair it. the vehicle has bee at the dealer for almost a year. *ph *nlm

My car's abs engages when going over bumpy/uneven surfaces resulting in nearly complete braking loss. the pedal goes almost all the way to the floor and doesn't want to stop at all. this can be very scary, especially if you aren't aware that the road is uneven. i've had to get used to this happening and adjust my driving techniques as a result!!! i am very disappointed is this! this has happened many times since i have owned the car. *la

Problems with abs activation - right conditions (brake activation followed by bump on smooth surface) results in significantly reduced braking effort - abs acts like it is confused and brake pedal drops to floor. reproducible at a particular intersection with both our wrx's. multiple events with different tires on vehicle. *la

Problems with abs activation - right conditions ( brake activation followed by bump on smooth surface) results in significantly reduced braking effort - abs acts like it is confused and brake pedal drops to floor. reproducible at a particular intersection with both our wrx's. multiple events with different tires on vehicle. *la

Abs premature engagement. happened 11/18/03 and about 10 times since 6/02. under light to moderate braking, around 35 mph, the abs will engage and drastically reduce braking deceleration over minor pavement irregularities. today it happened when going over botts dots, but it also happens on bumps, washboard pavement, etc. the pedal becomes light and the car basically stops braking for 0.5 to 1.0 seconds. very scary and dangerous. i am a mechanical engineer, master's degree, with experience in vehicle dynamics, hydraulics, and electronic feedback control. there is something drastically wrong with the abs tuning on this car. i am going to disable the abs system until subaru fixes this. ps i have never used the spare tire. *la

Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration while in reverse. *mr the consumer was backing out slowly out of a level parking lot with her foot on the brake as the vehicle coasted. the ignition had to be turned off to stop the vehicle. *scc *jb

I have an 02 subaru impreza wrx. the abs system activates prematurely and overly-agressively in a variety of conditions. most often it happens when attempting to stop and driving over bumpy roads. something as minor as a 1/2 inch dip in the pavement can set off the abs. once the system activates the pedal goes to the floor and there is momentarily a complete loss of braking ability. it can extend the braking distance by 1 or 2 full car lengths as compared to without abs and has caused me to nearly crash into other cars several times.*ak

Clutch shutters upon startup. i can't believe this is a normal clutch function as subaru mentions. i've had the car for 1 year and would like to sell it. the problem, how do i sell this car to someone else with a clutch that violently shutters when cold. it's a matter of good ethics which subaru doesn't have. *jb

Was braking v after driving 20mph. when wheel locked up, vehicle failed to shift into 2nd gear. had vehicle towed to dealership. mechanic indicated problem could not be duplicated and was not resolved.*ak

My antilock brakes go off when i am braking (at any speed) over a bumpy road. worse, at times when i have enough forward momentum going, when the abs goes off, the pedal goes to the floor and i lose all braking ability. the first time this happened i was going maybe 20 mph on a busy (strip mall) road, and almost rear ended the woman who'd braked in front of me to let someone turn. i had to let go of the pedal completely and re-hit the brakes and pump them to get it to stop, and i narrowly missed her. now, i have to pump the brakes when i must stop short (since the roads these days are wavy from whatever asphalt they're using, it's rare to find a flat one). i don't bother stopping at yellow lights anymore unless i'm decelerating, and i have to drive very carefully on bumpy roads since i know i won't be able to stop. it's not a good thing. i was not aware that i could make a complaint until i read similar stories in a forum, so now i am doing it. i can replicate the abs going off over bumps at very low speeds, faithfully, by my house. the pedal thing doesn't happen there, because i'm not going fast enough, but the abs goes off even when i'm going 5 mph. i drive a 2001 subaru wrx. thanks, katie (the date is approximate)

Consumer applied the brake and the pedal went to the floor. the vehicle went through the intersection before consumer could apply the brake again to stop. the road was dry and even when this occurred. *ph *nlm

Consumer stated that while driving and without warning transmission gears would not shift, causing a distraction to the consumer. dealer notified. *ak

When applying the brakes on bumpy roads, the abs gets triggered and the brake system loses all hydraulic pressure and brake power is completely lost. *nlm

Travelling at a low speed (under25) and braking while driving over small bumps in the road: pedal drops nearly to the floor, no typical abs pulsing, car feels as if it's just rolling straight ahead with no brake control, and no matter how much pressure is applied, it doesn't feel as if it is stopping any faster.*ak

Nhtsa action number : pe03029, component : service brakes, hydraulic:antilock i have had this happen to me several times. the date included is not accurate, but i had to give one. i noticed on these 8 (or more) occassions that if i brake hard (abs not on) that the car is fine. but, if i hit a surface were the front tire(s) lose traction or hit a bump the brake release and then the abs will kick in for a very short distance. the surfaces include, potholes, uneven surface manhole covers, painted traffic lines, road cracks. i did notice that on one ocassion when the brakes release the brake pedal went to the floor. this was while braking going down hill my front right tire went over a recessed manhole cover. i came within 3 feet of hitting a car in front of me. i can name the city and street where this happened. and, i can repeat the occurrence with almost 90% accurancy at this spot if need be. *ak

Abs activating for no reason on rough surface (gravel covered roadway) causing braking distance to increase significantly...not the first time either. not hard braking, just one on an uneven surface.*ak

When the brakes were applied on wet or dry pavement, the brakes sometimes traveled to the floor, the consumer had to pump and release pressure on the brake pedal then re-apply pressure on the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. *ak *cb *jb

Going over a big expansion joint exiting from the outer loop of i-495 near washington, dc to i-95 south, i saw that i needed to brake because of suddenly stopping traffic. i did not get any braking help in my 2002 subaru impreza wrx wagon as my brakes suddenly seemed gone, only to grip a moment later. very scary for a short time.*ak

2002 wrx sudan had braking power reduced due to abs.*ak

Consumer called complaining about having problem with manual transmission. dealer fixed it twice. last week transmission broke, and vehicle was no longer under warranty. so he had to pay for this. vehicle only had 37616 miles. *ak

While making a turn , vehicle slid off the road, without cause or warning. the dealership cannot locate the cause of the problem.

While coming to a stop at about 30-35 mph, the brakes stopped working for about 1-2 seconds. at the same time, the feel of the brake pedal seemed to indicate that the abs system had been activated. can't recall if this was over a bumpy road as mentioned in earlier complaints. has occurred at least twice - very scary and dangerous.

Severe clutch shudder at start of forward movement. affected by lower outside temps. if car sits in cold weather at first use of clutch severe shudder vibrates whole vehicle. as clutch warms up shudder lessens but never goes away. *ts *nlm *dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12-12-02 cut over to artemis***761550

When braking hard, if a small bump is encountered abs will often activate and fail causing loss of stopping power. releasing the brake and re-applying will restore stopping power but not before giving the driver a good scare. i have not hit anything yet but i have had several close calls, even taking to the grass to avoid a collision. dealer could not replicate. *ts *jb ****dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12-12-02 cut over to artemis****761464

The consumer smelled gas inside the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the clamp on the fuel line came loose and leaked fuel. *nlm

I have a crack that runs from the top of the windshield on the passenger's side in a "c" or "l" shaped pattern around the rear view mirror toward the driver side. constant with many wrx owners. it has grown from 4 inches to around 12. the windshield was not hit by any debris to the best of my knowledge. if it was the debris was small enough not to notice while driving, indicating that the windshield should have with stood this impact without cracking. *ph *jb **dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut over to artemis**770828

Transmission problems. *ak

Abs failed resulting in car crash. ts

Consumer state of having problems with the transmission. dealer was contacted, this problem was initially reported when the vehicle was only 4 months old, the problems included grinding sounds between first and second gears, clutch noise, and transmission popping out of gear when going downhill, when the vehicle was 10 months old the gear teeth on first gear failed, the dealer refused to repair the vehicle under warranty. mr *nlm

When applying brakes while going over a bump at 25 mph or less consumer can tell abs system kicks in, but brake pedal goes to the floor, no braking ability for a few sconds. this happens intermittently. dealer stated there was nothing he could do.*ak

When moving from a stop has to press and hold gas pedal for at least 5 seconds before vehicle will accelerate. it then will jerk forward and accelerate at a high speed. vehicle has been checked by dealer.*ak

While approaching a stop light that was turning yellow, road was slightly bumpy, consumer felt abs pulsating. as this happened, brake pedal went to floor and pulsating stopped, however vehicle did not slow down. this has happened about 4 times. consumer was concerned because dealer could not duplicate problem. *ak *slc

Anti lock brake system failure. under normal braking conditions on a bumpy road vehicle will not decelerate for several seconds.*ak

While driving on a bumpy road, abs engages and loses all braking power. dealer contacted. *ak *jb

When applying brakes lost all brake compression and pedal went to the floor.*akvehicle was braking fine until consumer lost compression after hitting a rough surface on the road. *jg

While in motion insured approached stop sign. vehicle 2 stopped and proceeded as insured was already accelerating and was unable to stop, therefore hitting the rear of vehicle 2. may be a possible problem with the abs system. *jg

Strong fuel smell in cold weather. occurs whenever the temperature drops below 25 c.*ak

Approaching a toll-booth i began braking moderately from roughly 45mph. at about 15mph i went over some broken pavement with small pock marks. the pedal immediately went to the floor, or thereabouts, and a significant loss of braking power occurred. upon releasing the brake and reengaging the vehicle's brakes, the brakes operately properly and stopped the car. by the time i stopped, however, i was already 20 feet beyond the tollbooth. thank god there was not a car in front of me. i have also been able to repeat this scenario numerous times over rough, dry pavement with light to moderate braking. the bumps seem to confuse the abs.(?) i brought the car into marin subaru, who confirmed a brake hydraulic failure and replace the offending parts.*ak

While consumer was traveling at 30 mph consumer ran off the road into a gaurdrail into a tree, and then flipped over a few times. upon impact, air bags did not deploy. *ak

Windshield was cracked on the highway while driving at normal speed. heard a tiny peeble hit the windshield and later found out that the windshield was cracked. dt

With previous reports by consumers on nhtsa concerning this issue. until subaru addresses this design flaw, it is an awareness issue that owners must recognize and adjust their driving habits accordingly to compensate for. i have taken my vehicle into an empty parking lot on the weekend and tested the brake performance fully, and therefore the abs, both in a straight line and while turning very slightly. abs performance is as expected in both wet and dry provided that the road surface was perfectly smooth. however, even minor bumps, ripples or irregularities in the pavement reduced the braking power by at least 50%, in my estimation, and the brake pedal itself depresses an additional 1-2 inches further than experienced under normal driving conditions. again, this is consistent in both wet and dry conditions. my vehicle is entirely stock and has not been raced off road, rallied or autocrossed, all of which incur greater wear and tear on the vehicle. also, i have not taken the vehicle in to a dealer because i believed it to be a design flaw, which has only been confirmed by similar reports i have read on the nhtsa website. in the northeast, where the roads are frequently in poor condition due to frost heaves and other effects of harsh weather, i have altered my driving habits on the local roads to avoid the streets that have pavement irregularities near or in the braking areas. given subaru's impressive focus on safety, hopefully they can and will resolve this issue before any fatalities result. dt

No summary. dt

New 2002 impreza wrx received cracked windshield by a small pebble while driving. the crack has spidered across my whole front windshield. subaru dealership doesn't cover this on its warranties.*ak

Small crack 2 inches formed on front windshield directly behind rear view mirror. i have appt. to service @ subaru hopefully its covered under warranty because it looks like factory defect. i heard of other car owners with same problem. subaru should really look into it have recall. no pebbles or object of any kind have not struck windshield. you can see crack starting from the very top of center of windshield. thank you!*ak

The transmission shudders when the car starts from a stop, in first gear (from zero mph), both when the engine is cold and warm. this has caused delayed and uncomfortable starts.*ak

No description given. nlm

After the first oil change noticed a hesitation problem when acellerating form a stop and a rough idle. this happens after the engine is warmed up. reported the problem to the dealer they said they did not know how to fix it. contacted subaru directly and they denied any knowledge of this problem. found out form other people that this is a known problem. it is not getting any better and am worried when i take off some time that if the engines stalls out like this i could get rear ended.*ak

Randomly while moderately braking on dry normal textured pavement abs system will engage, this causes a major and dangerous loss of braking power and pedal pressure. in order to restore some braking power the brake pedal must be disengaged completely and then have pressure reapplied. this will result in about 3/4 of the normal braking power. if the abs engages again the process must be repeated. this entire process causes braking distance to substantially increase from the expected amount.*ak

Windshield cracked in same place & shape as numerous other 2002 subaru windshields. *ak

Traveling along a straight, dry, paved road. speed approx 50mph. encountered a situation requiring aggressive braking (approx 75-80%). while braking, car crossed a small bump, abs engaged for an extended time and braking power was almost completely lost. several car lengths later (road free from imperfections now), abs was still modulating and there was still virtually no braking power. distance required to stop was *much* longer than it should have been. problem has also occured x2 at low speed, nearing a stop sign, hit a pothole....lost braking until absolute last second, barely stopped in time. seems as though abs unit is confused, as if the wheels with traction are being modulated while the tire that hit the bump and has poor traction (possibly airborne momentarily?) is getting braking power, thus rendering the car with little stopping ability at all. very dangerous, i was lucky it was not an animal/child/car that i was trying to avoid. definitely dangerous, and not normal abs operation.

Crack in windshield that appears to be a flaw in factory glass. *ak

The clutch shudders and slips horribly on cold starts in 1st gear. the whole car will shake due to how horrible it is. stops shuddering after 15 mins of stop and go. dealer said it is normal and many customers complain, but that is the way the subaru clutch behaves. -- btw: this site does not seem to show anywhere near the amount of clutch shudder issues i have heard of, and it seems that some people have posted clutch shudder issues under the wrong part defect.*ak

Failure was an extreme increase in stopping distance for no apparent reason on dry pavement. brake pedal went nearly to floor , no pedal pulsing, but only about 30% of normal brake force available inspite of extreme pressure on pedal. narrowly avoided head on with cars in oncoming lanes while attempting left turn. lack of brake effort resulted in excessive speed for safe left turn.*ak

I was going to olympus gym in springfield, va, pulling into the far end of the parking lot (the lot is empty). the lot was clean, dry asphalt with a couple of rocks scattered on it (clue?). i pull in quick to the lot (a right turn from the street 90 degrees) don't know how fast but not worrisome. then pull a 180 degree left turn to come into the parking space braking fairly hard as i go. keeping on the brakes i think i'll come to a stop, but, the abs activates with 7 feet left in the spot. stays released all the way to the end where i bump into the pole at the end of the spot marking my bumper badly. i did not even try to come off the brakes and back on to reset (i should have). i just held the brake praying they would come back. when the abs activated, my head jerked back into the head rest and stayed there (at least half a second) until i hit the pole. the abs released the brakes (all four) and left them released. *ak

The car in front of me slowed down so i tried to disengage the cruise control with the cruise control lever. my goal was to slow the car down however it was not working fast enough so i pushed on the brakes. i was unable to push on the brake because it felt like a cement block. my cruise control did not disengage forcing me to pull over onto the shoulder where i was still unable to come to an immediate stop. finally i pushed in the clutch which helped to slow the car down but the brakes still felt very stiff. i believe this was a problem that was created due to my using the cruise conrol. the car was taken to our mechanic who could not find anything wrong with it. i believe, however, that a temporary malfunction occured that caused the cruise control to fail to disengage.*ak

Vehicle's abs controller went bad, abs was getting activated ever in a dry non slip condition, contacted dealer, and they replaced the abs controller. reported problem about engine vibration at idle speed, dealer refuses to accept it, compared with a new vehicle at dealer's stock and the vibration in my vehicle was distinguishable. still dealer refuses to accept it. contacted 1-800-subaru3 and they said that they woul dget in touch with the dealership and see whats going on.*ak

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Windshield experienced an unexplained crack starting above the rear view mirror, going down about 5 inches then vering towards the drivers side. total length of about 2 feet. no rock chip of any kind were found on my windshield and dealer replaced under warranty. however hearing from other owners of this car model, this is seeming to be a common problem. the crack is nearly identical on all the cars. other people are not having the luck i had in getting it replaced under warranty. *ak

As i was proceeding down a local interstate, a very small pebble came from a truck and produced a very small ding in my windshield. two days later, the ding became a very large crack. i contacted a worldwide car club for my particular vehicle, and learned that this is a very common problem with this vehicle. i only want the windshield replaced under warranty.*ak

Windshield hit by rock ,causing dime-sized star fracture, extreme cracking across windshield ensued almost immediately before resin could be applied. thin windshield. *ak

Other subarus have cracks in windshield ref#763477. *ak

The brakes in my 02 wrx impreza wagon become temporarily ineffective under normal braking conditions on a road with small bumps or ripples. for several seconds after the abs kicks in there is very little or no deceleration of the vehicle. this would be very dangerous if it occurred with a vehicle or pedestrian in front of me. i have not tried to replicate this issue at high speeds, but i have noticed it very consistently between 15-35 mph under moderate braking. *ak

When braking over bumps or potholes, abs system "fails" causing near-zero braking ability and much longer stopping distances. repeatable and dangerous!*ak

Abs fails after going over minor bumps and all pressure in the brake system is lost soon after. driver must completely disengage brake and then reapply to begin slowing down again.*ak

Severe clutch shudder during low speed operation ( in 1st gear and starting to move from a stop) when clutch components are cold. shudder continues till parts warm up. shudder never completely goes away.*ak

I pulled into a driveway to make a u-turn. there was a slight bump (about half the height of a speed bump) at the start of the driveway. i guess the bump activated the abs because after i came to a full stop the pedal went half way to the floor. this has happened twice before, driving at 20 mph and about 40 mph and moderately braking on bumpy surfaces. the abs kick in and it feel like the car isn't slowing at all. i have to release the brake and apply it again to stop. all incidents were on dry roads.*ak

The abs engages prematurely on rough pavent, expansion joints, etc. once it engages, the brake pedal drops to the floor and the car loses all braking power for several seconds.*ak

When the wrx with an automatic transmission is at high idle, the car does not generate enough vacuum to energize the power brake booster. according to subaru, this is "normal". durning high idle, braking performance is severely reduced. from 10mph you can floor the brakes and it won't lock up the tires. apparently this problem is only with the automatic, not 5 speed.

Slight engine hesitation; refer to tsb#115398 in mt 1/99; is this a problem they have not resolved....fearing potential accident if it gets worse; also engine misfiring which may result in cylinder failure and loss of power. manufacturer not repairing and in denial of all requests...three failed repair attempts. *ak

Abs in the 2002 impreza is dangerous over bumps. brakes can fail when braking over bumps at moderate speeds when in neutral. i have had several near misses, as have many others. the problem is largely reproduceable, and not uncommon. please follow this. *ak

Abs failure - upon depressing the brake pedal on uneven pavement, the brake pedal drops to the flow with no apparent brake pressure but occasional abs pulsation. contacted subaru to see if it was a known issue and was told by soa that there were no previous reports of this issue and no factory issue. see also ... http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=102893&perpage=40&pagenumber=1. *ak

Driving along highway i94, when had to brake (medium braking) due to car slowing in front, went over a bump in the road during the braking the brakes seem to completly disappear with very little pedal pressure. the road was dry. i nearly ran into the back of the car in front. tyhis can be duplicated with similar conditions such as smooth road with medium to heavy braking (not full braking) with a bump in the road it seems to send the abs out of control and loose all breaking for a 1sec or so.*ak

I have experienced multiple occurrences of abs problems. if a wheels hits a bump when the brakes are applied the brakes let go completely for 2-3 seconds. it's as if the system is sensing a loss of grip at whatever wheel has hit the bump and instead of releasing pressure on that wheel for a fraction of a second it releases pressure on all four brakes for 2-3 seconds. this can occur not only under hard braking but also when slowing down gradually from a low speed. this is at best discomforting and at worst dangerous. i know that nhtsa is aware of the thread in the brake forum of www.i-club.com. additionally the problem has been documented in the april 2002 issue of sport compact car magazine page 16. article is titled picking nits. section of the article is ambitious abs. here's a quote: "it takes only the slightest bump, pavement irregularity or suggestion of lost traction to send the wrx's abs into convulsions." another one: "what makes most subarus uncommonly safe and stable in severe conditions makes the usually confidence inspiring wrx feel frighteningly unpredictable charging into bumpy corners. our long-term wrx is getting an off switch for the abs." this situation is unacceptable. an aftermarket off switch should not be required for the safe operation of an abs system. i have had my car to the dealer and they called the subaru tech hotline. they were told that there are no abs issues. i and others have called and e-mailed subaru's customer service and have been told there is no record of concerns with the abs. subaru is refusing to acknowledge this problem. it needs to be investigated and corrected. thanks. *ak

I was slowing to make a right turn, the brake pedal went almost to the floor and the car was not stopping. i pulled abs fuse shortly thereafter.*ak

On 2/4/02 i was coming up to a stop light behind traffic. when i applied my brakes nothing happened. i had brake pedal but the car did not slow down at all. i immediately i geared down going about 20mph and applied the brakes again but no reaction. i hit the car in front at the rate of about 10mph and did considerable damage to my car. this was not the first time i had a problem with the brakes. in oct. 2001 i applied the brakes at about 55mph, the abs system kicked in, but the vehicle didn't even slow down. i continued trying the brakes for at least 1 mile down the road with no slowing of the vehicle. finally the brakes started to work and i continued on my way. in dec. when i took the car in for servicing, i stated this incident and was told that the abs braking system isn't supposed to stop or slow down the car. from that point i decided to brake the car by gearing down so the abs brakes would never kick in. in jan. i applied the brakes one day to turn into my driveway and nothing not even the abs. a little further down the hill, the brakes worked and i stopped. it was a little slippery that day so i thought the failure to slow down or stop was related to the road conditions. then on 2/4/02 the brakes failed to have any reaction once again and this time there was an accident. i do not intend to drive the car again until this problem is solved.

Brakes did not respond to full pressure applied to the brake pedal after getting in the exit lane of northbound interstate 75 and the i-675 south exchange. brakes did not slow the car and the car proceeded to swerve off the road, resulting in a rollover of multiple revolutions. exact number of turns is not known. it was noticed that the brakes had been grinding the day before. also, the brake pedal had started to feel soft the day of the accident. air bags, neither front nor side impact bags, did not deploy.

Abs is not working properly! there are at least 44 others with exact same problem i know of. abs engages at low speeds over bumpy roads, and lose braking power. alot of braking power gone. some one will get hurt soon.*ak

The braking system often fails when the brakes are applied while travelling over a rough or bumpy surface, regardless of speed (i have had it occur several times, from 5 to 35 mph). in these cases the abs is wrongfully triggered under mild braking, then the vast majority of braking power is lost and the car barely stops at all. this braking is completely different in feel and performance from the abs functioning properly ( i.e. very hard braking on a smooth surface. the brakes work fine in these cases.). this is a common problem that i am hearing about from other 2002 impreza/wrx owners.*ak

Vehicle stopping distance in snow increases by a factor of 10 when abs system is enabled (tested by removing abs fuse - disables abs). *ak

First gear is a major issue in my vehicle. i can only engage first gear, if im at a complete stop. so if ive slowed down to 5-10mph im forced to go into 2nd gear, which not only wears out my clutch prematurely, but could also cause an accident if i needed to build speed quickly. the transmission overall seems to be a big issue with wrx owners. please go to www.i-club.com and under forums do a search for tranny and also 1st gear, you will see a slew of issues.

The abs system does not adaquately brake over a bumpy road surface. i have almost crashed into other cars as a result of the abs system not allowing the car to brake anything like as fast as it should. *ak

Transmission/drivetrain rattles and/or grinds at 2nd and 3rd gear shifts. *ak

The brakes that come standard on this vehicle are nowhere near sufficient for a vehicle with this level of performance. my brakes are scored, have grooves, and have chips and burrs. during my hour commute to work i experience brake fade and brake shudder in the steering wheel. the dealer tells me these problems are "normal." well, if you're going to sell me a car that accellerates and handles like a race car, it should be able to stop like one as well. or at least stop at all! this vehicle requires larger, more performance oriented brakes right from the factory. i hope subaru handles this quickly.*ak

Rotors have been scored since new. *ak

All wrx's show heat damage at around 4k miles. on any sedan. no safety defect listed. *ak

Complainants report fuel leakage most frequently in winter during initial cold engine startup.owners will either notice a fuel odor inside the occupant compartment or fuel odor/leakage at the fuel lines on the right side atop the engine. once the engine has warmed, the odor/leakage may cease.subaru revised the fuel pipe/hose design for model year (my) 2003-04 wrx vehicles produced after august 2003.subaru also introduced a my 2004 impreza sti vehicle with a different engine and fuel pipe/hose layout.out of the total of 994 complaints, 944 concern my 2002-03 wrx vehicles built through august 2003.subaru also reports one fire on a my 2002 wrx vehicle that occurred in february 2006.in march 2009, odi inspected and video taped a my 2002 wrx vehicle with a fuel leak during cold engine start up.the video was provided to subaru and is in the investigation file. this investigation is being upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea09-011) to further study this issue.

Complainants report fuel leakage most frequently in winter during initial cold engine startup.owners will either notice a fuel odor inside the occupant compartment or fuel odor/leakage at the fuel lines on the right side atop the engine. once the engine has warmed, the odor/leakage may cease.subaru revised the fuel pipe/hose design for model year (my) 2003-04 wrx vehicles produced after august 2003.subaru also introduced a my 2004 impreza sti vehicle with a different engine and fuel pipe/hose layout.out of the total of 994 complaints, 944 concern my 2002-03 wrx vehicles built through august 2003.subaru also reports one fire on a my 2002 wrx vehicle that occurred in february 2006.in march 2009, odi inspected and video taped a my 2002 wrx vehicle with a fuel leak during cold engine start up.the video was provided to subaru and is in the investigation file. this investigation is being upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea09-011) to further study this issue.

Subaru reports that the fuel odor is caused by "fuel seepage during cold start of the engine under extremely cold temperatures." the leak occurs in a fuel line in the engine compartment.it reports that the failure is due to "the misaligned angle between two fuel delivery lines which resulted in such fuel seepage during the first few seconds of cold engine start during these cold temperatures."subaru reports that the two fuel lines are connected with a hose that becomes too stiff in very cold temperatures to conform to the misalignment. subaru has issued a technical service bulletin (subaru service bulletin number 09-36-03) to replace the fuel lines with new lines that are properly aligned and that have a longer connecting hose.odi phone calls to many of the complainants confirm that fuel odor is noticable during very cold temperatures and cold start but goes away as the engine warms up, and the odor is not present in warmer temperatures. a few owners report that attempts to eliminate the leakage by tightening the connecting hose clamps is not effective in eliminating the fuel odor.a safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

Complainants report fuel leakage most frequently in winter during initial cold engine startup.owners will either notice a fuel odor inside the occupant compartment or fuel odor/leakage at the fuel lines on the right side atop the engine. once the engine has warmed, the odor/leakage may cease.subaru revised the fuel pipe/hose design for model year (my) 2003-04 wrx vehicles produced after august 2003.subaru also introduced a my 2004 impreza sti vehicle with a different engine and fuel pipe/hose layout.out of the total of 994 complaints, 944 concern my 2002-03 wrx vehicles built through august 2003.subaru also reports one fire on a my 2002 wrx vehicle that occurred in february 2006.in march 2009, odi inspected and video taped a my 2002 wrx vehicle with a fuel leak during cold engine start up.the video was provided to subaru and is in the investigation file. this investigation is being upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea09-011) to further study this issue.

Complainants report fuel leakage most frequently in winter during initial cold engine startup.owners will either notice a fuel odor inside the occupant compartment or fuel odor/leakage at the fuel lines on the right side atop the engine. once the engine has warmed, the odor/leakage may cease.subaru revised the fuel pipe/hose design for model year (my) 2003-04 wrx vehicles produced after august 2003.subaru also introduced a my 2004 impreza sti vehicle with a different engine and fuel pipe/hose layout.out of the total of 994 complaints, 944 concern my 2002-03 wrx vehicles built through august 2003.subaru also reports one fire on a my 2002 wrx vehicle that occurred in february 2006.in march 2009, odi inspected and video taped a my 2002 wrx vehicle with a fuel leak during cold engine start up.the video was provided to subaru and is in the investigation file. this investigation is being upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea09-011) to further study this issue.

Complainants report fuel leakage most frequently in winter during initial cold engine startup.owners will either notice a fuel odor inside the occupant compartment or fuel odor/leakage at the fuel lines on the right side atop the engine. once the engine has warmed, the odor/leakage may cease.subaru revised the fuel pipe/hose design for model year (my) 2003-04 wrx vehicles produced after august 2003.subaru also introduced a my 2004 impreza sti vehicle with a different engine and fuel pipe/hose layout.out of the total of 994 complaints, 944 concern my 2002-03 wrx vehicles built through august 2003.subaru also reports one fire on a my 2002 wrx vehicle that occurred in february 2006.in march 2009, odi inspected and video taped a my 2002 wrx vehicle with a fuel leak during cold engine start up.the video was provided to subaru and is in the investigation file. this investigation is being upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea09-011) to further study this issue.

Complainants report fuel leakage most frequently in winter during initial cold engine startup.owners will either notice a fuel odor inside the occupant compartment or fuel odor/leakage at the fuel lines on the right side atop the engine. once the engine has warmed, the odor/leakage may cease.subaru revised the fuel pipe/hose design for model year (my) 2003-04 wrx vehicles produced after august 2003.subaru also introduced a my 2004 impreza sti vehicle with a different engine and fuel pipe/hose layout.out of the total of 994 complaints, 944 concern my 2002-03 wrx vehicles built through august 2003.subaru also reports one fire on a my 2002 wrx vehicle that occurred in february 2006.in march 2009, odi inspected and video taped a my 2002 wrx vehicle with a fuel leak during cold engine start up.the video was provided to subaru and is in the investigation file. this investigation is being upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea09-011) to further study this issue.

Subaru reports that the fuel odor is caused by "fuel seepage during cold start of the engine under extremely cold temperatures." the leak occurs in a fuel line in the engine compartment.it reports that the failure is due to "the misaligned angle between two fuel delivery lines which resulted in such fuel seepage during the first few seconds of cold engine start during these cold temperatures."subaru reports that the two fuel lines are connected with a hose that becomes too stiff in very cold temperatures to conform to the misalignment. subaru has issued a technical service bulletin (subaru service bulletin number 09-36-03) to replace the fuel lines with new lines that are properly aligned and that have a longer connecting hose.odi phone calls to many of the complainants confirm that fuel odor is noticable during very cold temperatures and cold start but goes away as the engine warms up, and the odor is not present in warmer temperatures. a few owners report that attempts to eliminate the leakage by tightening the connecting hose clamps is not effective in eliminating the fuel odor.a safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

On september 6, 2011, fuji heavy industries usa, inc, on behalf of subaru of america, inc notified the office of defects investigation (odi) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (my) 2002 through 2007 subaru impreza, my 2003 through 2008 subaru forester, and my 2005 through 2006 saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the "salt belt" states including the district of columbia (dc). for the purpose of this investigation, "salt belt" states include connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin and dc.odi's analysis of consumer complaint data identified 11 reports alleging failure of either the right or left lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. all of these complaints were associated with vehicles currently registered or originally sold in a "salt belt" state. through a similar analysis of complaint and warranty data submitted to odi by subaru, odi identified 18 consumer complaints and 6 warranty claims associated with failure of the left or right front lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. all of these consumer complaints associated with vehicles either currently registered of originally sold in a "salt belt" state.accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Complainants report fuel leakage most frequently in winter during initial cold engine startup.owners will either notice a fuel odor inside the occupant compartment or fuel odor/leakage at the fuel lines on the right side atop the engine. once the engine has warmed, the odor/leakage may cease.subaru revised the fuel pipe/hose design for model year (my) 2003-04 wrx vehicles produced after august 2003.subaru also introduced a my 2004 impreza sti vehicle with a different engine and fuel pipe/hose layout.out of the total of 994 complaints, 944 concern my 2002-03 wrx vehicles built through august 2003.subaru also reports one fire on a my 2002 wrx vehicle that occurred in february 2006.in march 2009, odi inspected and video taped a my 2002 wrx vehicle with a fuel leak during cold engine start up.the video was provided to subaru and is in the investigation file. this investigation is being upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea09-011) to further study this issue.

Complainants report fuel leakage most frequently in winter during initial cold engine startup.owners will either notice a fuel odor inside the occupant compartment or fuel odor/leakage at the fuel lines on the right side atop the engine. once the engine has warmed, the odor/leakage may cease.subaru revised the fuel pipe/hose design for model year (my) 2003-04 wrx vehicles produced after august 2003.subaru also introduced a my 2004 impreza sti vehicle with a different engine and fuel pipe/hose layout.out of the total of 994 complaints, 944 concern my 2002-03 wrx vehicles built through august 2003.subaru also reports one fire on a my 2002 wrx vehicle that occurred in february 2006.in march 2009, odi inspected and video taped a my 2002 wrx vehicle with a fuel leak during cold engine start up.the video was provided to subaru and is in the investigation file. this investigation is being upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea09-011) to further study this issue.

On september 6, 2011, fuji heavy industries usa, inc, on behalf of subaru of america, inc notified the office of defects investigation (odi) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (my) 2002 through 2007 subaru impreza, my 2003 through 2008 subaru forester, and my 2005 through 2006 saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the "salt belt" states including the district of columbia (dc). for the purpose of this investigation, "salt belt" states include connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin and dc.odi's analysis of consumer complaint data identified 11 reports alleging failure of either the right or left lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. all of these complaints were associated with vehicles currently registered or originally sold in a "salt belt" state. through a similar analysis of complaint and warranty data submitted to odi by subaru, odi identified 18 consumer complaints and 6 warranty claims associated with failure of the left or right front lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. all of these consumer complaints associated with vehicles either currently registered of originally sold in a "salt belt" state.accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Complainants report fuel leakage most frequently in winter during initial cold engine startup.owners will either notice a fuel odor inside the occupant compartment or fuel odor/leakage at the fuel lines on the right side atop the engine. once the engine has warmed, the odor/leakage may cease.subaru revised the fuel pipe/hose design for model year (my) 2003-04 wrx vehicles produced after august 2003.subaru also introduced a my 2004 impreza sti vehicle with a different engine and fuel pipe/hose layout.out of the total of 994 complaints, 944 concern my 2002-03 wrx vehicles built through august 2003.subaru also reports one fire on a my 2002 wrx vehicle that occurred in february 2006.in march 2009, odi inspected and video taped a my 2002 wrx vehicle with a fuel leak during cold engine start up.the video was provided to subaru and is in the investigation file. this investigation is being upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea09-011) to further study this issue.

On september 6, 2011, fuji heavy industries usa, inc, on behalf of subaru of america, inc notified the office of defects investigation (odi) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (my) 2002 through 2007 subaru impreza, my 2003 through 2008 subaru forester, and my 2005 through 2006 saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the "salt belt" states including the district of columbia (dc). for the purpose of this investigation, "salt belt" states include connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin and dc.odi's analysis of consumer complaint data identified 11 reports alleging failure of either the right or left lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. all of these complaints were associated with vehicles currently registered or originally sold in a "salt belt" state. through a similar analysis of complaint and warranty data submitted to odi by subaru, odi identified 18 consumer complaints and 6 warranty claims associated with failure of the left or right front lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. all of these consumer complaints associated with vehicles either currently registered of originally sold in a "salt belt" state.accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Complainants report fuel leakage most frequently in winter during initial cold engine startup.owners will either notice a fuel odor inside the occupant compartment or fuel odor/leakage at the fuel lines on the right side atop the engine. once the engine has warmed, the odor/leakage may cease.subaru revised the fuel pipe/hose design for model year (my) 2003-04 wrx vehicles produced after august 2003.subaru also introduced a my 2004 impreza sti vehicle with a different engine and fuel pipe/hose layout.out of the total of 994 complaints, 944 concern my 2002-03 wrx vehicles built through august 2003.subaru also reports one fire on a my 2002 wrx vehicle that occurred in february 2006.in march 2009, odi inspected and video taped a my 2002 wrx vehicle with a fuel leak during cold engine start up.the video was provided to subaru and is in the investigation file. this investigation is being upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea09-011) to further study this issue.

On september 6, 2011, fuji heavy industries usa, inc, on behalf of subaru of america, inc notified the office of defects investigation (odi) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (my) 2002 through 2007 subaru impreza, my 2003 through 2008 subaru forester, and my 2005 through 2006 saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the "salt belt" states including the district of columbia (dc). for the purpose of this investigation, "salt belt" states include connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin and dc.odi's analysis of consumer complaint data identified 11 reports alleging failure of either the right or left lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. all of these complaints were associated with vehicles currently registered or originally sold in a "salt belt" state. through a similar analysis of complaint and warranty data submitted to odi by subaru, odi identified 18 consumer complaints and 6 warranty claims associated with failure of the left or right front lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. all of these consumer complaints associated with vehicles either currently registered of originally sold in a "salt belt" state.accordingly, this investigation is closed.

The design of the fuel line (metal rail/rubber hose interface) is susceptible to fuel odor and/or seepage in extreme cold temperature conditions.owners most often noticed fuel odor in the occupant compartment area during initial cold engine start-up.once the engine is warmed, the odor/seepage issue dissipates.from subaru's data, odi notes that the incident rates are higher in states with colder temperatures.there was one allegation of a fire incident in which the owner had reported that he noticed fuel odor a few days earlier, but odi could not confirm the origin of the fire. to address this issue, subaru will replace the fuel line with a "longer rubber hose segment version/design" on 5,724 my 2002-2003 vehicles built through september 12, 2002 in 16 states (ak, co, ia, id, me, mi, mn, mt, nd, ne, nh, ny, sd, vt, wi & wy).in addition, subaru will extend the warranty coverage to 12 years/unlimited mileage on vehicles in the remaining 34 states.this engineering analysis is closed (see recall campaign 09v-468)

Complainants report fuel leakage most frequently in winter during initial cold engine startup.owners will either notice a fuel odor inside the occupant compartment or fuel odor/leakage at the fuel lines on the right side atop the engine. once the engine has warmed, the odor/leakage may cease.subaru revised the fuel pipe/hose design for model year (my) 2003-04 wrx vehicles produced after august 2003.subaru also introduced a my 2004 impreza sti vehicle with a different engine and fuel pipe/hose layout.out of the total of 994 complaints, 944 concern my 2002-03 wrx vehicles built through august 2003.subaru also reports one fire on a my 2002 wrx vehicle that occurred in february 2006.in march 2009, odi inspected and video taped a my 2002 wrx vehicle with a fuel leak during cold engine start up.the video was provided to subaru and is in the investigation file. this investigation is being upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea09-011) to further study this issue.