Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | ||||||
| PE09017 | SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. | 03/10/2009 | 07/02/2009 | FUEL LINE LEAK | ||
| 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. | ||||||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - CARBURETOR SYSTEM | ||||||
| PE09017 | SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. | 03/10/2009 | 07/02/2009 | FUEL LINE LEAK | ||
| 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. | ||||||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY | ||||||
| PE09017 | SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. | 03/10/2009 | 07/02/2009 | FUEL LINE LEAK | ||
| 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. | ||||||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY - FUEL PUMP | ||||||
| PE09017 | SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. | 03/10/2009 | 07/02/2009 | FUEL LINE LEAK | ||
| 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. | ||||||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY - HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | ||||||
| PE09017 | SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. | 03/10/2009 | 07/02/2009 | FUEL LINE LEAK | ||
| 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. | ||||||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | ||||||
| PE09017 | SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. | 03/10/2009 | 07/02/2009 | FUEL LINE LEAK | ||
| 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. | ||||||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM - FUEL RAIL | ||||||
| PE09017 | SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. | 03/10/2009 | 07/02/2009 | FUEL LINE LEAK | ||
| 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. | ||||||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM - INJECTORS | ||||||
| PE09017 | SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. | 03/10/2009 | 07/02/2009 | FUEL LINE LEAK | ||
| 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. | ||||||
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | ||||||
| PE09017 | SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. | 03/10/2009 | 07/02/2009 | FUEL LINE LEAK | ||
| 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. | ||||||
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - DELIVERY - HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | ||||||
| PE09017 | SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. | 03/10/2009 | 07/02/2009 | FUEL LINE LEAK | ||
| 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. | ||||||
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | ||||||
| PE09017 | SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. | 03/10/2009 | 07/02/2009 | FUEL LINE LEAK | ||
| 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. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | |||
| 01/03/2011 | 80000 | ||
| I have a 2004 wrx and when the vehicle is left outside during very cold temperatures, at startup, there is a prominent fuel smell. this seems to occur if i leave the vehicle parked for an extended period of time (3+ hours) at 20 degree f or below. there have been numerous reports regarding this defect reported on the nasioc forums. in addition, there is a recall regarding this same defect for the 2002-2003 wrx's. i am greatly concerned about the risks associate with raw fuel being dispersed on the engine upon startup. | |||
| 01/05/2011 | 65000 | ||
| During cold weather (~36 f), there is a strong fuel smell in the cabin. the smell seems to be coming form the engine compartment (passenger side). the smell disappears after the engine warms up. | |||
| 12/01/2007 | 30000 | ||
| 2004 subaru wrx sti. strong fuel smell in cabin during cold weather. upon start of cold engine, after a few minutes. smell overwhelms cabin till vehicle reaches operating temp. approx. 5-10 min. | |||
| 12/15/2008 | 45000 | 1 | |
| During cold weather, strong fuel odor is present indicating a fuel leak in the engine compartment. event is repeatable on any day when ambient temp is ~36 degrees f or less and lasts until engine has warmed (about 15 minutes). dealership reports that there is a service bulletin covering '02-'03 my. odor is strong enough in cabin to cause physiological reactions (headache, nausea). *tr | |||
| 01/08/2010 | 40000 | 1 | |
| Fuel lines on top of the engine leak during cold weather, below 10 degrees f. there is a strong fuel odor out side the vehicle and inside when the vents are on. the smell goes away after the car is completely warmed up, 10-20 minutes of driving. *tr | |||
| 01/01/2010 | 62000 | 1 | |
| It has been much colder than usual here in tennessee and i have been having a very strong fuel smell inside the cabin of my 2004 subaru impreza wrx. it has happened every time i have driven over the past three days and does seem to go away when i accelerate but i have come to believe that is because the fuel vapor is being blown away by the moving of the air around the engine compartment while driving. as soon as i slow of come to a stop there is a strong raw fuel smell again. *tr | |||
| 01/04/2010 | 120345 | 1 | |
| Starting car in cold weather causes interior cabin to fill with gas fumes. apparent fuel leak in cold temperatures. leak resolves after engine has warmed. *tr | |||
| 12/01/2009 | 72000 | 1 | |
| During cold starts, typically under extremely cold temperatures, fuel leaks in the fuel delivery line could occur where the line connects with a rubber hose. *tr | |||
| 12/31/2009 | 130000 | 1 | |
| Fuel line leak in engine compartment. impreza sti '04. in cold weather, say less than 20 deg f, fuel lines leak at hard/soft line connections. fuel can be seen dripping onto engine & strong smell of fuel inside cabin. very similar to subaru tsb 01-170-09, bulletin wvk-21. *tr | |||
| 12/15/2009 | 50000 | 1 | |
| During cold weather (below 10 degrees or so), my 2004 subaru wrx impreza smells very strongly of gasoline coming from engine bay. this eventually goes away after 20 minutes or so of driving. during one episode, i actually watched under the manifold on passenger side and observed gasoline puddling under the gas lines! i have tightened the hose clamps but they eventually leak again. i am actually hesitant to drive the car anymore during the winter months here in minnesota. *tr | |||
| 11/30/2009 | 69990 | 1 | |
| During cold weather startup, my subaru will have a strong fuel smell coming from the engine bay and inside the car. apparently, this effects many different subarus during cold weather startup and a fuel line on top of the engine is the suspected culprit for leaking fuel. *tr | |||
| 12/22/2008 | 60000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2005 subaru impreza wrx and in cold temperature i smell a overpoweringly raw fuel smell in the passenger cabin i know that odi has received complaints about this problem. soa (subaru of america) does not acknowledge that the 2005 my has this problem. what should i do to get this fixed? *tr | |||
| 11/01/2008 | 60000 | 1 | |
| Strong fuel smell on cold days when ambient temperature is below ~35-40 degrees f. occurs without fail based on outside temperature and cold motor but goes away after engine has warmed. dealer made minor adjustments (tightened lines) but states if problem returns, then fuel lines will need to be replaced. *tr | |||
| 03/06/2009 | 1 | ||
| Whenever the car is cold the cabin fills up with a fuel smell. this has not yet been remedied as it has not been a problem that occurs too often, but now i am reading that this is a fairly common problem with my car and for obvious reasons a fuel leak is very concerning. *tr | |||
| 01/26/2009 | 1 | ||
| There is a technical service bulletin concerning 2000 and later subaru vehicles, including but not limited to the impreza, wrx, and outback. under 14 degrees f or lower, the fuel lines connectors shrink to expose enough of the fuel line and allow fuel and vapors to release. the fuel can pool on the manifold, and the vapors can enter the cabin. this should be a major concern due to fuel and vapors. *tr | |||
| 01/01/2008 | 65000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 subaru wrxsti. the contact smelled gasoline in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. he noticed fuel vapors and a puddle of gasoline on top of the engine upon further inspection. the dealer stated that there were no recalls for this failure; therefore, the contact would have to pay $550 for the repairs. the manufacturer advised him to take the vehicle to the dealer. the contact was concerned with the possibility of a fire due to the fuel leakage. he wanted to submit documentation and video of the damages and failure. the failure mileage was 65,000. | |||
| 01/12/2009 | 77000 | 1 | |
| I want to report a fuel leak in a 2004 subara impreza wrx. the leak is occurring due to a loose hose clamp along the fuel rail near the manifold (driver side). the leak only seems to occur in cold weather (<20 f). you can visibly see the leak. in one week when the temperature was near 10f (for the entire week) i lost nearly 1 gallon of fuel during a 5 day span where i drove only 270miles. *tr | |||
| 01/05/2009 | 65000 | 1 | |
| My 2004 subaru impreza wrx has a strong fuel smell in the cabin when the engine is first started. this happens when it's cold out (mostly below 20 degrees). i have an appointment to get it diagnosed at the dealership, but upon searching the internet, it looks like there are many owners of this car that experience this same problem. there was a technical bulletin for the 2002 model year addressing this issue but it apparently hasn't gone away. *tr | |||
| 01/17/2009 | 66000 | 1 | |
| Temps in the teens causes a fuel leak in the engine compartment of an 04 subaru wrx. *tr | |||
| 01/02/2009 | 42000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2004 subaru wrx with 42000 miles. it was recently below 20 degrees in town and i noticed a raw gas smell coming from the engine compartment. upon further investigation i pinpointed the smell was coming from under the air intake manifold on the passenger side. i have taken the car in for diagnosis from gallas and davis subaru in albuquerque. they confirmed gas leak coming from fuel rail. dealer has quoted 670.00 for repairs. i have seen subaru released tsb 09-36-03 relating to this issue. i am waiting on response from subaru of america to see if some or all of the repair cost will be covered. i was told by the dealer to close the vent and i would not smell the gas. i was also told by soa that the issue is only related to 02 models but have found evidence stating otherwise as all fuel rail lines are the same on 02-04 model. the replacement parts related to tsb 09-36-03 fits all the same year models. *tr | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY - HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | |||
| 12/10/2007 | 58000 | 1 | 03/01/2007 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 subaru wrx. in an attempt to drive the vehicle, the contact smelled a strong gasoline smell coming from the front end. he opened the hood and discovered a fuel leak on the fuel line near the intake manifold. the dealer was notified and stated that there was a service bulletin for this failure. the bulletin number was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 58,000. | |||