2003 SUBARU FORESTER Fuel System, Gasoline Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER, AN ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 25 DEGREES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEIL HUFFMAN SUBARU DEALER LOCATED AT 4916 DIXIE HWY, LOUISVILLE, KY 40216 WHO TIGHTEN AND RE-CLAMPED THE FUEL LINES BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED TO OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000. *TT *TR

Mileage: 114,000

IN VERY COLD TEMPERATURES THE INTERIOR OF MY VEHICLE IS OVERCOME WITH FUEL FUMES. IT HAPPENS AT IDLE AND LOW SPEEDS, DOES GO AWAY ONCE WE ARE DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES OVER 30 MPH. IT IS SO BAD WE HAD TO DRIVE WITH WINDOWS OPEN IN 5 DEGREE WEATHER. DEFINITELY COMING IN THROUGH THE HEAT VENTS, HOWEVER, SHUTTING THE HEAT OFF DID NOT ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS MY FIRST WINTER WITH THE CAR AND DIDN'T HAVE THIS HAPPEN UNTIL THE LAST FEW DAYS, WHEN THE TEMPS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY BELOW 30 DEGREES F. I'VE READ NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS, NOT SURE WHY THERE IS NO RECALL/SERVICE BULLETIN BUT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE. IT CAN'T BE SAFE TO BREATHE THESE FUMES! WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, AS WE OTHERWISE LOVE THIS VEHICLE! *TR

Mileage: 131,000

NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM LAST YEAR ALSO AT ABOUT 134000 MILES. WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 20 DEGREES WOULD BE MY BEST GUESS, THE WHOLE CAB OF THE CAR FILLS WITH GASOLINE FUMES. PRETTY POWERFUL SMELL. I NOTICE ONLINE IN MANY, MANY PLACES THAT SUBARU IS HAVING THIS ISSUE. THEY ARE ONLY FIXING WRX MODELS UNDER A RECALL. THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING. UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT HAVE A WRX. I WILL PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED, THOUGH SUBARU SHOULD STEP UP TO ALL MODELS WITH THIS VERY DETRIMENTAL ISSUE. THE DEALER IS ACTING A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS DENYING THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. SEEMS LIKE THEY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ALL ISSUES THAT ARE SO PROMINENT ON THE INTERNET. MOST ARTICLES POINT TO FUEL LINES AT INTAKE MANIFOLD ARE FAILING. FAILING WOULD DEMAND TSB. *TR

Mileage: 149,000

DURING COLD WEATHER, (LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 15 DEGREES F), THERE IS A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE INSIDE OUR GARAGE THE STRONG FUEL ODOR CONTINUES UNTIL GRADUALLY LESSENING. A VISUAL INSPECTION DOES NOT REVEAL AN OBVIOUS FUEL LEAK. OTHER SUBARU MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND AN ONLINE SEARCH SUGGESTS THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT TO MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 71,000

WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP DROPS BELOW 15 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT UNTIL THE ENGINE WARMS UP. TURNS OUT ITS FROM LEAKING FUEL LINES UNDER THE HOOD. THIS IS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM BY SUBARU WITH SEVERAL OF THERE CARS. *TR

Mileage: 50,145

VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN THE CABIN RIGHT AFTER STARTUP AND THROUGHOUT SHORT TRIPS, ESPECIALLY WITH HEATER ON. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOST OFTEN WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES ARE NEAR OR BELOW THE FREEZING MARK. DID NOT EXPERIENCE BEFORE THIS WINTER, NOW OCCURS DAILY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED! IF SUBARU KNOWS THAT THERE IS A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM, OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *TR

Mileage: 81,100

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE UNDER HOOD WHEN STARTING CAR COLD. AUTO REPAIR CENTER FOUND LEAKING FUEL LINE. TIGHTENED CLAMPS. THEN THE FOLLOWING WINTER, 1.24.14 AGAIN SMELLED RAW FUEL SMELL WHEN STARTED ENGINE COLD. AUTO REPAIR DID A PRESSURE TEST OF FUEL SYSTEM AND TRACED LEAKS TO FUEL RAIL ON TOP OF ENGINE/ LEFT CYLINDER HEAD INJECTOR RAIL. AUTO CENTER OWNER SAID HE HAD 7 SUBARU OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS WITH THE EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURES. *TR

Mileage: 105,382

WHEN I START MY 2003 SUBARU FORESTER IN VERY COLD WEATHER THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. I KNOW THAT NHTSA ISSUED A TSB ON 2002-2004 SUBARU WXT MODELS BUT DID NOT INCLUDE THE FORESTER, OUTBACK, AND LEGACY OF THOSE YEARS, WHY? IT IS THE SAME FUEL PROPULSION LAYOUT AND THE RUBBER HOSE CONNECTION AT THE STEEL LINE IS WHERE THE LEAK HAPPENS IN COLD WEATHER. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SERVICED 4 OF THE 5 PAST YEARS AND HAD INJECTORS REPLACED WHEN NOW I KNOW IT IS ACTUALLY THE RUBBER HOSE SHRINKS BACK IN COLD WEATHER THUS THE GAS DRIPS AND POOLS ON THE MANIFOLD. THE WHOLE FUEL LINE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE A TSB FOR ALL 2002 - 2004 SUBARU MODELS THAT USE THE SAME FUEL PROPULSION LAYOUT AS THE 2002 - 2004 WXT DID. IF YOU GOOGLE '2003 SUBARU FORESTER GAS SMELL' YOU WILL SEE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I AND ALL THE OTHER OWNERS OF THESE 2002 ' 2004 MODEL SUBARU'S SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY CONTINUOUSLY FOR REPAIRS THAT WILL KEEP ON HAPPENING EVERY WINTER UNTIL THE LINES ARE REPLACED. WHEN WILL THE RECALL HAPPEN? ARE YOU GOING TO WAIT UNTIL A CHILD / FAMILY DIES FROM A CAR EXPLOSION OF AN UNKNOWING FAMILY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE CAR CATCHES FIRE OR EXPLODES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM? IF YOU LIVED IN A HOUSE WITH A GAS LEAK YOU WOULD GET IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY, WOULDN'T THIS BE THE SAME ABOUT YOUR CAR? THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE A.S.A.P. *TR

Mileage: 77,000

THIS PAST WEEK, WITH THE TEMPERATURES HERE IN NEW JERSEY DIPPING INTO THE TEENS, I SMELLED THE DISTINCT ODOR OF GASOLINE IN MY 2003 SUBARU FORESTER IN MY DRIVEWAY BEFORE I HIT THE ROAD. THE SMELL WAS SO STRONG, I HAD TO TURN BACK HOME AS MY CHILDREN WERE NOT FEELING WELL FROM THE SMELL. THIS HAD HAPPENED BEFORE, BUT NEVER TO THIS DEGREE. I WENT TO THE SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED MANY CALLS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. HE INDICATED THAT THE COLD WEATHER CAUSED THE LINES TO CONTRACT AND ALLOWED GASOLINE TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. HE SAID THAT THE AS THE WEATHER WARMED UP, THE LINES WOULD EXPAND AGAIN, THUS MINIMIZING THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WAS TO HAVE THE LINES CHANGED. WHEN I ASKED IF IT WAS A HAZARD TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL I COULD HAVE THE LINES REPLACED, HE SUGGESTED THAT I LIMIT MY DRIVING SINCE GASOLINE DRIPPING ONTO A HOT ENGINE WAS DANGEROUS. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE LINES, AND HE STATED NO. SINCE THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND NOT EVIDENT IN LATER MODELS OF SUBARU, I THINK THAT OTHER OWNERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER NOTICE STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING IN CAR. *TR

Mileage: 138,000

PURCHASED 2003 SUBARU FORESTER FROM DEALER IN MARCH OF 2011. DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE SERVICE RECORDS. STRONG RAW FUEL ODORS COMING INTO CABIN WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 40 DEGREES. REMNANTS OF ODOR LAST SEVERAL DAYS AFTER WARMER TEMPERATURES RETURN. RECEIVED ESTIMATE FROM DEALER OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO TEAR CAR APART TO FIND OBVIOUS FUEL LINE LEAK PLUS COST TO FIX LEAK (LABOR AND PARTS.) THIS YEAR I HAVE NO OTHER CAR TO DRIVE AND MUST GET TO MY TWO JOBS. RESULT OF 20 TO 30 MILES A DAY IN THE COLD TO GET TO WORK IS EXTREME FATIGUE, PERSISTENT COUGH, NAUSEA AND SEVERE HEADACHE. PHYSICIAN HAS ORDERED LUNG CT AS XRAY SHOWS UNIDENTIFIABLE ABNORMALITY. *TR

Mileage: 103,000

THERE'S A NOXIOUS SMELL OF GASOLINE ENTERING THE CABIN DURING COLD WEATHER. IT DISSIPATES WHEN DRIVING, BUT COMES RIGHT BACK WHEN IDLE. THIS WENT AWAY DURING THE SUMMER, BUT HAS RETURNED FOR THE WINTER OF 2013/14. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

WHEN STARTING MY CAR IN VERY COLD TEMPERATURE THERE IS A VERY STRONG RAW GASOLINE SMELL IN THE CABIN. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT MY HUSBAND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW SMOKE. IT IS CURRENTLY PARKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR THREE DAYS IN OUR CURRENT COLD WEATHER. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

MY 2003 FORESTER HAS RECENTLY BEEN EXPERIENCING EXTREMELY STRONG SMELLS OF FUEL WHEN DRIVING IN THE COLD WEATHER. INHALING FUEL VAPORS ARE VERY DANGEROUS, HERE ARE SIDE EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH INHALATION OF FUMES: INHALING GASOLINE FUMES BRINGS CONCENTRATED HYDROCARBONS INTO YOUR LUNGS AND BLOODSTREAM. SOME OF THE INGREDIENTS IN GASOLINE ARE EXTREMELY TOXIC AND ARE MUTAGENS. LIVER DAMAGE AND PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE ARE POSSIBILITIES. THE SIDE EFFECTS CAUSED BY THE INHALATION OF GASOLINE CAN RANGE FROM CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) DEPRESSION, WHICH CAN INCLUDE: EYE AND THROAT IRRITATION, MILD OR PRONOUNCED DIZZINESS, HEADACHE, LACK OF APPETITE, DROWSINESS AND IN-COORDINATION. IN MORE SERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN CAUSE UNCONSCIOUSNESS, PULMONARY EDEMA, AND DEATH. SUBARU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE!! *TR

Mileage: 62,000

2003 FORESTER HAS EXTREMELY STRONG AROMAS OF FUEL WHEN STARTING & DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. FUEL VAPORS ARE VERY DANGEROUS, HERE ARE SIDE EFFECTS OF INHALATION: INHALING GASOLINE FUMES BRINGS CONCENTRATED HYDROCARBONS INTO YOUR LUNGS AND BLOODSTREAM. SOME OF THE INGREDIENTS IN GASOLINE ARE EXTREMELY TOXIC AND ARE MUTAGENS. LIVER DAMAGE AND PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE ARE POSSIBILITIES. THE SIDE EFFECTS CAUSED BY THE INHALATION OF GASOLINE CAN RANGE FROM CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) DEPRESSION, WHICH CAN INCLUDE: EYE AND THROAT IRRITATION, MILD OR PRONOUNCED DIZZINESS, HEADACHE, LACK OF APPETITE, DROWSINESS AND IN-COORDINATION. IN MORE SERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN CAUSE UNCONSCIOUSNESS, PULMONARY EDEMA, AND DEATH. SUBARU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE, BECAUSE THEY INSTALLED A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT! *TR

Mileage: 62,000

IN BELOW FREEZING COLD WEATHER MY 2003 SUBARU FORESTER SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE INSIDE THE CABIN. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

WHEN THE WEATHER IS BELOW 20 DEGREE THE FUEL LINES LEAK CAUSING THE CAB TO FULL WITH GASOLINE FUMES. THIS SMELL CAUSES HEADACHES A NAUSEA FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. THE SMELL BEGINS TO SUBSIDE AFTER THE FUEL LINES HAVE WARMED UP AND EXPANDED. *TR

Mileage: 122,000

2003 FORESTER HAS HEAVY SMELLS OF FUEL WHEN STARTING IN COLD WEATHER ONLY. THIS WAS PREVENT LAST WINTER AND HAS RETURNED THIS WINTER. FUEL VAPORS ARE VERY DANGEROUS. SUBARU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 102,000

GAS IS LEAKING IN THE ENGINE AS A RESULT OF COLD WEATHER. STRONG GAS SMELL. WHY DID SUBARU USE FUEL LINES THAT CONTRACT IN COLD WEATHER? THIS SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL BY SUBARU. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

GAS IS LEAKING IN THE ENGINE AS A RESULT OF COLD WEATHER. STRONG GAS SMELL. WHY DID SUBARU USE FUEL LINES THAT CONTRACT IN COLD WEATHER? THIS SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL BY SUBARU. ONLINE RESEARCH CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THAT HIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 116,232

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL, THE VEHICLE WOULD EMIT AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE ODOR INTO THE INTERIOR CABIN. THE VAP VALVE WAS REPLACED BY A SERVICE CENTER BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS NOT A FUEL LEAK PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000. UPDATED 01/18/13*LJ UPDATED 1/25/2013 *JS

Mileage: 90,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER TEMPERATURES, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN UNUSUALLY OVERPOWERING GASOLINE FUEL ODOR FROM THE INTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS YET THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.

Mileage: 35,000

WE'RE THE OWNERS OF A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER (ABOUT 90 000 MILES). FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS AFTER WE FILL THE GAS TANK, WE DETECT GAS FUMES NEAR THE REAR WHEELS - EXTERIOR ONLY. AS THE TANKS LEVEL GOES DOWN, THE SMELL WILL GO AWAY. WE ARE NOT OVER-FILLING; IN FACT WE WILL FILL BEFORE THE PUMP "CLICKS OFF". THERE IS NO DRIPPING OF GAS AND OUR MECHANIC HAS CHECKED FOR LEAKS/OVERFLOWS ETC AND HAS FOUND NOTHING. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS WRONG AND WE ARE NOT THE ONLY OWNERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS EXTERIOR SMELL (IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN VERY PREVALENT IN THE 2002 MODEL). THE DEALER HAS BEEN NO HELP. WE HOPE NHTSA CAN HELP US. THANKS. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

THE PREVIOUS NIGHT WAS -17, I DIDN'T DRIVE THE CAR ALL DAY. AT 6:30 PM I DROVE THE CAR FOR 1/2HOUR, ALL WAS WELL. 2 HOURS LATER (-3 DEGREES) I GOT IN THE CAR AND DROVE 15 MIN AT WHICH TIME I CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND TURNED RIGHT ONTO ANOTHER ROAD AND THE SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR BEGAN. I LOOKED UP THE SYMPTOMS ONLINE AND FOUND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

2003 SUBARU FORESTER XS - FUEL SMELL IN CABIN DURING COLD WEATHER. SIMILAR TO THE MANY POSTS OUT THERE, THERE IS AN UNBEARABLE SMELL OF GAS IN THE CABIN OF MY CAR. I HAVE TO ROLL WINDOWS DOWN IN THE FREEZING WEATHER TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE. I'VE READ IT IS DUE TO CONTRACTING FUEL LINES THAT THEN LEAK. FIRE HAZARDS ARE OBVIOUS, BUT THE NOXIOUS GAS IS ENOUGH TO AT LEAST DISTRACT YOUR DRIVING IF NOT KNOCK YOU UNCONSCIOUS. I WILL VISIT MY DEALER THIS WEEK TO COMPLAIN. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

MY 2003 SUBARU FORESTER HAS A FUEL LEAK SMELL THAT ENTERS THE CAR INTERIOR.. IT'S NOT A RICH FUEL MIXTURE EXHAUST SMELL, IT'S THE SMELL OF RAW FUEL INSIDE THE CABIN. IT COMES AND GOES. I SEE ONLINE OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. SUBARU SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND FORCED TO HAVE A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

CABIN HAS STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN STARTING IN THE MORNING. THE SMELL IS LIKE SOMEONE POURED A CUP OF FUEL ON THE FRONT SEAT. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL LINE LEAKING. MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THE SUBARU OWNER WEBSITES. *TR

Mileage: 91,000

TODAY, I STARTED MY 2003 SUBARU FORESTED, AND LET THE CAR RUN WITH THE HEAT ON FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHILE I SCRAPED THE FROST OFF OF MY WINDOWS. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR TO GET IN, THE CABIN WREAKED OF GAS FUMES. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. ONCE EACH IN JAN 2006 AND JAN 2007 I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP. IN 2006 THEY ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE CLAMPS, IN '07 THEY REPLACED SOME HOSES. APPARENTLY THESE FIXES ARE STILL NOT SUFFICIENT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE ONLY CURRENT SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IS TO OPERATE THE CAR AT WARM TEMPERATURES OR LET IT WARM UP BEFORE DRIVING. THE GAS FUMES ARE STILL GETTING IN TO THE CABIN WHEN IT IDLES, THOUGH. *TR

Mileage: 144,000

ON MONDAY NIGHT, 5 FEB. 2007, WHEN I PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE IT SMELLED STRONGLY OF GASOLINE. I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ODOR SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I DID NOT SEE ANY GASOLINE LEAKING. THE STRENGTH OF THE ODOR SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE COLD WEATHER (15-20 DEG. F). THAT MONDAY WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAD EVER NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE EMANATING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE ODOR WAS SO INTENSE THAT I DECIDED TO PARK THE CAR OUTSIDE AS A PRECAUTION. I DROVE THE CAR TUESDAY MORNING AND PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE AND IT SMELLED OF GAS AGAIN. AS THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE HAS INCREASED, THE INTENSITY OF THE SMELL HAS DECREASED. DURING VERY COLD WEATHER SMALL AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE SEEMED TO BE LEAKING FROM ONE OF THE FUEL LINES OR ESCAPING FROM THE ENGINE. ON 9 FEBRUARY, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO DEALER (HERITAGE SUBARU, OWINGS MILLS, MD) SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND ASKED THEM TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE GASOLINE SMELL. THE DEALER REPLACED THREE SHORT RUBBER FUEL HOSES (P/N 807707130) FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE REPLACED HOSES SHOWED NO SIGN OF WEAR, HOLES, CUTS, ABRASIONS ETC., BUT THE DEALER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT FUEL HAD PERMEATED THE HOSE MATERIAL ALLOWING FUMES AND POSSIBLY SMALL AMOUNTS OF FUEL TO ESCAPE. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN MATERIAL OR DESIGN SINCE THE CAR IS ONLY 3.5 YEARS OLD AND THE REPLACED HOSES SHOW NO SIGNS OF WEAR (I.E., OLD AND NEW HOSES APPEAR ON THE OUTSIDE TO BE IDENTICAL). I HAVE THE OLD HOSES AND CAN PROVIDE THEM FOR INSPECTION. *JB

Mileage: 46,762

FUEL LINE FAILED, LEAKING FUEL IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *JB

Mileage: 68,000

I RECENTLY HAD AN UNCOMFORTABLE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS INCIDENT WITH MY 2003 FORESTER, AT, OF ALL PLACES, THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I HAD STOPPED TO DISCUSS A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. UPON LEAVING, MY FORESTER WOULD NOT START, BUT EXHIBITED SYMPTOMS OF INITIALLY FUEL STARVATION, AND THEN POOR IGNITION; IT RAN FOR 1/2-1 MINUTE, MISSING FREQUENTLY AND THEN WOULD DIE; WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, IT WOULD NOT RUN AT ALL, SUGGESTING EITHER COMPLETE FUEL OR IGNITION FAILURE. THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLOSED AT 6, AND THEIR SUGGESTION WAS TO TOW THE FORESTER TO THE NEARLY SUBARU DEALERSHIP, ONE BLOCK AWAY. AND SUGGEST THAT NEXT TIME I GET A RAV4. THE SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLOSED AT 5:30, OF COURSE, AND THERE WERE ONLY SALESPEOPLE PRESENT. THEIR SUGGESTION WAS TO ALSO TOW THE CAR TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. FINALLY, THE SALES MANAGER SUGGESTED THAT IT MIGHT BE THE SECURITY SYSTEM. OF COURSE, MY FORESTER DID NOT HAVE THAT OPTION, BUT HE SAID THAT HE UNDERSTOOD MOST OF THE CIRCUITRY EXISTED, AND THAT CERTAIN COMBINATIONS OF LOCKING/UNLOCKING THE DOOR WITH THE KEY, OR THE DOOR SWITCH, COULD ACTIVATE THE IGNITION CUTOFF. HE TOLD ME TO SHUT ALL THE DOORS AND THEN LOCK/UNLOCK THE DOORS TWICE WITH THE REMOTE. I WALKED BACK, DID THAT, AND THE FORESTER STARTED. AFTER DRIVING BACK AND THANKING HIM, I CAREFULLY READ BOTH THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND THE SEPARATE MANUAL FOR THE REMOTE/SECURITY SYSTEM. THERE IS NO MENTION OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. LUCKILY, THIS HAPPENED IN DAYLIGHT, WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE SUBARU DEALER, AND THERE ALSO HAPPENED TO BE SOMEONE THERE WHO COULD SUGGEST A CURE. 1) IS THIS A KNOWN FAULT IN THE SYSTEM? 2) IF KNOWN (AND THE MANAGER SAID HE HAD HEARD OF SEVERAL CASES) WHY IS THERE NOT SOME DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM AND THE SIMPLE SOLUTION. *JB

Mileage: 31,000