2004 SUBARU IMPREZA Fuel System, Gasoline Problems

The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with an unknown code for the throttle body. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000.

Mileage: 162,000

AT TEMPERATURES OF 20 DEGREES F OR BELOW, THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. TIGHTENING UP THE FUEL HOSES/CLAMPS WORKS FOR A DAY OR TWO HOWEVER THE SMELL ALWAYS COMES BACK. THE SMELL WILL GO AWAY AFTER 30 MINUTES TO 60 MINUTES OF WARMING UP OR DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

FUEL LEAKING FROM HOSES UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD, CAUSING POOLING OF FUEL ON TOP OF THE MOTOR. *TR

Mileage: 63,954

TODAY'S DATE IS DECEMBER 06, 2008. I STARTED TO SMELL A FOUL GAS SMELL INSIDE MY CABIN A FEW DAYS AGO. THE SMELL HAS OCCURRED SINCE THEN. WHAT SEEMS TO TRIGGER THE SMELL OF GAS IS THE COLD START UPS IN TEMPERATURE DEGREES OF LOW 20'S AND BELOW. THE SMELL IS EXTREME. IT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE SITTING DRIVING ALMOST UNBEARABLE, MY PASSENGERS, ALONG WITH ME GET HEADACHES. I AM FORCED TO OPEN THE WINDOWS IN FREEZING WEATHER TO ALLOW THE GAS SMELL TO EXIT. THE SMELL GOES AWAY AFTER OPENING WINDOWS AND/OR 10 OR MORE MINUTES OF VEHICLE OPERATION. I HAVE ONLY SEARCHED FOR HELP FROM THE NASIOC ONLINE COMMUNITY. IT IS A COMMUNITY OF THOUSANDS OF SUBARU OWNERS WHO AS WELL HAVE REPORTED HUNDRED OF CASES OF THE SAME GAS SMELL. *TR

Mileage: 89,107

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAIN ROAD IN BOSTON WHEN MY ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. AS A RESULT I ENDED UP CRASHING INTO A SNOW BANK. WHEN I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT. WHEN THE CAR WAS INSPECTED IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE AFTERMARKET PARTS THAT ARE NOT D.O.T. LEGAL AND NO C.A.R.B. ID'S. ALL OF THESE MODIFICATIONS WERE INSTALLED PRIOR OF ME BUYING THIS VEHICLE AND IT WAS SOLD TO ME WITH A WARRENTY. I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT A SMELL OF GAS AND A HUGE LOSS OF OIL BEFORE THIS HAPPENED BUT WAS TOLD THAT IS HOW A SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI RUNS. ALSO THE DEALERSHIP GOT A EMMISIONS STICKER FOR THIS CAR WHEN IT WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS WITH ALL OF THE AFTERARKET PARTS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS EVENT. *TR

Mileage: 28,500

MY 2004 SUBARU WRX STI HAS A FUEL ODOR IN THE CABIN WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED IN MODERATELY COOL TEMPERATURES. THE PROBLEM IS DESCRIBED IN ODI RESUME PE 04-002. THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THE PROBLEM OCCURS IN VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND STOPS QUICKLY. I HAVE FOUND THAT IT OCCURS IN MODERATE TEMPS. BELOW 50F AND LASTS FOR 20 TO THIRTY MINUTES. I TAKE THIS TO MEAN THAT THE PROBLEM IS WORSENING AND COULD RESULT IN IGNITION OF THE LEAKING FUEL. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS IN SEVERAL MODELS OF SUBARU ACCORDING TO MY INTERNET RESEARCH. THE MANUFACTURER HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN #09-36-03 THAT DESCRIBES HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE COST WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID BY ME. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX IT UNDER A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 15,000

I OWN A 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA WAGON WRX WITH 67,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM SOMEONE IN NM AND I LIVE IN COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. IT HAD NO ISSUES IN THE SUMMER AND FALL BUT IN THE WINTER I HAD A FUEL SMELL IN CABIN WITH HEATER RUNNING DURING A COLD DAY ~15 DEGREES F OR BELOW. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE BUT IT NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING, EVENING OR WHEN ENGINE HAS COOLED DOWN AND IT IS REALLY COLD OUTSIDE (LESS THAN 20 DEGREES F). I CALLED A LOCAL SUBARU DEALER AND THEY SAID AROUND $500.00 TO FIX ISSUE. SEEMS THE RUBBER HOSES ON THE FUEL RAILS CONTRACT WHEN IT IS VERY COLD OUTSIDE. I HAVE SEEN ON THE WEB THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING IN 2002 WRXS AS WELL. I CAN'T BELIEVE SUBARU HAS NOT DONE A RECALL FOR THIS SERIOUS ISSUE! THE FUEL SMELL GIVES ME A HEADACHE AND POLLUTES THE ENVIRONMENT. I WOULD TRY TO FIX MYSELF BUT GETTING TO THE FUEL RAILS REQUIRES EXTENSIVE TOP SIDE ENGINE TEAR DOWN.*JB

Mileage: 60,000

FUEL ODOR IN VEHICLE CABIN WHEN STARTING IN COOL/COLD TEMPERATURES. *JB

Mileage: 51,000

DURING COLD WEATHER MY 2004 SUBARU WRX SMELLS OF FUEL BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. USING THE HEAT CAUSES THE ODOR TO INCREASE AND TURNING OFF THE HEAT TO DISSIPATE THE ODOR CAUSES ALL OF THE WINDOWS TO FOG UP AND/OR ICE-OVER. THE FUMES HAVE CAUSED MY EYES TO WATER AND HAVE ALSO GIVEN ME HEADACHES. *JB

Mileage: 40,800

2004 IMPREZA STI - REPEATED MOMENTARY FUEL CUT OUT DURING LEFT TURNS. NEVER DURING RIGHT TURNS; LEFT TURNS ONLY. LOW SPEED AND HIGH SPEED. AT ALL FUEL LEVELS. WILL HAPPEN 3 TIMES IN ONE DAY, THEN GO AWAY FOR 3 WEEKS BEFORE OCCURING AGAIN. OCCURS FREQUENTLY DURING LEFT TURNS AND U-TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS. CAR HESITATES FOR A MOMENT AS IF FUEL TO ENGINE WAS MOMENTARILY CUT. ENGINE DOES NOT STALL HOWEVER AND COMES BACK TO NORMAL OPERATION AFTER THE MOMENTARY HESITATION. HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE ISSUE WITH BOTH MY LOCAL AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALER AND CORPORATE SUBARU OF AMERICA SERVICE REP. NEITHER WERE ABLE TO RECREATE PROBLEM AND SAY THEY ARE UNABLE TO RESOLVE ISSUE. CONTINUED FUEL CUT OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON CAUSING CAR TO HESITATE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I AM AFRAID TO MAKE LEFT TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC FOR FEAR THAT MY CAR WILL NOT RESPOND. MY CAR HAS NO MODIFICATIONS AND HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT HAD LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF IDENTICAL CAR ALSO REPORTING EXACT SAME ISSUES. I WILL HAVE THEM JOIN ME IN THIS COMPLAINT PROCESS TO NHTSA.

Mileage: 12,000

REF PE04002: SUBARU IMPREZA WRX '02/'03 FUEL LEAK 1 ? TEMP: ~5 DEG. F OVERNIGHT. STARTED CAR IN AM; SMELLED RAW FUEL VIA THE VENTS. 2 - WITH FLASHLIGHT COULD SEE LEAKAGE FROM BOTH HOSE CLAMPS NOTED IN SUBARU TSB (09-36-03); ALSO TOOK PHOTOS. FRONT CLAMP: PRESSURIZED STREAM OF FUEL; APPROX. 2 OZ. FUEL POOLED IN RECESS IN THE MANIFOLD BY THE TIME ENGINE SHUT OFF. REAR CLAMP: RAPID DRIP OF FUEL; APPROXIMATELY 0.5 OZ. POOLED. FUEL ACCUMULATION OCCURRED WITHIN APPROX. 3 MIN. OF STARTING. 3 - SPENT 6+ HRS TIGHTENING THE SCREWS ON BOTH CLAMPS. BOTH LEAKS DIMINISHED TO SLOW DRIP; NOT STOPPED COMPLETELY; MIN. FUEL POOLING, STILL THERE IF TEMP LOW ENOUGH. TSB FIX NOT IMPLEMENTED YET. FILING COMPLAINT AGAINST CLOSED PE04002 BECAUSE: A - NO MENTION OF FUEL ACCUMULATION IN THE PUBLISHED RESOLUTION, ONLY SMELL OF FUEL. NUMEROUS INSTANCES REPORTED ONLINE OF NOTICEABLE FUEL LEAKAGE. B - SUBJECT VEHICLES NOTED FOR THEIR ALL WEATHER TRAVEL ABILITY; COMMONLY USED FOR WINTER SPORTS - POTENTIALLY VULNERABLE TO THIS PROBLEM. C - APPARENTLY NO REPORTED FIRES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT SEEMS VERY POSSIBLE: COINCIDENTAL ELECTRICAL FAULT OR STATIC ELECTRICITY DISCHARGE. D - IF VENTS CLOSED, FUEL ACCUMULATION COULD OCCUR UNNOTICED. E - IF FUEL POOLED UNDER A LEAKING JUNCTION IGNITED IT SEEMS VERY POSSIBLE THAT THE HEAT GENERATED COULD BURN/MELT THE HOSE ABOVE AND CREATE A FAR LARGER DISCHARGE OF FUEL. WHILE THE ODOR OF FUEL MAY NOT BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM, I CANNOT SEE HOW SIGNIFICANT FUEL LEAKAGE ONTO A RUNNING ENGINE CAN BE CONSIDERED ANYTHING EXCEPT A SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

Mileage: 65,000

A TERRIBLE RAW FUEL SMELL IS PRESENT IN THE CABIN AT STARTUP IN COLD WEATHER. FUEL SEEMS TO BE LEAKING AND POOLING SOMEWHERE. THIS IS NOT THE SAME LEAK AS THE TSB FOR 2002 MODELS.*AK

Mileage: 14,000

THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT HAS COME ON 7 TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JANUARY 2004. THE FIRST TWO TIMES I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP (VALLEY DODGE, INC.) THAT IT WAS A FALSE CODE (#P0301) FOR A 1ST CYLINDER MISS FIRE. ON THE THIRD TIME THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, THE DEALERSHIP REMOVED THE ECM AND SENT TO THE SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. FACTORY TO REPROGRAM. THE FOURTH TIME THE DEALERSHIP, PER SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. FACTORY, ADJUSTED THE #1 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE. THE FIFTH AND SIXTH TIME, THE DEALERSHIP PER SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. REPLACED THE INJECTION AND STILL HAVE THE CAR TO BETA TEST ON A 100-MILE 'TEST DRIVE' AS I WAS TOLD TO COMPARE THE READ-OUTS FROM THE ECM DURING THIS 'TEST-DRIVE.' I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THE VEHICLE FOR 20 DAYS NON-CONSECUTIVE IN THE 6 MONTHS THAT I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. *LA