NHTSA complaint: 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THIS IS REGARDING A 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. I AM EXPERIENCING THE FUEL LEAK ADDRESSED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE04002. I AM LOCATED IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. RECENTLY I HAVE HAD THE CAR OUTSIDE IN TEMPERATURES AS LOW AS 30 F (NIGHTS ARE SPENT IN A GARAGE NEXT TO A FURNACE--PROBABLY 40 F). I AM HAVING THE FUEL LEAK THAT YOU AND SUBARU OF AMERICA CLAIM OCCURS AT ONLY "EXTREMELY LOW TEMPERATURES." I HAVE HAD IT OCCUR THREE TIMES, AND BOTH TIMES THE FUEL SMELL PERSISTED AFTER 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING, EVEN WITH WINDOWS OPEN. THE FUEL SMELL WAS BAD ENOUGH THAT IT GAVE ME A HEADACHE AND WAS DETECTABLE IN MY GARAGE THE NEXT DAY BY BOTH MY WIFE AND I (AND MY WIFE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE SMELL, I ASKED HER TO CHECK THE NEXT MORNING IF SHE SMELLED ANYTHING TO CONFIRM MY NOSE). I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TO FIX. THEY NEVER MENTIONED THE TSB, THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION, OR HOW COMMON THE PROBLEM IS. THEY DID DIAGNOSE EXACTLY THE PROBLEM NOTED IN THE TSB. AFTER BEING QUOTED NORTH OF $600 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I BROUGHT THE CAR HOME BECAUSE PARTS NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB, INCLUDING COMPLAINTS ON NASIOC AND CLUBWRX.COM. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I AM STILL WORKING WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT BASED ON OTHERS COMMENTS, SUBARU'S RESPONSE HAS BEEN ERRATIC, AND I AM NOT COUNTING ON ANYTHING. (CONTINUED). *NM
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation