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NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Engineering Analysis EA09-011: FUEL LINE LEAK

  • Closed

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA09-011 on July 2, 2009, the day it closed Preliminary Evaluation PE09-017, whose summary cites it, and closed it on December 14, 2009. NHTSA's investigations file lists the Subaru Impreza and WRX for it and links recall 09V-468 to it.

Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file

Key facts

NHTSA number
EA09-011 (also written EA09011)
Investigation type
Engineering Analysis A more detailed stage of a defect investigation, opened when NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation decides an issue merits further review, often after a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query; it can include vehicle testing, surveys and further information requests.
Status
Closed December 14, 2009
Opened
Closed
Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
Component
Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Recall linked by NHTSA
  • 09V-468: FUEL LINE LEAKS, reported
Vehicles and equipment
Subaru Impreza and WRX

NHTSA's summary

As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Engineering Analysis EA09-011.

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)

Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation

NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Engineering Analysis EA09-011. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.

Subaru

All Subaru recalls

What an NHTSA investigation is

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.

An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Subaru VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.

Sources

NHTSA's investigation record for EA09-011

Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.