2003 Subaru WRX Recalls & Complaints

Incident: February 1, 2019 · Filed: February 22, 2019

CAR WAS RECALLED IN APPROXIMATELY 2009 FOR A FUEL LEAK WHICH COULD CAUSE AND ENGINE FIRE. I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE OWNED THIS CAR I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 2003. THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. TO FIX IT, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REMOVED AND 3 SHORT FUEL LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED. WORK WAS DONE BY ALPINE AUTOMOTIVE IN LAKE ZURICH, ILLINOIS. I'VE REACHED OUT TO SUBARU WHO SAY THEY KNOW OF NO ISSUE. HOWEVER, I FOUND AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN 2009 IN US NEWS & WORLD REPORT, SAYING THAT THE WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE WAS BEING EXTENDED BY 12 YEARS , WHICH PUTS THE CAR STILL IN WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE.. *BF

Incident: January 2, 2018 · Filed: January 17, 2018

FUEL LEAKING ONTO MY ENGINE BLOCK COULD RESULT IN MY CAR ENGULFING IN FLAMES, NO RECALL FOR IT ON MY CAR BUT I SEE IT EVERYWHERE AND IT'S A SUPER COMMON PROBLEM. THE CABIN OF THE CAR ALWAYS SMELLS LIKE GAS USUALLY IN THE COLD, BUT WHEN I SMELL THE ENGINE IT SMELLS BADLY OF RAW GASOLINE.

Incident: November 9, 2015 · Filed: August 16, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU WRX. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BYERS AIRPORT SUBARU (LOCATED AT 401 N HAMILTON RD, COLUMBUS, OH 43213). THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V468000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DEMANDED THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/24/17*LJ UPDATED 10/25/2017*JS

Incident: October 30, 2015 · Filed: November 4, 2015

WHEN IT GET COLD OUT, THE FUEL LINE STARTS LEAKING AND THERE IS THE SMELL OF GAS IN THE CAR. THERE HAS BEEN A LIMITED RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE DEPENDING ON WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. I LIVE IN A STATE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREA. THIS DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD CORRECT IT NO MATTER WHAT STATE I LIVE IN (ILLINOIS). THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND ASK THAT THEY FIX THIS ISSUE.

Incident: September 20, 2013 · Filed: June 12, 2015

MY DREAM CAR DEMOLISHED IN SPLIT SECOND. COULD HAVE VERY EASILY DIED AS WELL AS MY PASSENGER. I LOOKED UP THE RECALLS WHEN I GOT THE CAR AND IT WAS NOT LISTED YET, THE STEEL FRONT CONTROL ARMS IN THE SNOW BELT STATES RUST OUT AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE CONTROL AND OR CRASH. WELL IT DID BOTH TO ME AS WELL AS EXCELERATE MY CAR. I WAS ON A DATE THAT NIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A WHILE. AND ON OUR WAY HOME, WE WERE COMING AROUND A SLIGHT BEND, I WAS GOING PROBABLY 35-40 MPH AND RIGHT WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL GOING AROUND THE BEND I HEARD A CRACK/THUD NOISE AND INSTANTLY I SWEAR ON MY DADS GRAVE THAT THE CAR ACCELERATED, IT WAS OBVIOUSLY OUT OF CONTROL, I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR IT KEPT GOING THE SAME WAY AS THE TURN, AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT ABOUT 3 1/2 FEET TALL THE FRONT DOOR OPENED SOMEHOW WHEN I HIT. IT BENT THE COMPLETE DOOR UP AND LOOKED LIKE A LAMBORGHINI DOOR. LUCKILY WE HAD ARE SEAT BELTS ON! THE CAR THE PROCEEDED TO FLIP ON TO ITS ROOF. BACK, FRONT SIDE WINDOWS BLOWN OUT. BOTH UPSIDE DOWN IN AWE. MADE SURE SHE WAS OK. SHE WAS CUT UP ON HER ARM AND HAD SEATBELT MARKS. AS FOR ME I KNOW I HIT MY HEAD BAD BUT I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER, IT HAPPENED SO FAST AND UNPREDICTABLE! I HAD THAT CAR PAID OFF. LOVED IT SO MUCH BUT I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED I WAS NEVER AWARE OF THE RECALL. I LOOKED UP MY VIN THE DAY OR SO AFTER, AND IT SAID THE CONTROL ARMS WERE NEVER REPLACED. A MONTH OR SO LATER I CHECK AGAIN, AND IT SAYS THEY WERE FIXED.. NOW COME ON, THAT'S A LITTLE WEIRD AND CONVIENENT IF I SO HAPPENED TO SUE SUBARU. I ALSO HAD MY CAR AT A LOCAL SUBARU DEALER 3 MONTHS BEFORE FOR A OVERALL MAINTENANCE CHECK AND LOOK OVER... WHY DID THEY NOT KNOW, WHY DID THEY NOT EVEN SEE THE CORROSION. I WAS SO IN SHAMBLES AFTER THE WRECK, THAT WHEN THE INSURANCE GUY CAME TO LOOK AT MY CAR IT WAS TOTALED OBVIOUSLY. I TRIED POINTING OUT WHAT HAPPENED, HE REALLY COULD OF CARED LESS.

Incident: January 7, 2015 · Filed: January 7, 2015

IN COLD WEATHER THE FUEL LINES LEAK ON THE 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX! THERE WAS A LIMITED RECALL IN CERTAIN NORTHERN STATES, HOWEVER IT GETS COLD IN MANY STATES WHERE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CAR HAS BECOME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE B/C I CAN SMELL THE GAS WHICH MEANS THERE IS THE DANGER OF IGNITION. SUBARU KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE AND SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR ALL CARS AFFECTED. *TR

Incident: February 3, 2014 · Filed: February 4, 2014

ON THE MORNING OF FEB 3, 2014 I STARTED MY CAR AND IT SMELLED VERY STRONGLY OF RAW GAS. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE TOW COST $84.70. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT MORNING THAT SUBARU ISSUED A RECALL BEGINNING DECEMBER 31, 2009 FOR 2002 AND 2003 SUBARU WRXS WHERE THE FUEL LINE LEAKS IN EXTREME COLD. UNFORTUNATELY, THE RECALL INCLUDED ONLY 16 STATES, AND OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO THE OTHER 34 STATES NOT NAMED IN THE RECALL (I RESIDE IN ONE OF THE 34 FOR THE "EXTENDED WARRANTY"). I PROMPTLY PHONED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WEBSTER GROVES SUBARU ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE, [XXX], ADVISED ME TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE OVER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. CONSIDERING THIS IS TALKING ABOUT RAW GAS AND AT LEAST ONE FIRE HAS BEEN REPORTED IN RELATION TO THE RECALL, I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS SUGGESTION. BOTH SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THE DEALERSHIP AFFIRMED THAT THE CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF IT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE RECALL. AFTER DIRECTLY TELLING [XXX] I WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE IT IS DANGEROUS (THE RECALL EVEN STATES THAT IT IS DANGEROUS!), SHE AGREED TO CALL HER DISTRICT MANAGER THEN RETURN MY CALL. THIS IS NOT THE WHOLE OF MY CONCERN. WE HAVE HAD COLDER WEATHER ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES THIS YEAR AND I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OR THE ISSUE BY SUBARU, AND I GATHER OTHER INDIVIDUALS WERE NOT AS WELL AND THEIR SAFETY COULD BE AT RISK. WHILE IT WOULD BE IDEAL FOR SUBARU TO PAY FOR THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE, I ULTIMATELY HOPE THEY WILL NOTIFY ALL 2002 AND 2003 SUBARU WRX OWNERS OF THIS POTENTIAL HAZARD FOR THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE! THIS IS NOT JUST A SMALL OPTIONAL RECALL, BUT ONE THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM TO DRIVERS, THEIR PASSENGERS AND FELLOW DRIVERS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Incident: June 19, 2010 · Filed: June 24, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU WRX. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING OIL FROM THE AVCS LINE AND WOULD LEAK ONTO THE MANIFOLD, CREATING A FIRE HAZARD. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 31,000.

Incident: January 5, 2009 · Filed: January 6, 2010

FUEL LINE LEAKS RAW GASOLINE FUMES INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER. GAS FUMES ARE OVERPOWERING INSIDE THE VEHICLE, AND POSSIBLY CREATES A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD OF FIRE/ EXPLOSION. *TR

Incident: August 15, 2009 · Filed: November 25, 2009

OCCASIONALLY MY WRX SMELLS LIKE RAW GAS. THREE TIMES WHEN I HAVE BEEN DRIVING TO MT. LEMON, UP A VERY STEEP ROAD, I HAVE HAD A VERY STRONG (UNBEARABLE) GAS SMELL ENTER THE CAR. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I AM JUST "OVERFILLING THE TANK," HOWEVER, I NEVER TRY TO FILL THE TANK BEYOND THE AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF POINT ON THE GAS PUMP. I HAVE ALSO SMELLED GAS OCCASIONALLY WHEN DRIVING BUT NEVER AS STRONG AS WHEN I DRIVE TO MT. LEMON. *TR