general problems of the 2004 Subaru Forester - part 1

Leaking fuel lines under turbo in engine compartment when in cold weather.

Neopreen hose to the right side fuel rail started leaking. This hose is near the top of the engine and the leak caused fuel to run all over engine, which was then drawn into the cabin via the climate control system. This occurred while driving, and raw fuel was dripping from the high pressure hose once stopped.

There is a fuel leak on the low and high pressure fuel rubber hoses, and they cause fuel odor to enter the cb via climate control. It is a very strong odor, that requires me to either drive with the windows down or wait for the car to clear out the fuel odor out of the cabin. Mostly occurs during cold weather days. Once engine warms up, odor fades away. Many people with similar cars say is a common issue with Subarus.

Car was shifted from drive into neutral for operator to use a parking lot gate machine. The engine surged a little while in neutral but settled back down. When parking gate opened the operator shifted into drive and lightly pressed the gas pedal. The engine immediately surged to full throttle and rapidly accelerated across the driveway for a few seconds before being stopped by collision with a granite post. Operator could not brake hard enough to stop the vehicle in time. Driver injured in crash.

Tl- the contact owns a 2004 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the vehicle was at stand still and starting the ignition,when he started to smell fuel fumes inside the cab. The contact stated when exiting he saw fuel leak under the intake manifold. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact called local dealer schlossmann Subaru city of milwaukee located at 4640 s 27th st, milwaukee, WI 53221, (414) 459-3677. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired as of yet. The manufacturer had been informed of failure. The failure mileage was 101,000. Dp.

Tl the contact owns a 2004 Subaru Forester. While attempting to start the vehicle in cold weather, the contact noticed an abnormal fuel odor under the front passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

My Forester has begun to smell like gas when it is turned on while it is cold outside. A fuel line is leaking on the right side fuel rail. The fuel is leaking right next to the exhaust manifold and the turbo (see, really hot parts, see also, dangerous). This is a well known issue with the car and is a serious safety hazard. I do not believe it is right to require owners to pay hundreds to thousands of dollars to keep their cars from bursting in to flames. Please see all the other complaints on this same issue and do something to protect and reimburse the owners of the vehicles for this safety issue. Thank you.

Got up to and started my car to get it warmed up since it was 8� f outside. 20 minutes later when I got into the car there was a strong smell of gas. Upon inspection of the engine compartment I found that there was a fuel line on the drivers side dripping gasoline onto the engine block, where it was pooling. While searching online for info on this, I found that this is a common issue with early 2000's Subarus, even to the extent that they recalled the wrx models for this exact reason, but made no mention of their other models.

Gas smell cold weather car idoling.

Just like 60 or so other 03-05 Forester xt owners, I'm experiencing the fuel leak from the rubber fuel line where it clamps on to the metal line to the front drivers side injector. Just like everyone else, the issue only occurred when temperatures dropped below about 20�f - uncoincidentally, in my opinion, this was the first new england winter this car had ever seen. Subaru has issued a recall for wrx with the same exact issue involving the same exact hardware. Get on it Subaru, this is completely unacceptable and an extremely dangerous design flaw. You've already fessed up to the issue with other vehicles using the ej255 now don't forget about us fozzy owners.

The rubber injector lines running below the intake manifold on the turbocharged (xt) model, including my vehicle, are well known to develop a dangerous leak. Either the rubber dries out or the factory clamps loosen up over time, leaking gasoline onto the engine block. This is a very dangerous design flaw that has been recognized as an issue on the impreza but you forgot about foerester owners, Subaru! shame on you.

Leaking fuel line under manifold, fuel smell very strong and leaks into engine bay.

There is a raw gas smell inside the car when parked, or stopped while the car is running in cold weather.

During cold weather, while at a stop and in motion, there is a strong fuel smell inside the cabin. The source was determined to be the fuels lines and specifically the fittings on the lines. During cold weather, either the fittings or the hoses contract, causing fuel to leak in the engine bay, near the hot headers and hot turbo.

There is a terrible gas smell during cold weather from some leak in the fuel line. Other Subaru models have been recalled for this same problem, but not the Forester. The smell is so bad that it has given me headaches and nausea. The smell is particularly awful when the heat is turned on, which is problematic since one wants the heat on when it's that cold out. Smell persists around the car even when it isn't running and is so bad I can't park it inside my attached garage because it comes into the house. Subaru really needs to address this. I have mentioned it to my mechanic several times and they have tried to correct it by tightening fuel line connections, which has not solved the issue. They told me about the other models being recalled, and when I researched it myself I discovered that there are hundreds (at least) of Subaru Forester owners who have complained about the same problem. This is a health hazard. I don't think anyone should be breathing these concentrated fumes. Subaru needs to do a recall and replace these faulty lines. This problem has been ongoing for at least the past 2 years/winters. My most recent visit to the mechanic (to address the fuel smell again) was December 23, 2016.

Car leaks fuel profusely from fuel line near engine block when running during cold weather temperatures below 20 degrees fahrenheit.

In very cold weather, there is a strong gasoline smell inside the car that remains as the car warms up. This only occurs when temperatures are well below freezing.

Foresters have a common problem of a very common problem of the fuel line leaking. The cold causes shrink to the fuel lines causing a leak into the engine and fuel vapors to enter the cabin. This issue occurs whether it's stationary or in motion as well as all other conceivable states that the vehicle can be in. A recall was issued for the wrx, the same should occur with the Forester. This issue occurs every winter when the temp drops below 20 degrees.

Fuel leak in lines above engine but below intake during colder weather. Fuel fumes pulled into vehicle by heating system.

Strong fuel odor has been entering the cabin during startup on cold mornings. This is caused by a fuel line leaking onto the engine. The leak can be seen but is inaccessible without removing the intake manifold. Once the vehicle heats up and the line expands the leak stops. I am very concerned about the potential for a vehicle fire and the danger of inhaling gasoline flames.

The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Forester. Whether the vehicle was parked or being driven, a fuel odor was detected in and outside the vehicle. The fuel odor was most noticeable while operating the heater. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to mid-hudson Subaru (1715 u. S. 9, wappingers falls, NY 12590 (866) 678-2048) several times, but no leaks or failures were detected. The contact stated that the dealer finally detected a fuel odor and diagnosed the failure as a malfunction with tubing or piping within the engine. The parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that they would contact the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Forester. The contact noticed an odor of fuel and a leak coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel lines needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle had not been diagnosed by a dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 123,000.

Fuel lines seep fuel onto the top of engine block and near turbo inlet area when temperatures are below ~20 degrees fahrenheit. The seepage occurs at the clamps between the metal and gas lines below the intake manifold. These clamps are not accessible without removal of many parts by a professional mechanic. Gas fumes fill the cabin when this occurs as well. Fumes are not bad when moving but if stopped at a stop sign or after starting the vehicle the fumes are very strong. This has been a known issue with other model Subarus (2002 - 2003 Subaru impreza & impreza wrx) that have a very similar engine configuration but has never been addressed with the Subaru Forester. The concerns I have are 1) fire hazard of gas pooling on top of engine block near turbo and other components 2) fumes building up in the passenger cabin.

Leaking gas under the intake manifold when it is cold out, 90k miles on the car.

In cold weather there is a fuel smell in the cabin. I'm told this is a common Subaru problem that results from the metal fuel line joining with a rubber/plastic hose in the engine compartment. The metal and rubber expand/contract at different rates as the temperature changes resulting in a fuel leak. It is most noticeable when stationary idling during cold weather.

Approx. 90000 miles - strong smell of gasoline inside passenger cabin. Leaking seal as described by 1000's of other Subaru owners. Why no recall or advisory on what owner's should look for. Between gm fires, etc, not exactly sure what you all need to issue recall order/notifications. Sad.

Car has a strong gas odor in the cab when temperature drops to 20 degrees and below. Occuring on cold start and continuing in motion on local and highway driving. After a few unsuccessful fixes by authorized Subaru service problem still exists for three years soa needs to recognise this gas leak for this model and year as a recall and perminent fix please help.

Dangerous!! I am the recent proud owner of a 2004 Subaru Forester xt. A couple of days ago we got our first freeze. I walk out to start my car and it's not turning over and a strong fuel smell is filling the cabin. I keep trying thinking that it may turn over. With no luck, and fearing something is wrong (or may possibly blow up), I stop and get out. Taking a closer look having parked it some dirt, I see that it is visibly moist under my car. The ground is saturated with gas. Luckily it didn't contact any spark in the engine or I wasn't smoking, because I wouldn't be here today to tell this story. It was a ton of gas. Please fix this before someone dies or gets seriously injured.

During winter months 2004 Forester xt emits noxious fuel smell into cabin. Source is from engine compartment in area of turbo/exhaust manifold as discover from puddle on garage floor during warm up.

Fuel rail hoes clamps/rubber line is faulty, causing pooling of gas on the top of the engine. Major fire hazard.

The fuel lines under the manifold on the passenger side are leaking fuel when first starting and it is cold outside(below 50f). The fumes and filling the cab of the car when the heater it on.

I started the car on a cold morning and the whole vehicle smelled of gasoline. I'm unable to drive my children in the vehicle until this issue is resolved as I fear they may be inhaling fumes or may suffer a horrible fiery death I risk my own life back and forth to work and notice the smell starts to go away after the car warms up either that or I'm just used to it. My 02 wrx had the same issue and it was recalled. Why haven't the xt issues been recalled? haddad Subaru in pittsfield MA tightened up what they could reach but the issue lies beneath the intake.

Strong odor of gas when outside temperature drops.

There is a very strong and distinct smell of raw fuel coming from the engine compartment when the weather is below freezing (20f or below). The smell comes through the air vents into the passenger compartment and is strong enough to cause a headache for the passengers in the car. The smell is worst when the car is stopped after a drive. It seems that this is a known problem with Subaru wrx 2002 & 2003 cars and Subaru has issued a recall for them. This also seems to be a common enough problem for Subaru forrester cars from the same timeframe. . Read more...

Noticed a strong fuel smell after letting the car warm up on a cold morning, odor went away after 15-20 minutes. Fuel smell has gotten stronger, and is now constant even when operating under highway speeds. This is exactly the same as many other Forester owners have complained about. Issues it with the fuel line going to the injectors on the passenger side of the motor. Is exactly the same issue and parts that Subaru uses on the wrx which was recalled for this exact issue.