Fuel Injection Rail problems of the 2002 Subaru Impreza

During cool weather conditions from cold startup the engine has heavy fuel/gas smell which is transported into the vehicle cabin causing unhealthy breathing conditions for any occupants. Called Subaru cooperate and the dealer, they stated that there is a recall for a leaking fuel rail but not on our model. After much internet searching it appears the recall should be for all Subarus with the same engine as the problem is engine related and not model related. The original recall should be extended to all Subarus with the same engine configuration. The company is getting off easy with a limited recall of less than 6000 vehicles nation wide when there are clearly many many more out there.

The previous winter and this one, a raw fuel smell occurs on start up. Upon observation, there is a fuel leak below the turbo inlet tube, coming from the fuel rail/hose. Once warm, the smell is gone.

In cold weather (freezing), the fuel rail under the intake manifold leaks gasoline. The gas drips directly onto the hot engine. Not only is this a major fire hazard (and known source of a handful of fires) but it also is a health risk as the fumes from the gas enter into the cabin of the car when the heater is in use. I have had to keep windows open when driving my car in the middle of winter to prevent getting sick from the gas fumes. The issue get progressively worse the longer it goes without repair. My model year is 2002, and the problem has been known since 2003 when a service bulletin was issues to all Subaru dealers. This has occurred on thousands of cars and there is great inconsistencies in Subaru dealers repairing this problem. My car is a 2002 Subaru Impreza wrx with 920000 miles on the car. While this problem just started with my car, others reported the issue within the first 20,000 miles.

It started before warranty was up on my vehicle which is a 2002 Subaru Impreza wrx. After 30,000 miles noticed gas smell in cabin after starting in cold weather. I tracked smell coming from gas leaking from fuel rail. It was a steady drip which I video taped. I took it to the dealer 5 times for the problem, on the fith time they wanted to charge me to fix due to being over the milage for the warranty.

Raw fuel smell with temperatures below 20 degrees f and raw fuel in engine compartment with temperatures below 0 degrees f. Smell occurs anytime car sits in sub 20f temperatures. Actual leak with raw fuel occurred after car sat out overnight in sub zero degree temperatures. Small smoldering fire signified by small amount of grey smoke coming from engine compartment upon start up. Car has been taken to dealer three times for problem over two years and still leaks. Most recently after leak they replaced fuel rail system, but car still leaks.