Other Fuel System Problems of Subaru Impreza Wrx - part 1

Shortly after purchase (within 1 month), a strong raw gasoline vapor odor began entering the passenger cabin, strongest near the driver’s side rear seat and rear wheel well area. The odor intensifies at idle and after short periods of driving, filling the interior cabin with fuel fumes. The smell is so strong that it causes dizziness and headaches when operating the vehicle. This is not an isolated occurrence — Subaru’s own service technicians were able to replicate the issue and confirmed the smell, but reported that smoke and pressure testing showed “no leaks. ” despite replacing the evaporative canister, purge valve, and fuel check valve, the problem persists. The dealership has admitted they cannot determine the source of the vapors. Safety concern: this condition presents a serious safety hazard because: •fuel vapors are toxic and pose an immediate health risk to occupants breathing them inside a closed cabin. •gasoline vapors are highly flammable, creating a potential fire/explosion risk if vapors accumulate near ignition sources. •Subaru has suggested the condition is “normal under certain circumstances” and advised me to alter my driving habits (avoid idling, use engine braking). This is not an acceptable or safe resolution. Attempts to remedy: •vehicle has been at the Subaru dealership for over two weeks. •multiple components in the evaporative emission system were replaced (canister, check valve, purge vent). •Subaru engineers have been contacted but no permanent fix has been provided. •dealership admitted another customer reported a similar issue in a newer model, but stated it was “normal. ” summary: this is not normal vehicle operation. A car cabin filling with raw fuel vapor represents a defect affecting safety. Subaru has failed to remedy the issue despite multiple repair attempts, and is minimizing it rather than acknowledging it as a defect.

See all problems of the 2018 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

Likely secondary air injection pump and/or its related relays, cel p2444 came on 3 separate times. November 2024, brought it in to get replaced under warranty, came on again the day after picking her up in December 2024 due to faulty pump, didn’t get to bring her back in until March 1st 2025, fixed part again, brought her home [xxx]. Car engulfed in flames 10 days later on [xxx]. I do have the car’s ecu available for scan to check for previous codes. I could have been killed in a car fire, the building my car was in front of could have been turned to ash. No, the problem has not been reproduced, the car is totaled and in a pile of ash. Yes, the vehicle was inspected by police and fire force after the incident. The cel light had come back on that morning. 9:11 am, came on, parked at 9:28am, car was on fire by 9:52am. I was parked and in an appointment when the cops came in in order to evacuate us because my car was in flames. Please contact romano Subaru for information on my car, I do not have all of the paperwork available to me, but all of the work was done through that dealership. 315-475-7933 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2017 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

I have been experiencing a strong fuel odor both inside and outside the cabin when starting the engine. After several months of experiencing this issue, I recently had my vehicle fully inspected by an authorized Subaru dealership, and they confirmed a critical fuel leak issue. The dealership discovered that the high-pressure fuel pipe is leaking, as confirmed by a camera inspection of the engine bay. They have deemed the vehicle unsafe to drive and have strongly advised against further use due to the potential fire hazard. It is important to note that my vehicle has never been involved in an accident, and no prior mechanical work has been performed in the affected area, which suggests this may be a manufacturing defect.

Excessive blow by contaminating map sensors & creating lean/rich conditions. This causes loss of power, stalling and will lead to catastrophic engine failure. Egr system is faulty.

See all problems of the 2021 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

Fuel pump failing reverse switch failing.

Car has some type of black silicone inside oil pan. Inside upper pan as well. Also has clogged a screen that oil passed through. I have seen many people online do this pan drop time and time again and still having big chunks blocking its path to engine. I’m afraid of oil deprivation. This with ultimately destroy the entire motor. This could lead to serious injury or death if the motor suddenly goes. I believe this needs to be looked into to help prevent this. More of these 2022 Subaru wrxs being manufactured in this manner could ultimately destroy a 30,000$ vehicle and lead to crashing out unexpectedly. My phone number is +1 (570) 971-1105 thank you for your time. ,james carr.

See all problems of the 2022 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

I have a 2017 Subaru wrx that stalls while driving (including at highway speeds) 2 to 3 times every day on my commute to work through the mountains. This has led the vehicle to skid sideways and lose control. When I looked into this problem, I found that Subaru has a recall on its fuel pumps for 2018 to 2020 Subaru wrx vehicles but somehow my VIN does not appear to be considered an affected vehicle. This issue is life-threatening, and I believe the model years eligible for recall, must not have captured one year earlier model with presumably the same faulty fuel pump. I believe the recall needs to be expanded.

I purchased a 2016 Subaru wrx (premium) used from a Subaru dealer in albany, NY with under 26k miles for approximately $25k in 2018. On a drive in December 2022 I experienced hesitation and/or stuttering under load or when attempting to accelerate, and car began getting very hot, and close to overheating, and the engine was knocking loudly. After turning engine off and then restarting, the knocking (intensity) was not as noticeable as the initial incident. Initially I replaced all coil over plugs, as cylinder #4 initially was reporting a misfire code after the check engine light came on. This appeared to relieve the misfire briefly, but the issue immediately returned, this time with piston #3 reporting misfires and also exhibiting signs of a possible failed ringland, with oil seeping past rings (on to / in spark plug) causing the engine to run very poorly. Presently upon startup white smoke comes from exhaust out the tailpipe and the engine is hesitating and/or missing, running poorly and I feel it cannot be driven safely with the diminished permormance or complete lack of ability to accelerate normally like a motor vehicle should. I have engaged a mechanic to inspect the engine, but have not yet proceeded with inspection/repairs due to the class action litigation. Current mileage 73563. This car has an fa20 engine.

See all problems of the 2016 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

The direct injection engine causes valves to become coated in carbon build-up, unlike indirect injections which constantly clean the valves. This issue then results in the sudden loss of power and engine stalls (often when attempting to accelerate from low speeds) which are extremely dangerous when attempting to merge or turn in traffic. Subaru has not addressed the issue but based on online searches it appears to be a major issue for all 2. 0l direct injection engines.

I've had two fuel pumps replaced under warranty after the 2nd fuel pump failed hours after the Subaru dealership installed it. They installed the 3rd which worked until a week ago when my car stalled at a red light. The car would not start back up and it has since been diagnosed as a fuel issue.

See all problems of the 2019 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

We tool the car to the dmv to get the plates and rhey told us the car had a recall. They stated the fuel pump may fail. However, we were unaware.

The vehicle seems to randomly die and bog out then all of the lights appear on the dash, I myself had to pay out of pocket for a new battery because autonation Subaru arapahoe in colorado decided not to check it like I had asked and after getting my car back the issue was still there which is why I replaced it today. Not only this but they sold me a highly modified vehicle without disclosing any of that info to me in the sale process.

See all problems of the 2020 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

Vehicle is burning oil, oil came out through where the dip-stick is placed. Found oil on the exhaust tips. Mass air flow sensor is malfunctioning. Requires new coils and spark plugs even though I have already replaced them. Required a new battery, however, replacing the battery did not keep the vehicle from turning off by itself. O2 sensor, bank 1 sensor 2, is also malfunctioning.

See all problems of the 2015 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

When driving my 2018 Subaru wrx premium in the heat with the a/c on it is causing extreme driving conditions with the car stuttering causing fluctuation in speed with the car dragging then propelling dramatically due to the turbo engaging. The erratic change in the performance of the car is not normal and is cause for attention from the manufacturer. I was driving on the freeway and this pulled such an extreme drain on the cars electrical system and cooling system it almost made my car overheat in the middle of fast moving traffic. My car is well maintained and driven responsibly. I had my family in the car and this could have caused a traggic situation as the freeways here in California are very unforgiving.

Driving on the highway at ~70 mph and suddenly lost all throttle response, the car would not accelerate only loose speed. Engine started to shutter to low rpms, and because of this drastically lost speed and nearly got into an accident with oncoming traffic while moving to the side of the highway to pull over. After eventually pulling over, engine continued to shutter to low rpms and could not hold an idle - would just stall after repeated attempts to start it up. Car was towed to closest dealership and after waiting 4 days finally heard it was the engine wire harness that needed to be replaced. Researching the issue I found that Subaru made a design change for the wire harness to prevent water/moisture failure which is most like what happened to my vehicle. Stuck with a $1400 bill due to a design flaw, I decided to purchase a 2020 model which hopefully doesn't have the same issue. After calling Subaru of north America and explaining the situation, they offered me $1000 towards the new purchase. It was a kind gesture however I question if it is somewhat admission of guilt for the design flaw. 2015 wrx 138k miles was meticulously maintained with all necessary maintenance completed at proper intervals and oil changes every 3-4k miles.

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. .

See all problems of the 2003 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

Recall clutch change brakes electrical and emissions seem to be failing tucson, az Subaru palm springs ,CA Subaru in motion systems systems failure.

In cold temperatures the fuel leaks from rubber fuel lines onto the fuel rail and manifold resulting in a very strong fuel odor coming into the vehicles cabin. When at a stop with the vehicle idiling the smell is overwhelming. Not nearly as bad while driving.

See all problems of the 2002 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

A fuel line under the intake manifold located on the passenger side is leaking gas on cold starts. This is my second time dealing with this issue. As of now, it is only leaking gas when the engine is cold, but the leaking is starting to get worse and faster than before. The first time I had this issue it was leaking gas regardless of engine temperature. It is only a matter of time before it starts to leak at any given moment with a possibility to cause a fire putting my life and others at risk. I live in the state of California and this recall has only been announced for "cold weather" states. It is evident that this fuel line problem has nothing to do with the weather since I live in a warm climate. This probiem is unfixable and time consuming. I had already tried to solve this issue at my local repair shop and it ended up being a waste of time and money. This is clearly a manufacturer's problem. Subaru needs to issue a national recall for this vehicle.

This issue occurs on acceleration , most noticeable when merging onto freeway from on ramp 1/2 throttle , the vehicle starts to accelerate normal then hits around 4200 rpm and the boost gauge goes nuts fluctuating up and down and the vehicle looses power , hesitates , surges ( like a flat spot ) then finally gets a little higher in rpm and it will pick up again through the rest of rpm gauge , most noticeable in lower gears ( mines a 6 speed manual , I have taken the car to dealer on 5/30/18 with 1380 miles on the odometer , huffines Subaru denton texas , tony the service manager drove my car and duplicated the complaint , he then proceeded to get another new wrx off the lot similar to mine and again duplicated the complaint ( so this is a known issue ) the dealer claims its just a design in the car , its very unsafe as you think you will get up to speed and then it hesitates which could cause an accident , the dealer did say they would open a case with Subaru techline which they did not , so I called Subaru customer service and filed a complaint , they call back 2 days later and tell me we spoke to dealer nothing we can do , so I proceeded to do an internet search and found numerous people complaining about the same issue on 17-18 wrx models , I currently have 2006 miles on the car and its still doing this , not sure if its a drive by wire , throttle map issue or a flaw in the factory tuning causing this but it needs to to be addressed and fixed , vehicle gives false sense of security on accelleration .

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.

During cold weather fuel smell coming from engine and is leaking.

See all problems of the 2004 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

Having recently moved to a cold weather state, I discovered that when the temperature is below freezing there is a smell of gasoline in the passenger cabin. After doing some research, Subaru appears to be aware of this problem and in fact issued a recall on earlier model vehicles for the same issue. The fuel lines and clamps shrink in cold weather allowing fuel to leak at the fuel filter or more problematically onto the intake manifold near the turbo. This has been resolved in newer model vehicles, but for some reason Subaru decided not to issue a recall for the 2004-2005 vehicles having this problem. When the vehicle warms up, the heat of the engine reduces or eliminates the leaks. Although I was able to tighten the hose clamps, I suspect that next winter I will be facing the same issue and/or a $500-1000 repair bill from the dealer.

Multiple Subaru's with turbo engines are experiencing the p2441 cel code which is an issue with secondary air valves being stuck. This is part of the emissions system and not powertrain so warranty doesnt cover beyond a certain timeframe. This issue has also been occuring over the past decade, with expensive cost to fix >$1200 for a valve repair. It appears even with proper maintenance the failure of this part is unpredictable. Subaru of America refuses to acknowledge the frequency of this failure.

See all problems of the 2011 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

I have a 2004 wrx and whenever it gets cold lots of fuel leaks from under the intake manifold theres a recall for the same issue in 2002 2003 but it still does it on my car.

Fuel rail on 2002 wrx is leaking heavily on the engine. This is a high fire hazard as well as noxious for passengers in the car as it smells heavily of fuel. Since I live in washington state Subaru of America has not honored the recall they've put in other states for this exact issue. Subaru has denied warranty repair due to the extended warranty expiring for this issue in 2013. I was never notified of this issue. I am the original owner of this car and have taken it in for every other recall issue that I've been notified of. This is reckless and dangerous. The local repair shop has said they don't think it is correct to charge me for labor and parts that should be covered under warranty by Subaru and have directed me to the dealership. The dealership asked me to get authorization from Subaru, which was denied. This is a safety issue that should be covered under warranty for the life of the car. It is a bone stock car with no aftermarkets parts or enhancements.

During vehicle operation in colder weather (32 deg f or colder), there is a strong fuel smell coming from the engine bay. Fuel lines are leaking in an area close to the air intake. This does not happen during warmer weather.

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.

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.

2015 wrx 2. 0l manual transmission while driving the car in everyday situations I have had (3) distinct problems associated with the engine/throttle/idle. 1) ghost blip: when coming to a stop, around 5-15 mph, put it in neutral coast to a stop idle will inexplicably spike from ~700rpm (idle) --> ~1. 2-1. 5k rpm (for a second or two. . . Like a ghost blipped the throttle). No pressure applied to accelerator. 2) rough idle: while sitting at a stop, in neutral, ~700rpm (idle) --> will dip to ~650-600rpm for a fraction of second & reoccur every 2-4 seconds. Feels like someone lightly shaking your seat from left to right. 3) near stall: while sitting at a stop, in neutral, ~700rpm (idle) --> will dip the rpms low enough that the whole car noticeably shakes. . . Similar to the shake you would experience if the engine were actually about to stall. The rpms will fumble around a bit and then hiccup back to normal idle after 4-5 seconds. All three items have been brought to the attention of the local Subaru dealer on (2) occasions w/ the reply unable to diagnose problem and/or it is normal.

As I was driving this morning started smelling strong raw fuel odor.

See all problems of the 2005 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

2005 sti, 42,000 miles. . . . . Cold mn weather caused my fuel system under the hood leak gas all over. Inside of car smelt of gas very very bad. Popped the hood, even stronger gas smell, located fuel leaks under the intake manifold drivers side. Towed it to nearest Subaru dealer do to fear of fire. Not covered under the 2 warranties I purchased when I bought the car or under Subaru recall of 2003-2004 wrx/sti's for the same problem. . . . . Charges will be $600+. . . . . . Bought the car from a Subaru dealer here in mn, second owner, expensive low miles used car, just plain stupid Subaru does not fix this. . . . .

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.

Upon start up of my 2006 Subaru wrx, there is visual evidence of fuel leakage under the intake manifold on the passenger side of engine. This only happens during times of cold weather. You cannot see the leak as it is underneath components however, you can smell raw fuel and see where it puddles up after a few moments of engine operation. This puddle accumulates on top of the engine block, directly in front of the turbocharger and exhaust system. This is cause of major concern for the safety of myself, my family, passengers in my vehicle and other motorist on the road. Soa, Subaru of America, has issued recalls for previous model years but should investigate to possibility of extending the recall to include more current model years. I have contacted soa with my problem to no avail.

See all problems of the 2006 Subaru Impreza Wrx 🔎.

During cold weather, there is a strong fuel smell in the cabin. Rubber fuel lines on the passenger side leak, causing fuel to puddle on top of the engine block, creating an extreme fire hazard.