Fuel Hoses Lines/piping And Fittings problems of the 2001 Subaru Outback

Car smells like fuel when idling on a cold day. Rubber fuel lines and fuel filter were loose and after tightening them fuel smell temporarily stopped. Smell has returned and after calling Subaru dealership they acknowledged the issue was related to rubber fuel lines that needed replacing. This is a common problem with Subaru's and needs to be addressed by Subaru. Dealership is asking over $300 to replace four rubber fuel lines located under the manifold and this is at least every year it has to be done that's sounds like a recall issue to me I tigthen the screws a few time and somehow when it's cold weather it tend to get loose and vapor comes out very dangerous I check this issue online using google search and notice this is a known issues and goes back many years there should be a recall just like the 2002 it is the same hose same area. This makes no sense that Subaru would not fix it for free with a better solution than replace the hoses and clamps every year.

Car smells like fuel when idling on a cold day. Rubber fuel lines and fuel filter were loose and after tightening them fuel smell temporarily stopped. Smell has returned and after calling Subaru dealership they acknowledged the issue was related to rubber fuel lines that needed replacing. This is a common problem with Subaru's and needs to be addressed by Subaru. Dealership is asking over $300 to replace four rubber fuel lines located under the manifold.

2001 Subaru legacy Outback. Fuel vapor smell in cabin when temperatures fall below freezing. This has been a persistent problem for the three winters we have owned the car. This fall I found several comments online which prompted me to tighten the hose clamps on fuel lines running to/from the engine compartment fuel filter. This seemed to help until the last 2-3 days when we experienced prolonged temperatures of 0 to -15f. Now the smell is back and the local Subaru dealer suggests the problem often involves fuel hoses beneath the intake manifold, which they estimate $370 to repair. Based on numerous complaints and comments I have found online, some dating back to 2003, I am shocked that Subaru has been aware of this problem for so long and failed to issue a recall. Gasoline vapor is a significant health hazard. Not only is it a carcinogen and known to cause brain damage, but short term exposure at the very least may contribute to dizzyness and impaired driving ability, leading to possible injury or death. . . Not to mention the risk of fire, also with potentially dire consequences. This is our family's primary vehicle and I cannot in good conscience allow my wife and child to travel under such hazardous conditions. I wish Subaru shared my opinion. We will not use the vehicle until repairs can be performed, albeit at my own cost rather than the manufacturer.

I have a 2001 Subaru Outback station wagon. On very cold days, there is a strong smell of fuel that pervades the passenger cabin. We had to drive with windows open even when 20-degrees outside or expose my 3yo son to the gagging fumes. This problem is a known issue (there are literally 1000's of posts on Subaru owners web boards) but my local mechanic was initially not able to find the problem. Subaru of America has not issued a technical service bulletin to make owners aware of this common failure in Subaru fuel lines. Once we found explanatory material on the web, we had the local mechanic replace the fuel lines for about $300. Given how common the problem is and how potentially dangerous a fuel line leak in the engine compartment could be, the NHTSA should force Subaru to address this problem. In addition to the immediate danger, their lack of action also is leading to owners exposing themselves to fuel fumes in the passenger cabin as the problem is intermittent and thus hard for mechanics to diagnose and repair.

In cold weather our car began emitting a very strong fuel smell in the passenger compartment. Our Subaru dealer denies there is anything wrong that would warrant a safety recall or bulletin. They will not accept it is a design defect when clearly the fuel lines begin to leak in cold (sub-freezing) temperatures. As gasoline is a serious carcinogen and exposure to its fumes causes brain damage, this should be regarded as an extremely serious health issue.

Car is a Subaru Outback 2001. Complaint is strong fuel smell and vapors in the car cabin when outside air temperature falls below 30 degrees or so. Smell permeates our clothing to the extent that when we leave the car and encounter people, they comment that we smell like gasoline. Fuel lines have been checked as have clamps and hoses. No resolution. We must drive breathing strong fumes. Opening windows dissipates fumes somewhat, but not completely. Problem is worse with heater running, so we turn it off. Additional concern is that when driving without heat, the front windshield defroster is not operational, resulting in the windshield being iced over and/or covered with condensation. This causes visual impairment and is a driving hazard.

2001 Subaru Outback leaks fuel in cold weather. Read on the web about hundreds of owners with this complaint. Live in massachusetts and when the weather gets below about 25 degrees fuel smell fills the passenger cabin. Appears to come from under the engine manifold. Hope to not pass out from fuel vapors. Haven't had a fire yet. 2nd issue is head gasket leak which was a $1500 repair. Also appears to be a common issue with Subaru.

The flexible fuel hose connecting the #1 cylinder fuel line leaks. This is located approximately four inches from the #1 cylinder fuel injector. The hose clamp screws/nuts are not self-locking and have loosened over time causing fuel to leak onto the hot exhaust manifold which led to a fire inside the engine compartment.