2002 Subaru WRX: complaints, problems and recalls

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING THROUGH HVAC VENT FROM ENGINE BAY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUN ON COLD DAYS (BELOW FREEZING). THIS SYMPTON HAS BEEN REPORTED BY A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE. AN INTERNET FORUM CONTAINING MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS TROUBLESOME AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SYMPTOM CAN BE SEEN AT: HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=305748

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003339 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES, VEHICLE'S ABS IS INEFFECTIVE ON SLIPPERY AND GRAVEL SURFACES. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 44,040 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003788 at NHTSA ↗

THE ABS ON THIS CAR HAS ACTIVATED 3 TIMES ON 100% DRY ROADS AT LOW TO MODERATE SPEED. THE ACTIVATION SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY BUMPS OR EXPANSION JOINTS IN THE PAVEMENT. THIS RESULTS IN LOSS OF MOST OR ALL BRAKING POWER. 2 OF THESE OCCASIONS WOULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENTS HAD THERE BEEN ANYONE IN FRONT OF US.*** *AK DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS***758325.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006478 at NHTSA ↗

CLUTCH SLIPPAGE: STRONG VIBRATION AND RUMBLING SOUND WHEN CLUTCH IS ENGAGED (PEDAL RELEASED) IN FIRST GEAR WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 14,000 MILES. NO OBD CODE REPORTED FROM DEALER. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE DURING TEST DRIVE. HOWEVER, SEVERAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINES HAVE REPORTED SAME PROBLEM ON THEIR LONG TERM TESTS. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010186 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE SLID ON SOME SNOW AND ICE, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A POLE, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *PH *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012168 at NHTSA ↗

WINDSHIELD HAS NUMEROUS PITS AND ONE LARGE CRACK THAT HAS GROWN 2 INCHES IN THE PAST DAY. WINDSHIELD IS TOO BRITTLE, EVERYTHING THAT HITS THIS WINDSHIELD DAMAGES IT. CAR ONLY HAS 4,000 MILES. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013677 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE: [I HAVE SUBMITTED ONE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT, BUT I CANNOT FIND IT HERE. SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE RESOLVED (AT LEAST 18 MONTHS AFTER IT WAS FIRST REPORTED) I WOULD LIKE TO POST MY COMPLAINT AGAIN.] ON TWO (2) SEPARATE OCCASIONS I HAVE LOST ALMOST ALL BRAKING FORCE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP ABRUPTLY ON SMOOTH, DRY_ PAVEMENT. IN BOTH INSTANCES I HIT THE BRAKES QUICK AND HARD, LET UP MOMENTARILY, THEN REAPPLIED. IN BOTH CASES IT WAS ON THE SECOND APPLICATION THAT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013693 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 2002 SUBARU WRX. THE ABS ON THIS CAR IS EXTREMELY SENSITIVE. IT'S SO SENSITIVE THAT IT ACTUALLY IS INSTRUSIVE. IT COMES IN WAY TO EARLY AND SOMETIMES EVEN WHERE THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY PROBLEM BRAKING. DURING ROUTINE BRAKING, THE ABS WILL ENGAGE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF BRAKE POWER AND THUS A LONGER BRAKING DISTANCE. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY CARS WITH ABS AND THIS CAR'S SYSTEM IS NOT NORMAL. I BELIEVE THIS IS A "NORMAL" PROBLEM WITH WRXS AND THE PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013811 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-12-04 (December 4, 2009)

SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 IMPREZA WRX VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF SOUTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, MINNESOTA, IDAHO, IOWA, MONTANA, COLORADO, WISCONSIN, NEW YORK, WYOMING, MICHIGAN, ALASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, AND MAINE. DURING COLD STARTS, TYPICALLY UNDER EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES, FUEL LEAKS IN THE FUEL DELIVERY LINE COULD OCCUR WHERE THE LINE CONNECTS WITH A RUBBER HOSE.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKS, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL LINE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.