2003 Subaru Forester Fuel System Problems

Your car is leaking fuel from the fuel lines around the engine when temperatures are cold. This is a safety concern that needs prompt attention, as fuel leaks can be a fire hazard. The fix will likely involve inspecting the fuel lines for cracks or loose connections and replacing any damaged components.

Your fuel line leaks when temperatures drop below 20 degrees, causing a strong gas smell both inside and outside your vehicle while driving and at idle. This happens seasonally in cold weather. The fuel line will likely need to be inspected, repaired, or replaced to stop the leak.

Your car smells like fuel inside the cabin when you drive it in cold weather below 25 degrees. The dealer tightened and re-clamped the fuel lines, but the smell keeps coming back. The fix may involve inspecting fuel line connections, seals, or the fuel system for leaks that occur in cold temperatures.

WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS COLD THERE THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE CABIN IT HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN IDLE MODE WHEN DRIVING THE SMELL DISSIPATES BUT YOU CAN STILL SMELL IT FAINTLY I NOTICED IT LAST YEAR I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN SEPTEMBER 2016 AND THEY NOTICED A POOLING OF GASOLINE BUT THEY NOTICE ANYTHING BECAUSE THE WEATHER WAS WARM SO THEY TIGHTENED THEY TIGHTENED THE ENGINE TO THE CHASSIS

THREE YEARS AGO, WE STARTED TO NOTICE A FUEL SMELL WHEN DRIVING OUR 2003 SUBARU FORESTER ON VERY COLD DAYS (BELOW 20 DEGREES). WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER FOR SERVICE. THEY COULDN'T FIND A SPECIFIC LEAK, BUT THEY TIGHTENED THE CLAMPS AROUND THE FUEL LINES. WE CONTINUED TO NOTICE THE SMELL AND TOOK THE CAR TO OTHER SERVICE CENTERS TO SEE IF ANOTHER MECHANIC COULD FIND THE SOURCE OF THE ODOR. WE RECENTLY TOOK THE DARK BACK TO THE SUBARU DEALER AND WERE INFORMED THAT THE FUEL LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $700. WE DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND MANY SUBARU OWNERS COMPLAINING OF SIMILAR ISSUES ON FORESTER AND OTHER SUBARU MODELS MANUFACTURED IN THE EARLY 2000S. OTHER OWNERS REPORTED THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH THE CAR. GIVEN THE SAFETY RISK OF LEAKING FUEL, WE URGE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE. *TR

LAST WINTER ON COLD DAYS I NOTICED STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING INTO INTERIOR CABIN OF CAR, ATTRIBUTED IT TO DIRTY AIR FILTER, CHANGED IT AND WEATHER GOT NICE SO SMELL WAS GONE. NOW IT'S JANUARY AGAIN AND COLD TEMPS HAVE ARRIVED, NOTICED THE SMELL AGAIN WORSE THAN EVER. WHILE TAKING CAR FOR OIL CHANGE THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME I HAVE A FUEL LEAK AND THAT IS WHY THE CAR SMELLS LIKE GAS. NOW I WON'T DRIVE MORE THAN 10 MILES FEARFUL THAT I MAY WIND UP IN A ROLLING FIREBALL. SINCE THERE A MULTITUDES OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THIS, I THINK SUBARU OF AMERICA NEEDS TO DO 1 THING..RECALL AND REPLACE AT NO CHARGE TO OWNERS. IT SMELLS WHEN IT IS STARTED, SMELLS DURING INITIAL DRIVE AND FOR QUITE SOME TIME -- DRIVING WITH WINDOWS DOWN AT 30 DEGREES AND BELOW IS DIFFICULT, I DID IT DURING OUR BLIZZARD TOO. AREA AROUND ENGINE REEKS OF FUEL AS WELL. I ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE HEAD GASKETS ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THOSE FOR THE PRIOR FEW YEARS WHICH MY MODEL WASN'T COVERED UNDER. INSTALLED NEW MUFFLER SO THAT'S NOT IT EITHER.

EVERYONE THE TEMPERATURE GETS BELOW FREEZING THERE IS A TERRIBLE GASOLINE SMELL THAT FILLS THE CABIN OF THE CAR. IT IS ALMOST TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR AND IT CAUSES HEADACHES. THIS HAPPENS WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND WHILE DRIVING IT.

FIRST EVENT WAS IN DECEMBER 2014, LONG ISLAND, NY: AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 3 MILES, STOPPED WITH CAR SHUT OFF FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, WHEN RESTARTING, THERE WAS A VERY STRONG FRESH/RAW GAS ODOR IN THE CAR. SICKENING ODOR. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER DID A SMOKE TEST, SAID THEY FIXED IT BY TIGHTENING CLAMPS ON FUEL RAIL ON 2/11/15. THE ODOR CONTINUES SPORADICALLY. NOW, MARCH 3, 2015, THEY WANT TO REPLACE HOSES ON FUEL RAILS. MILEAGE IS JUST OVER 92,200. *TR

VERY STRONG GAS SMELL IN VEHICLE CABIN DURING COLD WEATHER. *TR

BAD RAW FUEL ODOR IN CABIN IN COLD WEATHER, HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR WEEKS. WENT ONLINE, FOUND TONS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE 2003 FORESTER, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A VERY COMMON AND DANGEROUS SAFETY PROBLEM. *JS

IN VERY COLD TEMPERATURES THE INTERIOR OF MY VEHICLE IS OVERCOME WITH FUEL FUMES. IT HAPPENS AT IDLE AND LOW SPEEDS, DOES GO AWAY ONCE WE ARE DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES OVER 30 MPH. IT IS SO BAD WE HAD TO DRIVE WITH WINDOWS OPEN IN 5 DEGREE WEATHER. DEFINITELY COMING IN THROUGH THE HEAT VENTS, HOWEVER, SHUTTING THE HEAT OFF DID NOT ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS MY FIRST WINTER WITH THE CAR AND DIDN'T HAVE THIS HAPPEN UNTIL THE LAST FEW DAYS, WHEN THE TEMPS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY BELOW 30 DEGREES F. I'VE READ NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS, NOT SURE WHY THERE IS NO RECALL/SERVICE BULLETIN BUT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE. IT CAN'T BE SAFE TO BREATHE THESE FUMES! WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, AS WE OTHERWISE LOVE THIS VEHICLE! *TR

WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPS TO LOW DOUBLE DIGITS (TEENS OR BELOW) THE CAB OF THE CAR BEGINS TO SMELL OF GASOLINE. I HAVE HAD IT INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC AND THEY CANNOT FIND A LEAK ANYWHERE IN THE FUEL LINE. IT GOES AWAY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE MOVES BACK TO WARMER TEMPERATURES. *TR

VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN COLD WEATHER. *JS

IN FREEZING WEATHER A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE FILLS THE CAR. I HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE AND IT'S A HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

WHEN TEMPERATURE IS LESS THAN 32, THE INSIDE OF THE CAR SMELLS LIKE GAS. IT GETS WORSE WHEN THE HEAT IS TURNED ON. FUMES ARE OVERWHELMING. *TR

COLD WEATHER FUEL LINE LEAK. *TR

2003 FORESTER 2.5XS IN ALBERTA, CANADA (OWNED SINCE DEC 2004). SAME ISSUE AT 221,000 KILOMETERS: WE HAVE BEEN NOTICING VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW (WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE). THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. AS A LOT OF OWNERS NOTED HERE AND ON OTHER NUMEROUS WEB SITES, THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD NOW. OTHERWISE, IT'S BEEN THE BEST CAR WE'VE HAD AND WE STILL LOVE IT. HOPEFULLY SUBARU WILL NOTICE THESE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND WILL STAY BEHIND ITS REPUTATION.

RECENTLY NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF PURE GASOLINE WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. THE SMELL ISN'T SO BAD UNTIL YOU TURN ON THE HEATING SYSTEM. NOT LONG AFTER, YOU HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN IN ORDER TO BREATH FRESH AIR. *TR

NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM LAST YEAR ALSO AT ABOUT 134000 MILES. WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 20 DEGREES WOULD BE MY BEST GUESS, THE WHOLE CAB OF THE CAR FILLS WITH GASOLINE FUMES. PRETTY POWERFUL SMELL. I NOTICE ONLINE IN MANY, MANY PLACES THAT SUBARU IS HAVING THIS ISSUE. THEY ARE ONLY FIXING WRX MODELS UNDER A RECALL. THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING. UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT HAVE A WRX. I WILL PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED, THOUGH SUBARU SHOULD STEP UP TO ALL MODELS WITH THIS VERY DETRIMENTAL ISSUE. THE DEALER IS ACTING A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS DENYING THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. SEEMS LIKE THEY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ALL ISSUES THAT ARE SO PROMINENT ON THE INTERNET. MOST ARTICLES POINT TO FUEL LINES AT INTAKE MANIFOLD ARE FAILING. FAILING WOULD DEMAND TSB. *TR

DURING COLD WEATHER, (LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 15 DEGREES F), THERE IS A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE INSIDE OUR GARAGE THE STRONG FUEL ODOR CONTINUES UNTIL GRADUALLY LESSENING. A VISUAL INSPECTION DOES NOT REVEAL AN OBVIOUS FUEL LEAK. OTHER SUBARU MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND AN ONLINE SEARCH SUGGESTS THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT TO MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE. *TR

WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP DROPS BELOW 15 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT UNTIL THE ENGINE WARMS UP. TURNS OUT ITS FROM LEAKING FUEL LINES UNDER THE HOOD. THIS IS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM BY SUBARU WITH SEVERAL OF THERE CARS. *TR

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE UNDER HOOD WHEN STARTING CAR COLD. AUTO REPAIR CENTER FOUND LEAKING FUEL LINE. TIGHTENED CLAMPS. THEN THE FOLLOWING WINTER, 1.24.14 AGAIN SMELLED RAW FUEL SMELL WHEN STARTED ENGINE COLD. AUTO REPAIR DID A PRESSURE TEST OF FUEL SYSTEM AND TRACED LEAKS TO FUEL RAIL ON TOP OF ENGINE/ LEFT CYLINDER HEAD INJECTOR RAIL. AUTO CENTER OWNER SAID HE HAD 7 SUBARU OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS WITH THE EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURES. *TR

WHEN I START MY 2003 SUBARU FORESTER IN VERY COLD WEATHER THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. I KNOW THAT NHTSA ISSUED A TSB ON 2002-2004 SUBARU WXT MODELS BUT DID NOT INCLUDE THE FORESTER, OUTBACK, AND LEGACY OF THOSE YEARS, WHY? IT IS THE SAME FUEL PROPULSION LAYOUT AND THE RUBBER HOSE CONNECTION AT THE STEEL LINE IS WHERE THE LEAK HAPPENS IN COLD WEATHER. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SERVICED 4 OF THE 5 PAST YEARS AND HAD INJECTORS REPLACED WHEN NOW I KNOW IT IS ACTUALLY THE RUBBER HOSE SHRINKS BACK IN COLD WEATHER THUS THE GAS DRIPS AND POOLS ON THE MANIFOLD. THE WHOLE FUEL LINE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE A TSB FOR ALL 2002 - 2004 SUBARU MODELS THAT USE THE SAME FUEL PROPULSION LAYOUT AS THE 2002 - 2004 WXT DID. IF YOU GOOGLE '2003 SUBARU FORESTER GAS SMELL' YOU WILL SEE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I AND ALL THE OTHER OWNERS OF THESE 2002 ' 2004 MODEL SUBARU'S SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY CONTINUOUSLY FOR REPAIRS THAT WILL KEEP ON HAPPENING EVERY WINTER UNTIL THE LINES ARE REPLACED. WHEN WILL THE RECALL HAPPEN? ARE YOU GOING TO WAIT UNTIL A CHILD / FAMILY DIES FROM A CAR EXPLOSION OF AN UNKNOWING FAMILY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE CAR CATCHES FIRE OR EXPLODES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM? IF YOU LIVED IN A HOUSE WITH A GAS LEAK YOU WOULD GET IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY, WOULDN'T THIS BE THE SAME ABOUT YOUR CAR? THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE A.S.A.P. *TR

THIS PAST WEEK, WITH THE TEMPERATURES HERE IN NEW JERSEY DIPPING INTO THE TEENS, I SMELLED THE DISTINCT ODOR OF GASOLINE IN MY 2003 SUBARU FORESTER IN MY DRIVEWAY BEFORE I HIT THE ROAD. THE SMELL WAS SO STRONG, I HAD TO TURN BACK HOME AS MY CHILDREN WERE NOT FEELING WELL FROM THE SMELL. THIS HAD HAPPENED BEFORE, BUT NEVER TO THIS DEGREE. I WENT TO THE SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED MANY CALLS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. HE INDICATED THAT THE COLD WEATHER CAUSED THE LINES TO CONTRACT AND ALLOWED GASOLINE TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. HE SAID THAT THE AS THE WEATHER WARMED UP, THE LINES WOULD EXPAND AGAIN, THUS MINIMIZING THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WAS TO HAVE THE LINES CHANGED. WHEN I ASKED IF IT WAS A HAZARD TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL I COULD HAVE THE LINES REPLACED, HE SUGGESTED THAT I LIMIT MY DRIVING SINCE GASOLINE DRIPPING ONTO A HOT ENGINE WAS DANGEROUS. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE LINES, AND HE STATED NO. SINCE THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND NOT EVIDENT IN LATER MODELS OF SUBARU, I THINK THAT OTHER OWNERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER NOTICE STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING IN CAR. *TR

PURCHASED 2003 SUBARU FORESTER FROM DEALER IN MARCH OF 2011. DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE SERVICE RECORDS. STRONG RAW FUEL ODORS COMING INTO CABIN WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 40 DEGREES. REMNANTS OF ODOR LAST SEVERAL DAYS AFTER WARMER TEMPERATURES RETURN. RECEIVED ESTIMATE FROM DEALER OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO TEAR CAR APART TO FIND OBVIOUS FUEL LINE LEAK PLUS COST TO FIX LEAK (LABOR AND PARTS.) THIS YEAR I HAVE NO OTHER CAR TO DRIVE AND MUST GET TO MY TWO JOBS. RESULT OF 20 TO 30 MILES A DAY IN THE COLD TO GET TO WORK IS EXTREME FATIGUE, PERSISTENT COUGH, NAUSEA AND SEVERE HEADACHE. PHYSICIAN HAS ORDERED LUNG CT AS XRAY SHOWS UNIDENTIFIABLE ABNORMALITY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

THERE'S A NOXIOUS SMELL OF GASOLINE ENTERING THE CABIN DURING COLD WEATHER. IT DISSIPATES WHEN DRIVING, BUT COMES RIGHT BACK WHEN IDLE. THIS WENT AWAY DURING THE SUMMER, BUT HAS RETURNED FOR THE WINTER OF 2013/14. *TR

WHEN STARTING MY CAR IN VERY COLD TEMPERATURE THERE IS A VERY STRONG RAW GASOLINE SMELL IN THE CABIN. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT MY HUSBAND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW SMOKE. IT IS CURRENTLY PARKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR THREE DAYS IN OUR CURRENT COLD WEATHER. *TR

MY 2003 FORESTER HAS RECENTLY BEEN EXPERIENCING EXTREMELY STRONG SMELLS OF FUEL WHEN DRIVING IN THE COLD WEATHER. INHALING FUEL VAPORS ARE VERY DANGEROUS, HERE ARE SIDE EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH INHALATION OF FUMES: INHALING GASOLINE FUMES BRINGS CONCENTRATED HYDROCARBONS INTO YOUR LUNGS AND BLOODSTREAM. SOME OF THE INGREDIENTS IN GASOLINE ARE EXTREMELY TOXIC AND ARE MUTAGENS. LIVER DAMAGE AND PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE ARE POSSIBILITIES. THE SIDE EFFECTS CAUSED BY THE INHALATION OF GASOLINE CAN RANGE FROM CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) DEPRESSION, WHICH CAN INCLUDE: EYE AND THROAT IRRITATION, MILD OR PRONOUNCED DIZZINESS, HEADACHE, LACK OF APPETITE, DROWSINESS AND IN-COORDINATION. IN MORE SERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN CAUSE UNCONSCIOUSNESS, PULMONARY EDEMA, AND DEATH. SUBARU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE!! *TR

2003 FORESTER HAS EXTREMELY STRONG AROMAS OF FUEL WHEN STARTING & DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. FUEL VAPORS ARE VERY DANGEROUS, HERE ARE SIDE EFFECTS OF INHALATION: INHALING GASOLINE FUMES BRINGS CONCENTRATED HYDROCARBONS INTO YOUR LUNGS AND BLOODSTREAM. SOME OF THE INGREDIENTS IN GASOLINE ARE EXTREMELY TOXIC AND ARE MUTAGENS. LIVER DAMAGE AND PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE ARE POSSIBILITIES. THE SIDE EFFECTS CAUSED BY THE INHALATION OF GASOLINE CAN RANGE FROM CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) DEPRESSION, WHICH CAN INCLUDE: EYE AND THROAT IRRITATION, MILD OR PRONOUNCED DIZZINESS, HEADACHE, LACK OF APPETITE, DROWSINESS AND IN-COORDINATION. IN MORE SERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN CAUSE UNCONSCIOUSNESS, PULMONARY EDEMA, AND DEATH. SUBARU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE, BECAUSE THEY INSTALLED A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT! *TR

IN BELOW FREEZING COLD WEATHER MY 2003 SUBARU FORESTER SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE INSIDE THE CABIN. *TR

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GOES BELOW FREEZING, THERE IS THE ODOR OF FUEL IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR. *TR

WHEN THE WEATHER IS BELOW 20 DEGREE THE FUEL LINES LEAK CAUSING THE CAB TO FULL WITH GASOLINE FUMES. THIS SMELL CAUSES HEADACHES A NAUSEA FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. THE SMELL BEGINS TO SUBSIDE AFTER THE FUEL LINES HAVE WARMED UP AND EXPANDED. *TR

2003 FORESTER HAS HEAVY SMELLS OF FUEL WHEN STARTING IN COLD WEATHER ONLY. THIS WAS PREVENT LAST WINTER AND HAS RETURNED THIS WINTER. FUEL VAPORS ARE VERY DANGEROUS. SUBARU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR

GAS IS LEAKING IN THE ENGINE AS A RESULT OF COLD WEATHER. STRONG GAS SMELL. WHY DID SUBARU USE FUEL LINES THAT CONTRACT IN COLD WEATHER? THIS SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL BY SUBARU. *TR

GAS IS LEAKING IN THE ENGINE AS A RESULT OF COLD WEATHER. STRONG GAS SMELL. WHY DID SUBARU USE FUEL LINES THAT CONTRACT IN COLD WEATHER? THIS SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL BY SUBARU. ONLINE RESEARCH CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THAT HIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 SUBARU FORESTER AND NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM MY VENTS, INCREASING WHEN I TUNED ON MY HEAT. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I WAS BEHIND A CAR USING DIESEL FUEL. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS 11 DEGREES F. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE SUBARU DEALER WHEN ON THE SECOND DAY IT INCREASED AND I HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOWS TO FOR VENTILATION AS THIS WAS MAKING ME FEEL LIGHT HEADED AN ILL. I WAS TOLD BY THE PERSON IN REPAIR THAT AN EMPLOYEE OF SUBARU HAD COME IN ALSO THAT DAY WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. MY CAR WAS FOUND TO HAVE LEAKS IN THE GAS LINES. I WAS TOLD HIS HAPPENS IN COLD WEATHER. SINCE SUBARU ADVERTISES THEIR VEHICLES AS THE COLD WEATHER VEHICLES I FIND THIS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND FEEL THEIR SHOULD BE A RECALL, SINCE THEY HAVE RECALLED SOME OF THEIR OTHER VEHICLES FOR THIS VERY SAME REASON. THIS IS VERY FRIGHTENING TO SAY THE LEAST. I WAS TOLD IT WILL COST 750.00 TO REPAIR. I FEEL HIS IS A DEFECT AND MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOUED BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY. *TR

WHEN WEATHER IS COLD, THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL INSIDE THE CAR. HAPPENS ON ANY MORNING WHEN TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL, THE VEHICLE WOULD EMIT AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE ODOR INTO THE INTERIOR CABIN. THE VAP VALVE WAS REPLACED BY A SERVICE CENTER BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS NOT A FUEL LEAK PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000. UPDATED 01/18/13*LJ UPDATED 1/25/2013 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER TEMPERATURES, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN UNUSUALLY OVERPOWERING GASOLINE FUEL ODOR FROM THE INTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS YET THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.

WE'RE THE OWNERS OF A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER (ABOUT 90 000 MILES). FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS AFTER WE FILL THE GAS TANK, WE DETECT GAS FUMES NEAR THE REAR WHEELS - EXTERIOR ONLY. AS THE TANKS LEVEL GOES DOWN, THE SMELL WILL GO AWAY. WE ARE NOT OVER-FILLING; IN FACT WE WILL FILL BEFORE THE PUMP "CLICKS OFF". THERE IS NO DRIPPING OF GAS AND OUR MECHANIC HAS CHECKED FOR LEAKS/OVERFLOWS ETC AND HAS FOUND NOTHING. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS WRONG AND WE ARE NOT THE ONLY OWNERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS EXTERIOR SMELL (IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN VERY PREVALENT IN THE 2002 MODEL). THE DEALER HAS BEEN NO HELP. WE HOPE NHTSA CAN HELP US. THANKS. *TR

THE PREVIOUS NIGHT WAS -17, I DIDN'T DRIVE THE CAR ALL DAY. AT 6:30 PM I DROVE THE CAR FOR 1/2HOUR, ALL WAS WELL. 2 HOURS LATER (-3 DEGREES) I GOT IN THE CAR AND DROVE 15 MIN AT WHICH TIME I CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND TURNED RIGHT ONTO ANOTHER ROAD AND THE SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR BEGAN. I LOOKED UP THE SYMPTOMS ONLINE AND FOUND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. *TR

2003 SUBARU FORESTER XS - FUEL SMELL IN CABIN DURING COLD WEATHER. SIMILAR TO THE MANY POSTS OUT THERE, THERE IS AN UNBEARABLE SMELL OF GAS IN THE CABIN OF MY CAR. I HAVE TO ROLL WINDOWS DOWN IN THE FREEZING WEATHER TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE. I'VE READ IT IS DUE TO CONTRACTING FUEL LINES THAT THEN LEAK. FIRE HAZARDS ARE OBVIOUS, BUT THE NOXIOUS GAS IS ENOUGH TO AT LEAST DISTRACT YOUR DRIVING IF NOT KNOCK YOU UNCONSCIOUS. I WILL VISIT MY DEALER THIS WEEK TO COMPLAIN. *TR

MY 2003 SUBARU FORESTER HAS A FUEL LEAK SMELL THAT ENTERS THE CAR INTERIOR.. IT'S NOT A RICH FUEL MIXTURE EXHAUST SMELL, IT'S THE SMELL OF RAW FUEL INSIDE THE CABIN. IT COMES AND GOES. I SEE ONLINE OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. SUBARU SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND FORCED TO HAVE A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL. *TR

CABIN HAS STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN STARTING IN THE MORNING. THE SMELL IS LIKE SOMEONE POURED A CUP OF FUEL ON THE FRONT SEAT. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL LINE LEAKING. MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THE SUBARU OWNER WEBSITES. *TR

TODAY, I STARTED MY 2003 SUBARU FORESTED, AND LET THE CAR RUN WITH THE HEAT ON FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHILE I SCRAPED THE FROST OFF OF MY WINDOWS. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR TO GET IN, THE CABIN WREAKED OF GAS FUMES. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. ONCE EACH IN JAN 2006 AND JAN 2007 I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP. IN 2006 THEY ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE CLAMPS, IN '07 THEY REPLACED SOME HOSES. APPARENTLY THESE FIXES ARE STILL NOT SUFFICIENT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE ONLY CURRENT SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IS TO OPERATE THE CAR AT WARM TEMPERATURES OR LET IT WARM UP BEFORE DRIVING. THE GAS FUMES ARE STILL GETTING IN TO THE CABIN WHEN IT IDLES, THOUGH. *TR

ON MONDAY NIGHT, 5 FEB. 2007, WHEN I PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE IT SMELLED STRONGLY OF GASOLINE. I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ODOR SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I DID NOT SEE ANY GASOLINE LEAKING. THE STRENGTH OF THE ODOR SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE COLD WEATHER (15-20 DEG. F). THAT MONDAY WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAD EVER NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE EMANATING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE ODOR WAS SO INTENSE THAT I DECIDED TO PARK THE CAR OUTSIDE AS A PRECAUTION. I DROVE THE CAR TUESDAY MORNING AND PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE AND IT SMELLED OF GAS AGAIN. AS THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE HAS INCREASED, THE INTENSITY OF THE SMELL HAS DECREASED. DURING VERY COLD WEATHER SMALL AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE SEEMED TO BE LEAKING FROM ONE OF THE FUEL LINES OR ESCAPING FROM THE ENGINE. ON 9 FEBRUARY, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO DEALER (HERITAGE SUBARU, OWINGS MILLS, MD) SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND ASKED THEM TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE GASOLINE SMELL. THE DEALER REPLACED THREE SHORT RUBBER FUEL HOSES (P/N 807707130) FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE REPLACED HOSES SHOWED NO SIGN OF WEAR, HOLES, CUTS, ABRASIONS ETC., BUT THE DEALER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT FUEL HAD PERMEATED THE HOSE MATERIAL ALLOWING FUMES AND POSSIBLY SMALL AMOUNTS OF FUEL TO ESCAPE. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN MATERIAL OR DESIGN SINCE THE CAR IS ONLY 3.5 YEARS OLD AND THE REPLACED HOSES SHOW NO SIGNS OF WEAR (I.E., OLD AND NEW HOSES APPEAR ON THE OUTSIDE TO BE IDENTICAL). I HAVE THE OLD HOSES AND CAN PROVIDE THEM FOR INSPECTION. *JB

FUEL LINE FAILED, LEAKING FUEL IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *JB

I RECENTLY HAD AN UNCOMFORTABLE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS INCIDENT WITH MY 2003 FORESTER, AT, OF ALL PLACES, THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I HAD STOPPED TO DISCUSS A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. UPON LEAVING, MY FORESTER WOULD NOT START, BUT EXHIBITED SYMPTOMS OF INITIALLY FUEL STARVATION, AND THEN POOR IGNITION; IT RAN FOR 1/2-1 MINUTE, MISSING FREQUENTLY AND THEN WOULD DIE; WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, IT WOULD NOT RUN AT ALL, SUGGESTING EITHER COMPLETE FUEL OR IGNITION FAILURE. THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLOSED AT 6, AND THEIR SUGGESTION WAS TO TOW THE FORESTER TO THE NEARLY SUBARU DEALERSHIP, ONE BLOCK AWAY. AND SUGGEST THAT NEXT TIME I GET A RAV4. THE SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLOSED AT 5:30, OF COURSE, AND THERE WERE ONLY SALESPEOPLE PRESENT. THEIR SUGGESTION WAS TO ALSO TOW THE CAR TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. FINALLY, THE SALES MANAGER SUGGESTED THAT IT MIGHT BE THE SECURITY SYSTEM. OF COURSE, MY FORESTER DID NOT HAVE THAT OPTION, BUT HE SAID THAT HE UNDERSTOOD MOST OF THE CIRCUITRY EXISTED, AND THAT CERTAIN COMBINATIONS OF LOCKING/UNLOCKING THE DOOR WITH THE KEY, OR THE DOOR SWITCH, COULD ACTIVATE THE IGNITION CUTOFF. HE TOLD ME TO SHUT ALL THE DOORS AND THEN LOCK/UNLOCK THE DOORS TWICE WITH THE REMOTE. I WALKED BACK, DID THAT, AND THE FORESTER STARTED. AFTER DRIVING BACK AND THANKING HIM, I CAREFULLY READ BOTH THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND THE SEPARATE MANUAL FOR THE REMOTE/SECURITY SYSTEM. THERE IS NO MENTION OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. LUCKILY, THIS HAPPENED IN DAYLIGHT, WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE SUBARU DEALER, AND THERE ALSO HAPPENED TO BE SOMEONE THERE WHO COULD SUGGEST A CURE. 1) IS THIS A KNOWN FAULT IN THE SYSTEM? 2) IF KNOWN (AND THE MANAGER SAID HE HAD HEARD OF SEVERAL CASES) WHY IS THERE NOT SOME DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM AND THE SIMPLE SOLUTION. *JB