2004 Subaru Forester Fuel System Problems

The rubber fuel injector lines under your intake manifold can develop dangerous gasoline leaks as the rubber deteriorates or factory clamps loosen over time. Fuel pooling on the hot engine block creates a serious fire hazard. This is a known design issue on similar Subaru models that affects your Forester. The fix typically involves replacing the rubber fuel lines and clamps with more reliable components.

Your fuel lines under the turbo in the engine compartment leak when it's cold outside. This appears to be a cold weather-specific issue that requires inspection and repair of the fuel system components in that area.

A neoprene hose connected to the right fuel rail at the top of your engine started leaking, causing raw fuel to spill onto the engine. While driving, the fuel smell was drawn into your cabin through the air intake system. When you stopped, fuel was actively dripping from the high-pressure hose.

Your car has a fuel leak under the front of the vehicle, which you'll notice as a strong fuel smell inside the car when you start it up. This is a safety concern that needs immediate attention. The repair will likely involve locating and fixing or replacing the leaking fuel line or fuel system component.

Your car has a persistent gasoline smell that you can't locate, especially when you fill up the gas tank. You've already had a gas pressure line behind the rear seat repaired after it burst, but the smell continues. Since you've noticed many similar complaints for this year and model, a fuel system inspection may be needed to identify the source of the leak.

During cold weather, you may notice a strong fuel smell inside your car while driving or stopped. The problem is in the fuel line fittings in the engine bay—when it gets cold, these fittings or hoses contract and cause fuel to leak near hot engine components. A mechanic will need to inspect and likely replace the fuel line fittings to stop the leak.

You noticed a strong fuel smell coming from under the front passenger side of your car when trying to start it in cold weather. The smell appeared at around 160,000 miles. A fuel leak or damaged fuel line in that area may need to be inspected and repaired.

Your car has fuel leaks in the low and high pressure fuel hoses that allow a strong fuel smell to enter the cabin through the climate control system. The odor is most noticeable on cold days and typically fades once the engine warms up, but it may be strong enough to require driving with windows down. Fixing this will likely involve inspecting the fuel hoses for cracks or damage and replacing any that are leaking.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ODOR OF FUEL AND A LEAK COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

MY FORESTER HAS BEGUN TO SMELL LIKE GAS WHEN IT IS TURNED ON WHILE IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. A FUEL LINE IS LEAKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE FUEL RAIL. THE FUEL IS LEAKING RIGHT NEXT TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THE TURBO (SEE, REALLY HOT PARTS, SEE ALSO, DANGEROUS). THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CAR AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS RIGHT TO REQUIRE OWNERS TO PAY HUNDREDS TO THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO KEEP THEIR CARS FROM BURSTING IN TO FLAMES. PLEASE SEE ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE AND DO SOMETHING TO PROTECT AND REIMBURSE THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU.

LEAKING FUEL LINE UNDER MANIFOLD, FUEL SMELL VERY STRONG AND LEAKS INTO ENGINE BAY.

GOT UP TO AND STARTED MY CAR TO GET IT WARMED UP SINCE IT WAS 8 F OUTSIDE. 20 MINUTES LATER WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS. UPON INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LINE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DRIPPING GASOLINE ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK, WHERE IT WAS POOLING. WHILE SEARCHING ONLINE FOR INFO ON THIS, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH EARLY 2000'S SUBARUS, EVEN TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY RECALLED THE WRX MODELS FOR THIS EXACT REASON, BUT MADE NO MENTION OF THEIR OTHER MODELS.

GAS SMELL COLD WEATHER CAR IDOLING

JUST LIKE 60 OR SO OTHER 03-05 FORESTER XT OWNERS, I'M EXPERIENCING THE FUEL LEAK FROM THE RUBBER FUEL LINE WHERE IT CLAMPS ON TO THE METAL LINE TO THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE INJECTOR. JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, THE ISSUE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN TEMPERATURES DROPPED BELOW ABOUT 20F - UNCOINCIDENTALLY, IN MY OPINION, THIS WAS THE FIRST NEW ENGLAND WINTER THIS CAR HAD EVER SEEN. SUBARU HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR WRX WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE INVOLVING THE SAME EXACT HARDWARE. GET ON IT SUBARU, THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW. YOU'VE ALREADY FESSED UP TO THE ISSUE WITH OTHER VEHICLES USING THE EJ255 NOW DON'T FORGET ABOUT US FOZZY OWNERS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER. WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR BEING DRIVEN, A FUEL ODOR WAS DETECTED IN AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL ODOR WAS MOST NOTICEABLE WHILE OPERATING THE HEATER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MID-HUDSON SUBARU (1715 U.S. 9, WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY 12590 (866) 678-2048) SEVERAL TIMES, BUT NO LEAKS OR FAILURES WERE DETECTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER FINALLY DETECTED A FUEL ODOR AND DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS A MALFUNCTION WITH TUBING OR PIPING WITHIN THE ENGINE. THE PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT THE LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. *TT *TR

CAR HAS A STRONG GAS ODOR IN THE CAB WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPS TO 20 DEGREES AND BELOW. OCCURING ON COLD START AND CONTINUING IN MOTION ON LOCAL AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. AFTER A FEW UNSUCCESSFUL FIXES BY AUTHORIZED SUBARU SERVICE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS FOR THREE YEARS SOA NEEDS TO RECOGNISE THIS GAS LEAK FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR AS A RECALL AND PERMINENT FIX PLEASE HELP

THERE IS A RAW GAS SMELL INSIDE THE CAR WHEN PARKED, OR STOPPED WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING IN COLD WEATHER.

THERE IS A TERRIBLE GAS SMELL DURING COLD WEATHER FROM SOME LEAK IN THE FUEL LINE. OTHER SUBARU MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT NOT THE FORESTER. THE SMELL IS SO BAD THAT IT HAS GIVEN ME HEADACHES AND NAUSEA. THE SMELL IS PARTICULARLY AWFUL WHEN THE HEAT IS TURNED ON, WHICH IS PROBLEMATIC SINCE ONE WANTS THE HEAT ON WHEN IT'S THAT COLD OUT. SMELL PERSISTS AROUND THE CAR EVEN WHEN IT ISN'T RUNNING AND IS SO BAD I CAN'T PARK IT INSIDE MY ATTACHED GARAGE BECAUSE IT COMES INTO THE HOUSE. SUBARU REALLY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS. I HAVE MENTIONED IT TO MY MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY HAVE TRIED TO CORRECT IT BY TIGHTENING FUEL LINE CONNECTIONS, WHICH HAS NOT SOLVED THE ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THE OTHER MODELS BEING RECALLED, AND WHEN I RESEARCHED IT MYSELF I DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS (AT LEAST) OF SUBARU FORESTER OWNERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A HEALTH HAZARD. I DON'T THINK ANYONE SHOULD BE BREATHING THESE CONCENTRATED FUMES. SUBARU NEEDS TO DO A RECALL AND REPLACE THESE FAULTY LINES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR AT LEAST THE PAST 2 YEARS/WINTERS. MY MOST RECENT VISIT TO THE MECHANIC (TO ADDRESS THE FUEL SMELL AGAIN) WAS DECEMBER 23, 2016.

CAR LEAKS FUEL PROFUSELY FROM FUEL LINE NEAR ENGINE BLOCK WHEN RUNNING DURING COLD WEATHER TEMPERATURES BELOW 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

FORESTERS HAVE A COMMON PROBLEM OF A VERY COMMON PROBLEM OF THE FUEL LINE LEAKING. THE COLD CAUSES SHRINK TO THE FUEL LINES CAUSING A LEAK INTO THE ENGINE AND FUEL VAPORS TO ENTER THE CABIN. THIS ISSUE OCCURS WHETHER IT'S STATIONARY OR IN MOTION AS WELL AS ALL OTHER CONCEIVABLE STATES THAT THE VEHICLE CAN BE IN. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE WRX, THE SAME SHOULD OCCUR WITH THE FORESTER. THIS ISSUE OCCURS EVERY WINTER WHEN THE TEMP DROPS BELOW 20 DEGREES.

STRONG FUEL ODOR HAS BEEN ENTERING THE CABIN DURING STARTUP ON COLD MORNINGS. THIS IS CAUSED BY A FUEL LINE LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. THE LEAK CAN BE SEEN BUT IS INACCESSIBLE WITHOUT REMOVING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. ONCE THE VEHICLE HEATS UP AND THE LINE EXPANDS THE LEAK STOPS. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE AND THE DANGER OF INHALING GASOLINE FLAMES. *TR

FUEL LINES SEEP FUEL ONTO THE TOP OF ENGINE BLOCK AND NEAR TURBO INLET AREA WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW ~20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THE SEEPAGE OCCURS AT THE CLAMPS BETWEEN THE METAL AND GAS LINES BELOW THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THESE CLAMPS ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE WITHOUT REMOVAL OF MANY PARTS BY A PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC. GAS FUMES FILL THE CABIN WHEN THIS OCCURS AS WELL. FUMES ARE NOT BAD WHEN MOVING BUT IF STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE FUMES ARE VERY STRONG. THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH OTHER MODEL SUBARUS (2002 - 2003 SUBARU IMPREZA & IMPREZA WRX) THAT HAVE A VERY SIMILAR ENGINE CONFIGURATION BUT HAS NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED WITH THE SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONCERNS I HAVE ARE 1) FIRE HAZARD OF GAS POOLING ON TOP OF ENGINE BLOCK NEAR TURBO AND OTHER COMPONENTS 2) FUMES BUILDING UP IN THE PASSENGER CABIN.

THERE IS A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE CAR WHEN THE HEAT IS ON AND THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE IS AROUND 30F OR COLDER. THE ODOR OCCURS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE CAR IS MOVING OR NOT.

LEAKING GAS UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHEN IT IS COLD OUT, 90K MILES ON THE CAR.

IN COLD WEATHER THERE IS A FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN. I'M TOLD THIS IS A COMMON SUBARU PROBLEM THAT RESULTS FROM THE METAL FUEL LINE JOINING WITH A RUBBER/PLASTIC HOSE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE METAL AND RUBBER EXPAND/CONTRACT AT DIFFERENT RATES AS THE TEMPERATURE CHANGES RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN STATIONARY IDLING DURING COLD WEATHER.

APPROX. 90000 MILES - STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE PASSENGER CABIN. LEAKING SEAL AS DESCRIBED BY 1000'S OF OTHER SUBARU OWNERS. WHY NO RECALL OR ADVISORY ON WHAT OWNER'S SHOULD LOOK FOR. BETWEEN GM FIRES, ETC, NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT YOU ALL NEED TO ISSUE RECALL ORDER/NOTIFICATIONS. SAD.

DANGEROUS!! I AM THE RECENT PROUD OWNER OF A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO WE GOT OUR FIRST FREEZE. I WALK OUT TO START MY CAR AND IT'S NOT TURNING OVER AND A STRONG FUEL SMELL IS FILLING THE CABIN. I KEEP TRYING THINKING THAT IT MAY TURN OVER. WITH NO LUCK, AND FEARING SOMETHING IS WRONG (OR MAY POSSIBLY BLOW UP), I STOP AND GET OUT. TAKING A CLOSER LOOK HAVING PARKED IT SOME DIRT, I SEE THAT IT IS VISIBLY MOIST UNDER MY CAR. THE GROUND IS SATURATED WITH GAS. LUCKILY IT DIDN'T CONTACT ANY SPARK IN THE ENGINE OR I WASN'T SMOKING, BECAUSE I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY TO TELL THIS STORY. IT WAS A TON OF GAS. PLEASE FIX THIS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES OR GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

DURING WINTER MONTHS 2004 FORESTER XT EMITS NOXIOUS FUEL SMELL INTO CABIN. SOURCE IS FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN AREA OF TURBO/EXHAUST MANIFOLD AS DISCOVER FROM PUDDLE ON GARAGE FLOOR DURING WARM UP

THE FUEL LINES UNDER THE MANIFOLD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ARE LEAKING FUEL WHEN FIRST STARTING AND IT IS COLD OUTSIDE(BELOW 50F). THE FUMES AND FILLING THE CAB OF THE CAR WHEN THE HEATER IT ON.

FUEL RAIL HOES CLAMPS/RUBBER LINE IS FAULTY, CAUSING POOLING OF GAS ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. MAJOR FIRE HAZARD.

I STARTED THE CAR ON A COLD MORNING AND THE WHOLE VEHICLE SMELLED OF GASOLINE. I'M UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED AS I FEAR THEY MAY BE INHALING FUMES OR MAY SUFFER A HORRIBLE FIERY DEATH I RISK MY OWN LIFE BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND NOTICE THE SMELL STARTS TO GO AWAY AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP EITHER THAT OR I'M JUST USED TO IT. MY 02 WRX HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND IT WAS RECALLED. WHY HAVEN'T THE XT ISSUES BEEN RECALLED? HADDAD SUBARU IN PITTSFIELD MA TIGHTENED UP WHAT THEY COULD REACH BUT THE ISSUE LIES BENEATH THE INTAKE.

MY CAR HAS A STRONG GAS ODOR SMELL COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS AND FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR WHILE I'M DRIVING OR EVEN WHILE THE CAR IS WARMING UP AND NOT MOVING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE LAST YEAR AND I JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT ANOTHER FRIEND OF MINE WITH THE SAME TYPE OF CAR TOLD ME TO REPORT IT TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE. *TR

IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW 30 DEGREES), FUEL LINES LEAK UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, CAUSING A SEVERE FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN, MOST LIKELY ALSO A FIRE HAZARD. DEALER CLAIMS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. UPON RESEARCH A LARGE MAJORITY OF SUBARUS IN MODEL RANGE HAVE THE ISSUE, WITH NO FIX IN SIGHT. *TR

THERE IS A VERY STRONG AND DISTINCT SMELL OF RAW FUEL COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN THE WEATHER IS BELOW FREEZING (20F OR BELOW). THE SMELL COMES THROUGH THE AIR VENTS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE A HEADACHE FOR THE PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. THE SMELL IS WORST WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AFTER A DRIVE. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SUBARU WRX 2002 & 2003 CARS AND SUBARU HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THEM. THIS ALSO SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ENOUGH PROBLEM FOR SUBARU FORRESTER CARS FROM THE SAME TIMEFRAME. ON THE WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2004/SUBARU/FORESTER, ALMOST 50% OF THE COMPLAINTS OUT OF 154 COMPLAINTS IS ABOUT THIS FUEL LEAK ISSUE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM ACCORDING TO DEALERS AND OTHER SUBARU FORRESTER OWNERS AS WELL (HTTP://WWW.SUBARUFORESTER.ORG/VBULLETIN/F87/SMELL-GAS-COLD-STARTS-41319/). IT HAS ALSO BEEN DOCUMENTED BY OTHER OWNERS AT NHTSA: HTTPS://SITES.GOOGLE.COM/SITE/20042005FORESTERXTFUELLEAKS/ SUBARU OF AMERICA SEEMS TO HAVE IMPLICITLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE SYSTEMIC PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE BEEN REIMBURSING SOME OWNERS (BUT NOT ALL) FOR THEIR SERVICE COSTS WHICH CAN BE IN THE RANGE FOR $800 (HTTP://WWW.SUBARUFORESTER.ORG/VBULLETIN/F88/FIXING-LEAKING-FUEL-GAS-LINE-86782/). HOWEVER, SUBARU HAS NOT RECALLED THESE CARS AND IS EXPECTING OWNERS TO FIX THE PROBLEMS WHICH MAY MAY CAUSE HEALTH ISSUES AND GIVEN FUEL LEAKING ON HOT ENGINE PARTS, MAY LEAD TO AN ENGINE FIRE IF NOT FIXED. *JS

STRONG ODOR OF GAS WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS. *TR

NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL AFTER LETTING THE CAR WARM UP ON A COLD MORNING, ODOR WENT AWAY AFTER 15-20 MINUTES. FUEL SMELL HAS GOTTEN STRONGER, AND IS NOW CONSTANT EVEN WHEN OPERATING UNDER HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS MANY OTHER FORESTER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT. ISSUES IT WITH THE FUEL LINE GOING TO THE INJECTORS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE MOTOR. IS EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE AND PARTS THAT SUBARU USES ON THE WRX WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. *TR

BASICALLY I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME RAW FUEL SMELL MANY OTHERS HAVE DESCRIBED. THE HOSE UNDER THE INTERCOOLER AND SEVERAL OTHER HOSES AND PARTS VISIBLY LEAKS AND SMELLS WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE COLD OUTSIDE. I LIVE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST...IT'S COLD A LOT HERE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR, FOR HER HEALTH REASONS, AND REALLY DON'T LIKE WASTING MY HARD EARNED FUEL WAITING FOR THE CAR TO WARM UP WITH THE RECIRCULATING VENT FEATURE TURNED ON AND THE FACT THAT IT DRIPS THE FUEL OUT AND ONTO THE ENGINE... SINCE SOA HAS RECALLED THE WRX'S WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, WHY DO THOSE OF US THAT OWN LEGACYS, OUTBACKS, FORESTERS AND I WOULD ALSO ASSUME BAJAS NOT BE TREATED THE SAME WAY? SOA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER IMMEDIATELY AND KEEP ITS LOYAL CUSTOMERS EXACTLY THAT....LOYAL. *TR

I HAVE NOTICED IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS THAT WHEN I COLD START (UNDER APPROXIMATELY 20 DEGREES) MY 04 SUBARU FORESTER, THERE IS A VERY POTENT RAW GAS SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IT TYPICALLY DIMINISHES AS THE CAR HEATS UP BUT IF YOU TURN ON THE HEAT/VENTILATION SYSTEM THE SMELL BECOMES UNBEARABLE. IN DOING RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY SUBARU OWNERS (OF VARIOUS MODELS AND YEARS) ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THIS SMELL NOR TRANSPORTING ANY PASSENGERS WITH THE CAR IN THIS CONDITION. *TR

FUEL SMELL IN CABIN WITH BLOWER SET ON OUTSIDE AIR. THE CAUSE WAS A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE BAY UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TR

ON DAYS WITH SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, A STRONG SMELL OF GAS IS PRESENT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THERE IS GASOLINE VISIBLY DRIPPING FROM A FUEL LINE BEHIND THE AC COMPRESSOR. THE GASOLINE LANDS ON THE ENGINE BLOCK AND PRODUCES VISIBLE VAPORS AS IT IS SLOWLY BURNED UP BY THE HEAT. UPON DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM WITH A SUBARU REPAIR SHOP, THEY SAID THIS IS QUITE COMMON FOR MY VEHICLE. *TR

I PURCHASED A USED SUBARU FORESTER XT. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 180,000 MILES AND WAS PURCHASED MID-WINTER IN DENVER, COLORADO. ON EXTREMELY COLD DAYS I NOTICED A RAW FUEL SMELL. IT WAS AN ALARMINGLY STRONG SMELL! I WAS ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE SINCE I HAD ALSO OWNED A 2002 SUBARU WRX WITH APPROXIMATELY 155,000 WHICH INCIDENTALLY WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL FOR THIS "KNOWN" ISSUE. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH RAW GAS SMELL ON THE DAYS THAT WERE WARMER WITH EITHER VEHICLE. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT A SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN LONGMONT, COLORADO WHERE THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE FUEL HOSES WERE LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE MANIFOLD AND THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME BECAUSE IT WAS BACK ORDERED APPROXIMATELY 6-8 WEEKS. I HAD A FACTORY TRAINED SUBARU TECHNICIAN THAT OWNS HIS OWN SHOP REPLACE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF THE FUEL DELIVERY HOSES WITH ORIGINAL SUBARU REPLACEMENT PARTS SINCE SAID PART WAS BACK ORDERED. I ALSO REPLACED THE LONG BLOCK (SUBARU) ALONG WITH A HOST OF OTHER ITEMS AT THE SAME TIME SINCE THE MOTOR WAS OUT. PRIOR TO GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP I WAS ABLE TO TEST THE VEHICLE'S INTERNAL ATMOSPHERE WITH A TOOL THAT DETECTS THE ENVIRONMENTS AIR QUALITY. THE ATMOSPHERE WAS ABLE TO TRIP THE TOOL SHOWING THAT THE ATMOSPHERE WAS IN A LOWER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT. IMAGINE MY SURPRISE THAT IT WAS THAT BAD. I DETERMINED THAT THIS ISSUE WARRANTED AN IMMEDIATE FIX WITH SUBARU FACTORY PARTS. AS OF THIS LAST WEEK, NOVEMBER 2014, WHEN DENVER HAD RECORD BREAKING COLD WEATHER I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN WITH RAW FUEL SMELL. NOW, ONE COULD CONCLUDE THAT THE FACTORY TRAINED TECHNICIAN MADE AN ERROR REPLACING SAID PARTS BUT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE WITHOUT ISSUE FOR NEARLY 9 WARM MONTHS. COINCIDENCE??? I'M BEGINNING TO WONDER. THIS FIX SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED UNDER A RECALL AS WAS MY 2002 SUBARU WRX. I CALLED S.O.A WITH NO HELP. *TR

WARMED UP VEHICLE. TEMP WAS BELOW 31 DEGREES CLOSER TO LOW 20'S. WITHIN TWO MINUTES FUEL SMELL ENTERED VEHICLE. OVER COME BY FUMES... ROLLED DOWN WINDOWS. PROBLEM TOOK AT LEAST 15 MINUTES AT LEAST TO GET RID OF SMELL. VERY WORRIED DUE TO FUEL BEING A HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE FLUID IN A HOT ENGINE. *TR

FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, EVERY TIME THE WEATHER GETS BELOW 40 DEGREES OR SO, THE INTERIOR CABIN SMELLS LIKE RAW GASOLINE UPON STARTING THE CAR AND CONTINUING THROUGH SEVERAL MINUTES OF RUN TIME. *TR

VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN CABIN. I HAVE 2 KIDS THAT I TAKE TO SCHOOL, AND IN THE MORNING I HAVE TO START MY CAR 20 MIN BEFORE WE LEAVE AND OPEN THE WINDOWS TO AIR IT OUT. THE GAS SMELL IS TOXIC, AND DANGEROUS. THIS IS THE A DESIGN FLAW THAT POSES SERIOUS RISK, AS IT IS BOTH A HEALTH AND A FIRE HAZARD. IT SEEMS JUST ABOUT EVERY FORESTER OWNER HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS WELL. SUBARU NEEDS TO EXPAND THE EXISTING IMPREZA / WRX RECALLS TO THE FORESTER, AS THE RELEVANT PARTS ARE THE SAME AND THE ISSUE IS VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL. PLEASE FIX THIS. *TR

EXTREMELY STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN CABIN IN COLD WEATHER. I DRIVE MY SMALL DAUGHTER TO DAYCARE EVERY DAY IN THAT CAR. THE GAS SMELL IS HORRIFIC, TOXIC, AND DANGEROUS. ALSO, THE CAUSE OF THAT GAS SMELL IS THE GAS LEAKAGE FROM THE RUBBER HOSE OF THE FUEL LINE ONTO HOT COMPONENST IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT POSES SERIOUS RISK, AS IT IS BOTH A HEALTH AND A FIRE HAZARD. SUBARU NEEDS TO EXPAND THE EXISTING IMPREZA / WRX RECALLS TO FORESTER, AS THE RELEVANT PARTS ARE THE SAME AND THE ISSUE IS VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL. *TR

WHEN WEATHER GOT COLDER THIS FALL AND WINTER SUDDENLY INTENSE SMELL OF FUEL IN CABIN. LOOKED UNDER HOOD, TIGHTENED WHATEVER FUEL CLAMPS I COULD REACH BUT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. EVERY DAY BELOW 40DEGREES POWERFUL SMELL OF RAW FUEL THROUGHOUT VEHICLE. THEN HAD TO TAKE TRIP INTO NEIGHBORING CITY, IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC EVEN WITH WINDOWS FULL OPEN IN 15 DEGREE WEATHER FUMES GOT SO OVERWHELMING I HAD TO PULL OVER IN A PARKING LOT, ESCAPE THE CAR AND VOMIT. BACK HOME CALLED DEALER, THEY SAID THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS LEAKY FUEL HOSES AND CLAMPS UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND QUOTED OVER $800 TO FIX AS THEY TOLD ME OTHER MODELS WERE COVERED BY RECALL BUT FORESTERS HAD "DODGED THE RECALL PROCESS" SO FAR. *TR

LEAKING FUEL WHEN COLD OUTSIDE, I CAN SEE FUEL DRIPPING FROM A FUEL LINE UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD EVERY TIME I START MY CAR IN THE MORNING WHEN THE CAR IS COLD IN THE COLD WEATHER IN WINTER. *TR

I'VE OWNED MY 2004 FORESTER FOR 4 YEARS NOW AND NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS WINTER SEEMINGLY HAVING LONGER COLD SPELLS SEEMED TO INDUCE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN I TURN ON THE HEAT, WHICH IS A MAJOR ISSUE IN THE WINTER. I'VE READ A LITTLE ABOUT IT AND IT SEEMS MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

THERE IS A PRONOUNCED, UNMISTAKABLE SMELL OF UNCOMBUSTED GASOLINE EMANATING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS SOON AS THE CAR IS STARTED ON COOL OR COLD MORNINGS. THE FUMES ENTER THE PASSENGER CABIN THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. IT IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE HEADACHES AND REQUIRE LOWERING THE WINDOWS UNTIL IT DISSIPATES MINUTES LATER. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN, WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE FUEL LINES UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. GASOLINE IS LEAKING ONTO HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS. *TR

FUEL LINES CRACK IN COLD WEATHER (APPROX UNDER 25 AND UNDER). STRONG FUEL SMELL IN CABIN WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE PASSENGERS ILL, CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. FUEL WAS POOLING IN THE ENGINE BAY NEAR THE HOT TURBO AND EXHAUST SYSTEM. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, SERVICE WRITER KNEW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS AS SOON AS I TOLD HIM MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR - SAID IT'S VERY COMMON. FOUND PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA SITE AND HUNDREDS IN FORUMS. SUBARU ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON THE 2003 GENERATION WRX VEHICLES, BUT NOT THE FORESTERS. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEMS. SUBARU'S ARE PURCHASED AS IDEAL SNOW VEHICLE, AND REPAIRS COST UPWARD OF $600. THIS IS A DIRECT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

UPON START UP IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW FREEZING), THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL IN THE CABIN. AT TIMES IT IS UNBEARABLE NECESSITATING ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOWS, EVEN IN SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES. IT LOOKS LIKE FUEL IS LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE ENGINE BAY. IT HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY AND I WORRY THE FUMES ARE DANGEROUS FOR NOT ONLY PASSENGERS' HEALTH, BUT ALSO IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR

UPON STARTING CAR IN COLD WEATHER (APPROX. 25 DEGREES F OR COLDER), THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL. CANNOT TURN HEAT ON AS FUEL SMELL FILLS CABIN AND MAKES PASSENGERS NAUSEOUS. HEADACHES HAVE ALSO OCCURRED. WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED IN GARAGE AFTER DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER, FUMES ACCUMULATE IN GARBAGE AND LEAK INTO HOUSE AS WELL. APPARENTLY FUEL LINES SHRINK IN COLD AND LEAK FUEL DIRECTLY ONTO ENGINE. THIS IS BOTH HEALTH AND FIRE HAZARD. *TR

VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE CAR WITH HEATER ON SO STRONG HAVE TO ROLL WINDOW DOWN. HAPPENS 2 TO 3 TIMES A WEEK ON COLD DAYS. STRONGEST WHEN ITS A COLD START. *TR

ON VERY COLD DAYS WHILE CAR IS WARMING UP, A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IS COMING FROM UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. A CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALS A SMALL FUEL LEAK FROM THE FUEL SUPPLY LINES NEAR THE TURBO. A SUBARU IMPREZA ENTHUSIAST FORUM HAS A "RAW FUEL SMELL" LOG OF MORE THAN 131 PAGES AND 3,000 POSTS (HTTP://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=131755). SUBARU ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) FOR CERTAIN SUBARU IMPREZAS, BUT THEY HAVE NOT INITIATED ANY TSBS FOR ANY OTHER CARS ALL USING THE SAME OR SIMILAR ENGINES. SEE TSB 01-170-09. AS LEAKING FUEL ONTO YOUR ENGINE IS A SAFETY HAZARD, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SUBARU INITIATE SOME KIND OF TSB OR RECALL FOR ALL ENGINES EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND MANY SUBARU OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED TO SUBARU AND NHTSA WITH NO RESULTS. *TR

A STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN I STARTED MY CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED, FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 03/12/14 UPDATED 3/12/14*CN THE FUEL LINES, CLAMPS AND UPPER INTAKE GASKETS WERE REPLACED. THE FUEL LINES WERE CRACKED. UPDATED 04/01/14

THIS 2004 SUBARU FORESTER 2.5 XT AWD 4-SPD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH MULTI-PURPOSE FUEL INJECTION TURBO (FEEDBACK FUEL SYSTEM) HAS BEEN PRODUCING A STRONG FUEL SMELL THAT FILLS THE ENTIRE VEHICLE CABIN. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS IS TO BE EXPECTED FROM THIS TYPE OF ENGINE AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING MUCH THAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT AND TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT. THE DEALER ALSO INDICATES THAT THIS PROBLEM IS BASICALLY CAUSED BY EXTREME COLD WEATHER AND/OR TEMPERATURE CHANGE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE SUBARU IMPREZA AND THAT SUBARU ISSUED A RECALL. NO VEHICLE, SUBARU OR OTHERWISE, SHOULD PRODUCE A PROBLEM LIKE THIS ONE THAT IS "UNFIXABLE." THE CONSUMER SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM THIS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. THIS CONSUMER IS PUTTING SUBARU ON NOTICE. *TR

SMELL OF RAW GAS INSIDE OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME ONLY ON EXTREMELY COLD DAYS. *TR

IMMEDIATELY UPON STARTING THE ENGINE A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE FILLED THE ENTIRE PASSENGER CABIN. COLD WEATHER TEMPERATURE WAS WELL BELOW FREEZING. HAS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY, AND IS CORRECTED BY TIGHTENING THE FUEL LINE CONNECTIONS. *TR

I STARTED THE CAR AFTER IT HAD SAT IN 10-15 DEGREE WEATHER AND THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF UNUSED GASOLINE IN THE CABIN. IT HAS STARTED HAPPENING ON START-UP FREQUENTLY SINCE THEN. *TR

FUEL SMELL AT START UP IN TEMPS BELOW 35 DEGREES, DECREASES AFTER CAR WARMS UP. IF VERY COLD DOES NOT GO AWAY. *TR

FUEL LEAK IN 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT SIMILAR TO OTHER SAFETY COMPLAINTS ENTERED, NHTSA CAMPAIGN 09V468000 AND SUBARU RECALL WVK-21 FOR 2003 WRX. EVENING OF 7JAN2014 DRIVING HOME (IN UNCOMMONLY COOL WEATHER) THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMELL STRONGLY OF GASOLINE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. UPON ARRIVING HOME, INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD TO OBSERVE DRIPPING FUEL (APPROXIMATELY 1 DRIP PER SECOND) ABOVE THE ENGINE AT A METAL TO RUBBER FUEL LINE CONNECTION. LEAKED FUEL WAS POOLED ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. A PUDDLE OF WARM FUEL VAPORIZING NEAR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT (BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, RADIATOR FANS) IS A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE THE EVENT. I INVESTIGATED ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER ACCOUNTS OF COLD WEATHER FUEL LEAKS IN MANY SUBARU MODELS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO MINE. MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER APPEARED TO BE AWARE OF THE ISSUE WHEN I CALLED, BUT STATED THERE IS NO ACTIVE RECALL ON MY MODEL. THEY OFFERED THAT THEIR FIX IS TO TIGHTEN THE HOSE CLAMPS BUT I WOULD NEED TO COVER THE COST OF THE WORK. IF SUBARU HAS ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE IN THE 2002-2003 IMPREZA AND WRX, WHY WOULD THEY NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM IN OTHER MODELS THAT SHOW THE SAME SYMPTOMS? *TR

DURING THE RECENT COLD SNAP HERE IN TENNESSEE I GOT A REPORT FROM A FRIEND THAT HIS 2004 FORESTER XT WAS LEAKING FUEL INTO HIS ENGINE BAY. I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR THE NEXT DAY AND MINE IS DOING THE SAME THING. THE FUEL IS SLOWLY LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I DID SOME RESEARCHING AND IT SEEMS THAT ALMOST ALL FORESTER MODELS FROM 2002-2006 HAVE THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE! SOME HAVE BEEN RECALLED, BUT THE FORESTER XT HASN'T. THE ENGINES ARE THE SAME...I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED BY SUBARU. *TR

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

STRONG SMELL OF FUEL WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER (AROUND 35 DEGREES OR COLDER). THE FUMES ARE SOMETIMES SO INTENSE THAT THEY CAUSE A HEADACHE AND CERTAINLY POSE A SIGNIFICANT FIRE RISK. *TR

I'VE OWNED MY 2004 SUBARU FOR 5 YEARS WITHOUT INCIDENT, BUT AS OF DECEMBER 2013, I'VE EXPERIENCED A STRONG FUEL SMELL BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. THE SMELL IS OVERPOWERING WHILE CAR IS PARKED, BUT LESSENS WHILE MOVING. IT BEGAN AFTER THE FIRST BIG DROP IN TEMPERATURE (40 DEGREES TO 10 DEGREES), AND HAS PERSISTED FOR OVER A WEEK NOW. *TR

DURING THE COLD WEATHER THERE IS AN VERY STRONG GAS SMELL IN THE CAR. I STARTED THE CAR AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND CAN SEE WHERE GAS IS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM. I BELIEVE IT LEAKS IN THE SAME SPOT THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED. *TR

I FIRST NOTICED A STRONG GAS SMELL IN THE VEHICLE ON THE COLDEST DAY OF THE YEAR, WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 20 DEGREES. THE GAS SMELL ENTERS THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS WHEN THE HEATER IS TURNED ON AND THE CAR IS IDLING. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 10+ MPH, THE GAS SMELL IS NOT NOTICEABLE. WHEN THE HEATER IS TURNED OFF, THE GAS SMELL DOES NOT ENTER THE VEHICLE. WHEN I EXIT THE VEHICLE, I CAN SMELL GAS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ALSO. THE SMELL IS SO OVERWHELMING THAT I CANNOT RUN THE HEATER IN THE EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IDLING. I RAN THE VEHICLE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS AND THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE GAS SMELL WHATSOEVER. I DO NOT TAKE MY CHILD IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME DURING THE WINTER MONTHS DUE TO THE STRONG GAS FUMES. I FEAR THAT I MAY BECOME STRANDED IN MY VEHICLE AND I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO IDLE MY CAR FOR HEAT. *TR

START VEHICLE IN THE MORNING AND CAN SMELL GAS FUMES OUTSIDE AND INSIDE EVEN WHEN DRIVING. THIS CAUSES BURNING OF NOSE AND THROAT. *TR

IT WAS SUMMER WHEN I FIRST NOTICE THE SMELL OF FUEL THROUGH MY VENTS AND I WAS DRIVING PASS AN GAS STATION (SHELL) SO I DIDN'T THINK MUCH NOT TILL THE NEXT MORNING AS I WARMED UP THE CAR I SMELLED PURE GASOLINE NEXT TO THE PASSENGER FENDER I THEN POP THE HOOD AND TRACED IT AND I WAS LEAD TO THE TURBO SIDE OF THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE FUEL RAIL AREA UNSURE AS THE ENGINE WARMED UP THE SMELL FADED AWAY BUT NOW IT'S WINTER AND IT'S BAD I CAN SEE A BIG LOST IN FUEL CONSUMPTION FULL TANK DOESN'T LAST A WEEK IT'S DRIVEN TO AND FROM WORK AROUND 4 TO 12 MILES A DAY NEED HELP! *TR

FOR A PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS IN EARLY JANUARY 2013 MY WIFE, DAUGHTER AND I COULD SMELL WHAT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS RAW GASOLINE WHEN WE DROVE OUR 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT. IT WOULD TYPICALLY TAKE LESS THAN 5 MINUTES AFTER WE STARTED THE ENGINE FOR THE SMELL OF GAS TO BECOME VERY STRONG, EVEN OVERWHELMING. ALTHOUGH IT COULD STILL BE SICKENING, THE PROBLEM WOULD IMPROVE SOMEWHAT AFTER WE DROVE THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES. AFTER WE CAREFULLY REFUELED THE CAR ON TWO OR THREE OCCASIONS WE CONCLUDED THAT THE ISSUE DEFINITELY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SPILLED FUEL OR THE FUEL CAP. WE WERE VERY CONCERNED THAT WHETHER OR NOT THE SITUATION LED TO A FIRE, WE WERE ALL BEING MADE VERY SICK BY THE PROBLEM. WE CONTACTED THE SUBARU DEALER WHERE WE HAVE OUR FORESTER SERVICED AND DROPPED OFF THE CAR FOR THEM TO TROUBLESHOOT. WE WERE QUICKLY CONTACTED AND TOLD THAT THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM AND THAT BECAUSE THE FUEL LINES RAN UNDER THE TURBOCHARGER THE REPAIR WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE (AND IT WAS). AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE IT QUICKLY BECAME APPARENT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NOT ONLY FORESTERS, BUT FOR OTHER SUBARU MODELS AS WELL. BEING THAT THIS IS (BY ANY STANDARD) A COMMON PROBLEM ARISING FROM THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE, THAT THERE IS NO OPTION BUT TO REPAIR THESE VEHICLES ON THREAT OF FIRE OR ILLNESS, THAT THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR DUE TO ANY KIND OF MISUSE OR NEGLECT, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL MADE FOR ALL SUBARUS THAT EXPERIENCE LEAKING FUEL SYSTEMS (NOT JUST THE WRX). BECAUSE THE REPAIR IS SO EXPENSIVE, AND SO MANY OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES LACK ANY WARRANTY COVERAGE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, I AM CONCERNED THERE ARE MANY OWNERS WHO WILL ATTEMPT THE REPAIR THEMSELVES OR HAVE THE WORK DONE BY TECHNICIANS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT A SAFETY RECALL IS MADE AND OWNERS ARE NOTIFIED BEFORE ANYONE IS HARMED. *TR

NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 FORESTER XS, CAUSING HEADACHES TO MYSELF AND PASSENGERS. I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT THERE WAS RAW GAS POOLING ON THE MANIFOLD. HE SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS MANY TIMES BEFORE - LEAKING FUEL LINES DUE TO THE COLD (IT WAS 12 DEGREES WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT). HE NOTED THAT THIS WAS THE WORST LEAK HE HAS SEEN. LOOKING AT A $700 BILL. I HAVE SINCE READ MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. WONDERING WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE FUEL SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR WOULD BECOME STRONGER WHEN THE CONTACT WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

THIS IS IN A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT (TURBO). STRONG SMELL OF UNBURNED FUEL COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND FILLING PASSENGER COMPARTMENT UPON STARTUP. *TR

IN COLD TEMPERATURES, THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE CABIN AND IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FUEL LEAKS IN COLD TEMPERATURES IS A RECURRENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR AS EVIDENCE BY: SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN SUBARU FORUMS. SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN RELATED MODELS. *TR

AFTER COMING HOME AND PARKING MY CAR IN THE GARAGE MY WIFE CAME IN FROM THE GARAGE AND SAID IT SMELLED LIKE GAS. I FOUND THE SOURCE TO BE MY 2004 SUBARU. I DROVE IT THE DEALER THE NEXT MORNING AND THEY SAID THAT THE FUEL LINES DUE TO THE COLD, AS IT WAS BELOW 20 DEGREE'S, PULLED AWAY FROM THE FUEL RAIL SO RAW GAS WAS POOLING ON THE MANIFOLD. THEY KEPT IT FOR A WEEK SAYING IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, AND REPLACED ALL THE FUEL LINES AND CLAMPS FOR $850. THEY SAID IT WAS ONE OF THE WORST LEAKS THEY HAVE SEEN. I HAVE NOW READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE AND NOTICED THE 2003 WRX, SAME ENGINE, WAS RECALLED FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I GUESS I AM LUCKY AS IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT ME, MY HOUSE OR WHO KNOWS WHAT ON FIRE IF IT HAS SPARKED.

IN COLD TEMPERATURES, THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE CABIN AND IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FUEL IS LEAKING BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE IT WHEN BROUGHT IN ON A WARMER DAY. FUEL LEAKS IN COLD TEMPERATURES IS A RECURRENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR AS EVIDENCE BY: SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN SUBARU FORUMS. SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN RELATED MODELS (SUBARU WRX) THIS IS A DANGER TO HEALTH AND SAFETY AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 30 DEGREES, THERE WAS A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTICED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD SMELL GASOLINE INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

MY 2004 FORESTER XT (TURBO) DEVELOPED A SLOW GASOLINE LEAK, WITH GAS SEEPING FROM HOSES/CLAMPS LOCATED UNDERNEATH MANIFOLD. GAS FUMES WERE ENTERING THE CAB OF VEHICLE, ESPECAILLY WHEN OUT-SIDE TEMPERATURES BELOW 40 DEGREES F. THIS IS A SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARD FOR DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM AS OUTLINED IN RECALL OF SUBARU IMPREZA WRX TURBO (RECALL #WVK-21), BUT TO DATE THERE ARE NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE FOR FORESTERS. I REENTLY HAD THIS FIXED AT A COST > $500, COST WAS PRIMARILY TO TAKE MANIFOLD OFF IN ORDER TO GET TO HOSES & CLAMPS WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

STRONG GAS/FUEL SMELL INSIDE CABIN AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT DURING VEHICLE WARM UP IN DRIVEWAY WHEN TEMP WAS IN LOW 20'S. UNABLE TO LOCATE LEAKING FUEL BUT SMELL IS NOTICEABLY STRONGER ON PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE BAY. VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO DEALER IN THE MORNING AS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. GAS VAPORS ARE EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE/EXPLOSIVE. I HAVE FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE AND OTHERS. THIS SUGGESTS THERE MAY BE AN INHERENT DESIGN FLAW SINCE THESE VEHICLES ARE MARKETED TO OWNERS IN COLD WEATHER LOCALES. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA VIA E-MAIL ABOUT THIS INCIDENT. TODAY IS SUNDAY AND NOTHING IS OPEN. *TR

STRONG RAW FUEL SMELL IN CABIN OF CAR DURING COLD START/COLD WEATHER. IT APPEARS THAT THE FUEL LINES SHRINK IN COLD WEATHER AND PULL AWAY FROM THE METAL FUEL LINES CAUSING VAPOR LEAK AS WELL AS FUEL LEAKS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE FUEL LINES ARE LOCATED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO TIGHTEN UNLESS THE MANIFOLD IS REMOVED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

ON THE FIRST GENUINE COLD DAY OF THE YEAR (BELOW 40 DEGREES F) I NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING FROM MY AIR VENTS WHILE DRIVING. AS IT'S NOW MID NOVEMBER AND AVERAGES BELOW 40 DEGREES F I GET A STRONG FUEL SMELL AT EVERY COLD START UNTIL THE CAR WARMS UP TO TOP OPERATING TEMPERATURE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS SYMPTOM, I DISCOVERED THAT IT'S VERY COMMON FOR THE FUEL CLAMPS UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO LEAK WHEN COLD ON 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XTS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS HAPPENING WITH MY CAR, AND IS POOLING FUEL ON THE ENGINE UNTIL WARM. AVERAGE ESTIMATE FROM DEALER IS $500. *TR

GAS LINES LEAK ON 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES FALL BELOW 30 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF FUEL LEAK INTO THE ENGINE AREA, AND STRONG FUMES ENTER THE PASSENGER AREA. NHTSA HAS ALREADY ISSUED A TSB ON THE SUBARU WXT REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM. CONCERNED ABOUT FIRE HAZARD AND INHALATION OF GASOLINE VAPORS. VERY STRONG ODOR. COULD NOT CONTINUE TO DRIVE. *TT

FUEL ODOR NOTED IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT STARTING 4/9/11, (137218 MI) 55 DEGREE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, VEHICLE RUNNING FOR 10+ MINUTES AND UP TO TEMPERATURE. AT STOP LIGHT WHEN ODOR BEGAN. CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE BECAME NAUSEATED AND BEGAN RETCHING. WINDOWS DOWN TO VENT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ODOR IDENTIFIED IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND ENGINE BAY ONLY, NO RAW FUEL ODOR IN EXHAUST OR SURROUNDING THE VEHICLE. 4/11/11, 52 DEGREES, 137463 MI 4/13/11, TIGHTENED ACCESSIBLE FUEL LINE CLAMPS IN ENGINE BAY 4/27/11, 40 DEGREES, 138113 MI 4/28/11, 53 DEGREES, 138215 MI 4/30/11, ISOLATED LEAK TO AREA IMMEDIATELY BELOW MANIFOLD, NEAR AIR FILTER ON LEFT SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE) OF ENGINE; ABLE TO VISUALIZE FUEL LEAKING ONTO ENGINE AT RATE OF 5 DROPS/10 SECONDS. 5/1/11 45 DEGREES, 138511 MI CONCERNS OVER SAFETY OF EXPOSED FUEL IN ENGINE BAY (EXPLOSION HAZARD), AS WELL AS EFFECT OF FUMES ON ADULTS/CHILDREN (TOXICITY), AND NON-COMPLIANCE WITH EPA STANDARDS. TO CONTACT SUBARU OF AMERICA TO DISCUSS OPTIONS FOR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF AFFECTED PARTS

IN VERY COLD TEMPERATURES (BELOW FREEZING), THE FUEL LINE UNDER THE INTAKE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL OCCASIONALLY LEAK AT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE RUBBER HOSE AND STEEL LINE. IT WILL DRIP FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK UNTIL IT WARMS UP. THE SMELL OF GASOLINE CAN BE DETECTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND AROUND THE ENGINE AREA. THE FUEL DRIPS AT A RATE OF ABOUT 1 DRIP PER 1-3 SECONDS UNTIL THE HOSE WARMS UP AND SEALS AGAINST THE STEEL LINE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY OFFERED TO TIGHTEN THE FUEL LINE FITTINGS. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE LIFTED AND THE COST WAS ABOUT $150, BUT THEY COULDN'T GUARANTEE A FIX. IT WILL HAVE TO BE RECHECKED IN COLDER WEATHER. THIS 2004 FORESTER XT HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

GAS LINES LEAK ON 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES FALL BELOW 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF FUEL LEAK INTO THE ENGINE AREA, AND STRONG FUMES ENTER THE PASSENGER AREA. NHTSA HAS ALREADY ISSUED A TSB ON THE SUBARU WXT REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM. CONCERNED ABOUT FIRE HAZARD AND INHALATION OF GASOLINE VAPORS. *TR

1ST ISSUE WITH 2004 FXT 4AT . COLD START EMITTING RAW FUEL SMELL BOTH IN AND OUTSIDE OF CAR. LOCAL SHOP DIAGNOSED AS WEAK CONNECTIONS ON FUEL FILTER. FILTER NEEDED REPLACEMENT IN 5,000 MILES, SO OPTED TO SWAP OUT TO A NEW OEM FILTER. NEXT DAY SMELL STILL PRESENT. TEMPS BELOW FREEZING FOR PAST 6 WEEKS (MICHIGAN), BUT PROBLEM ONLY STARTED 1 WEEK AGO. SINCE PROBLEM PERSISTS, DOING MORE RESEARCH, AND WILL CONTACT SOA AND LOCAL SUB DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE AND PLAN. NO OTHER FUEL COMPLAINTS (KNOCK, STALL, ROUGH IDLE, ECONOMY ISSUES). CURRENT MILEAGE 109,000. *TR

WE OWNED A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER FOR 6 YEARS. 2 YEARS AGO I EXPERIENCED AN INCIDENT WHERE STARTING OUT THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AT AN ADVANCED RATE OF SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY GAIN CONTROL AND BRAKE THE VEHICLE AND THOUGHT IT WAS AN ABERRATION. RECENTLY ON STARTING OUT FROM A FERRY BOAT THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN STUCK AT AN ADVANCED RATE OF SPEED. I AVOIDED PEOPLE AND MANY CARS BUT DID COLLIDE WITH A WALL AND 1 CAR, FINALLY STOPPING THE SUBARU BY DRIVING UP A HILL, OVER A CURB AND INTO A FENCE. I HAD MECHANICS CHECK THE ACCELERATOR SYSTEM. THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NO DEFECT IN THE SYSTEM BUT THAT OTHER FACTORS COULD CONTRIBUTE TO "STICKING" SUCH AS FAULTY FLOOR MATS OR PLACEMENT OD BRAKE AND/OR ACCELERATOR PEDALS. I AM NOT AN EXPERT BUT MY EXAMINATION INDICATES (1) THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 2 INCH GAP BETWEEN THE FRONT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE FLOOR (2)THAT T HE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE QUITE CLOSE TOGETHER; AND THAT A FOOT COULD BECOME "HUNG UP" OR LODGED BECAUSE OF EITHER OR BOTH OF THESE THINGS. THIS POSSIBILITY COULD BE INCREASED BY LARGER FEET, ALTHOUGH I DO NOT CONSIDER MY SIZE 11 WIDTH EE SHOE SIZE TO BE OVERLY LARGE. MY NON-EXPERT OPINION IS THAT THESE PEDALS SHOULD BE RE-ENGINEERED SO THAT (1) THERE IS NO GAP OF THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR (2)THERE IS A CLEAR SEPARATION OF THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS. *TR

STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR IN COLD WEATHER. REPLACED AND TIGHTENED FUEL CLAMPS, TO NO AVAIL. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE SAME SYSTEM ON THE WRX, WHY NOT THE FORESTER? *LN

STRONG ODOR OF RAW GASOLINE IN CABIN DURING COLD WEATHER WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED. SEEMS TO BE THE FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT MANY OTHER SUBARU FORESTER XT OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. *LN

2004 SUBARU FORESTER LEAKS FUEL DIRECTLY ONTO MANIFOLD IN CONDITIONS OF COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. RESEARCH REVEALS THE PROBLEM IS ENDEMIC TO VIRTUALLY ALL SUBARUS MODEL YEARS 2002 - 2004. IN 2009, SUBARU ISSUED A RECALL FOR 2002 IMPREZA WRX MODELS SOLD IN CERTAIN STATES, BUT THE ENGINE IS THE SAME DESIGN FOR THE OTHER MODELS. STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IS SYMPTOMATIC. STRONG RISK OF FIRE. ODOR ABATES WHEN ENGINE AND/OR AMBIENT TEMPERATURES RISE. *TR

1. NOTICED STRONG GAS ODOR AFTER DRIVING CAR. UPON INSPECTION, NOTICED GAS POOLED ON ENGINE TOP, PASSENGER SIDE, UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD. 2. APPEARS THAT FUEL LINE IS LEAKING. UNABLE TO ASCERTAIN EXACTLY WHERE, BECAUSE LEAK IS BEHIND INTAKE MANIFOLD. OCCURS DURING VERY COLD WEATHER. 3. REPAIRS FORTHCOMING. *TR

STRONG GAS ODOR WHEN CAR IS STARTED IN COLD TEMPERATURES. *TR

RAW FUEL SMELL IN CABIN DURING COLD START. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND HE SEES FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINE UNDER PASSENGER INTAKE MANIFOLD. TO RESOLVE ISSUE HE WILL HAVE TO PULL THE INTAKE, REPLACE FUEL LINES AND USE BETTER CLAMPS. THE CLAMPS AND HOSE USED BY SUBARU IS FAULTY AS I SEE A TON OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. THEY EVEN DID A RECALL ON THE WRX WHICH HAS THE SAME MOTOR AS THE FORESTER.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE TEMPERATURE STARTED TO DROP HE NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REALIZED THAT THE HARD FUEL LINE WAS LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.

I OWN AND DAILY DRIVE A 2004 FORESTER XT. IT HAS RECENTLY DEVELOPED WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A SEVERE SAFETY RELATED ISSUE. LAST NIGHT, AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, THERE WAS AN OVERWHELMING SMELL OF RAW FUEL IN THE CABIN. THIS SITUATION HAPPENED AGAIN THIS MORNING WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC, AT A RED LIGHT. THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS SO STRONG, I FELT LIGHT HEADED AND HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS 24 FAHRENHEIT. I FOUND THAT SUBARU OF AMERICA (SOA) ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON WRX MODELS WHICH PRODUCED THIS SYMPTOM. UPON INSPECTION OF MY ENGINE, I CAN BOTH SEE AND SMELL RAW FUEL SEEPING FROM ONE OR MORE OF THE FUEL LINES. I CONTINUED MY RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE COVERING MANY YEAR MODELS OF THE FORESTER AND THE LEGACY MODELS. DUE TO THE VOLATILITY OF GASOLINE AND THE INHERENT DANGERS TO HUMANS IN VAPOR FORM, I FEEL THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS AND NOTICED THE APPARENT LARGE POPULATION OF AFFECTED VEHICLES. THIS IS VERY DISCONCERTING. I AM CONTACTING SOA TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM AND TO REQUEST THEY COVER THE FAILURE UNDER GOODWILL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING COLD WEATHER HE WOULD SMELL GASOLINE FUMES INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED STATED THAT HE HAD A LEAK IN HIS FUEL LINE FROM THE HOSE ON THE FUEL RAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/02/11 *CN

DURING THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL FILLED THE CABIN OF THE CAR. IT WOULD SOMETIMES GO AWAY AFTER A HALF HOUR OF DRIVING. IT SEEMED TO COINCIDE WITH THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE BEING BELOW FREEZING. BROUGHT CAR IN FOR SERVICE. THEY TIGHTENED FUEL CLAMPS AND REPLACED A SMALL FUEL LINE. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SMELL RETURNED EVEN MORE INTENSE. IT WAS SCARY TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY WITH MY TODDLER IN THE CAR! TOOK CAR IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN. THEY REPLACED ALL FUEL INJECTORS/ORINGS/SEALS AND INTAKE AND EXHAUST GASKETS. REPAIRS TOTALED OVER $1,000. PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED AT 105,000 MILES. (ONE MONTH EARLIER THE TURBO HAD TO BE REPLACED...A REPAIR TOTAL OF $3,300. FOR OVER A YEAR THERE'S ALSO BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR CONSTANTLY NEEDING OIL, BUT THERE'S NO LEAK.) I'VE READ COMPLAINT AFTER COMPLAINT FOR THE FUEL SMELL PROBLEM ON MANY SUBARU FORUMS. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS SAFETY HAZARD?? *TR

EVERY TIME THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING A STRONG FUEL SMELL FILLS THE INTERIOR. SOMETIMES THE SMELL GOES AWAY WHEN THE ENGINE WARMS UP, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESETER. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCUR CONSISTENTLY. THE ENGINE EXHIBITED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

VEHICLE COMPARTMENT HAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. I FIRST NOTICED THIS A YEAR AGO (VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS AROUND 40,000) AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 20 DEGREES AND LOWER WHEN THIS WOULD OCCUR. THE SMELL OF GAS CONTINUED AGAIN THIS WINTER. I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND CONTACTED THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, BUT DID STATE THAT THEY HAVE HAD OTHER CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN OF THIS EXTREMELY STRONG GAS SMELL AS WELL. IT HAS BEEN SO BAD THAT I HAVE HAD TO KEEP A WINDOW OPEN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE COULD SMELL GASOLINE IN THE CABIN AS IT WAS BEING LEAKED ON THE MOTOR. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE SEEMED TO HAPPEN IN ABOVE FREEZING WEATHER. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 95,000.

2004 SUBARU FORESTER FUEL SYSTEM LEAK IN COLD WEATHER. *TR

IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW 0F) VEHICLE LEAKS FUEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE STARTING AT 6:30 AM, WITH AN OUTDOOR AIR TEMPERATURE OF APPROXIMATELY -11F AFTER A 6 MILE DRIVE. WHEN VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AT 11:30AM, WITH AN OUTDOOR AIR TEMPERATURE OF APPROXIMATELY 3F, FUEL SMELL WAS NOTICED WITHIN ONE MILE. FUEL LEAK IS FROM HIGH PRESSURE HOSE ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE, JUST FORWARD AND BELOW THE MANIFOLD. CAR WAS TOWED TO SHOP AND SHOP REPLACED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL HOSE AND CLAMPS. PHOTOS OF EXACT LOCATION OF LEAK, COMPONENTS REPLACED, REPAIR BILL AND NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TEMPERATURE DATA AVAILABLE IN PDF FORMAT. *TR

EXTREMELY STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE INTERIOR OF AN 04 SUBARU FORESTER. *TR

SMELLED FUEL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. STOPPED VEHICLE AND STRONG ODOR OF FUEL UNDER HOOD. THE EVENING TEMPERATURES WERE BELOW ZERO AND EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE IS GARAGED, TEMPERATURES WERE BELOW FREEZING. NO SIGNS OF FUEL ON FLOOR OF GARAGE AND COULD NOT FIND LEAK BY OBSERVATION OF RUNNING ENGINE. I DID RESEARCH AND MANY SUBARU VEHICLES ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL LEAKS AT LOW TEMPERATURES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. DEALER SAYS IT MAY TAKE REPAIRS IN EXCESS OF $500.00 TO RESOLVE FAULTY CLAMPS AND HOSES. I AM TRYING TO GET SUBARU OF AMERICA TO WORK WITH ME. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN A RECALL? ARE WE WAITING FOR FIRES OR ASPHYXIATION? *TR

MODEL IS A 2004 SUBARU FORESTER XT. UPON STARTUP IN COLD WEATHER, THERE IS AN EXTREME SMELL OF RAW FUEL (GASOLINE) BOTH INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE AS WELL. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR IN COLD WEATHER. *TR

THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW ABOUT 15 DEGREES F. THERE WAS A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE CAR WITH HEATER ON. THERE WAS ALSO A STRONG GAS SMELL UNDER HOOD. I DROVE CAR THE NEXT DAY AT 35 DEG F AND NO SMELL. *TR

DURING GAS FILL-UPS, UNABLE TO FILL TANK WITHOUT CONTINUOUS START/STOPS (~20 TIMES FOR FULL TANK). HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT PUMPS AND DIFFERENT STATIONS (APPROXIMATELY 13 FILL-UPS NOW). *TR

FUEL DOOR RELEASE BUTTON DOES NOT WORK. AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *BF 5 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL DOOR RELEASE BUTTON FELL OFF. OPENING OF THE FUEL DOOR WAS AND CONTINUED TO BE DIFFICULT. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE A FULL REFUND FOR THE VEHICLE. *TC *JB