2005 Saab 9-2X fuel/propulsion system problems

“FUEL SMELL IN COLD WEATHER. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN COLD WEATHER ONLY. WHEN I START THE CAR, I GET A SMELL OF FUEL IN THE CABIN. THE CAR IS PARKED. WHEN I HAVE THE AIR RECIRCULATION BUTTON PRESSED, THE SMELL DOES NOT ENTER THE CABIN.”

“THE SMELL OF RAW FUEL IN THE CABIN ON COLD WEATHER STARTS. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FUEL LEAK UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE AND FUEL SPRAYING AND POOLING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. SO MUCH FUEL LEAKING THAT IT RAN DOWN AND MADE A PUDDLE UNDER THE CAR.”

“AT BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES, THE FUEL LINE LEAKS RAW GASOLINE ONTO THE ENGINE, NEAR THE TURBOCHARGER, CREATING A FIRE RISK. THE EVAPORATED GASOLINE IS IMMEDIATELY PUMPED INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN CREATING A HEALTH RISK. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THE SUBARU WRX AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED. THE 2005 SAAB 9-2X IS MECHANICALLY IDENTICAL IN THIS REGARD TO THE WRX, BUT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. DETAILS: HTTPS://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=1893471 EXAMPLES: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/SAAB/9-2X/2005/FUEL_SYSTEM/FUEL_PROPULSION_SYSTEM.SHTML DISCUSSION: HTTP://SAAB92X.COM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?ID=17792&P=1”

“WHEN TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING, THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IN THE CABIN UNTIL THE ENGINE REACHES OPERATING TEMPERATURE. IT IS NOTED THAT THE FUEL LINES ARE LEAKING NEAR THE CLAMPS UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. APPROX. 1 DRIP EVERY 2 SECONDS UNTIL THE ENGINE IS WARM AND THE RUBBER SEALS AGAIN. IT APPEARS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MANY SUBARU MODELS, HOWEVER THERE HAS ONLY BEEN A PARTIAL TSB AND THE 2005MY HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED AT THE TIME OF THIS POSTING. THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG WHEN STOPPED, AND GOES AWAY ONCE IN MOTION. ONCE THE CAR WARMS UP, THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANY SMELL. FUEL LEAK LOCATION IS ALSO VERY NEAR THE TURBOCHARGER, WHICH GETS TO VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE.”

“BESIDE THE TAKATA RECALL, THE CAR IS LEAKING GAS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 20 DEGREES. THE INTERIOR IS FILLED WITH THE SMELL OF FUEL WHEN IT IS COLD. OBVIOUSLY THE SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO MORE CARS AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS A SEARCH ON GOOGLE FOR GAS SMELL WRX WHEN IT'S COLD. OR SIMILAR. APPARENTLY THE FUEL LINES SHRINK WHEN IT'S COLD AND THE CLAMPS DO NOT HOLD AND LEAK GAS ON A HOT ENGINE RIGHT BY THE MANIFOLD. IT MOST CERTAINLY CAN CAUSE A FIR AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. ESPECIALLY WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.”

“THIS VEHICLE, BEING MADE BY SAAB AND SUBARU OF AMERICA, IS EXIBITING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AS DESCRIBED BY THE 2002-2003 SUBARU WRX FUEL LEAK RECALL INITIATED BY THE NHTSA IN 2003 (I BELIEVE). THIS ISSUE IS STARTING TO APPEAR, EVEN IN MILD CLIMATES LIKE MINE IN CALIFORNIA, ON VEHICLES WELL BEYOND THE 02-03MY. MY VEHICLE IS EQUIVALENT TO THE 2005 SUBARU WRX WAGON. IT USES THE SAME ENGINE/FUEL SYSTEM. IT DOESN'T GET VERY COLD HERE, BUT ON A 50 DEGREE F DAY THIS MORNING, I HAD A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A ROW. I ANTICIPATE THIS WILL HAPPEN EVERY MORNING, FROM NOW ON. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARD, PROVEN BY THE FACT THE NHTSA ALREADY HAD SOA ISSUE A RECALL PREVIOUSLY FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE "FIX" IS NOT WORKING LONG TERM, SINCE MY VEHICLE FELL INTO MANUFACTURE YEARS AFTER THE FACT. MANUFACTURING CHANGES DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE, THE ISSUE REMAINS, EVEN UP TO THE 2005 MY. I URGE THE NHTSA TO SERIOUSLY INVESTIGATE THIS FUEL LEAKING ISSUE FOR ALL 2002-UP SUBARU BOXER ENGINES. IT'S STILL A MAJOR ISSUE. RAW FUEL EVAPORATING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, AND NOXIOUS VAPORS ENTERING THE VEHICLE CABIN WHILE BEING DRIVEN, NOT A GOOD SITUATION.”