2004 Subaru Forester fuel system, gasoline problems

“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”

“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”

“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”