4.4

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
25,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Subaru Impreza:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #2

Jan 302004

Impreza 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 5,000 miles
My 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX has a raw fuel/gasoline smell in the cabin when the vents are on outside air. It is most noticable at startup, or when the car is stationary, but running. I've had the problem since my first winter in the automobile (winter '01-'02) and I have been consistantly reassured (by 2 dealers) that it's "completely normal" to have the fuel smell, and to keep my vents on recirculate until the car is warm. I believe there is a tsb issued by soa, however I am out of warranty, and many dealers will not acknowledge the tsb. The fuel smell is strong enough to cause a headache, and certainly smells strong enough to be hazardous in the bay of an internal combustion engine. The smell also seems dangerously close to the turbo/exhaust manifold side of the engine bay, which is obviously very hot.

- Waltham, MA, USA

problem #1

Jan 112004

Impreza 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 45,000 miles
Fuel smell inside car during cold whether.

- Clifton Park, NY, USA