2004 Subaru Forester Fuel System, Gasoline Problems
- 58
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 58 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- fuel smell · 20 records
- cold weather · 20 records
- strong smell · 13 records
- strong fuel · 13 records
- fuel line · 11 records
- fuel lines · 11 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 18 |
| 60–100k mi | 17 |
| 30–60k mi | 12 |
| 150–400k mi | 6 |
| 1–30k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Engine · Fuel System, Gasoline
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 [redacted]) several times, but no leaks or failures were detected. The contact…
ODI 11048212
Fuel System, Gasoline
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…
ODI 10671507
Fuel System, Gasoline
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…
ODI 10670045
Fuel System, Gasoline
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…
ODI 10587373
Fuel System, Gasoline
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
ODI 10565825
Engine · Fuel System, Gasoline
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…
ODI 10563688
Engine · Fuel System, Gasoline
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…
ODI 10561865
Fuel System, Gasoline
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
ODI 10564172
Fuel System, Gasoline
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
ODI 10560643
Fuel System, Gasoline
A STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN I STARTED MY CAR. *TR
ODI 10561335
Fuel System, Gasoline
Smell of raw gas inside of vehicle while driving. It doesn't happen all the time only on extremely cold days. *tr
ODI 10561084
Engine And Engine Cooling · Fuel System, Gasoline
In cold weather (below 20 degrees or so) the fuel lines in the engine compartment come loose and leak raw gasoline onto the hot engine. Obviously there is a good chance of an engine fire with possible loss of life. This has been reported in several forums, there is a tsb out on this for the wrx (same engine, same part numbers), and most dealers (in cold states) know of this problem. *tr
ODI 10562155
Engine And Engine Cooling · Fuel System, Gasoline
Fuel and exhaust line leaks in cold weather. Over the initial three day period - day one children complained of headaches, day two driver experienced severe headache and nausea but did not realize it was due to fuel leak. Day three cabin filled with overpowering fumes coming from heating vent. Had to drive with heat off and all windows open in order to bring car in for service. Have had to bring car in twice this…
ODI 10561352
Fuel System, Gasoline
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
ODI 10560830
Engine · Fuel System, Gasoline
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!…
ODI 10559009
Fuel System, Gasoline
2004 subaru forester xs when temperatures drop the fuel line shrinks around the fitting and raw gas leaks at a rate of 1 drop per 3-5 seconds directly onto the exhaust manifold. We first noticed the pool of gas on the exhaust manifold on a 20 f day. The raw gas fumes that filled the cabin were so strong we got severe headaches and had to turn off the heater and drive home with the windows down. I am pregnant &…
ODI 10558587
Engine · Fuel System, Gasoline
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
ODI 10562421
Fuel System, Gasoline
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…
ODI 10569029
Fuel System, Gasoline
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…
ODI 10574493
Fuel System, Gasoline
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…
ODI 10562821
Fuel System, Gasoline
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…
ODI 10561154
Fuel System, Gasoline
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
ODI 10556113
Fuel System, Gasoline
Start vehicle in the morning and can smell gas fumes outside and inside even when driving. This causes burning of nose and throat. *tr
ODI 10555020
Fuel System, Gasoline
Fuel smell at start up in temps below 35 degrees, decreases after car warms up. If very cold does not go away. *tr
ODI 10559512
Fuel System, Gasoline · Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
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…
ODI 10495381