2004 Subaru Forester Fuel/Propulsion System 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.
What owners report
- cold weather · 15 records
- fuel smell · 13 records
- strong smell · 12 records
- fuel line · 12 records
- intake manifold · 11 records
- engine compartment · 10 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 29 |
| 60–100k mi | 11 |
| 150–400k mi | 8 |
| 30–60k mi | 4 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Fuel/Propulsion System
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.
ODI 10794377
Fuel/Propulsion System
Fuel rail hoes clamps/rubber line is faulty, causing pooling of gas on the top of the engine. Major fire hazard.
ODI 10790448
Fuel/Propulsion System
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.…
ODI 10722918
Fuel/Propulsion System
Strong odor of gas when outside temperature drops. *tr
ODI 10690030
Fuel/Propulsion System
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…
ODI 10690453
Fuel/Propulsion System
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…
ODI 10680509
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System · Unknown Or Other
Anytime the temperature drops below 60 degrees fahrenheit there's a strong smell of gasoline inside the cab of the vehicle. When looking under the hood i can see it dripping out of something underneath the intake manifold. Severe gas leak. Nauseous and dangerous fumes.
ODI 11133427
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
To whom it may concern, hello, i am the owner of a 2004 forester xt which i love. I've owned the car for almost a year and its been nothing but reliable up to this point. The weather outside is frightful, and with that comes a common problem for many subaru owners. During the cold snaps, say below 20f, there is strong fuel smells which fills the cabin. It only happens during start-up, and lasts about 15 mins before…
ODI 10671695
Fuel/Propulsion System
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
ODI 10691340
Fuel/Propulsion System
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…
ODI 10659834
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
The smell of fuel became obvious after a 10-[redacted]. Upon examination, there was fuel dripping from a fuel line. This occurred after the first freeze of the year, fitting other descriptions of this issue i found for this model. *tr
ODI 10654794
Fuel/Propulsion System
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
ODI 10654281
Fuel/Propulsion System
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
ODI 10660412
Fuel/Propulsion System
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
ODI 10702387
Fuel/Propulsion System
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.
ODI 10820999
Fuel/Propulsion System
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
ODI 10563462
Fuel/Propulsion System
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
ODI 10555430
Fuel/Propulsion System
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
ODI 10556013
Fuel/Propulsion System
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…
ODI 10659489
Fuel/Propulsion System
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…
ODI 10564186
Fuel/Propulsion System
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…
ODI 10551064
Fuel/Propulsion System
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…
ODI 10503109
Fuel/Propulsion System
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…
ODI 10511640
Fuel/Propulsion System
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
ODI 10496924
Fuel/Propulsion System
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
ODI 10494766