2002 Subaru Outback Fuel system Problems

“When temp. Outside go below 32 degrees, the inside of my car fills with raw gas smell, this happens every winter. I live in wi. When it is above freezing it is fine and all summer it is fine. I am so affraid to have my grand kids in the car. Not sure if the fumes will explode.when I am driving I do not smell gas. But if I stop at a stop sign or light it fills up the car. I have to roll down my windows to get fresh air”

“My 2002 Subaru legacy Outback wagon, 2.5 liter engine, leaked fuel from the fuel line. This was most pronounced on a cold day. There are many reports of the same problems. My Subaru dealer told me that this problem is common. Though we smelled the strong fuel odor, fortunately, there wasn't a fire. The car is now being repaired and will be ready 01/21/09. The estimated cost of the repair is $485. Subaru knows about the problem and redesigned the part. …”

“In 10 degree weather, my 2002 Subaru Outback wagon developed a fuel leak while being driven by my 17-year-old child. This is my second Subaru wagon and the second to have cold weather fuel leaks. I tightened the clamp on the offending fuel line and I hope that is an adequate fix. But it is simply unacceptable that such a dangerous problem has not had a recall, and that it has been happening for 20 years. (my first Subaru with this problem was a 1991 legacy wagon.) how many car fires have resulted from this problem? How many injuries or even fatalities? …”

“Both my 2001 and 2002 Subaru outbacks had a strong smell of gasoline in the cabin when starting the cars. A check under the hood showed gasoline dripping from several of the rubber fuel lines where they joined metal fuel lines. The fuel was dripping onto the engine and running down to the ground. Upon tightening the fuel line clamps the problem stopped. When I used google to check on the problem there was several 100,000 hits with the same problem. It seems to be related to low temperature <+10f.”

“For the past 2 winters, I have experienced a strong fuel smell in the passenger cabin for the first 20 minutes or so of running the car in temperatures below 25 degrees, including idling at a traffic light. It seems to be getting progressively worse. I brought it to my private mechanic last week, and he was unable to pinpoint the source of the problem. If you do a google search on Subaru gas smell you will find 25,800 hits of people reporting the same problem with their Subaru's, for a variety of models/years. …”