2002 Subaru WRX Fuel System, Gasoline Problems
Owners have filed 266 complaints with NHTSA about fuel system, gasoline problems on the 2002 Subaru WRX, 62% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 48,475 miles. The words owners use most often: “fuel smell” (34% of reports).
- 266fuel system, gasoline complaints
- 48,475median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $770typical repair cost reported by owners
- 4%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Fuel smell: mentioned in 90 of 266 complaints (34%)
- Cold weather: mentioned in 86 of 266 complaints (32%)
- Engine compartment: mentioned in 45 of 266 complaints (17%)
- Service bulletin: mentioned in 39 of 266 complaints (15%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical fuel system, gasoline repair on the 2002 Subaru WRX at $770, and half of them between $610 and $940.
Based on 36 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2009), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do fuel system, gasoline problems happen?
Based on 210 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 266 complaints, 2 a fire, 3 an injury.
Subaru WRX fuel system, gasoline complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: Subaru is recalling certain model year 2002 and 2003 impreza wrx vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of south dakota, nebraska, north dakota, minnesota, idaho, iowa, montana, colorado, wisconsin, new york, wyoming, michigan, alaska, new hampshire, vermont, and maine. During cold starts, typically under extremely cold temperatures, fuel leaks in the fuel delivery line could occur where the line connects with a rubber hose.
Risk: Fuel leaks, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel line free of charge. The recall began on december 31, 2009. Owners may contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I'm filing my complaint with all the others about the strong fuel smell during the cold months. I cannot believe ohio is not included in the recall. I've taken my car to the dealer numerous times to be told that the car is okay. Frankly, this past cold winter has been awful. The smell makes it's…
When it is cold outside my car smells like raw fuel very strongly in the cabin resulting in headaches and dizziness. This is a common problem among-st these cars and subaru knows about it because they had an extended recall but does not cover the problem now. *tr
Working night shifts, started my car to let warm up, temperature was 43 degrees fahrenheit at the time. After start up i could smell raw fuel out side the car as well as inside the car through the vents. Also gas mileage has gone down by drastically, normally get 300-330 miles a tank and currently…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2002 Subaru WRXs have fuel system, gasoline problems?
No. NHTSA has 266 owner complaints about fuel system, gasoline for the 2002 Subaru WRX (62% of the 427 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Subaru WRX fuel system, gasoline?
Yes: 1 safety recall list fuel system, gasoline. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do fuel system, gasoline problems start?
The median reported mileage is 48,475 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix fuel system, gasoline problems on the 2002 Subaru WRX?
Owners report a typical cost of $770 (half paid between $610 and $940), from 36 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about fuel system, gasoline problems on the 2002 Subaru WRX?
The most frequent phrase is “fuel smell”, in 90 of 266 complaints, followed by “cold weather” (86).
Other 2002 Subaru WRX problems
See all 2002 Subaru WRX problems or fuel system, gasoline problems across all WRX years.