2002 WRX Sedan, 60K Miles, Owned since new, no mods, commuter car

I've had my WRX new since May 2002 and it was my first Subaru after owning Hondas and Toyotas.

After almost four years I think I've gathered enough evidence to come to the conclusion that I'll never buy another WRX (or Subaru) again.

I've never raced or abused my car and it is bone stock except for a shift knob.

Here's why I think (for a Japanese Car) my Sabaru has had too many Quality Assurance issues:

1.Window squeals when wet. (this is a “common” problem with WRXs. Well, it seems that most every other car company has figured this one out, but we as Subaru Owners just have to accept it.)
2.Dash creak
3.Reverse is hard to get into sometimes and requires way too much effort sometimes. “Common Problem”
4.Clutch Shudder- Replaced under warranty “Common Problem” This one is funny to me because some people were initially told by dealership that it was normal, and some people even accepted it as normal. What makes a WRX so magical that owners are willing to accept design and manufacturing flaws? See #1 above also.
5.Front Wheel Bearings- Replaced under warranty
6.Radiator Leak
7.Fuel line leak in engine compartment when temp is <14 degrees F “Common Problem”

These problems range from annoying (#1) to dangerous (#7). Most all of my problems are also considered “common” and experienced by many WRX owners including those on the forum here. Nothing like a fuel leak near the turbo to really motivate you to actually have a Fire Extinguisher in the car. Like I said, my car is loved with Mobil 1, never raced, and well maintained. As Japanese Car manufacturers go, I don’t think Subaru is one of the better ones.

What do you guys think?

hey whats up with number 7 on that list? Its been in the teens around here lately and Ive noticed a gas smell while driving, how dangerous is it? I dont seem to be leaking much cause I've been getting good mileage still

1.Window squeals when wet. (this is a “common” problem with WRXs. Well, it seems that most every other car company has figured this one out, but we as Subaru Owners just have to accept it.)

Yea i agree thats a little annoying. But how many times do you roll down your window when its raining out?


2.Dash creak

'05 WRX - 22,000mi + no creaks unless the car is bogging. You bought a 24,000 car, this isnt a Lexus, its gonna make some noise. At least its not bad like a Camaro or Mustang.


3.Reverse is hard to get into sometimes and requires way too much effort sometimes. “Common Problem”

Reverse is hard to get into on all manual transmissions. Just pump the clutch and then it will align the syncros and go in fine.


4.Clutch Shudder- Replaced under warranty “Common Problem” This one is funny to me because some people were initially told by dealership that it was normal, and some people even accepted it as normal. What makes a WRX so magical that owners are willing to accept design and manufacturing flaws? See #1 above also.

Warranty covered it, whats the big deal? We put a lot of strain on our clutches. Lots of power, on a average clutch.


5.Front Wheel Bearings- Replaced under warranty

Again, warranty, who cares.


6.Radiator Leak

Sounds like an old radiator, but that would happen on any car.


7.Fuel line leak in engine compartment when temp is <14 degrees F “Common Problem”

That one sucks.

The majority of your complaints have been addressed in the newer wrx. I am sorry you have had issues but I can't imagine these issues being much different from other 24,000 cars. Subarus are getting better, not worse.

The warranty stuff wouldn't be such a big deal if you didn't have to make trip after trip to the dealership to get them to cover warranty issues. I have taken my car in twice now for the brakes and was told that there was no issue. Take it back again couple weeks later they say you need new pads $230 installed and I declined. I purchased aftermarket pads. One week later Subaru sends out the calibration letter.
There are a lot of things I like about my car and I will buy another subaru but the service departments need a good once over.

Sorry had to vent.
Nick

The warranty stuff wouldn't be such a big deal if you didn't have to make trip after trip to the dealership to get them to cover warranty issues. I have taken my car in twice now for the brakes and was told that there was no issue. Take it back again couple weeks later they say you need new pads $230 installed and I declined. I purchased aftermarket pads. One week later Subaru sends out the calibration letter.
There are a lot of things I like about my car and I will buy another subaru but the service departments need a good once over.

I couldn't agree with this more. I hate stealerships and most chain store auto shops for this reason. You really have to look around for an honest, reputable service department and you would be very lucky to find one. It is a Subaru problem but no more than any other automaker problem. This is why I decided a long time ago that I wanted to do everything with my car myself. So far so good, knock on wood. The only real worry of mine would be internal engine problems.

I <3 my Rex

hey whats up with number 7 on that list? Its been in the teens around here lately and Ive noticed a gas smell while driving, how dangerous is it? I dont seem to be leaking much cause I've been getting good mileage still

Just do a search, actually I think it's in this forum, the thread is 34 pages long. There is a TSB out.

Well after having an 00RS and my WRX I agree with some of your issues for my 03 WRX. It seems the interior looks nicer on my WRX but I think the build quality of my RS was better. Will I by another one sure :D for preformance reasons and AWD I don't think you can beat out cars.

Things that drive me nuts about the car:

1) agreed dash sweak!! enough to drive you mad. My solution is to turn my Ipod up higher. I talked to my local steallership a few different times and never got anywhere.

2) Wind noice from my drivers side window. I have also had them look at this many times and never got anywhere with it. It still howls like your driving with the window cracked. Been like this since I drove it off the lot. :furious:

3) CHEAP front windscreen. Didn't take much to end up with three cracks in my factory windsheild.

4) CHEAP factory paint. Common put a heaiver coat up front the rest can handle being a little thinner! Not really something to have a fit over but would make it nicer :D .

5) Leaky trunk, Bad gasket on the trunk since day one. Gasket hangs out on one side of spoiler! Never leak though until this winter. Now I have to replace their QC problem. :furious:

I have 66K on her and it's a daily driver. I havent ever abused it and still like my car. It's a love hate relationship. I love the car and hate the little problems. I have had other new cars and it doesn't seem to be only Subaru that has these issues, infact in terms of reliabilty it's great. But for the price c'mon make the QC better.

I agree with the tranny issues too but that has been covered far to many times for me to rant about that. :lol: I haven't really have any problems though to complain about but I don't hammer it because I realize it's not a strong point and well can't complain because it hasn't failed me. One I have like a better clutch to begin with? Sure but then maybe I would have had tranny issues. So I'll take the clutch.

I am sure your right the build has improved but I don't want to go buy another new car yet. I do like the new 06 but will keep mine a live with the little issues. Only time will tell if it has it little quirks too.

Like I said I like my WRX but my RS seemed more solid. Never had any little bugs
my 2 cents

Aside from the fuel problem mentioned, is it fair to call the rest issues?

I had a GTI (2001, 1.8 turbo) that left me stranded several times, that stalled out on the highway at 70 mph, that had airbags that failed... wheel bearings that did the same, door handles that fell apart in my hands, seat adjustment that did the same... lets talk about headlight bulbs that could only be replaced by removing the battery or front bumper; or a fluid filled flywheel that threw out all its fluid; or best of all a shift linkage that failed in the first 1000 miles of ownership. THATS issues. :mad: :furious: :eek:


My 1999 Civic Si? Hardly flawless: failed window regulators, cheap weatherstripping, rear brake issues (new pads and rotors in lless than 22,000 miles), blew smoke at 7600 RPM upshifts (redline at 8000, oiled with Mobil 1 from new); 111 lbs/ft of torque... at 7600 rpm, suspension components so flimsy that alignment would go out just lookin at a pothole. all within 36000 miles. :huh:


And its not even worth goin into my 89 Volvo 760... :lol:


I dunno. I love this Subaru. in terms of flaws its the most reliable car ive ever had the pleasure of running, its weaknesses are insignificant relative to its strengths. Creaking plastics are annoying, as is the cold-clutch shudder. But hey, 47,000 miles with only one real warranty issue? Yea, I had the AC freezing over prob. Thats it.
:cool:

I can solve one issue for you right here and now... The "hard to get into reverse issue." Next time it doesn't go into reverse the first time don't clutch out in neutral and try again 50 times while cursing and rocking the car back and forth... Instead apply light pressure into reverse on the stick and SLOWLY let your foot up off the clutch. As the clutch nears/reaches engagement point the lever will slide right into reverse. It works every time, promise. Do I get a cookie for taking one off your list? :lol:

P.S. Yes I know it's an annoying "qwerk" but once you know how to do it you truly do forget about it, it just becomes your method for going into reverse...

Note: Don't let out the clutch quickly, especially the first couple times you try it or you WILL get a grind.

sufferer of window squeak, clutch judder (fixed!), cold weather fuel leaking and more rattles than you can shake a stick at,
-D

Subaru.

Service = Horrible

WRX = Love of my life!

I will say that Hondas quality wise are outstanding. They are exellent on gas, rarely have trouble, and will last forever. But they are a basic car. When things do go wrong its usually the heads. Hondas are known for that. Also They cant handle the snow too well, nor rain.
I left honda because I needed something that would handle in the snow. I will agree that the Clutch has problems on Subs, but every car has its issues. Before I switched form Honda to Subaru I did alot of research. I needed a car that can handle in ALL weather with no problems. So it was between an Audi and a Subaru. Subaru may not have all the nice things as Audi, but repairs on my Sub are 3x cheaper and have less problems then Audi's. Subarus are masters at what they are built for. ALL WEATHER, performance, and for the most part afforadable. I have owned American cars, Hondas, and 2 Subarus. I will be a life time Sub buyer. Unless I get a honda for a gas saver just for work

2) Wind noice from my drivers side window. I have also had them look at this many times and never got anywhere with it. It still howls like your driving with the window cracked. Been like this since I drove it off the lot. :furious:



There is a fix for this. It's to replace the window gusset, or the triangular piece by the outer rear view mirror. I have done many, and wind noise is gone. But this isn't just with the WRX, in fact, I have done more on Outbacks and Foresters than I have on Imprezas.

The the OP:

The things you mention are minimal compared to other cars. When you get a chance, talk to an RX8 owner or Mazda owner. On an average day, we have at least 10 (RX8"s) in the shop for more than maintenance. 4 of which were probably towed in. There have been at least 6 "safety" recalls on the Mazda 6 alone, compared to the 2 on the WRX, both which were minimal repairs. (a clip and a bolt) I also worked at Volvo, and the problems they have are much more substantial.

Every car has it's quirks, some more than others. Remember, it's a machine, and no machine is perfect. (Or else there would be no need for a warranty)

Oh, and on a side note:
Did you know that Subaru has never been forced to issue a recall? They are all voluntary, that's why they are called campaigns (technically, although we all call them recalls).

The 2002 WRX is one of worst cars I have owned. I still have the clutch chatter problem. I was out of warrenty. The radiator went bad, broke at a seam. I just had front brakes and rear brakes and rear rotors replaced. Front and Rear Struts need replacement. I just noticed the fuel smell problem (it was 10 degrees). Now have to go fight with the dealer to fix an ovious safety issue. I have submitted a report to NHTSA. I have 50K highway miles. I have owned 3 Nissans previously and never had these type of problems. I will never buy another Subaru.

1.Window squeals when wet

This is almost always due to the gusset (triangular rubber piece at front edge of window) - a little silicone lube there and the noise is gone.

2.Dash creak

I didn't have any creaking, just the rattling clips - fixed those with a little felt under each one. Only rattle now is the glove box latch.

3.Reverse is hard to get into sometimes and requires way too much effort sometimes

Every manual transmission I have owned has done that, including the subaru. Only does it when the car has been just started (e.g., backing out of a parking spot)

4.Clutch Shudder

I don't think I had this problem - the clutch seems a little grabby sometimes, but that's about it. I think that some cars had this, while others did not. At least they fixed it!

5.Front Wheel Bearings

That's annoying - thankfully, mine have not gone out.

6.Radiator Leak

If it was along the crimp joint where the aluminum core is crimped onto the plastic tanks, then that is a pretty common problem with the 02's - mine went while I was under the 3/36, so it was replaced under warranty with one of the new style.

7.Fuel line leak in engine compartment when temp is <14 degrees F “Common Problem”
***********
This one really bugs me - personally, it hasn't happened in my car, but it really doesn't get cold here, and I keep my car garaged at night - however, raw fuel in the engine compartment should be a recall. As it stands now, I suppose I am just waiting until I encounter this issue, then I'll buy the parts and change out the lines.

Overall, the car has been pretty good to me - I had a couple of small issues (coolant leak at the thermostat housing due to excess flashing on the casting, oil weeping out of the pcv system, infamous ABS issues which were solved with the new controller) nothing major, so I am pretty happy - and I love the car - I'd definitely buy another WRX, but not for a while (I'll probably hang onto this one for 10 years or so)

There is a fix for this. It's to replace the window gusset, or the triangular piece by the outer rear view mirror. I have done many, and wind noise is gone. But this isn't just with the WRX, in fact, I have done more on Outbacks and Foresters than I have on Imprezas.

Every car has it's quirks, some more than others. Remember, it's a machine, and no machine is perfect. (Or else there would be no need for a warranty)

).

Thanks for the info is this something I can buy from the dealer and replace? I have seen that little "gusset" in there and tried streching the weatherstriping around there but no luck. I have an appointment in a few weeks to get the seat bolt replaced and maybe I can talk them into that. The car isn't under warranty no more.

Also I got that info that subaru had looked into the issues of the ABS brake system. It feels very scary on the freeway when that ABS kicks in! But they sent me a letter saying it met Federal standards but they would be happy to address it on any car that had a stock brake system. So maybe I hit them up for that too. I thought that was pretty good of them to voluntarly offer to do that too.

Hey if you want a car with not problems, Leave it in the garage.

:lol:


sufferer of window squeak, clutch judder (fixed!), cold weather fuel leaking and more rattles than you can shake a stick at,
-D

Hey if you want a car with not problems, Leave it in the garage.

Thanks for taking the time to write that, very insightful.

Aren't these sorts of issues typical teething problems of a 1st model year car? A bit worse than what you'd expect from the likes of Honda or Toyota I admit...

Not trying to diminish the OP's problems. Just pointing out that later in a model's run is always > than 1st year, in terms of design flaws particularly.

things i hate about my wrx is that it isn't an STi! :lol:
but in regards to what you've mentioned. the only one i've had probs with is the dash creeking (drives me nuts!!) i've wondered if a front strut bar would help?
the raw fuel smell, i've noticed it maybe once or twice, never really payed attn' to it. yah, worrisome but i haven't looked into, so i can't comment on it.
haven't had any other of the probs you mentioned. agian, not every machine will be the same off the lot, maybe you just got one those cars that has a few more 'issues' with it than teh others? :confused:
i have thought that the oem brakes are weak, but then agian, i'm running stg 2 so of course the factory ones weren't designed for it. but after poping in some axxis pads and ss lines, i can stop on a dime.
-1million for teh subaru stealerships! man i give huge props to teh calgary wrx/sti guys for teaching me how to do alot of the work myself, it's fun (most times!) nad savees huge $$, which leaves 'extra' for more mods ;)

After almost four years I think I've gathered enough evidence to come to the conclusion that I'll never buy another WRX (or Subaru) again.

I've never raced or abused my car and it is bone stock except for a shift knob.

I have to agree. I won't buy another one, but I don't hate mine enough right now to sell it.

Every car I've had before my Subaru was a hand-me-down or used. I did a lot of repairs and maintenance myself out of survival - lately more for a hobby since I have alternate vehicles. So I have a high tolerance level for things that go wrong in or out of warranty.

My 1996 Legacy L sedan was my first new car purchase. I thoroughly enjoyed the AWD, large cabin/trunk and features-per-$ for the first 5 years. 2 wheel bearings (http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/2035000-2035999/2035802_20_full.jpg), 2 front crank oil seals (http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/2035000-2035999/2035802_3.jpg) and a broken rear axle (in two weird ways) (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=848540) later I pretty much gave up and decided my next new car would not be a Subaru again. After crossing the 10 year mark and having lots more broken stuff happen (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=924535), my position remains unchanged.

However, I have also grown to appreciate how easy the cars are to work on. Motor-wise, it is a hell of a lot easier to work on than my VW Cabriolet (http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2444542).

My initial plan was to drive this car into the ground. Resale value was pointless from the very beginning for two reasons - (1) Subarus do not hold resale value like their Toyota/Honda counterparts and (2) that when I am done with a car, it is REALLY worthless.

A friend of mine recently bought a 2006 WRX (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=858390) against my advice. Again these cars to a great job when it comes to driving experience and AWD. But he has been warned!

I couldn't agree with this more. I hate stealerships and most chain store auto shops for this reason. You really have to look around for an honest, reputable service department and you would be very lucky to find one. It is a Subaru problem but no more than any other automaker problem. This is why I decided a long time ago that I wanted to do everything with my car myself. So far so good, knock on wood. The only real worry of mine would be internal engine problems.


Amen brother. Personally I love working on my car, I own the shop manual the dealerships use and when I do the work, I know I've done it right.

My lone complaint about Subaru's quality has been the paint. It SUCKS. Chips if you look at it the wrong way.

Other than that, the reality is you bought a sports car. High performance=higher maintenance. You're not driving a pizza delivery Civic. Nearly every model year of every car ever built had SOME issue with it. These are imperfect machines built by an imperfect man. DEAL WITH IT.

That said, the WRX and Sti as sports cars go, are some of the most reliable sports cars ever built. Lots of guys on here have in excess of 100K with routine maintenance. I'm pushing 70K on mine and with the exception of the transmission rebuild(my fault, not the cars), and the cold weather fuel leak, my 2002 has given me great service. For every one guy on here with a bad experience, there are probably 100 with good experiences.

The WRX is a raw sports sedan with soul for 24K. It's not a Lexus with no personality so don't go expecting refinement of that caliber out of the car. It's unreasonable. I'm sorry you're having the problems you are, but honestly, they are MOSTLY minor so if you have an issue, here's a tissue.

P.S. You CAN get the cold weather fuel leak fixed for free if you approach it right. There is a TSB out on it.

Other than that, the reality is you bought a sports car. High performance=higher maintenance. You're not driving a pizza delivery Civic. Nearly every model year of every car ever built had SOME issue with it. These are imperfect machines built by an imperfect man. DEAL WITH IT.

The WRX is a raw sports sedan with soul for 24K.



Good points on your post, thanks. However, In stock form, off the lot, the WRX drives nice and has zip, but let's not get carried away here. I don't consider 227 HP high performance. At least not to the point where i think parts can break under "high performance" strain and happily accept it. But while I agree that 2002 was a first-run car, it was only first run in the US. The internals weren't new to the world, just us.

I at first thought the same thing about the Reverse on my civic but, after i did research and took apart a manual tranny to see how it all work did it click why Reverse is so hard to get into. If i can find pictures ill try and post to show you how that work compaired to the rest of the gears.

Good points on your post, thanks. However, In stock form, off the lot, the WRX drives nice and has zip, but let's not get carried away here. I don't consider 227 HP high performance. At least not to the point where i think parts can break under "high performance" strain and happily accept it. But while I agree that 2002 was a first-run car, it was only first run in the US. The internals weren't new to the world, just us.

No, 227HP isn't all that...

2002 was not the first year of the EJ205 engine (I think, please correct me) but was the first year for the GD chassis. Yes, things should be better with the carryover parts. That said, I remember hearing about problems with the first year of the last-gen RX7.

Heck, I just read in EVO that Porsche is recalling all 997s built to date (not clear if it's UK only or worldwide) because the exhaust welding is so lousy tailpipes are falling off!

Are the problems with the USMY2002 cars really that bad compared to other first-years? Honest question, perhaps a habitual early adopter can comment.

Most of that stuff sounds pretty standard for Subarus. Although, it also sounds like you rip on your car pretty hard, judging by the things that went wrong (front wheel bearings, radiator, clutch).

One piece of free advice I can offer you, though, is to put your car in 2nd before going into reverse. This will solve 99% of your problems getting into reverse. If you try that, and still can't get into gear, try rolling the car an inch or two if applicable, then try getting into gear. Good luck.

My initial plan was to drive this car into the ground. Resale value was pointless from the very beginning for two reasons - (1) Subarus do not hold resale value like their Toyota/Honda counterparts and (2) that when I am done with a car, it is REALLY worthless.

A friend of mine recently bought a 2006 WRX (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=858390) against my advice. Again these cars to a great job when it comes to driving experience and AWD. But he has been warned!

actually.. these cars are becoming quite popular and the resale values are pretty good!... my 05 RS sport is actually worth exactly I paid for it a year ago new from the dealership and it has 10,000 miles too.. wrx's at least the newer ones are holding QUITE well too..

... But while I agree that 2002 was a first-run car, it was only first run in the US. The internals weren't new to the world, just us.
It went on sale in the US in spring 2001, so while very similar "new age" models had been sold in other countries first, it was only a six-month lead (and in lower volume than the US), making your '02 a first-run car. With *total* redesigns like the '02 it's to be expected that there will be minor issues and that it may take years for the manufacturer to figure them out, especially when the car is new to the hemisphere and is being bought by a very different demographic than other Subarus. Most of the issues you mention have been fixed/resolved on later model Imprezas; this very issue of "model 1.0 issues" is why I bought a Subaru extended warranty. The "clutch judder", which I also had, is a perfect example - it took a couple of years of patience, but my new "fixed" clutch solved the problem.

Actually, I'm pretty gentle on the car and rarely take it over 4K rpm. I'm just getting old I guess.

I guess I'm just pissed now that it's out of warranty and I have to shell out money to get a design defect fixed (Fuel Leak). I have no problems with normal wear and tear.

Clutches will need to be replaced after a few years, not 18 months and 20K miles.

Radiators will leak, sure. But not after 54K of highway miles. I believe this was a defective part also.

No excuse for window squeal. I’ve driven every rental ***** box out there and they seem to be able to get it right. But it has 227 Hp, so I guess it’s ok!

Wheel bearings do give out eventually, not at 40K miles.

My current flavor of the month- Fuel line leak. Maybe I wouldn’t be so wound up if the car was older or had more miles on it. But it’s not old and it doesn’t have an extreme amount of miles on it. Subaru has admitted that it’s a DESIGN DEFECT with a TSB.

So that means that if the dealer can reproduce it and if you re still under warranty, then they will fix a part that they f-ed up on. How generous.

Farrish Subaru of Fairfax wants 4-5 hours and $150 in parts to fix it.

:) My dealer did a fuel rail replacement under warrenty(51300 Miles) on my 02 WRX. I guess there are some decent Subaru dealers out there. Hopefully I won't have to smell gas in cold weather again. Maybe I'll keep the WRX for a while longer.

1.Window squeals when wet. (this is a “common” problem with WRXs. Well, it seems that most every other car company has figured this one out, but we as Subaru Owners just have to accept it.)
2.Dash creak
3.Reverse is hard to get into sometimes and requires way too much effort sometimes. “Common Problem”
4.Clutch Shudder- Replaced under warranty “Common Problem” This one is funny to me because some people were initially told by dealership that it was normal, and some people even accepted it as normal. What makes a WRX so magical that owners are willing to accept design and manufacturing flaws? See #1 above also.
5.Front Wheel Bearings- Replaced under warranty
6.Radiator Leak
7.Fuel line leak in engine compartment when temp is <14 degrees F “Common Problem”



1: Clean your window seals out, it is the dirt in there that is making the noise.

2: You bought a 24k performance car, some squeaks are going to come with the territory. SOA spent the money in the drivetrain, not the interior. Want a nice interior but a crappy drivetrain/electrical system? Get a VW, I'll stick with my squeaky Suby.

3: It is a manual transmission, they all do this. Reverse is a straight cut gear, if the teeth do not line up it will not go in.

4: This is a performance car with a performance clutch it will chatter from time to time (seriously ask Exedy,ACT,Tilton etc.....)

5: Most likely due to potholes, I have never seen a WRX front wheel bearing fail just because, they always had a bent rim when they did.

6: Early WRX's had this problem, SOA changed the design on it to eliminate this issue. Most of them occured early on and were changed by the 03 model. First year production, it happens, not everything can be a homerun ;)

7: SOA released a fix for this. If it occured within 3/36 they would replace it free of charge to you. The NHTSA found it to not be a safety of health hazard, argue with them if you like but it will not catch fire (trust me, I have tried to set one on fire)

7: SOA released a fix for this. If it occured within 3/36 they would replace it free of charge to you. The NHTSA found it to not be a safety of health hazard, argue with them if you like but it will not catch fire (trust me, I have tried to set one on fire)
Don't you have anything better to do at work, like WORK? :lol:

And true, it hasn't been considered a safety issue, because you probably inhale more gas fumes when filling the car with gas.....

Don't you have anything better to do at work, like WORK? :lol:

And true, it hasn't been considered a safety issue, because you probably inhale more gas fumes when filling the car with gas.....

Fuel leaking in the engine compartment just doesn't seem safe no matter what anybody tells you. Like someone said earlier... what if you had young kids? What if you got on a plane and you could smell fuel, how would you feel?

This actually happened to me flying out of O'Hare. They grounded the plane and switched us to another flight. Try telling those people "Ladies and gentleman, the fuel smell in the cabin is nothing to worry about, you probably inhale more at the pump anyway! Enjoy your flight."

Besides, my point is that this is a design flaw that we have to pay for if you're outside of a warranty at the dealer's discretion.

Again, I don't understand the it's a sweet performance car/ it's no big deal/ the WRX is puff the magic dragon cool so live it it rationale.

Actually, I'm pretty gentle on the car and rarely take it over 4K rpm. I'm just getting old I guess.

Why buy a WRX if you aren't going to flex it's muscles? :confused:

I have about 82,500 miles on my mostly stock '03 WRX, which has seen daily runs past 6k+ RPM's, a season and a half of autox's (with 5k RPM slip-clutch starts). I have no major rattles, I have the original clutch, no fuel problem in cold weather. I have replaced tires, rotors, pads and lines (stainless steel).

Minor annoyances are rear drivers side weather stripping sometimes let's water in, passenger side sideskirt is coming off a bit (needs new clips), & I need to replace the plastic peice at the base of the windshield, but I think thats becasue the person that replaced my windshield (high-speed rock) broke it.

You bought a first year model, so problems should be expected.

Oh, and 227HP may not seem impresive, but it still hauls the WRX to 60 in under 6 seconds, provides plenty of power passing, and induces a grin on my face when I use all the ponies. Works for me. :alien:

Fuel leaking in the engine compartment just doesn't seem safe no matter what anybody tells you. Like someone said earlier... what if you had young kids? What if you got on a plane and you could smell fuel, how would you feel?

As said earlier the NHTSA determined that it was not a safety issue, not Subaru. But don't let facts get in the way of your irrational hate. None of these problems are major, and I personally would be irritated by them, but I think you are have much to high of expectations for a 24k AWD 227HP turbocharged 4 door car. There really is nothing on the market the competes with it at all for that price. If you want a BMW experience, go buy a BMW.

In order for a recall to be put into place, there has to be a safety defect which deems the car unsafe or unable to be driven. In this case, NHTSB has not deemed it to be safety, therefore no recall was issued. If it was safety related, everyone with the problem would stop driving their vehicles.

Also, do you know what it takes to catch gas on fire? It will usually evaporate before it ever has a chance to catch fire. You can throw a match into a bucket of gasoline and it will not catch fire.

Here's why I think (for a Japanese Car) my Sabaru has had too many Quality Assurance issues:

1.Window squeals when wet. (this is a “common” problem with WRXs. Well, it seems that most every other car company has figured this one out, but we as Subaru Owners just have to accept it.)
2.Dash creak
3.Reverse is hard to get into sometimes and requires way too much effort sometimes. “Common Problem”
4.Clutch Shudder- Replaced under warranty “Common Problem” This one is funny to me because some people were initially told by dealership that it was normal, and some people even accepted it as normal. What makes a WRX so magical that owners are willing to accept design and manufacturing flaws? See #1 above also.
5.Front Wheel Bearings- Replaced under warranty
6.Radiator Leak
7.Fuel line leak in engine compartment when temp is <14 degrees F “Common Problem”
I've got an '02 which I took delivery of in March of 2001 with ~71K miles. No engine mods, minor suspension and cosmetic changes have been made.
1. My noise (only on driver's side window) went away with a little lube at ~35K miles. For several months after that, I got a smudges, but that went away. So far the noise has not come back. FWIW, my buddies 2001 Audi S4 does the same thing on both front windows, not just the driver's side. He paid quite a bit more for his ride.
2. Knock on wood, I've not yet had this problem.
3. I've never owned a manual transmission that easily engaged reverse every time, and I've owned about 10. These are from Honda, VW, BMW, Saab, Nissan, Mazda and others. I do think the tranny is sub standard in terms of engaging first gear at a slow roll. I've become used to the double clutch rev match in these situations...good thing I learned to drive in a hay field on a 1940's vintage International flat bed. :lol:
4. My clutch, pressure plate and flywheel were replaced under warranty at 20K miles. More than I expected, to be quite honest. No more shudder, and 20K free miles on a clutch.
5&6. I've been lucky with the wheel bearings and radiator.
7. This was resolved under warranty, but not without a fight. I visited the dealer 5 different times in total to get this right, and had to threaten legal action. This is a HUGE area of concern in my mind. SOA needs to step up on this potentially catastrophic issue, now.

I agree that my car has had a bit more than it's share of problems for a Japanese car. But, from experience, will say that the problems are far fewer than the European vehicles I've owned. My buddy's S4 I mentioned above? multiple oil leaks before 50K miles. My BMW 325iX? rebuilt engine and 3 trannies by 80K miles, plus dozens of other vexing issues.
Based on the fun to drive quotient AND my proximity to an outstanding dealership, I will likely buy another Subaru as my next car. But the dealer makes all the difference.

My entire family drive's subarus. My mom is on her 7th subaru since 1983. Subarus aren't what they used to be, but far from cheap. I drive my car hard and I haven't had any problems with my car(38k) except for an oil leak caused by a warped filter from mr. lube. Being that a wrx is under $28k new, i think that it's quite the package. Need to stop being so picky and ignore some of the smaller things like a squeaky window. I had an 2001 A4 1.8T and that car was the biggest heap of **** i've ever owned. It was in the shop atleast once a month, and it was never cheap. count your blessings. be happy you drive a subaru.

Also, do you know what it takes to catch gas on fire? It will usually evaporate before it ever has a chance to catch fire. You can throw a match into a bucket of gasoline and it will not catch fire.


That's pure genius.

Also, do you know what it takes to catch gas on fire? It will usually evaporate before it ever has a chance to catch fire. You can throw a match into a bucket of gasoline and it will not catch fire.

I'd like to see you try this... I'll stand at a safe distance and watch. You're right gasoline is very volatile but the vapours are easy to ignite. It's precisely the fact that it evaporates so quickly that makes it dangerous. So when you throw your match into the bucket of gasoline it's gonna hit the vapour cloud above it first and.....fireball. Gasoline vapour is a lot easier to ignite than liquid and in the case of this leak that's what is under our hoods.

Don't believe me? Use google video search and type in "gasoline."


-D

same players every time. Sad. Truly it is.

same players every time. Sad. Truly it is.


Same post, different thread.

How pathetic.

I'd like to see you try this... I'll stand at a safe distance and watch. You're right gasoline is very volatile but the vapours are easy to ignite. It's precisely the fact that it evaporates so quickly that makes it dangerous. So when you throw your match into the bucket of gasoline it's gonna hit the vapour cloud above it first and.....fireball. Gasoline vapour is a lot easier to ignite than liquid and in the case of this leak that's what is under our hoods.

Don't believe me? Use google video search and type in "gasoline."


-D


Then explain to me why I was able to hold a lit candle lighter right next to the rail at the point where the vapor escapes from and there was a heavy fuel smell and yet no fire?


Damn I forgot, the laws of physics don't apply to me :rolleyes:

Somebody said, "227 hp" is not a performance motor.

In 2002 when that motor came out in the Impreza, the Audi 1.8T and VeeDub 1.8T got 150/180 horses. Integras, performance Hondas, and Toyotas were max at 200 ponies. Mustangs and American fare didn't offer much over 230.

In the 4 years since, yeah, some things have changed. But, in my opinion, 227 horses in a 3100lb car out of a 2.0 litre engine is pretty performance oriented: 1.9 horses per cube, or thereabouts.

Now, my '03 wagon has 120k on it. It's been rock solid. My complaints:

1) Changing the spark plugs closest to the firewall sucks ass.
2) Low rent sun visors.
3) Seatbelt squeak at 60k miles.
4) Squeaky driver window sometimes in the winter only.
5) No STi wagon (still).
6) FM reception.

Now, it is kinda loud inside at 80 or so, and I turn up the radio.

Aside from that, this car has had no unscheduled maintenance and is lightly modified. I use it as a commuter, don't beat on it much, and it returns 26mpg all the time.

As for Honda, reliable, great value, yadda, but consider the commercial. Remember the commercial where the people in the car forgot they were in a car or what car they were in? Well, I enjoy driving my car. I care if I'm in a good car. I care if I'm in a bad one. I like to enjoy driving. My WRX does that for me.

To the points at hand:

1.Window squeals when wet

I get a squeal only occasionally in the winter.

2.Dash creak

Don't have this at 120k.

3.Reverse is hard to get into sometimes and requires way too much effort sometimes

The car is hard to shift into any gear when temps are below 0F. However, synthetic fluid helped that. Reverse can be tough. Leave it there when you park. This is no worse than my 280Z, Rabbit, Sunbird, or 323.

4.Clutch Shudder

No worries here.

5.Front Wheel Bearings

Connecticut has lots of potholes. My 16-in. rims and tires and suspension continue to hold up great, no worries here at 120k, either.

6.Radiator Leak

Since 80k I occasionally smell antifreeze. The stealership couldn't find anything to fix, though.

7.Fuel line leak in engine compartment when temp is <14 degrees F “Common Problem”
***********
This one really bugs me - personally, it hasn't happened in my car.

I feel this same way: Overall, the car has been pretty good to me - I had a couple of small issues (coolant leak at the thermostat housing due to excess flashing on the casting, oil weeping out of the pcv system, infamous ABS issues which were solved with the new controller) nothing major, so I am pretty happy - and I love the car - I'd definitely buy another WRX, but not for a while (I'll probably hang onto this one for 10 years or so) but have to add that my brakes are very slightly modded and want the new controller, so that's my next challenge.

Cheers,

Sean

Then explain to me why I was able to hold a lit candle lighter right next to the rail at the point where the vapor escapes from and there was a heavy fuel smell and yet no fire?


Damn I forgot, the laws of physics don't apply to me :rolleyes:

Guys, it depends. A fuel leak is bad. However, you need a specific fuel density range to get a fire and an available source of ignition, both. Dumping a gallon of gas on a match won't cut it, the fuel density is way too high and the available oxygen quickly gets snuffed out. Maybe the conditions of correct fuel density, which might be met by travelling at a certain speed with the leak happening, and an a available ignition source, a hot piece of engine, just don't happen. That would be good. Maybe the fuel leak is ignited and immediately snuffed by the passage of air numerous times during your drive. That would be bad. I don't think Subaru should risk it. I think they should fix the problem and move on.

Cheers,

Sean

Guys, it depends. A fuel leak is bad. However, you need a specific fuel density range to get a fire and an available source of ignition, both. Dumping a gallon of gas on a match won't cut it, the fuel density is way too high and the available oxygen quickly gets snuffed out. Maybe the conditions of correct fuel density, which might be met by travelling at a certain speed with the leak happening, and an a available ignition source, a hot piece of engine, just don't happen. That would be good. Maybe the fuel leak is ignited and immediately snuffed by the passage of air numerous times during your drive. That would be bad. I don't think Subaru should risk it. I think they should fix the problem and move on.

Cheers,

Sean


The available ignitione source was about 1/4 in away from it.

if it is not going to be ignited by an open flame 1/4 in away then it sure as hell is not going to be ignited by a hot turbo 2 feet away. ;)

Subaru did fix the problem and moved on.

People should just be glad it's not a Ford.

12/12 bumper to bumper and 3/36 powertrain.

My wifes contour fell apart at 18k miles. Items that SOA would have repaired without batting an eye (also items that generally do not fail on Subies until they are well over 100k) were denied.

Heater core, check
Wiper motor, check
Blower relay, check
Fuel pump, check
Struts at 24k, check
Wheel bearings at 27k, check.


Bought her a 95 Impreza Outback Sport with 235k on it, original everything (except the maintenance items) and she has had no problems with it (except for a broken strut mount, ironically enough the strut was still good), the car just passed 255k yesterday.

Then explain to me why I was able to hold a lit candle lighter right next to the rail at the point where the vapor escapes from and there was a heavy fuel smell and yet no fire?


Damn I forgot, the laws of physics don't apply to me :rolleyes:


diaf, slowly. :lol:

My "issues" with my '02 WRX wagon, 55K miles as of feb 2006.

My ABS were deadly on bumpy surfaces, I took the fuse out 6 mths after buying the car. I complained to the dealer and wrote letters to SOA and after 2 + years they issued a fix. Last month I had the ABS computer replaced as per a letter I received from SOA and the ABS now functions properly, as it should have on delivery.

Clutch shudder issue has been repeatedly denied coverage, even though TSB exists for my vin #. Took it in the first time with less than 1K miles and about 8 times since. Dealers claim its normal and I should launch the car harder to avoid the clutch judder....but that would be abuse wouldn't it...they would not put that in writing....hehe. I have never had this issue with other manuals I have owned, nor have I ever had it with my buddies forester XT, which I drive regularly, so it's not an AWD issue in general.

Fuel smell when cold. Only covered to 36 K. Warranty denied and quoted over $500. to fix.

The paint absolutely sucks. After one year the paint was in far worse shape than my honda after 5 years with the exact same care and driving habits. Large chips of paint are missing all over the front end.

I also have squeeks and rattles but I agree that happens in lots of cars in the price range. However, my 97 civic never, ever, had any rattles from the dash, doors, glass, etc. So compared to what was a $14K civic the subbie is sub-par with fit and finish.

I really like the new Legacy Gt's but question buying one after having to deal with the dealerships and SOA on so many occasions with my WRX. It just seems like SOA doesn't care about customer satifaction once you drive the car off the lot. They make no "good faith" repairs to encourage repeat customers and they deny warranty work every chance they get.

People should just be glad it's not a Ford.


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Now that's a car that knows how to catch fire. How many times has Ford been FORCED to issue a recall because of fires? I know people that lost houses because of one known recall.

And when Ford issues recalls, it usually includes just about every model they make....what does that tell you??? (They never change anything....)

At least Subaru has cooperated with the NHTSB and researched it and came up with a fix. If you guys think this is such a big safety issue, you should see some of the bulletins on other makes/models that SHOULD be recalls...
(where is that VOLVO password????? :D )

Oh, and hondaslayer.....stop being a troll..... :lol:

Then explain to me why I was able to hold a lit candle lighter right next to the rail at the point where the vapor escapes from and there was a heavy fuel smell and yet no fire?


Damn I forgot, the laws of physics don't apply to me :rolleyes:

Your nose isn't a very good judge of fuel density... I never said this problem was a fire hazard. I was just trying to say gasoline vapours are pretty damn flammable under the right circumstances. Plus I'm sure, as outlined in Fight Club:

The probability of defect occuring and causing injury/death = X
The number of cars sold with the defect = Y
The average out of court settlement if said occurs = Z

If X * Y * Z < Cost of a Recall

Then, no recall...
:D

Joking aside, the above really does apply in a way because although it doesn't cause fire. I can promise, as a sufferer of this problem, that the fumes are really strong in the cabin, especially if you turn on the heater (which most people do in sub-zero weather). I'm pretty sure in these great United States of America, the land of litigation, someone, somewhere, will attempt to take action against SOA for the fumes giving their kid brain damage or causing their pet terrier to bald prematurely...

It would be nice if SOA fixed the problem but a lot of changes to the world would be nice, doesn't mean they're gonna happen...

-D

what do you guys mean clutch SHUDDER? my clutch feels like spongy is that it?. and will they fix it considering that i have aftermarket stuff on my car? also i launched the car a couple of times will they still fix it?

what do you guys mean clutch SHUDDER? my clutch feels like spongy is that it?. and will they fix it considering that i have aftermarket stuff on my car? also i launched the car a couple of times will they still fix it?

The shudder (SOA calls it judder in their TSB) is only a serious problem on the 2002 WRXs. In later models they went to a heavier flywheel and a softer clutch material. It's not a spongy feeling, it's an unmistakable problem that sends the car into convulsions. Seriously, you think the tranny is gonna jump up through the undercarriage (very very very violent shaking). It happens only when the clutch is cold and goes away after it warms up...


-D

2002 WRX purchased in May of 2001

1. First and reverse gears are always hard to put into.
2. Driver's side regulator motor died. Replaced under warranty.
3. Some interior rattles... fixed most rattles myself.
4. Cheap paint quality
5. Engine won't start unless steering is at the lowest setting.

Other than above issues, I'm pretty happy with my car. Has decent power and handles reasonably well with some mods.

could they fix my problem? would it be consider waranty or what...when i first got my car i also had problem putting it into first and second..maybe because i wasnt used to it...and i have a 05

I dont have many problems with my car but the dealership in anchorage, ak is very good. they never fight you on anything.*knock on wood*

2005 WRX 15,000 miles

What I dislike about my WRX:

1. It's not an STi.
2. ****ty gas mileage.
3. Wind noise at high speed is annoying.
4. A couple creaks and rattles here and there.
5. The headlights suck.

What I like about my WRX:

1. Great/Friendly service from the dealership.
2. It's decently quick.
3. It's ridiculously safe.
4. It's reliable.
5. It's fun to drive.
6. It's unique looking.
7. It has 4 doors.
8. It sounds like a beast.
9. AWD is fun as hell.
10. Cost/Fun can't be beat IMO.
11. The Subaru "family" love.

All in all. I absolutely LOVE my subaru. The comradery is second to none and the car is an absolute blast to drive. I'd never get anything other than a Subaru (unless money permitted it ie. z06)

My "issues" with my '02 WRX wagon, 55K miles as of feb 2006.

My ABS were deadly on bumpy surfaces, I took the fuse out 6 mths after buying the car. I complained to the dealer and wrote letters to SOA and after 2 + years they issued a fix. Last month I had the ABS computer replaced as per a letter I received from SOA and the ABS now functions properly, as it should have on delivery.

Clutch shudder issue has been repeatedly denied coverage, even though TSB exists for my vin #. Took it in the first time with less than 1K miles and about 8 times since. Dealers claim its normal and I should launch the car harder to avoid the clutch judder....but that would be abuse wouldn't it...they would not put that in writing....hehe. I have never had this issue with other manuals I have owned, nor have I ever had it with my buddies forester XT, which I drive regularly, so it's not an AWD issue in general.

Fuel smell when cold. Only covered to 36 K. Warranty denied and quoted over $500. to fix.

The paint absolutely sucks. After one year the paint was in far worse shape than my honda after 5 years with the exact same care and driving habits. Large chips of paint are missing all over the front end.

I also have squeeks and rattles but I agree that happens in lots of cars in the price range. However, my 97 civic never, ever, had any rattles from the dash, doors, glass, etc. So compared to what was a $14K civic the subbie is sub-par with fit and finish.

I really like the new Legacy Gt's but question buying one after having to deal with the dealerships and SOA on so many occasions with my WRX. It just seems like SOA doesn't care about customer satifaction once you drive the car off the lot. They make no "good faith" repairs to encourage repeat customers and they deny warranty work every chance they get.


I am going to have to take exception to this post. Honestly I feel it is a terrible post. (please don't get mad - I just disagree - I don't wish to fight)

Here's why.

You should NEVER compare a WRX to a Honda Civic. Taken to the extreme that is the same as comparing a Lamborghini to a Toyota Camry. One is designed so that you barely notice it - the other is designed to smack you in the face.
You bought a 4 door, rally-inspired sports car. With no mods it is faster around a race track then the icon of American sports cars Ford Mustang - I could literally see the other driver pounding his steering wheel as he pointed me by. It drives in inclememt weather unbelievably. And I'm 6'4" and I can sit comfortably with a HELMET on. Yes - I agree that the ABS issue was probably handled poorly - and crappy paint does in fact suck. Well if you want nice paint and a perfect quiet intereior get a Lexus. And guess what. It ain't $25k and you'll get passed by a WRX that has a few rattles and chipped paint.

btw....aren't subarus one of the best cars in crash tests?
Don't they hold their value very well?
For the most part can't you beat the heck out of it and it runs forever?

What exactly do you want? You probably should have got a 2003 Accord. I had one - it was the exact OPPOSITE of a wrx. I hated the car.

I owned an 02 WRX and now a 05 STi.
My brother has an 06 WRX.

While I agree with those problems, newer models dont have much of those issues. Some people say that its because the WRX was rushed into market. It has improved a lot. I only have one rattle, and the 1st gear lockout, especially when cold.

#1 Hyundai comes with a 10year 100K warranty.
#2 Subaru bends you over as soon as you mention the "W" word.

#1 Hyundai comes with a 10year 100K warranty.
#2 Subaru bends you over as soon as you mention the "W" word.


#1 Hyundai comes with a 100K warranty IF your are the original owner. If not, it's only 5/60. Plus, after the 5/60, you pay a deductible for repairs. They DO NOT cover wear and tear items after 12/12 (unless they changed it with the 06 years). But they don't tell you that.

#2 You must have some problem with your specific dealer, but not all dealers are like that.

Things I hate about my WRX.....well....the shifter could be a whole lot better.

I just simply HAD ;) to buy 05 STI seats for my wagon as the stock 03 seats had NO lower back support.

And the other thing I just HATE about my car is with the fewest of mods it is an absolute BLAST to drive. It never ceases to put a grin on my face.

Subaru bends you over as soon as you mention the "W" word.

They've actually been just fine for me - whenever I have asked to have something repaired which was covered by the warranty, they took care of it. I think the problem comes from people who abuse the car, kill the transmission, then want Subaru to pay for their mistakes - or mod the car, damage it, then de-mod it and try to get Subaru to foot the bill...

They've actually been just fine for me - whenever I have asked to have something repaired which was covered by the warranty, they took care of it. I think the problem comes from people who abuse the car, kill the transmission, then want Subaru to pay for their mistakes - or mod the car, damage it, then de-mod it and try to get Subaru to foot the bill...


DING! DING! DING! WinnAr!!

ive got an 02 wrx with about 56k on it. i have always had clutch shudder, and replaced my clutch for the first time at about 50k with a STI 8mm clutch disk/cover as well as an STI lightened flywheel. that setup had such bad shudder and harsh engagement that it would literally slam into gear and die at every stoplight i hit. it was a nightmare to drive and required 3k rpm+ launches to feel anything close to "smooth". i took that setup out after about 3 days of frustrated driving only to find that my efforts at smooth launches had scored the flywheel with burn marks pretty bad and already needed resurfacing. (3 days of usage). i put in a new OEM stock flywheel and clutch and things were much more reasonable, although i gotta say, i still have quite a bit of shudder when starting from a stoplight and it bugs the piss out of me. now im reading this post stating that its a problem with the 2002 model only. what is inherintly wrong with the setup that makes it launch so poorly. did they just increase the weight of the flywheel? and if so, would it be possible to drop a heavier flywheel into my car and see some improvements as far as clutch shudder. ive got a new oem clutch with 5k on it now and since day one after install its shuddered like ass.....

thanks
~mario~

Try a search for "clutch judder" (yes, "judder"!) and you'll find threads with all the answers and even copies of the TSB that covers it. Apparently with the '02 redesign, the started using a new friction material. After a couple of years of complaints and investigation (mid 2003?), they came up with a new set of clutch parts (which are listed in the TSB). I had mine replaced under warranty with the "new" parts and that helped a lot. Even with that, Subaru clutches are still "grabby".

Try a search for "clutch judder" (yes, "judder"!) and you'll find threads with all the answers and even copies of the TSB that covers it. Apparently with the '02 redesign, the started using a new friction material. After a couple of years of complaints and investigation (mid 2003?), they came up with a new set of clutch parts (which are listed in the TSB). I had mine replaced under warranty with the "new" parts and that helped a lot. Even with that, Subaru clutches are still "grabby".

Mine does it when cold, but after a few shifts, it's fine.

i bought the "new" clutch from chaplin subaru but i re used my resurfaced flywheel. even though the clutch was supposed to be a fix for the judder, its still as bad as ever. i think that i should have gotten the flywheel as well. that was never mentioned to me, nor was having the work done under warranty. not sure if i would have a warranty with 48k on the car anyhow. isnt a TSB replacement a little different than warranty work though. i mean the ABS issue is totally divorced from mileage, its just a known problem and any 02 wrx can have it fixed free of charge, why is it not the same for my clutch flywheel....................

thoughts?

mario

i bought the "new" clutch from chaplin subaru but i re used my resurfaced flywheel. even though the clutch was supposed to be a fix for the judder, its still as bad as ever. i think that i should have gotten the flywheel as well. that was never mentioned to me, nor was having the work done under warranty. not sure if i would have a warranty with 48k on the car anyhow. isnt a TSB replacement a little different than warranty work though. i mean the ABS issue is totally divorced from mileage, its just a known problem and any 02 wrx can have it fixed free of charge, why is it not the same for my clutch flywheel....................

thoughts?

mario
A TSB is not a recall. It's just information for the tech on how to properly fix a concern. I agree that the flywheel should have been replaced. I had one incident where the customer insisted we resurface it, even thought I warned him and sure enough, the judder was there and worse than before.

The ABS issue is a customer satisfaction program and not a recall.

The clutch (and the TSB for the judder) is only covered for 3/36

i bought the "new" clutch from chaplin subaru but i re used my resurfaced flywheel. even though the clutch was supposed to be a fix for the judder, its still as bad as ever. i think that i should have gotten the flywheel as well. that was never mentioned to me, nor was having the work done under warranty. not sure if i would have a warranty with 48k on the car anyhow. isnt a TSB replacement a little different than warranty work though. i mean the ABS issue is totally divorced from mileage, its just a known problem and any 02 wrx can have it fixed free of charge, why is it not the same for my clutch flywheel....................

thoughts?

mario

Yeah the replacement flywheel is heavier. That plus the softer friction material of the new clutch reduces shudder drastically. By resurfacing the flywheel they probably actually made it very slightly lighter. At this point your options are either live with it or pay to have your flywheel replaced with the updated flywheel. You could go to them and explain that they should have told you to replace the flywheel too, they should have known the TSB called for the flywheel replacement as well. You might be able to get them to cut you a deal depending on how nice they are (probably not very likely). At this point the shudder could also be due to improper installation of the clutch/flywheel. Is it all the time or just when the clutch is cold? Usually when the clutch warms up the shudder due to the friction material being grabby and the light flywheel pretty much disappears. If it's a constant shudder it might be a bad installation/defective clutch/unbalanced flywheel. My personal bet is it is the flywheel though.

-D

A TSB is not a recall. It's just information for the tech on how to properly fix a concern. I agree that the flywheel should have been replaced. I had one incident where the customer insisted we resurface it, even thought I warned him and sure enough, the judder was there and worse than before.

The ABS issue is a customer satisfaction program and not a recall.

The clutch (and the TSB for the judder) is only covered for 3/36


I knew it! This whole thread I've been thinking "She must work for Subaru..."

-D

They've actually been just fine for me - whenever I have asked to have something repaired which was covered by the warranty, they took care of it. I think the problem comes from people who abuse the car, kill the transmission, then want Subaru to pay for their mistakes - or mod the car, damage it, then de-mod it and try to get Subaru to foot the bill...

Fuel leak under the intake manifold from a defective part (as evidenced by a TSB) does NOT come from abuse. SOA and my Dealer have chosen NOT to fix this under warranty. Not only should this have been fixed under warranty but it should be a mandatory SAFETY recall. Letters to the NHTSA and SOA and Dealer have done nothing. My WRX has NOT been abused in the least. It has been babied. Anyone that knows me can vouch for that. Read the topic of this thread.

I knew it! This whole thread I've been thinking "She must work for Subaru..."

-D

Is that good or bad??

(I actually work for a dealer in FL)

Is that good or bad??

(I actually work for a dealer in FL)


Just makes you a tiny bit biased that's all... :p



-D

my 03' has just hit 60k and has some of the same probs, ie...window squeaks (but who cares), my wheel bearing is going, but I think I did that and I did smell that gassy smell when it hit in the low 20's here in GA. brrr cold...lol. I myself can deal with it cause' I like my car a lot and will cont to buy Subarus in the future. :)

Just makes you a tiny bit biased that's all... :p



-D
Actually, not really, I have helped out customers to work against a dealer before. :devil: (especially ones that try to screw over a customer because I can't stand that!!)

Fuel leak under the intake manifold from a defective part (as evidenced by a TSB) does NOT come from abuse. SOA and my Dealer have chosen NOT to fix this under warranty. Not only should this have been fixed under warranty but it should be a mandatory SAFETY recall. Letters to the NHTSA and SOA and Dealer have done nothing. My WRX has NOT been abused in the least. It has been babied. Anyone that knows me can vouch for that. Read the topic of this thread.

It's not a fuel leak, it's a fuel odor...that occurs at temps below 20 degrees. It is also not a safety problem (as per NHTSA's investigation). If you are so worried about it then pay to get it fixed or get the parts and do it yourself.

Just makes you a tiny bit biased that's all... :p ....if you knew anything about her you would know that's not true. In fact, I think having folks like her on these forums provides insight, perspective & knowledge we would otherwise not have.

Had my 05 for 13 months,and here's what I've encountered-

1)At about 1500-2000 miles I noticed that my alternator belt was fraying.I brought it in and they found a misaligned pulley from the factory.Fixed and replaced under warranty.

2)At around 10-12k miles,I noticed a coolant smell and saw coolant seeping from the bottom hose/radiator area.Took it in,and they found a loose hose.Tightened and was fine after that.


3)I believe it was my 12,500 mile oil change in which I recieved one of the infamous "bad" oil filters.Drove around 2000 miles and noticed the oil leaked all over the bottom of the motor and that I was a quart low.I had driven that way for a while.Brought in and replaced under warranty.


4)The big one-3 weeks ago,17k miles,the engine self-destructed.Stock except for exhaust.They ordered basically a new long block for it because there were metal shavings all through it.The lead tech didn't have an issue with the exhaust (thank GOD) because they were stock parts,but was suspicious that I had a UTEC or something.He can check that it's never been reflashed (maybe it should have been...).

I've got a 2003 TS wagon with 50k on it that has lots of problems. BUT I don't have any problems with my car that have been Subaru's fault. Now that I think about it, everything's really my fault - and I accept that.

- My creaky dash only started making noise after I took it off to mod something.
- My CEL is because of my performance cams and aftermarket headers.
- My replaced front rotors are because of corrosion from the stupid salt they put on the roads here in wintertime, plus I don't wash the car enough.
- The whine from my tranny (to be checked on my Tuesday appointment with the dealership) is probably from the romping and rallying that I've done, plus taking it to the dragstrip too.
- The paint is slightly chipped in the front from the rocks kicked up when I used to be an asshat tailgating people.
- The shifter started to feel rough and didn't shift smoothly after installing an aftermarket short shifter kit.
- There is a slight clunk in my right rear strut, and it's probably from autocross/rallying/ice racing/ hard driving
- Headlights shorted out after I put aftermarket bulbs on them.

BUT

I love the car. I've spanked STi's on the track. I love the shocked expression from people who end up losing to a wagon. I love carrying 3 full sets of tires *INSIDE* my car despite the creaks. I love cruising in 18" of snow, plowing about 3 inches of it with my front bumper, and not getting stuck. Hell I'd see large SUVs stuck on the side of the road in that weather, but for me it felt like a normal daily drive to work.

My Subaru has been the most fun car I've ever driven, having come from a JDM Honda SiR, Volvo S60, Nissan 300zx, VW Passat 4-Motion and Mazda 323. They all have their strong points (except for the Mazda, that thing was a POS), but my 2.5L NA Suby fits me the best. I'm saving up for a 2007 STi.

Fuel leak under the intake manifold from a defective part (as evidenced by a TSB) does NOT come from abuse. SOA and my Dealer have chosen NOT to fix this under warranty. Not only should this have been fixed under warranty but it should be a mandatory SAFETY recall. Letters to the NHTSA and SOA and Dealer have done nothing. My WRX has NOT been abused in the least. It has been babied. Anyone that knows me can vouch for that. Read the topic of this thread.

it's not so much a defective part as a design issue - and it doesn't happen on all of the cars. Essentially, what you have are two hard lines joined by a flexible line - the flex line is short, so that when the temperatures get low enough (and the rubber tube more rigid) if their is too much misalignment between the two hard lines, then some fuel can escape - the fix is literally just installing a shorter version of one of the hard lines and a longer version of the flex line - that's it.

What I dislike about my 2004 WRX:

1. Crappy paint. It's flaking off the freaking hoodscoop. I guess it IS an excuse to buy a pre-painted STI scoop, though. :D
2. Wind noise above 55mph.
3. Difficulty getting into 1st or reverse. 1st is more annoying when I'm in traffic. Reverse makes my neighbors wonder when my reverse lights appear to be flashing as I try to get it into gear. :lol:
4. Dashboard rattling. I'm too lazy to rip it apart, though.
5. Wonderful headlights and foglights. I leave my foglights off because they burn out so much. ;(

What I like about my WRX:

1. Reliable. So far. It's got 64K miles on it, though. I've only had it in for recall work, which is pretty amazing to me.
2. It is quick in stock form, in Stage 1 form, and Stage 2 form.
3. It's amazingly fun to drive in all weather conditions. My friends look at me funny when I drop to my knees and praise the Lord when it's snowing like crazy. :lol:
4. My clutch still loves me. I learned to drive stick on this car. It has survived 64K miles, even though a smoking clutch was a common sight the first month of owning it. ;)
5. Community support. I owned a Firebird Formula before this car. And let me tell you, the LS1 boards are full of grit-tastic rednecks whose solutions involve crate motors and headers. This place amazes me with the amount of people that know so much about so many different aspects of the Subaru and their willingness to share that knowledge.
6. Decent gas mileage. I had a 1990 Chevy Cavalier wagon, and the aforementioned Firebird. I don't think I ever saw above 20mpg.
7. The WRX/STi wave. I can wave/thumbs-up other drivers and have it returned. I have yet to run into a cocky WRX/STI driver.

I love my WRX. Gives me a smile every time it boosts. That said, I've had most of the common '02 problems. Thanks to the TSBs, they've been fixed under warranty: squeaky window operation, clutch shudder, winter fuel smell, and A/C freeze up. I chalk it up to owning a first model year car. Next time I'll wait till the second year. I went ahead and bought the Subaru extended warranty for piece of mind. The cost of the warranty is less than the repairs were on my old Audi at this mileage.

My experience with Honda is that they are more likely to pay for common repairs outside of warranty. My Mom had a leaky ABS part fixed for no charge on her '95 Accord. My wife's '01 Accord has had the auto tranny replaced twice outside the 3/36 warranty. (Honda stepped up and gave owners 100K mile tranny warranties because of the problems.) However, Honda doesn't make anything comparable to the WRX, so I'm sticking with Subaru.

this thread is killing me - i have to unsubscribe
I can' thave that thread title poppong in my email all day

It's not a fuel leak, it's a fuel odor...that occurs at temps below 20 degrees. It is also not a safety problem (as per NHTSA's investigation). If you are so worried about it then pay to get it fixed or get the parts and do it yourself.

So funny..."it's a fuel odor"

What do you think the odor is caused by? Imitation 93 air freshener under the hood? You've obviously never seen the fuel pool on top of the engine block from the leak in cold weather.

You can only smell the fuel because it's leaking. If there were no leak, you'd not smell it. I understand that Subaru might have an official spin on the issue, and that's all well and good, but ... .

Grins,

Sean

I haven't had any real problems out of my '03 WRX. I've got the wind problem with the window and popped a CEL that turned out to be an easy fix. Other than that it's been great with the exception of the paint which everyone knows about. So far it's been the best car I've owned.
One night I was on my way home from work. I had been up for 40 hours so I was a total zombie. It was 3am and I was cruising at 55 on a four lane highway. Next thing I know a huge deer runs in front of me. I downshift and swerve to avoid it and end up going in to a spin. I must have spun about 6 times before coming to rest in a ditch. I went over a rock that was big enough to rip one of the sideskirts off. The sideskirt and some grass wedged between a wheel and tire were the only damage.
My mitsubishi eclipse spent more time in the shop than it did in my driveway. My ford explorer at 60k the valves clattered, driver door lock broke, center armrest broke, the rear leaf springs sounded like an old screen door and at highway speeds it shook like wheels were out of balance even though it had new tires, new shocks, and had been balanced by three differant shops.
The chevrolet silverados my company uses are a year old and we've had four of them in the shop at the same time before. In the one my foreman and I have the finish on the dash has pretty much totally peeled off, the the lights on the HVAC controls take turns having shorts in them. One of the cats went bad, and just recently the power steering pump went out and a tie rod broke.

it all comes down to some people are going to have bad experiences no matter what the car and more people who have had bad experiences will speak up than the good ones, that is just how it is. I can assure you SUbaru is a great car and for the most part they are rock solid cars if you don't abuse them(you can still have fun with the car without messing it up), and maintain them when they need to be. My 04' wagon has 37,xxx miles on it and it runs like a champ, have had no problems whatsoever just replaced a battery about a month ago that is it(was on the stocker still). Take care of most anything and it will take care of you(ofcourse you can never prevent a mfg defect but those are far and few between).

If I didn't know how to work on cars or with my hands in general I wouldn't buy a performance based car in the first place.

The WRX seems like a good bang for the buck and I'd tend to believe that it could go 100,000+ miles with proper maintance.

When the time comes for me to get a WRX I will prepare myself before hand for these small quirks and don't plan on using it for a DD.

hm old thread... my car doesn't have any of these issues at 65k miles except for low quality paint, guess i'm lucky!

Ive gone through the "clutch shudder" deal too. The MY02's being the first year out it figures that there are going to be some bugs to workout and Subaru covered it...

My dash doesnt sweek or make noise or if it does I cant hear it.
I havent had a wheel bearing problem either, nor any kind of gas leak.
Sweeky windows...yeah. But quietness wasnt really why I bought this car...and I'm an old dude by most WRX owners standards.

I didnt have a radiator problem.

My car is modified and its FUN. And I realize that its not like my 2003 Toyota Echo. (which is my commuter car)

No mine doesnt go into reverse as well as other 2 wheel drive cars that I have owned.

would I buy another Subaru? Yeah, I would. The AWD is uncomparable to FWD. Will I buy one? Maybe. I live where it rains alot, and I like the AWD.

I had the fuel problem with mine when we got to freezing temps around here. I could smell it in the car and was getting sick of it. So i started poking around at the lines and found where the rubber fuel line meets the metal lines under the drivers side intake manifold was not dripping but it was making the lines wet when the car was running. So I tighten up all the little clamp and it doesnt leak and more. I also tightened up all the reset of the clamps.

Since the temps dropped I realized I was getting a horrid gassy smell.
Theen I figured out I had my windows up and backed off the beer and chili/cheese fries.
The foul odors are much less frequent.

Hahhahahah i love this thread. I should start another thread named. "I hate life in general because" Every car out there is going to have little issues. Its called being a car owner.

Things I hate about WRX:

1. cheap interior
2. transmission (worst I've ever driven)
3. paint quality

03 seats are crap......

Subaru builds a "performance" vehicle the WRX, markets it as "rally inspired" sells performace parts and even has commercials of "abusive" driving http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvnizPugx4c <---this driver shifts at a high RPM, shifts hard and jams the clutch. Maybe that might get into the consumers mind that its ok..??
1. 1st gear could be better. Numerous cars (SRT4,EVO,350z) all glide into 1st when rolling and stopped without the use of some uncle scottys cocktail.
2. SOA is not mod friendly. They need to realize that people are not going to buy the car and leave it stock to become a collecters item that they want to show their grandkids.
3. Not everyone is a prof. driver and they shouldnt have to be. Others cars take more abuse, hard shifts.....the EVO even has a 2step launch from the factory, this can only lead me to believe 2 things....1. they want you to launch it, 2. they built the car to handle power.
4. Subaru stealerships need to be more friendly to the consumer, WE'RE the ones buying the cars and paying there salary!

Just to keep things fact-based here... ;)
Subaru ... has commercials of "abusive" driving http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvnizPugx4c <---this driver shifts at a high RPM, shifts hard and jams the clutch.
You must have linked to the wrong video -- that one doesn't show any of that.
...
2. SOA is not mod friendly. Not sure what exactly you mean by this. If you're talking about warranty coverage for damage plausibly caused by the direct/indirect effects of mods, being "mod friendly" goes both ways: if you mod your car, Subaru gets to mod the warranty.

They need to realize that people are not going to buy the car and leave it stock.... Actually, most new Subaru buyers do just that.
3. Not everyone is a prof. driver and they shouldnt have to be. Agreed. We should also add "and shouldn't try to drive like one without proper training."

4. Subaru stealerships need to be more friendly to the consumer, WE'RE the ones buying the cars and paying there salary!As with most brands, there are good Subaru dealers and bad Subaru dealers. BTW, dealerships often make more money from parts/service/used cars than from new cars, so you may not be paying as much of their salary as you think. That's no excuse for unfriendliness and impoliteness, though.

^^^
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvnizPugx4c
The video at 8 sec. will show and hard shift
The video at 9 sec will show the jam of the clutch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-IJP9rd-dI <----this video as well!

True that MOST subaru drivers keep their NEW car stock because of the fact....ITS NEW. After time I strongly believe they will start to mod the car, even if it is minimal

That's just clever editing, and it's not that big of a deal to pop off the clutch like that if you are rev matching and at speed, like in the video.

^^^
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvnizPugx4c
The video at 8 sec. will show and hard shift
The video at 9 sec will show the jam of the clutch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-IJP9rd-dI <----this video as well!

True that MOST subaru drivers keep their NEW car stock because of the fact....ITS NEW. After time I strongly believe they will start to mod the car, even if it is minimal ….I got another one for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTlB-J8Ff5o


(HINT: Don’t take what you see in commercials so seriously. …..btw, Toyota trucks can’t really survive direct hits from meteors)

It is true, NOT to take a marketing campaign seriously like the Toyota Truck one. But this type of "spirited" driving the subaru commercial states is, people do see these cars as the commercials shows. Even someone that doesnt own a subaru will think RALLY racing just because of the image displayed by WRC and commercials like this. And yes maybe this was CLEVER editing, if I were to drive like this when test driving a NEW subaru or showing a service tech what was wrong with my car, He'd too assume abuse by the way I was driving.......like the commercial.

The video at 8 sec. will show and hard shift
The video at 9 sec will show the jam of the clutch
Sorry, but I don't see those. I see *part* of a shift, which doesn't look any faster than normal, and I see *part* of pressing a pedal, which again doesn't look any faster than normal.
Try watching it with no sound, and it'll already seem slower. If they didn't have the sound effects and quick cuts, it would be obvious that it's pretty boringly normal.


True that MOST subaru drivers keep their NEW car stock because of the fact....ITS NEW. After time I strongly believe they will start to mod the car, even if it is minimalYou have to remember that most of what Subaru sells are NOT WRXs (though WRXs ARE the most fun!). How many modded Outback wagons (their big money-maker) have you seen? How about modded Foresters?

Sorry, but I don't see those. I see *part* of a shift, which doesn't look any faster than normal, and I see *part* of pressing a pedal, which again doesn't look any faster than normal.
Try watching it with no sound, and it'll already seem slower. If they didn't have the sound effects and quick cuts, it would be obvious that it's pretty boringly normal.


You have to remember that most of what Subaru sells are NOT WRXs (though WRXs ARE the most fun!). How many modded Outback wagons (their big money-maker) have you seen? How about modded Foresters?

i have seen alot of modded foresters. if subie sport payed more attention to the WHOLE subaru community instead of just the cars where one said photographer was employed you would know that. which is why i no longer subscribe,or deal with unnamed company (poor customer service) which is one of the problems i have . need more detail pm me ;)

About not going into reverse, my Impreza L (1993), Impreza 2.5RS (2001), and my brother's OBXT (2005) had this issue frequently. Neither my MINI Cooper S (2005) or VW GTI (2007) have this issue even 1/10th as often. It may be a "all manual transmissions" thing, but Subaru is certainly far worse about it compared to other cars I've had plenty of seat time in. Subaru's "across-the-line" manual transmission leaves a lot to be desired. The 6MT in the STI is lightyears better.

~~Quentin

Old thread bump...

dash creaking, i never actually heard that on my car. but i think its normal because of the weather and sometimes it shrinks and expand. i keep hearing this in my Mercedes C200 and E240 but strangely not in my Soobie....love my soobie..

In response to the first post: What do I think? I think your complaining about some minor ****, most of those issues are non-issues and can be fixed and really minor prices to pay for driving such a fun car and capable chassis. Not to mention this car is so easy to work on, I mean almost anything can be done by an amatuer like myself. And there is so much info to help you I dunno.. quite your complaining!

About not going into reverse, my Impreza L (1993), Impreza 2.5RS (2001), and my brother's OBXT (2005) had this issue frequently. Neither my MINI Cooper S (2005) or VW GTI (2007) have this issue even 1/10th as often. It may be a "all manual transmissions" thing, but Subaru is certainly far worse about it compared to other cars I've had plenty of seat time in. Subaru's "across-the-line" manual transmission leaves a lot to be desired. The 6MT in the STI is lightyears better.

~~Quentin

i can never get into reverse.. i haven't driven my car in awhile, but i used to get that prob. alll the time pullin out of the driveway-- but i found a pretty esasy solution that seemed to work a lot...
after pushin the clutch in to start the car, take ur foot off for a few seconds b4 u try and put it into reverse,

Wow, old thread back from the dead....

After 6 months, nearly 6000 miles, I have had none of the issues of the original poster. The thing I hate most about my WRX is that I have to leave it parked far more often than I want to do things like WORK. :lol:

Seriously, there are some issues with the WRX that are widespread, as there are with nearly any car. People put other companies like Honda on a pedastal, but surfing the RSX forum will show a lot of people disgruntled about the quality of their car too... as will a review of nearly every car specific forum on the net.

The WRX is by no means a perfect car, and Subaru went cheap in some areas, but really for the price and what you get as a whole it isn't bad either.

That's nothing compared to my 02 GTI. That thing was in the shop 9 times in the first 8 months and you're complaining about this. The worst part about it is that VW, treated me like S*%T!!

I have no creeks, no cluth studder, maybe a window sqeak...who cares? and for getting into reverse..have you not driven a manual before?

i think your car was built on a friday...
i have had a couple things that were on your list with my past 4 subarus, and i'd have to say that i accept them because i have driven other domestic cars that give me much more common problems...
i hope you reconsider, subaru is stepping things up... law of averages says that not 'every' rex is going to be built the same, maybe the previous owner etc...

its a racecar what do you expect. haha

3.Reverse is hard to get into sometimes and requires way too much effort sometimes. “Common Problem”

Reverse is hard to get into on all manual transmissions. Just pump the clutch and then it will align the syncros and go in fine.




I wasnt aware our cars had hydraulic clutches.

I wasnt aware our cars had hydraulic clutches.

Well now you know, and knowing is ½ the battle...

#7 is the worst. I wouldn't have purchased my if I had known how frustrating this problem is. My car smells like a gas can from November until April here is North Dakota. You can see fuel pooling up on the engine block. It sucks!

My dealership offered the parts for free, but wanted $600 to install them. If they didn't have to pull off the intake manifold to fix it, this would be a recall. Since it's an expensive (design) flaw, it's a TSB. What a bunch of 8ull$hit.

^^^^^^^^^i know that feeling. lol

i hate that us 2.0 liters have no torque down low :(

for the reverse issue I found if you let the car roll forward or backwards (depending on how its parked), you'll be able to get into reverse with no problems

I hate the fact that my car is only good for picking up high school girls and other subaru owners...

I hate the fact that my car is only good for picking up high school girls and other subaru owners...

lol..!

Only one issue as yet with my '07 WRX.. and that's an extremely intermittent rough idle/ misfire.. particularly after a hot restart. but it's intermittent enough that I'm not that concerned about it, as the dealer would go nuts trying to duplicate it. As for#7.. no leaks apparent as yet.
You want leakage?.. try working on beasts like the SR71 Blackbird.. they intentionally cut holes in the fuel tanks so they don't explode at altitude, and the fuel.. JP7, is so hard to burn that you CAN throw a lit match at it and the match WILL go out.. :lol:

Can't you do the same thing with diesel fuel? Something to do with the fumes of the fuel being what actually catches fire and diesel being denser and not giving off as many fumes?

On topic... I hate the rattles. Haven't addressed it with the dealer yet, but there is a really annoying rattle from the dash over nearly any bump.

The redesign of the impreza also resulted in a really sub par privacy cover design. So that makes noise over every bump as well. It is all just amplified cause the interior can be so quiet.

i have an '05 with 50k miles on.

the only thing i agree with is the reverse and wet creaky window. other then that, it comes back ready for more every day, no matter how i treat it!!

and my dealership is amazing, almost everything is warrantied, and they treat my car great, even though, it comes in more modified each time!!

i would buy another subaru any day of the week, and gladly return to my dealership to do so. (liberty subaru in illinois FYI)