I HAVE A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK STATION WAGON. ON VERY COLD DAYS, THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL THAT PERVADES THE PASSENGER CABIN. WE HAD TO DRIVE WITH WINDOWS OPEN EVEN WHEN 20-DEGREES OUTSIDE OR EXPOSE MY 3YR SON TO THE GAGGING FUMES. THIS PROBLEM IS A KNOWN ISSUE (THERE ARE LITERALLY 1000'S OF POSTS ON SUBARU OWNERS WEB BOARDS) BUT MY LOCAL MECHANIC WAS INITIALLY NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS NOT ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO MAKE OWNERS AWARE OF THIS COMMON FAILURE IN SUBARU FUEL LINES. ONCE WE FOUND EXPLANATORY MATERIAL ON THE WEB, WE HAD THE LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACE THE FUEL LINES FOR ABOUT $300. GIVEN HOW COMMON THE PROBLEM IS AND HOW POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS A FUEL LINE LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD BE, THE NHTSA SHOULD FORCE SUBARU TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. IN ADDITION TO THE IMMEDIATE DANGER, THEIR LACK OF ACTION ALSO IS LEADING TO OWNERS EXPOSING THEMSELVES TO FUEL FUMES IN THE PASSENGER CABIN AS THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND THUS HARD FOR MECHANICS TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR. *TR
2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STOPPED RESPONDING. I COULDN'T ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN SPEED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOW ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I PULLED OVER AND THE IDLE WAS AT 2,000 RPMS AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STILL NOT RESPONDING. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON, THE ACCELERATOR WAS WORKING BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS FLASHING. *TR