2004 Subaru Forester: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Mar 18, 2018 · Fuel system · 145,000 miles · WA

My forester has begun to smell like gas when it is turned on while it is cold outside. A fuel line is leaking on the right side fuel rail. The fuel is leaking right next to the exhaust manifold and the turbo (see, really hot parts, see also, dangerous). This is a well known issue with the car and is a serious safety hazard. I do not believe it is right to require owners to pay hundreds to thousands of dollars to keep their cars from bursting in to flames. Please see all the other complaints on this same issue and do something to protect and reimburse the owners of the vehicles for this safety issue. Thank you.

Filed Dec 8, 2016 · Fuel system · 143,000 miles · CO

Strong fuel odor has been entering the cabin during startup on cold mornings. This is caused by a fuel line leaking onto the engine. The leak can be seen but is inaccessible without removing the intake manifold. Once the vehicle heats up and the line expands the leak stops. I am very concerned about the potential for a vehicle fire and the danger of inhaling gasoline flames.

Filed Nov 16, 2016 · Transmission · 170,000 miles · RI · fire

The turbocharger broke twice in the 2d quarter 2015. Shortly after the second time it was fixed, the car caught fire over the turbocharger unit (while being driven 9/18/15), under the hood. New subarus have been recalled for this reason, but I think the replacement turbocharger was defective. The subaru turbo fp # was 14411aa5329l.

Filed Oct 14, 2016 · Engine · 110,000 miles · IL · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2004 subaru forester. While driving various speeds, the rpms began to increase and the vehicle overheated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and caught fire from the engine compartment. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed and later deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

Filed Jan 30, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 68,000 miles · MA

In very cold weather (less than 10 f) the rubber gas lines leak very significant amounts of gas onto the engine and verynear the hot turbocharger. Another subaru just caught fire in the o'neill tunnel. Http://boston.cbslocal.com/2014/01/27/car-fire-causes-backup-in-oneill-tunnel/

Filed Jan 22, 2013 · Fuel system · 159,400 miles · CO

After coming home and parking my car in the garage my wife came in from the garage and said it smelled like gas. I found the source to be my 2004 subaru. I drove it the dealer the next morning and they said that the fuel lines due to the cold, as it was below 20 degree's, pulled away from the fuel rail so raw gas was pooling on the manifold. They kept it for a week saying it was not safe to drive, and replaced all the fuel lines and clamps for $850. They said it was one of the worst leaks they have seen. I have now read numerous complaints on this issue and noticed the 2003 wrx, same engine, was recalled for this safety issue. I guess I am lucky as it could have caught me, my house or who knows what on fire if it has sparked.

Filed Jul 3, 2009 · Engine · 70,000 miles · NY · fire

Engine caught fire while the car was driven. Corresponds to the federal safety agency campaign number: 7v043000.