Subaru · Forester · 2002
1
Recall
88
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2002 Subaru Forester has 1 recall and 88 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: vehicle speed control (12 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
The 2002 Subaru Forester page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is vehicle speed control with 12 reported complaints.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "P" (PARK) POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM, THAT IS INTENDED TO HOLD YOUR VEHICLE, MAY NOT ENGAGE.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION JANUARY 8, 2003. AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT DURING NOVEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
I WAS DRIVING I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM ONE ROAD TO ANOTHER AND I HIT A SLIGHT BUMP AND THEN THE WHOLE THING STARTS SWAYING ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT MY REAR SUBFRAME COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT AND DETACHED ITSELF FROM THE CAR DUE TO THE RUST AND THE BREAKING OF THE SUBFRAME IN ...
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THE SUBFRAME COMPLETELY FELL OFF MY CAR. THIS IS MY SECOND SUBARU IS HAS HAPPENED TO I HAD TO SCRAP THE FIRST ONE. I DIDN'T NOTICE IT TILL I CAME HOME, I CHECKED IT BECAUSE IT WAS DRIVING FUNNY.
WAS LUCKILY ONLY TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO DISCOVER THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL CORRECTLY POINTED STRAIGHT AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL POINTED INWARD. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTROL HAD WITHOUT WARNING SNAPPED IN HALF TAKING THE CV AXLE AND...
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 1 MILE FROM MY HOME WHEN THE CONTROL ARM SUDDENLY FAILED SENDING MY CAR VEERING ACROSS THE ROAD ALMOST HITTING ONCOMING TRAFFIC.
FUEL LINES IN ENGINE LEAK IN COLD WEATHER. THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD THAT I AND MULTIPLE OTHER SUBARU OWNERS THAT I KNOW HAVE HAD OCCURRING AND RECURRING. I CALLED SUBARU AND THEY WERE UNINTERESTED IN ISSUING A SAFETY RECALL DESPITE THE EXTREME HAZARD LEAKING GASOLINE IN THE ENGIN...
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE SOUND OF A TIRE SQUEALING WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO DRIVE TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE...
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PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AFTER BEING AT BANK AND HEARD A HUGE CLUNK. GENTLEMAN RAN UP TO ME AND SAID NOT TO MOVE IT. GOT OUT AND LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS ABOUT LAYING FLAT ON GROUND. HAD BROTHER BRING TOW DOLLY AND THEN TOOK IT APART. ENDED UP SPENDING 600 JUST ON PARTS AS THE CONTROL A...
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TAKATA RECALL MY CAR HAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN WALKING UP TO THE CAR AFTER IT HAS SAT AND IT IS EVEN STRONGER WHEN YOU SHUT THE CAR OFF AFTER DRIVING. IN THE WARMER WEATHER THE SMELL HAS INCREASED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SLOWED DOWN AND DROVE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM OF THE SUSPENSION WAS FRACTURED AND NEED...
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I HAD STOPPED MY FORESTER IN THE LEFT HAND TURN LANE ABOUT 3 TO 5 FEET BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE WAITING FOR THE SIGNAL TO CHANGE FROM RED TO THE GREEN ARROW. I PUT MY VEHICLE INTO PARK AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. I TURNED TO CHECK THE POCKET OF MY JACKET IN THE REAR SEAT....
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 88 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2002 Subaru models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 2002 Subaru Forester has 1 recall recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 88 owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Subaru Forester.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2002 Subaru Forester.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2002 Subaru Forester are vehicle speed control (12 reports), power train (10 reports), engine and engine cooling (9 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 1 recall on record for the 2002 Subaru Forester. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.