The 2002 Subaru Forester has 1 safety recall and 88 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is vehicle speed control (23 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints88filed by owners
Crashes · fires21 · 1reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths8 · 0reported in complaints
2002 Subaru Forester in an NHTSA crash test
Safety recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission
NHTSA recall 02V282000 · Oct 30, 2002 · 172,564 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Risk: THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2002 Subaru Forester 4-DR.
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
★★★★★
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Forester AWD
21mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
Forester AWD
21mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.5 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Vehicle speed control Accelerator pedal
23
9
0
1
62,500 mi
Power train Automatic transmission; Clutch assembly
18
5
0
1
25,675 mi
Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline; Cooling system
14
0
0
0
78,303 mi
Air bags Frontal; Frontal › Sensor/control module
10
7
0
6
30,355 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Pedals and linkages
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Oct 25, 2019 · 235,000 milesSuspension 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 THE REAR
Mar 15, 2019 · 161,000 milesUnknown or other 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.
Feb 15, 2019 · 169,000 milesSuspension 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 STABILIZER LINKAGE WITH IT. HOPING TO GET IT FIXED FOR UNDER $500.
Jun 3, 2018 · 198,455 milesSuspension 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.
Dec 28, 2017 · 150,000 milesFuel/propulsion system 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 ENGINE POSES. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED TO ME TWICE IN TWO DIFFERENT FUEL HOSES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS.
Sep 15, 2017 · 162,500 milesSuspension 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 ARMS WERE ROTTED HORRIBLY. LEFT ONE AS STATED, WAS ROTTED IN HALF, RIGHT WAS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE MY BROTHER SAID IT WOULD NOT BE SAFE IF NOT REPLACED ALSO. SO 600.00 LATER AND NOW I HAVE IT AT KOCUR KREW AND WILL HAVE ANOTHER 750.00 BILL AS THE SUBFRAME AND CRADEL ASSEMBLY ARE ROTTED BAD. LIKE WOW ALL IN 2.5 MONTHS. I THINK I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AS I HAVE DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE TO OHIO NUMEROUS TIMES IN LAST 1.5 YEARS.
Sep 20, 2017 · 132,000 milesSuspension 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 AND FOUND THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS BENT TOWARDS THE LEFT, THE CV JOINT AND TRANSAXLE WERE DAMAGED, AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN AUTO GARAGE FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000. UPDATED 11/07/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR…
May 25, 2017 · 145,000 milesFuel/propulsion system 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.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
