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2002 Subaru Forester

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Subaru Forester do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 131.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

50 reports with mileage · 38 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

21 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports

Steering complaints

1 reports
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170,701 miles · Oct 7, 2014
Power TrainSteeringSuspensionCrash

AFTER PURCHASING A 2002 SUBARU FORESTER, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME PRIOR TO NOTICING THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FEEL LOOSE AND UNSTABLE WHILE STEERING, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL TO ONE SIDE WHILE ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. AFTER NOTICING THE INSTABILITY AND SWAYING ACTION, I CONDUC…

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AFTER PURCHASING A 2002 SUBARU FORESTER, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME PRIOR TO NOTICING THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FEEL LOOSE AND UNSTABLE WHILE STEERING, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL TO ONE SIDE WHILE ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. AFTER NOTICING THE INSTABILITY AND SWAYING ACTION, I CONDUCTED CURSORY INSPECTIONS OF THE FRONT END AND SUSPENSION AREAS OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT OF INSPECTIONS, I DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE UNDERCARRIAGE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON 20 SEPTEMBER 2014, WITHOUT WARNING, THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE. IT COULD BE OBSERVED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE IN THE WELD BETWEEN THE HANGER BRACKET AND THE MAIN PORTION OF THE CONTROL ARM. AFTER THE CONTROL ARM BROKE, IT CAUSED THE CONTROL ARM TO MOVE TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE; IT CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO SLAM ABRUPTLY INTO THE REAR PORTION OF THE TIRE WELL; IT THEN CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO LOCK UP, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSED THE TIRE TO IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO SKID. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WHICH MINIMIZED RESULTS: VEHICLE WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45 MPH; IT OCCURRED ON SECONDARY ROAD; ROAD WAS STRAIGHT AND LEVEL; THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC; AND ROAD SURFACE WAS DRY. THERE WAS ADDITIONAL VEHICLE DAMAGE. UPON CHECKING THE RECALLS FOR THE 2002 SUBARU FORESTER, I DISCOVERED THAT THE 2003-2008 FORESTERS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT REASON (RECALL ID # 70673.) THERE WERE OTHER ADDITIONAL RECALLS AS WELL FOR SIMILAR ISSUE. AFTER CONTACTING SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE, I WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM UNDER THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RECALL WERE THE SAME. I BELIEVE THAT THE FAILURE OF THE CONTROL ARM IS VERY OBVIOUS AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED SIMILAR TO THE OTHER RECALLED YEARS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE PICTURES OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10643067

Official recalls

1

02V282000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Oct 30, 2002

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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