2002 Subaru Forester problems
Owners have filed 109 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Subaru Forester. Cruise control is the most reported problem area, at 21% of complaints. After that come engine (12%) and transmission (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 109 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Cruise control 21% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 29 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 13 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 93,000 miles 60 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 7 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 11 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 3 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 6 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 6 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 7 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 10 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Among the 60 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 93,000 miles. For cruise control specifically, the median reported mileage is about 62,000 miles (12 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 29 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 13 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 89% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 21st most-complained-about out of 29 model years of the Subaru Forester with enough data (58 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
When the consumer applied the brakes to avoid another vehicle, he driver lost control of the vehicle and hit a median wall head on. The driver and passenger sustained head and back injuries and was transported by ambulance to the hospital. The vehicle was totaled by the insurance company.
My vehicle was broadsided on the left side by another vehicle that failed to stop at a stop sign traveling approximately 30-40 MPH. Damage to the left side of my vehicle extended from the driver's door to the rear left side of the vehicle. The force of the impact spun my vehicle into a tree that damaged the right rear quarter panel of the vehicle. The vehicle is a total loss. Neither left nor right side impact airbags deployed. On november 29, 2004 I notified subaru of america of the airbag failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru forester. The contact took the vehicle for state inspection and was advised that the vehicle could not pass due to extreme frame rust and corrosion. The manufacturer advised that because the vehicle was primarily housed in pennsylvania, a salt belt state, that the failure was normal. The manufacturer would not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were approximately 138,000.
In very cold conditions. When the car is in idol or running it has a very strong gas smell around the engine and in the cabin area. I have heard the wrx and outback models have also have this problem.I was told it is the fuel line hose the connects to the clamp and contracts in severe cold and extracts when it gets warm then seals its self to the clamp. I think this is a serious issue with subaru and it should be investigated and possible recall on the older models if it has been corrected with newer models.