2002 SUBARU FORESTER Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Subaru Forester. This model year has 93 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Unintended Acceleration.
Before you buy — check the actual VIN
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2002 Subaru Forester Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Unintended Acceleration
Engine Problems
Transmission / Drivetrain
Considering a 2002 Subaru Forester?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Subaru Forester. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unintended Acceleration | 24 | 9 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 18 | 1 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 17 | 5 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 10 | 7 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 10 | 2 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 9 | 1 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 9 | 2 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Subaru Forester. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 93 most recent complaints
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
6/15/2009 I WAS HEADED HOME AT A RATE OF ~20-25 MPH ON PISGAH CHURCH RD AS I WAS APPROACHING WHERE I TURN RIGHT ONTO LAWNDALE AVE AND I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE WHICH WAS PUSHED FORWARD REAR ENDING A 2ND VEHICLE TO THE TUNE OF $16,183.57 ERIE INSURANCE CHARGE (CLAIM # 010910179459) A…
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…
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.…
THE AIRBAG THAT IS IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE COVER SECTION UNDER THE THE WORDS SRS AIRBAG IS A WEAK POINT IT DEVELOPS A LARGE CRACK LINE ON THE WEAK SPOT. SHOULD THE AIRBAG BE DEPLOYED WITH THIS CRACK, THE SHARP BROKEN PIECES COULD CAUSE SERIOUS L…
2002 SUBARU FORESTER. FOR THE PAST FEW WINTERS I HAVE NOTICED A VERY STRONG RAW GAS SMALL INSIDE THE CAR WHEN THE CAR IS IDLED, OR SITTING STILL AND THE TEMPERATURE IS 20 DEGREES F OR LOWER. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING CONTRACTS BELOW THAT TEMPERATURE AND BY DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH I AM …
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 NOT…
BRAKE PADS ARE GOOD AND MOST OF THE TIME WORK RIGHT. WHEN ROAD IS ICY OR WET AND I PUSH THE PEDAL THE CAR STARTS SHUTTERING, BRAKE LETS LOOSE AND WON'T STOP THE CAR. I TRY TO LET OFF THE PEDAL AND BARELY PUSH IT AGAIN AND IT STILL WON'T QUIT SHUTTERING OR STOP. IF I GO TO LOW G…
ON A VERY COLD MORNING WITH TEMPS IN THE TEENS, AFTER DRIVING THE CAR LESS THAN 10 MILES AND PARKING IT IN THE DRIVEWAY I NOTICED A STRONG RAW GAS SMELL. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW GAS LEAKING AROUND TWO METAL CLAMPS ON A SMALL RUBBER HOSE TO THE LEFT AND BELOW THE POWER STEERING …
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 S…
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW SET OF 4 COOPER CS4 (P215/60R16) TIRES FOR MY 2002 SUBARU FORESTER, HAVING THEM INSTALLED BY A DEALER, ALONG WITH BALANCING AND ALIGNMENT. ABOUT A WEEK LATER I CROSSED THE COUNTRY FROM WISCONSIN TO CALIFORNIA. ON GROOVED CONCRETE INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS, T…
FUEL LEAK UNDER THE HOOD. COULD NOT SEE ACTUAL LEAK BUT A STRONG FUEL ODOR FILLED THE VEHICLE UPON IDLING WITH THE HEATER ON. THIS ALSO HAPPEN TODAY AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE(~4 MILES) A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS DETECTED UPON STOPPING THE VEHICLE THE ODOR SEEM TO COME FROM THE I…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STRUGGLE TO ACCELERATE UP INCLINES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE FAILURES OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE FUEL SENSOR …
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2002 Subaru Forester.
Recalls for 2002 Subaru Forester
1 campaignNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2002 Subaru Forester. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2002 Subaru Forester — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Subaru Forester reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2002 Subaru Forester has 93 NHTSA owner complaints, 22 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most reported issue is Unintended Acceleration (24 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Subaru Forester?▾
#1: Unintended Acceleration (24 complaints). #2: Engine Problems (18 complaints). #3: Transmission / Drivetrain (17 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Subaru Forester?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2002 Subaru Forester?▾
The 2002 Subaru Forester has 22 crash-related complaints and 1 fire reports out of 93 total NHTSA complaints. 8 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2002 Subaru Forester have any recalls?▾
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affect the 2002 Subaru Forester. The largest issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2002 Subaru Forester?▾
The 2002 Subaru Forester has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Unintended Acceleration issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Subaru Forester reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2002 Subaru Forester
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.