Recalls, complaints, and safety data from NHTSA
The 2002 Subaru forester has 1 recall, 93 complaints.
1
Recalls
93
Complaints
N/A
Safety Rating
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026
02V282000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION PARKING...
Overall
Not Rated
Front Crash
Not Rated
Side Crash
Not Rated
Rollover
★★★★★
Rating for: 2002 Subaru Forester 4-DR.
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 25, 2019 | SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I WAS DRIVING I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM ONE ROAD TO ANOTHER AND I HIT A SLIGHT BUMP AND TH... |
| Mar 15, 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE SUBFRAME COMPLETELY FELL OFF MY CAR. THIS IS MY SECOND SUBARU IS HAS HAPPENED TO I HAD TO SCRAP... |
| Feb 15, 2019 | SUSPENSION | WAS LUCKILY ONLY TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO DISCOVER THE... |
| Jun 3, 2018 | SUSPENSION | I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 1 MILE FROM MY HOME WHEN THE CONTROL ARM SUDDENLY FAILED SENDING MY CAR... |
| Dec 28, 2017 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | FUEL LINES IN ENGINE LEAK IN COLD WEATHER. THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD THAT I AND MULTIPLE OTHER SUBARU... |
| Sep 20, 2017 | SUSPENSION | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION FAILED. WHILE DR... |
| Sep 15, 2017 | SUSPENSION | PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AFTER BEING AT BANK AND HEARD A HUGE CLUNK. GENTLEMAN RAN UP TO ME AND SAID N... |
| May 25, 2017 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | TAKATA RECALL MY CAR HAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN WALKING UP TO THE CAR AFTER IT HAS SAT AND ... |
| Nov 19, 2015 | SUSPENSION | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND PULLE... |
| Aug 10, 2015 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | I HAD STOPPED MY FORESTER IN THE LEFT HAND TURN LANE ABOUT 3 TO 5 FEET BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE ... |
| Sep 20, 2014 | STEERING,SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN | AFTER PURCHASING A 2002 SUBARU FORESTER, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME PRIO... |
| Feb 25, 2014 | SERVICE BRAKES | BRAKE PADS ARE GOOD AND MOST OF THE TIME WORK RIGHT. WHEN ROAD IS ICY OR WET AND I PUSH THE PEDAL T... |
| Feb 6, 2014 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | ON A VERY COLD MORNING WITH TEMPS IN THE TEENS, AFTER DRIVING THE CAR LESS THAN 10 MILES AND PARKING... |
| Jan 14, 2014 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | IN VERY COLD CONDITIONS. WHEN THE CAR IS IN IDOL OR RUNNING IT HAS A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL AROUND TH... |
| Oct 22, 2013 | TIRES | I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW SET OF 4 COOPER CS4 (P215/60R16) TIRES FOR MY 2002 SUBARU FORESTER, HAVIN... |
| Feb 1, 2013 | AIR BAGS | THE AIRBAG THAT IS IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE COVER SECTION UNDER TH... |
| Nov 16, 2012 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | FUEL LEAK UNDER THE HOOD. COULD NOT SEE ACTUAL LEAK BUT A STRONG FUEL ODOR FILLED THE VEHICLE UPON I... |
| Jan 2, 2012 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2002 SUBARU FORESTER. FOR THE PAST FEW WINTERS I HAVE NOTICED A VERY STRONG RAW GAS SMALL INSIDE TH... |
| Jan 24, 2011 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A U-TURN THE ACCELE... |
| Oct 1, 2010 | SUSPENSION | SUBARU FORESTER 2002 REAR WHEEL BEARINGS KEEP FAILING AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED! *TR |