Engine complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2002 Subaru Forester has 17 NHTSA engine complaints and 0 engine-related recalls.
17
Complaints
0
Recalls
0
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 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... |
| Jan 15, 2010 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | INTERMITTENT ENGINE SURGING AND/LOSS OF POWER. *TR |
| Apr 21, 2009 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. *TR |
| Oct 12, 2007 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | IN THE LAST WEEK, MY HEATER STARTED WORKING SPORADICALLY, PUTTING OUT COOL AIR AND HOT AIR INTERMITT... |
| Aug 30, 2007 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | EXTERNAL COOLANT LEAK DUE TO FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS IN ENGINE ON A 2002 SUBARU FORESTER WITH 50,00... |
| Jul 10, 2007 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | SOA IS NOT BEING FORTHCOMING ABOUT A MAJOR DEFECT AFFECTING MANY OF ITS VEHICLES. ON WEDNESDAY J... |
| Aug 24, 2006 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2002 SUBARU FORESTER HESITATES AND LURCHES DANGEROUSLY AS IF FUEL IS NOT GETTING TO THE ENGINE. WHE... |
| Nov 11, 2005 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | ON THREE OCCASIONS WHEN PLACING MY 2002 SUBARU FORESTER IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE HAS BEGUN TO RACE UNC... |
| Mar 5, 2004 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT | ON MARCH 4, 2004, WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 SUBARU FORRESTER, I SMELLED AN AWFUL SMELL AND THE EMISSION ... |
| Aug 26, 2002 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND IT WILL BE HAR... |
| Apr 2, 2002 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | VEHICLE DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY START UP. DEALER HAS REPLACED ECM BOX, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*A... |
| Mar 11, 2002 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | CONSUMER EXPERIENCES VEHICLE STALLING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR |
| Nov 7, 2001 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN | INTERMITENT BACKFIRE AFTER SHIFTING ON MANUAL TRANSMISSION FORESTERS. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, CONFIRM... |
| Aug 12, 2001 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | VEHICLE STALLS WHILES DRIVING AND DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY RESTART. DEALER CAN NOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM WIT... |
| Jan 1, 1970 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | WHEN THE CONSUMER DEPRESSES THE FUEL PEDAL THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND SOMETIMES STALL, THE DEALER HAS... |
| Jan 1, 1970 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STARTED HESITATING DURING ACCELERATION FROM A COMPLETE STOP, HESITATION O... |
| Jan 1, 1970 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | ONCE WARMED UP, THE VECHICLE IDLES VERY LOW AT 300-400 RPM'S AND STALLS OUT. *MJ |