Engine complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2002 Subaru Legacy has 14 NHTSA engine complaints and 0 engine-related recalls.
14
Complaints
0
Recalls
1
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 11, 2026
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2020 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Extreme gas smell in cold weather until car heats up when running heat/defrost. Known issue in other... |
| Jan 4, 2015 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | A STRONG FUEL SMELL BEGAN ENTERING THE CAR THROUGH THE HEATING VENTS ON THE CAR. THIS HAS ONLY BEEN... |
| Dec 14, 2012 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE "COLD" IN COLD OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES (10 F OR BELOW) THERE IS A VERY STRONG... |
| May 10, 2010 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 2 1/2 DAYS. ON COLD START IT MADE A HORRIBLE NOISE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ... |
| Jul 15, 2008 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | ENGINE BEGAN LEAKING COOLANT AT AN ACCELERATED LEVEL. ONLINE RESEARCH YIELDED A CAMPAIGN FOR REPAIR... |
| Dec 1, 2006 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | STARTED WITH A BURNING SMELL, WHEN HAVING MY CAR INSPECTED, I WAS ADVISED THAT I HEAD A SMALL HEAD G... |
| Mar 27, 2006 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | COOLANT LEAK. DEALER UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TO SEAL. DEALER REPLACED ONE OF TWO HEAD GASKETS($13... |
| Dec 1, 2005 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | LEAKING HEAD GASKET. *JB |
| Feb 9, 2004 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | FOR 30000 MILES MOTOR WAS QUIET THEN DEVELOPED A SEVERE KNOCK ON COLD START UP THAT ALWAYS LASTS UNT... |
| Sep 23, 2003 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CONSUMER MADE ... |
| Jun 3, 2003 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN | 1) CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT;2) HESITATION AT DANGEROUS TIMES, ESPECIALLY THROUGH TURNS, OCCASIONAL BA... |
| 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... |
| 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 | ONCE WARMED UP, THE VECHICLE IDLES VERY LOW AT 300-400 RPM'S AND STALLS OUT. *MJ |