Engine complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2002 Subaru outback has 23 NHTSA engine complaints and 0 engine-related recalls.
23
Complaints
0
Recalls
0
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 2018 | ENGINE | I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE HAD FOUR SEPARATE INCIDENTS THAT MY HEAD GASKET H... |
| Jan 13, 2015 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | IN 10 DEGREE WEATHER, MY 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK WHILE BEING DRIVEN BY MY 17... |
| Jan 13, 2012 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | WHEN WEATHER TURNS COLD, THE SMELL OF RAW GAS COMES INTO THE CAR, AS WELL AS IN THE GARAGE AFTER P... |
| Jan 10, 2012 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WITH... |
| Dec 29, 2011 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | I RECENTLY TOOK MY OUTBACK IN TO A LOCAL SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE, AND THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT THE HEAD ... |
| Feb 15, 2008 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | I REPLACED THE LEFT HEAD GASKET (AT A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER) AT 122,000 MILES DUE TO OIL LEAKAGE. AT... |
| Feb 1, 2008 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSING COOLANT LEAK FROM ENGINE, POTENTIAL OVERHEATING AND ENGINE FAILURE. *TR |
| Sep 1, 2007 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | IN MAY OF 2007, MY 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH 71,000 MILES FIRST BEGAN HAVING OVERHEATING ISSUES. I T... |
| Apr 15, 2007 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR FROM THE A/C. PEP BOYS CHARGED OVER $1,000 TO REPAIR. T... |
| Oct 14, 2006 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | OUR MECHANIC FOUND OUR PROBLEM IS A CRACKED HEAD GASKET. MODEL-2002 OUTBACK SUBARU WAGON. WAS TOLD T... |
| Oct 13, 2006 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | THE HEAD GASKET, TOO THIN, ON OUR 2002 OUTBACK SUBARU AND CRACKED. FULL RECALLS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO O... |
| Feb 11, 2006 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | AT 69,013 MILES, THE DRIVER SIDE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING COOLANT. WE FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM DUE TO... |
| Jan 15, 2006 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK SMELT BURNING COOLANT. THEN , STARTED SEEING A LOT OF ... |
| Nov 1, 2005 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK (NOT SURE WHICH ENGINE) - NOTICED COOLANT SMELL AROUND NOVEMBER 2005; WAS TOLD B... |
| Aug 1, 2005 | ENGINE | DRIVERS SIDE HEAD GASKET LEAKED. ONLY THAT SIDE WAS REPLACED. ON 1/14 BOTH HEAD GASKETS STARTED LEAK... |
| Jan 1, 2005 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | THE CAR ALWAYS HAS A STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE DURING WINTER. THE SMELL IS SO BAD THAT I GET HEADACH... |
| Dec 20, 2004 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | FUEL SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF CABIN. DEALER HAS EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE,... |
| Jan 14, 2003 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | CAR HAS COMPLETELY STALLED TWICE WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING IN DOWNTOWN SE... |
| Dec 8, 2002 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | MASTER CYLINDER HAS A BAD LEAKAGE, CAUSING ENGINE TO LOCK. PH...*AK |
| Oct 8, 2002 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | PISTON SLAP IN 2.5 ENGINE. *NM |