2002 Subaru Forester Problems, Recalls & Reliability
109 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2002 Subaru Forester, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 15/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Speed control leads the reports, typically around 62,500 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2002 Subaru Forester has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2002 sits among all Forester years
What owners report
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 60 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 93,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 35,311 and 160,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (1)
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "P" (PARK) POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION PARK…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION JANUARY 8, 2003. AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT DURING NOVEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR…
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2002 Subaru Forester reliable?
The 2002 Subaru Forester drew 109 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 15/100, scored against the model's worst year (2019).
What are the most common 2002 Subaru Forester problems?
The top reported problems for the 2002 Subaru Forester are speed control (23 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (18), and engine (15).
At what mileage do 2002 Subaru Forester problems show up?
Owners most often report 2002 Subaru Forester problems around 93,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 35,311 and 160,000 miles.
Does the 2002 Subaru Forester have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 2002 Subaru Forester. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.