2002 Subaru Forester Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Subaru Forester. Part of Generation 1 — 1998–2002.

20012003
Complaints
109
Crashes
29
Fires
1
Injuries
13
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0

Worst 2002 Subaru Forester Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#120 complaints

Unintended Acceleration

Avg mileage:70,221 mi
Crash-related:9
#213 complaints

Automatic Transmission

Avg mileage:36,259 mi
Crash-related:3
#38 complaints

Suspension Failures

Avg mileage:165,332 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Subaru Forester.

Unintended Acceleration
20
complaints
Crashes
9
Fires
—
Avg Miles
70,221
Automatic Transmission
13
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
36,259
Suspension Failures
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
165,332
Engine & Cooling
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
72,256
Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
147,444
Airbags
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
4
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Side/Window
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Parking-Brake Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brake Master Cylinder
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Subaru Forester. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Subaru Forester Years

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2002 Subaru Forester — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2002 Subaru Forester reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2002 Subaru Forester has 109 NHTSA complaints, 29 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 20 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Subaru Forester?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (20 complaints, avg 70,221 mi); Automatic Transmission (13 complaints, avg 36,259 mi); Suspension Failures (8 complaints, avg 165,332 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Subaru Forester?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 83,801 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Subaru Forester include 29 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 13 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 Subaru Forester as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2002 Subaru Forester?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Subaru Forester reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2002 Subaru Forester

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