2002 Subaru Impreza Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Subaru Impreza.

20012003
Complaints
339
Crashes
11
Fires
3
Injuries
9
Fatalities
Recalls
1

Worst 2002 Subaru Impreza Problems

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

#147 complaints

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Avg mileage:13,628 mi
Crash-related:4
#242 complaints

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Avg mileage:50,532 mi
#340 complaints

Gasoline Fuel System

Avg mileage:72,605 mi
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Subaru Impreza.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
47
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
13,628
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
42
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
50,532
Gasoline Fuel System
40
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
72,605
Suspension Failures
40
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
135,362
Visibility:Windshield
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
6,000
Body Structure
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
119,842
Fuel System
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
109,714
Steering Defects
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
95,804
Automatic Transmission
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
170,000
Engine & Cooling
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
63,454
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
17,500
Manual Transmission
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
18,316
Hydraulic Brakes
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
67,040
Transmission / Drivetrain
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
52,670
Structure:Frame And Members
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
113,091
Unintended Acceleration
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
80,400
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical Faults
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension:Front
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension:Rear
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

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

Recalls for 2002 Subaru Impreza

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~318,215 vehicles.

11V464000Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
~318,215 affected

SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2007 IMPREZA, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 FORESTER, AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 SAAB 9-2X VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 THROUGH NOVEMBER 26, 2007 ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW JERSEY, OHIO, RHODE ISLAND, WEST VIRGINIA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY BREAK AT THE HANGER BRACKETS DUE TO CORROSION IF THE HANGER BRACKET IS EXPOSED TO SALTY AND HUMID ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS ROADS CONTAINING SNOW MELTING AGENT.

Other Subaru Impreza Years

2002 Subaru Impreza — FAQ

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

Is the 2002 Subaru Impreza reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2002 Subaru Impreza has 339 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 47 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Subaru Impreza?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (47 complaints, avg 13,628 mi); Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings (42 complaints, avg 50,532 mi); Gasoline Fuel System (40 complaints, avg 72,605 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 Impreza?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 68,833 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 Impreza?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Subaru Impreza include 11 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 9 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 Impreza have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 318,215 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2002 Subaru Impreza?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2002 Subaru Impreza shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

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

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

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