Complaints
71
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Injuries
2
Fatalities
1
Recalls
0
Worst 2002 Subaru Legacy Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#18 complaints
Fuel System
Avg mileage:133,947 mi
#25 complaints
Suspension Failures
Avg mileage:161,400 mi
#34 complaints
Engine Problems
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Subaru Legacy.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System | 8 | — | — | 133,947 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 5 | — | — | 161,400 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tires:Sidewall | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle) | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 1 | — | — | — |
Fuel System
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
133,947
Suspension Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
161,400
Engine Problems
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brake Master Cylinder
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Sidewall
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle)
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Subaru Legacy. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Subaru Legacy Years
2002 Subaru Legacy — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Subaru Legacy reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2002 Subaru Legacy has 71 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Fuel System with 8 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Subaru Legacy?
Top reported problems: Fuel System (8 complaints, avg 133,947 mi); Suspension Failures (5 complaints, avg 161,400 mi); Engine Problems (4 complaints). 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 Legacy?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 144,506 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 Legacy?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Subaru Legacy include 5 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 2 injuries, and 1 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 Legacy have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 Subaru Legacy 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 Legacy?
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 Legacy reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Subaru Legacy
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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