Complaints
172
Crashes
14
Fires
0
Injuries
15
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2002 Subaru Outback Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#120 complaints
Gasoline Fuel System
Avg mileage:84,749 mi
#212 complaints
Hydraulic Brakes
Avg mileage:35,633 mi
Crash-related:4
#39 complaints
Engine & Cooling
Avg mileage:77,871 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Subaru Outback.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline Fuel System | 20 | — | — | 84,749 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 12 | 4 | — | 35,633 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 9 | 1 | — | 77,871 mi | |
| Fuel System | 8 | — | — | 93,000 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 8 | 1 | — | 57,884 mi | |
| Manual Transmission | 7 | — | — | 34,050 mi | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 6 | — | — | 39,315 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 5 | — | — | 111,833 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 | — | — | 45,000 mi | |
| Body Structure | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 2 | — | — | — |
Gasoline Fuel System
20
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
84,749
Hydraulic Brakes
12
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
35,633
Engine & Cooling
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
77,871
Fuel System
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
93,000
Unintended Acceleration
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
57,884
Manual Transmission
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
34,050
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
39,315
Engine Problems
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
111,833
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
45,000
Body Structure
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brake Master Cylinder
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Subaru Outback. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Subaru Outback Years
2002 Subaru Outback — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Subaru Outback reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2002 Subaru Outback has 172 NHTSA complaints, 14 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Gasoline Fuel System with 20 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Subaru Outback?
Top reported problems: Gasoline Fuel System (20 complaints, avg 84,749 mi); Hydraulic Brakes (12 complaints, avg 35,633 mi); Engine & Cooling (9 complaints, avg 77,871 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 Outback?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 66,111 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 Outback?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Subaru Outback include 14 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 15 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 Outback have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 Subaru Outback 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 Outback?
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 Outback reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Subaru Outback
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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