no report yet
Vehicle speed control: cables
Risk. IF THIS OCCURS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
2002 Subaru OutbackProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 143 owner complaints about the 2002 Subaru Outback, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 3, 2018. Updated daily. Photo: OSX, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2002 Subaru Outback has problems
143 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
27Service brakes, hydraulic4 crash/fire/injury
23Fuel system, gasoline1 crash/fire/injury
20Power train
17Engine and engine cooling1 crash/fire/injury
12Vehicle speed control1 crash/fire/injury
10Structure
8Fuel/propulsion system
6Visibility
5Air bags
3913 other systems4 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 27 | 4 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 23 | 1 |
| Power train | 20 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 17 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 12 | 1 |
| Structure | 10 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 1 |
| Visibility | 6 | 0 |
| Air bags | 5 | 3 |
| 13 other systems | 39 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2002 Subaru Outback recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Suspension: rear
Risk. IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
no report yet
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
no report yet
Foundation components: master cylinder
Risk. AT THESE TEMPERATURES, THE BRAKES MAY NOT RELEASE AFTER BEING APPLIED, EVEN WHEN THE DRIVER'S FOOT IS NO LONGER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Subaru.
Best & worst years
2002 vs. every other Outback year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Outback median. How we score
'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
In owners' words
What Outback owners report
Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
BRAKES BRIEFLY FAIL IN FREEZING COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. 5 OR 10 HARD PUMPS HAVE USUALLY BROUGHT THEM BACK. VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING IT. I NEVER LEAVE MY DRIVEWAY OR PARKING SPACE WITHOUT REPEATED PUMPING TO GET THEM WORKING AGAIN. WE ARE SKI INSTRUCTORS (AND THIS CAR IS MARKETED FOR…
REPETITIVE FAILURE OF BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. ROTORS HAVE THICKNESS VARIATION WHICH CAUSES HEAVY BRAKE PULSATION AND STEERING WHEEL JUDDER FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN BRAKING FROM GREATER THAN 45 MPH. FIRST COMPLAINT 6/18/03 9971 MILES FRONT ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. SECOND COMPLAINT 5/3/04 16180 MILES…
MY 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK HAD FRONT ROTOR FAILURE IN 2007-----THE FINS THAT HOLD THE ROTORS TOGETHER RUSTED AND BROKE. WHEN YOU CHECKED THE ROTOR THICKNESS WITH A MICROMETER IT WAS FINE BUT WHEN YOU APPLIED BRAKES THE PRESSURE SQUEEZED THE SURFACES TOGETHER AND MADE IT FEEL LIKE THE ROTORS WERE…
Own a 2002 Outback?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.