2002 Subaru OUTBACK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
143 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
70,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 88 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 143 complaints (14.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 34 | 23.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 9.8% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 8.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 7.0% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 4.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 20 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 7 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 20; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 7; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 6; Engine: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 16 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 19 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 16; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 10
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 55 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2003 | 23 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
2001: 1; 2002: 17; 2003: 23; 2004: 17; 2005: 10; 2006: 11; 2007: 8; 2008: 11; 2009: 5; 2010: 6; 2011: 6; 2012: 7; 2013: 2; 2014: 8; 2015: 5; 2016: 3; 2017: 1; 2018: 2
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10008998 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008998 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012066 · 2003-03-19 (March 19, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FISH-TAIL, THE CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES WITH FORCE AND DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. *JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 8,094 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012066 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014275 · 2003-04-11 (April 11, 2003)
I PURCHASED A 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK FROM OLDHAM'S SUBARU OF NICHOLASVILLE, KY IN FEBURARY 2003. ON SAT. MARCH 22, 2003, I NOTICED THE CAR HESITATING DURING INITIAL ACCELERATION AFTER A STOP AND THEN WITH ACCELERATION AFTER SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). ON SUN., MARCH 23, 2003 THE PROBLEM BECAME MUCH MORE SEVERE. THE CAR WOULD LURCH INTO INTERSECTIONS AFTER A STOP, AND THEN HESITATE. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL, THEN WOULD LURCH OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. THIS NEARLY CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT, AND I HAD MY 2 YEAR OLD SO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014275 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039099 · 2003-09-18 (September 18, 2003)
2002 SUBARU OUTBACK H6 AWD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION -- WARPED AND GLAZED FRONT ROTORS AT RELATIVELY LOW MILES (25,600), REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF PADS AND TURNING OF ROTORS. -- DEALER INITIALLY CLAIMED WEAR AND TEAR ITEM, BUT AFTER REVIEWING SERVICE RECORD WITH SUBARU, OFFERED WARRANTY REPAIR. I HAD FREQUENTLY COMPLAINED OF A SHIMMY WHILE DRIVING AND RECENTLY BEGAN EXPERIENCING A STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY WHILE BRAKING (SINCE LAST TIRE ROTATION). THIS IS THE FIRST INDICATION FROM DEALER THAT THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. CAR MOSTLY DRIVEN …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039099 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003384 · 2003-01-25 (January 25, 2003)
CAR HAS COMPLETELY STALLED TWICE WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,710 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003384 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034053 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)
WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND EXPERIENCE SUDDEN DECELERATION. WHEN REMOVING PRESSURE FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE STALLS. DEALER INDICATES THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE, AND THERE IS NO A REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034053 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10076081 · 2004-09-14 (September 14, 2004)
THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS FROM THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE LEFT DOOR PANEL BY THE WINDOW REGULATOR DRIVER WINDOW WAS NOT WORKING, THERE WAS NOISE WHEN THE DRIVER PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL IN THE GEAR, AND A GAS SMELL WAS PRESENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATED. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10076081 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10213022 · 2007-12-28 (December 28, 2007)
I HAVE A SUBARU 2002 OUTBACK. THE FOLLOWING IS WHAT I PROVIDED TO THE DEALER IN THE LAST VISIT. EARLIER THIS YEAR, BEFORE MY WARRANTY PERIOD HAD EXPIRED, I HAD ISSUES WITH LEAKING FUEL FROM THE FUEL LINES AT THE TOP OF THE ENGINE UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I TIGHTENED THE CLAMPS ON THE FUEL LINE AND THE LEAK SEEMED TO STOP. THERE WERE ADDITIONAL SMELLS OF FUEL IN COLD WEATHER SO I BROUGHT MY CARE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TIGHTENED THE CLAMPS AND COULD NOT FIND ANY OTHER LEAKS AND SPAYED A WHITE LEAK DETECTOR ON THE FUEL LINES. I BROUGHT THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10213022 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012503 · 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A DIRT ROAD THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH A TREE. NEITHER THE FRONT DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012503 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012506 · 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A DIRT ROAD THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH A TREE. NEITHER THE FRONT DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012506 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157900 · 2006-05-19 (May 19, 2006)
THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. I REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHT TO SHOW THE LIGHTS ARE OUT. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION THAT BOTH FRONT LIGHTS ARE OUT BUT IT SEEMS TO BE DUE TO ELECTRICAL OR ANOTHER PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTICED MANY OUTBACKS WITH ONE LIGHT OUT FOR THE SAME MODEL YEARS. IT SEEMS TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM UNRELATED TO THE BULBS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157900 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10189581 · 2007-05-02 (May 2, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 37,000. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION TO THE BATTERY POSITION TO USE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER, AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE FAILURE WAS. *AK UPDATED 06/19/07 *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189581 at NHTSA ↗