2002 Subaru WRX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
427 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
40,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 328 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings is the most frequently named component, appearing in 155 of 427 complaints (36.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 87 | 20.4% |
| Braking behavior | 81 | 19.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 2.3% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 0.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 0.5% |
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:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 155 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 85 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 54 |
| Fuel System, Other:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 18 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 13 |
| Service Brakes, Air:Antilock | 13 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 11 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail | 10 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 155; Fuel System, Gasoline: 85; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 54; Fuel System, Other:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 18; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery: 13; Service Brakes, Air:Antilock: 13; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 11; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 70 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 132 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 68 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 35 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 20 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 70; 25,000 to 49,999: 132; 50,000 to 74,999: 68; 75,000 to 99,999: 35; 100,000 to 149,999: 20; 150,000 and above: 3
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (132). 99 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 | 11 |
| 2003 | 57 |
| 2004 | 148 |
| 2005 | 65 |
| 2006 | 19 |
| 2007 | 47 |
| 2008 | 27 |
| 2009 | 22 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2002: 11; 2003: 57; 2004: 148; 2005: 65; 2006: 19; 2007: 47; 2008: 27; 2009: 22; 2010: 10; 2011: 7; 2013: 2; 2014: 5; 2016: 4; 2017: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 87 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 81 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 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 10049649 · 2003-12-12 (December 12, 2003)
I GET A OVERWHELMING FUEL SMELL WHEN STARTING MY CAR. MY MILEAGE IS HORRBILE. I BELEIVE THERE IS A FUEL LEAK IN MY CAR.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052466 · 2004-01-06 (January 6, 2004)
SECOND ATTEMPT TO FILE COMPLAINT PREVIOUS EFFORT WOULD NOT INCLUDE DATA ON COMPLAINT INFO PAGE. COLD WEATHER FUEL LEAK AS DISCRIBED IN SUBARU TSB 09-36-03 DATED 04/01/03.*AK RAW FUEL ESCAPING FROM FRONT OF RUBBER HOSE SECTION IDENTIFIED IN TSB , TEMP 3 DEG F. FUEL BEGINS TO ESCAPE MINUTES AFTER START OF CAR. AREA UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND AIR INTAKE TUBE WET WITH RAW FUEL, CLOUDS OF FUEL VAPOR SEEN RISING FROM FRONT OF CAR WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052466 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003788 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES, VEHICLE'S ABS IS INEFFECTIVE ON SLIPPERY AND GRAVEL SURFACES. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 44,040 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006478 · 2002-02-16 (February 16, 2002)
THE ABS ON THIS CAR HAS ACTIVATED 3 TIMES ON 100% DRY ROADS AT LOW TO MODERATE SPEED. THE ACTIVATION SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY BUMPS OR EXPANSION JOINTS IN THE PAVEMENT. THIS RESULTS IN LOSS OF MOST OR ALL BRAKING POWER. 2 OF THESE OCCASIONS WOULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENTS HAD THERE BEEN ANYONE IN FRONT OF US.*** *AK DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS***758325.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014052 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
THE STANDARD TRANSMISSION COMMONLY FAILS TO GO INTO GEAR. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT A STOP AND ALSO WHILE MOVING. DOUBLE CLUTCHING IS COMMONLY NECESSARY IN ORDER TO ENGAGE THE DESIRED GEAR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014052 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028456 · 2003-07-16 (July 16, 2003)
CAR: 02 SUBARU WRX MANUAL TRANSMISSION THE CAR SUFFERS FROM THE CLUTCH JUDDER DESCRIBED BY MANY, AND DETAILED IN TSB 03-51-02. MY CAR HAS 44000 MILES. THE BASIC WARRANTY ON THE CAR IS 3YR/36000. POWRTRAIN IS 6 YR/60000. MY DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES MY PROBLEM AS BEING EXACTLY AS IN THE TSB. HOWEVER, HE INFORMS ME THE REPAIR IS NOT TO BE FIXED AT NO CHARGE TO ME- SINCE THE BASIC WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. GIVEN THAT THE CAR IS SO DIFFICULT TO DRIVE, AND THERE IS AN ACKNOWLEDGED MANUFACTURING DEFECT, IN A POWERTRAIN COMPONENT, I DON'T SEE THE PROBLEM. EX…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028456 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058994 · 2004-02-25 (February 25, 2004)
THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS (DATE IS THE FIRST INCIDENT I RECALL). ON SURFACES THAT ARE WET, SNOWY OR ICY, I CANNOT BRAKE INTO A TURN. THE CAR DOES NOT TURN OR STOP, BUT MERELY SLIDES IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND EVENTUALLY STOPS AFTER IT GOES 3 FEET OR MORE, DEPENDING ON MY SPEED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THE TURN. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS, EVEN WHEN I AM GOING VERY SLOWLY (LESS THAN 5 MPH, FOR EXAMPLE, AS TO MAKE A 90-DEGREE TURN INTO A PARKING LOT). IN ORDER TO TAKE TWO TURNS ON MY DAILY COMMUTE, I MUST COME TO A COMPL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10282906 · 2009-09-04 (September 4, 2009)
2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX FUEL LEAKS AT TEMPERATURES UNDER ABOUT 20 DEGREES F FROM RUBBER HOSE CLAMPS TO STEEL PIPES UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD. PROBLEM MATCHES DESCRIPTION OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 09-36-03 AND SHOWN IN EXISTING REPORT EA09011. TRIED TO TIGHTEN CLAMPS BY REMOVING POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. PLANNING TO CONDUCT REPAIR WORK PER SUBARU TECH BULLETIN 09-36-03 BEFORE WINTER. CAR HAS ABOUT 75K MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10282906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104685 · 2004-12-29 (December 29, 2004)
THERE IS A KNOWN INTERNAL TSB BEING CIRCULATED BY SUBARU OF AMERICA ABOUT THIS VERY PROBLEM. PRICING HAS RANGED FROM $650.00 AND UP. THIS IS A HAZARD AND A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. I SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS RECURRING AMONGST HUNDREDS OF WRX OWNERS. FUEL LEAKS FROM A LINE ONTO THE ENGINE. TWO DANGERS EXIST, 1)POSSIBLE IGNITION OF THE RAW GASOLINE DUE TO PROXIMITY TO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. 2)POSSIBLE EXPLOSION IN VEHICLE CABIN DUE TO ACCUMULATION OF DENSE GASOLINE VAPORS. IN ANY CASE IT WOULD…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104685 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105948 · 2005-01-07 (January 7, 2005)
FUEL SMELL OBSERVED INSIDE CABIN WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 40 DEG F. DEFINITE FUEL SMELL FROM PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE BAY WHEREAS NO SMELL FROM DRIVER'S SIDE. DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERNS WITH FUEL DRIPPING FROM LINES ONTO HOT ENGINE/ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 37,840 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105948 at NHTSA ↗