2002 Subaru FORESTER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
88 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
87,365 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 50 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 88 complaints (22.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 26.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 13.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 6.8% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 5.7% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 4.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 20 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 13 |
| Suspension | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 20; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 13; Suspension: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Air Bags: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 13 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 13
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 38 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 | 2 |
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
2001: 2; 2002: 18; 2003: 11; 2004: 10; 2005: 6; 2006: 5; 2007: 4; 2008: 1; 2009: 4; 2010: 5; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 4; 2017: 5; 2018: 1; 2019: 3
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 6 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003760 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AT ABOUT 45MPH. VEHICLE WENT AIRBORN, THE FRONT VEHICLE AXLE BROKE ON IMPACT. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003760 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004154 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)
BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT FUNCTION, HAD TO USE HAND PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE. TS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004154 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009728 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)
PROBLEMS GETTING RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED. *MR CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 02V-282 TO REPLACE FAILED TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM. CONSUMER HAS PROBLEM WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS. THE NOTICE STATES REPAIRS WILL TAKE AN 1-1/2 HOUR, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP NEEDS VEHICLE FOR THE ENTIRE DAY AND WILL NOT AUTHORIZE A LOANER CAR FOR THE ENTIRE DAY. *TT *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011139 · 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)
WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, IT ACCELERATED FORWARD AND THE ONLY WAY TO SLOW IT DOWN WAS TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. *JB SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011139 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026322 · 2003-07-01 (July 1, 2003)
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE UNTIL CONSUMER PUSHES THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026322 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030210 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE PARKING ROD 02 V 282 000 WAS PERFORMED, THERE IS VERY LOUD NOISE FROM THE BRAKES. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY THE BRAKE LINE RUSTING, BECAUSE CAR IS NOT BEING DRIVEN ENOUGH.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030210 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030884 · 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)
CAR "HESITATES" OCCASIONALLY, 1-2 SECOND DELAY AFTER YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL UNTIL THE CAR RESPONDS. ALSO, THE CAR SHIFTS INAPPROPRIATELY. MOSTLY THIS OCCURS ON HILLS. YOU WILL ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE, AND THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS; OR YOU ATTEMPT TO PASS SOMEONE ON HIGHWAY AND CAR WILL HESITATE, THEN BEGIN TO ACCELERATE, THEN WILL SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFT. I HAVE HAD CAR TO DEALER, FIRST I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THEN, THEY REALIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM, AND HAD THE COMPUTER RESET. THIS SEEMED TO IMPROVE HANDLING FOR ONLY ABOUT A WEEK. THE CAR IS NOW…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030884 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033238 · 2003-08-21 (August 21, 2003)
TRANSMISSION HESITATES FROM A DEAD STOP. YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENS FOR 2 SECONDS OR SO, THEN THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 21,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033238 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V282000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 2002-10-30 (October 30, 2002)
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "P" (PARK) POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM, THAT IS INTENDED TO HOLD YOUR VEHICLE, MAY NOT ENGAGE.
Consequence: THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION JANUARY 8, 2003. AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT DURING NOVEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
NHTSA campaign record ↗