2002 Subaru LEGACY: complaints, problems and recalls

THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SENSOR, FUEL TRAIN , AND CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE DIDN'T ACCELERATE, AND STALLED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001050 at NHTSA ↗

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT SHUT OFF WHEN DOOR SHUTS. ENGINE SURGES WHEN ACCELERATING SLOWLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 8 TIMES AND COUNTING.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003212 at NHTSA ↗

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BOLTS BECAME LOOSE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011497 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER HEARD "CLUNKING" NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE SHOCK LEAKED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BOTTOM OUT. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012017 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER RECALL 00V079000 REPAIRS FOR THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS PERFORMED THE DEFECT REOCCURRED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029719 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2002 LEGACY GT WITH MANUAL 5-SPD TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE FREQUENTLY STALLS OR HESITATES IN FIRST GEAR. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER OF MANUAL-TRANSMISSION VEHICLES, AND OTHER DRIVERS HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE CAR IS EASILY STALLED IN FIRST GEAR. I HAVE HEARD OTHER SUBARU DRIVERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS DEFECT, PARTICULARLY ON NPR'S "CAR TALK" PROGRAM. THIS ISSUE POSES A REAL SAFETY HAZARD WHEN ACCELERATING INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030679 at NHTSA ↗

TIRE SIDEWALL SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 45 MPH. BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE92 P205/55 R16

Owner-reported narrative. 40,237 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039514 at NHTSA ↗

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S BRAKING SYSTEM, REAR TIRE, WHISTLING NOISES COMING FROM DOOR AND OIL LEAK.*MR THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE WHEEL. THE REAR HATCH WAS ADJUSTED FOR WHISTLING NOISES, AND THE BRAKES WERE DUSTED OFF TO REPAIR THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE OIL FILTER WAS REPLACED AND THE SEAT BOLTS WERE TIGHTENED TO ELIMINATED THE SEATS FROM MOVING WHILE DRIVING. *PH *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040384 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-03-12 (March 12, 2002)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND LOWER).

Consequence: AT THESE TEMPERATURES, THE BRAKES MAY NOT RELEASE AFTER BEING APPLIED, EVEN WHEN THE DRIVER'S FOOT IS NO LONGER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS CAN OCCUR WITHOUR PRIOR WARNING, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDERS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 21, 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.

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.

Reported: 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)

THIS RECALL APPLIES TO CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. CERTAIN REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS, COULD RESULT IN RUST-OUT OF THE COMPONENT AND POSSIBLE BREAKAGE OF THE SUBFRAME.

Consequence: IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN AND RUST-PROOF THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 14, 2003. 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.

Reported: 2004-03-16 (March 16, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER SEDANS, WAGONS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE COULD COME OUT OF ITS TRACK ON THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER AND LODGE ON THE CONTROL LEVER TAB WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE THROTTLE WILL NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION AND WILL REMAIN IN AN OPEN POSITION.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP TO THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER TAB ON THE THROTTLE SHAFT IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FROM COMING OUT OF ITS TRACK. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.