← New search

2002 Subaru Forester

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Subaru Forester do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 131.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Forester years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

50 reports with mileage · 38 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

21 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports

Power Train complaints

16 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2003
Power Train

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 WIL…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10009728

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STARTED HESITATING DURING ACCELERATION FROM A COMPLETE STOP, HESITATION OCCURS ONE SECOND TO A FEW SECONDS AFTER ACCELERATION AND CAN LAT APPROXIMATELY THREE SECONDS. SINCE THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE HESITATION, THE TRANSMISSION NOW SHIFTS WITH A SLIGHT THUMP TO A LOUD BANG, DURING ACCE…

Read full complaint

CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STARTED HESITATING DURING ACCELERATION FROM A COMPLETE STOP, HESITATION OCCURS ONE SECOND TO A FEW SECONDS AFTER ACCELERATION AND CAN LAT APPROXIMATELY THREE SECONDS. SINCE THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE HESITATION, THE TRANSMISSION NOW SHIFTS WITH A SLIGHT THUMP TO A LOUD BANG, DURING ACCELERATION THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MISSES A SHIFT AND GOES INTO NEUTRAL CAUSING THE ENGINE TO INSTANTLY OVER SPEED TO 2,000 RPM'S THE TRANSMISSION SEARCHES FOR DIFFERENT GEARS WHILE GENTLY ACCELERATING, ON 2 OCCASIONS THE DEALER HAS REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER MODIFICATIONS WHICH HAS MADE THE PROBLEMS LESS INTENSE, BUT STILL EXISTS. *JB *SCC

NHTSA ODI #567961

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2002
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING THE CLUTCH INTERMITTENTLY FAILS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE AND DELAY ENGAGMENT. *YH

NHTSA ODI #786411

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

INTERMITENT BACKFIRE AFTER SHIFTING ON MANUAL TRANSMISSION FORESTERS. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, CONFIRMED THAT ENGINE BACKFIRES BUT SAID BACKFIRING WAS NOT A PROBLEM, HENCE NO FIX WAS NECCESSARY AND NON WOULD BE PROVIDED. HOW MANY OF YOU OUT THERE CONSIDER BA. *AK

NHTSA ODI #763137

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2002
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEARS LOCK IN PARK POSITION ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8002494

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2001
Power Train

THIS SITUATION WAS TAKEN CARE OF BY REPLACING "THE BRAINS" OF THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE IDLE SPEED HAS REMAINED BELOW 300 WITHOUT THE SERVICE LIGHT COMING ON SINCE. ONE OTHER COMMENT IS THAT THE SHIFTER DOES NOT LOCK INTO DRIVE LIKE MOST CARS IT LOCKS INTO 3RD. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE IDLE SPEED IS SUPPOSED TO BE BUT IT CAN'T BE 2…

Read full complaint

THIS SITUATION WAS TAKEN CARE OF BY REPLACING "THE BRAINS" OF THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE IDLE SPEED HAS REMAINED BELOW 300 WITHOUT THE SERVICE LIGHT COMING ON SINCE. ONE OTHER COMMENT IS THAT THE SHIFTER DOES NOT LOCK INTO DRIVE LIKE MOST CARS IT LOCKS INTO 3RD. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE IDLE SPEED IS SUPPOSED TO BE BUT IT CAN'T BE 220. PUT BACK IN SERVICE ON DEC 8TH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #755422

Official recalls

1

02V282000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Oct 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Subaru Forester problems