IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS THE CLUTCH INTERMITTENTLY SHUDDERED WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO TWO DEALERS BUT NEITHER DEALER COULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM
2002 Subaru Outback
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Subaru Outback do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 207.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Outback 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
180–25K
1325–50K
1650–75K
1975–100K
12100–150K
10150K+
88 reports with mileage · 55 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports0 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
143 reportsSINCE NEW, THE CLUTCH ON THIS VEHICLE HAS SLIPPED WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. IT ALSO OCCASIONALLY SLIPS WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO BE DIFFICULT TO START SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC AND WILL EVENTUALLY WEAR DOWN PARTS UNTIL THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A KNOWN P…
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SINCE NEW, THE CLUTCH ON THIS VEHICLE HAS SLIPPED WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. IT ALSO OCCASIONALLY SLIPS WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO BE DIFFICULT TO START SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC AND WILL EVENTUALLY WEAR DOWN PARTS UNTIL THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE BUT SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS NOT MADE ANY STEPS TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. MY LOCAL DEALER CLAIMS THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE CLUTCH SLIP AND REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK
IN COLD SEVERE WEATHER BRAKES SHUTTER. RECALL 02V079000 WAS ISSUED; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH COMPARTMENT. ALSO, HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFT GEAR POSITION INDICATOR. DEALER URGED CONSUMER TO PUT A TOWEL AT THE WHEEL TO HIDE THE KEYS HOLDER. *AK
2002 LLBEAN OUTBACK ROTOR & BRAKE PROBLEMS. 8/29/02 7,681 MILES--VIBRATION WHEN APPLIED BRAKES--DEALER RESURFACED FRONT ROTORS. 12/30/02 12,464 MILES---VIBRATION WHEN APPLIED BRAKES & SCRATCHY NOISE WHEN APPLIED BRAKES.---DEALER RESURFACED FRONT ROTORS AND REPLACED FRONT BRAKES (NO PAD LEFT). 6/4/03 20,309--VIBRATION WHEN A…
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2002 LLBEAN OUTBACK ROTOR & BRAKE PROBLEMS. 8/29/02 7,681 MILES--VIBRATION WHEN APPLIED BRAKES--DEALER RESURFACED FRONT ROTORS. 12/30/02 12,464 MILES---VIBRATION WHEN APPLIED BRAKES & SCRATCHY NOISE WHEN APPLIED BRAKES.---DEALER RESURFACED FRONT ROTORS AND REPLACED FRONT BRAKES (NO PAD LEFT). 6/4/03 20,309--VIBRATION WHEN APPLIED BRAKES. DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS & FRONT BRAKES. 10/4/03 25,460--BROUGHT CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE & DEALER INSPECTED BRAKES. FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKES NEEDED TO BE RESURFACED. DEALER RESURFACED. *JB
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 SHIM…
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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 ON HIGHWAY WITH INFREQUENT BRAKING. *JB
WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE WHEEL WOULD GRIND AND MAKE A NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVEN TIMES SINCE DECEMBER 2002, AND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK THE NOISE APPEARED TO COME FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AND OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS WASHED. *SCC *JB
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
EXPERIENCED VIBRATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER RECUT ROTORS FRONT & REAR AT APPROXIMATELY 13,000 MI. PROBLEM RECURRED AT APPROX 17,000 MILES. DEALER RECUT FRONT ROTORS.*AK
NHTSA# ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND LOWER. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO THE VIN. *AK
Official recalls
404V128000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cables
Mar 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 & remedy
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.
03V153000 · Suspension:rear
Apr 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 & remedy
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.
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.
02V079000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Mar 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 & remedy
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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.