RecallMyCar

2002 Subaru Legacy Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 2002 Subaru Legacy, and owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
54
owner complaints to NHTSA
5 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire
20–21
MPG combined (EPA)

4 safety recalls for the 2002 Subaru Legacy

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Cables (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 04V128000 Reported 127,580 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    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.

    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…

  2. Suspension: rear

    NHTSA 03V153000 Reported 170,000 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    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,…

    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…

  3. Automatic transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 02V282000 Reported 172,564 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    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.

    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…

  4. Master cylinder (service brakes)

    NHTSA 02V079000 Reported 1,252 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    On certain passenger vehicles, the brake master cylinders may not function properly in ambient temperatures below freezing 32 degrees fahrenheit and lower).

    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…

54 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2002 Subaru Legacy have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 2 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 94,907 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 9 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“To whom it may concern. I’ve purchased a second hand vehicle from New Jersey I live in California. It is 2002 Subaru outback H-6 3.0 with 52,000 miles. Upon delivery I took it to orange coast Subaru f”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 10, 2023 · Unknown or other

“Extreme gas smell in cold weather until car heats up when running heat/defrost. Known issue in other models that warranted a recall.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 25, 2023 · Fuel/propulsion system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2002 Subaru Legacy/Outback (Legacy AWD, Legacy AWD (incl. Outback), Legacy Wagon AWD (incl. Outback)). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined20–21 mpg
City / Highway17–19 / 24–25
FuelPremium, Regular
EPA classCompact Cars, Midsize Station Wagons
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.5/3 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Subaru Legacy model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Subaru Legacy model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1987 Subaru Legacy01
1988 Subaru Legacy01
1989 Subaru Legacy01
1990 Subaru Legacy481
1991 Subaru Legacy378
1992 Subaru Legacy255
1993 Subaru Legacy177
1994 Subaru Legacy060
1995 Subaru Legacy2182
1996 Subaru Legacy3123
1997 Subaru Legacy5139
1998 Subaru Legacy4114
1999 Subaru Legacy394
2000 Subaru Legacy394
2001 Subaru Legacy777
2002 Subaru Legacy454
2003 Subaru Legacy1460
2004 Subaru Legacy1049
2005 Subaru Legacy9184
2006 Subaru Legacy787
2007 Subaru Legacy933
2008 Subaru Legacy965
2009 Subaru Legacy1365
2010 Subaru Legacy18150
2011 Subaru Legacy16167
2012 Subaru Legacy1690
2013 Subaru Legacy1266
2014 Subaru Legacy1053
2015 Subaru Legacy3160
2016 Subaru Legacy3147
2017 Subaru Legacy2119
2018 Subaru Legacy3117
2019 Subaru Legacy3123
2020 Subaru Legacy6121
2021 Subaru Legacy331
2022 Subaru Legacy234
2023 Subaru Legacy210
2024 Subaru Legacy017
2025 Subaru Legacy06

Checking a specific 2002 Subaru Legacy

How do I know if my 2002 Subaru Legacy has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 2002 Subaru Legacy; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Subaru dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V079000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Subaru models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.