RecallMyCar

2002 Subaru Outback Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 2002 Subaru Outback, and owners have filed 143 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
143
owner complaints to NHTSA
9 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire

4 safety recalls for the 2002 Subaru Outback

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…

143 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2002 Subaru Outback have filed 143 complaints with NHTSA; 9 describe a crash. Reports cite 11 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 73,871 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 23 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The air conditioner begins to blow hot moist air after several minutes of working properly. Multiple mechanics including a specialty shop can't diagnose, and the only option is to replace the entire a”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 3, 2018 · Unknown or other

“I am the original owner of this vehicle and i have had four separate incidents that my head gasket has had to be replaced. This is a costly repair and given my car has 190,000 miles on it i believe fo”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 9, 2018 · Engine

Compare Subaru Outback model years

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

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1995 Subaru Outback12
1996 Subaru Outback246
1997 Subaru Outback479
1998 Subaru Outback2127
1999 Subaru Outback1111
2000 Subaru Outback1207
2001 Subaru Outback3171
2002 Subaru Outback4143
2003 Subaru Outback1493
2004 Subaru Outback1090
2005 Subaru Outback9273
2006 Subaru Outback7277
2007 Subaru Outback8129
2008 Subaru Outback8226
2009 Subaru Outback13106
2010 Subaru Outback18360
2011 Subaru Outback16652
2012 Subaru Outback16292
2013 Subaru Outback12297
2014 Subaru Outback10208
2015 Subaru Outback5510
2016 Subaru Outback4643
2017 Subaru Outback4917
2018 Subaru Outback3813
2019 Subaru Outback31,035
2020 Subaru Outback6899
2021 Subaru Outback4296
2022 Subaru Outback4465
2023 Subaru Outback289
2024 Subaru Outback0103
2025 Subaru Outback081
2026 Subaru Outback016

Checking a specific 2002 Subaru Outback

How do I know if my 2002 Subaru Outback 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 Outback; 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.