2002 Subaru Forester
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Driver Assistance & Speed Control
Driver Assistance & Speed Control leads by volume: 23 of 88 complaints (26%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (6) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 139 in 2001 to 88 in 2002.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | vs. 2002 Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,950 | 2,950 | 2,950 | 2,950 | 2,950–4,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18–21 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 19 / 25 | 19 / 25 | 19 / 25 | 19 / 24–25 | 16–19 / 21–25 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 423 | 423 | 423 | 423 | 423–494 | |
| Complaints filed | 75 | 139 | 88 | 189 | 219 | |
| Recalls issued | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 7 | 31 | 21 | 17 | 13 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| Injuries reported | 3 | 24 | 8 | 9 | 8 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2002 Subaru Forester have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2002 Subaru Forester?
Driver Assistance & Speed Control: 23 of 88 NHTSA complaints (26%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2002 Subaru Forester get?
EPA rates it 21 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2002 Subaru Forester?
EPA estimates $2,950 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 19 mpg | 25 mpg | 21 mpg | $2,950 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 19 mpg | 25 mpg | 21 mpg | $2,950 | 423 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 16 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 11 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 10 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 23 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · Campaign 02V282000 · Oct 30, 2002
Defect: 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.