2002 Subaru Legacy/Outback
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Fuel System
Fuel System leads by volume: 47 of 197 complaints (24%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Engine include more deaths (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 248 in 2001 to 197 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 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,950 | 2,950–3,900 | 2,950–3,900 | 2,850–4,100 | 2,950–4,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 21 | 20–21 | 20–21 | 19–22 | 19–21 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 19 / 25 | 18–19 / 25 | 17–19 / 24–25 | 17–19 / 23–26 | 17–19 / 23–25 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 423 | 423–444 | 423–444 | 404–468 | 423–468 | |
| Complaints filed | 301 | 248 | 197 | 153 | 139 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 8 | 5 | 15 | 11 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 25 | 27 | 14 | 11 | 14 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| Injuries reported | 10 | 12 | 13 | 7 | 7 | |
| Deaths reported | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 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 Legacy/Outback have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns 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 Legacy/Outback?
Fuel System: 47 of 197 NHTSA complaints (24%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2002 Subaru Legacy/Outback get?
EPA rates it 20–21 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2002 Subaru Legacy/Outback?
EPA estimates $2,950–$3,900 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 19 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | 21 mpg (high) | $2,950 (low) | 423 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 19 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | 21 mpg (high) | $2,950 (low) | 423 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 17 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (low) | $3,900 (high) | 444 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Station Wagons | 19 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | 21 mpg (high) | $2,950 (low) | 423 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 5 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Station Wagons | 19 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | 21 mpg (high) | $2,950 (low) | 423 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Station Wagons | 17 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (low) | $3,900 (high) | 444 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 35 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 47 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 38 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 11 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 16 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 9 | 0 | 0 | 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 (5)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP · Campaign 13E065000 · Dec 5, 2013
Defect: Airtex Products LP (Airtex) is recalling certain model E8598M, E8518M, E8600M, E8596M, and E8597M fuel pumps manufactured July 26, 2013, and July 29, 2013 and used as aftermarket replacements on Subaru Baja's, Outback's and Legacy's. The affected fuel pumps were sold or installed into the aftermarket applications on or after July 26, 2013, and may may leak fuel from the base of a fuel line connection when the gas tank is full.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Airtex will notify owners, and will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Recall is expected to begin on January 2, 2014. Customers may contact Airtex at 1-800-880-3056. The recall is expected to begin during January 2014. This recall is being conducted by Airtex, not by Subaru.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES · Campaign 04V128000 · Mar 22, 2004
Defect: 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: 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.
SUSPENSION:REAR · Campaign 03V153000 · Apr 24, 2003
Defect: 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: 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.
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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER · Campaign 02V079000 · Mar 26, 2002
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND LOWER).
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.