2002 Subaru Forester
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Vehicle speed control is the leading concern among 92 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 19th highest complaint count among 26 Forester model years with reports.
Of the 2002 reports, 22 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 8 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Power train, automatic transmissionOct 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.
THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 02V282000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: suspension
9 reports, newest first. Show all
Suspension, Other or unspecified, Oct 26, 2019
I WAS DRIVING I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM ONE ROAD TO ANOTHER AND I HIT A SLIGHT BUMP AND THEN THE WHOLE THING STARTS SWAYING ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT MY REAR SUBFRAME COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT AND DETACHED ITSELF FROM THE CAR DUE TO THE RUST AND THE BREAKING OF THE SUBFRAME IN THE REAR
Suspension, Feb 16, 2019
WAS LUCKILY ONLY TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO DISCOVER THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL CORRECTLY POINTED STRAIGHT AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL POINTED INWARD. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTROL HAD WITHOUT WARNING SNAPPED IN HALF TAKING THE CV AXLE AND STABILIZER LINKAGE WITH IT. HOPING TO GET IT FIXED FOR UNDER $500.
Suspension, Jun 3, 2018
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 1 MILE FROM MY HOME WHEN THE CONTROL ARM SUDDENLY FAILED SENDING MY CAR VEERING ACROSS THE ROAD ALMOST HITTING ONCOMING TRAFFIC.
Suspension, Nov 30, 2017
PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AFTER BEING AT BANK AND HEARD A HUGE CLUNK. GENTLEMAN RAN UP TO ME AND SAID NOT TO MOVE IT. GOT OUT AND LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS ABOUT LAYING FLAT ON GROUND. HAD BROTHER BRING TOW DOLLY AND THEN TOOK IT APART. ENDED UP SPENDING 600 JUST ON PARTS AS THE CONTROL ARMS WERE ROTTED HORRIBLY. LEFT ONE AS STATED, WAS ROTTED IN HALF, RIGHT WAS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE MY BROTHER SAID IT WOULD NOT BE SAFE IF NOT REPLACED ALSO. SO 600.00 LATER AND NOW I HAVE IT AT KOCUR KREW AND WILL HAVE ANOTHER 750.00 BILL AS THE SUBFRAME AND CRADEL ASSEMBLY ARE ROTTED BAD. LIKE WOW ALL IN 2.5 MONTHS. I THINK I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AS I HAVE DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE TO OHIO NUMEROUS TIMES IN LAST 1.5 YEARS.
Suspension, Sep 22, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE SOUND OF A TIRE SQUEALING WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO DRIVE TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS BENT TOWARDS THE LEFT, THE CV JOINT AND TRANSAXLE WERE DAMAGED, AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN AUTO GARAGE FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000. UPDATED 11/07/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT(INSTANTLY SENDING US INTO THE LEFT-HAND LANE) WITH A SIMULTANEOUS SCREAMING LOUD SQUEALING TIRE SOUND. LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD SNAPPED, AND WHILE THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS POINTED STRAIGHT AHEAD, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS STEERING LEFT AR APPROXIMATELY A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THERE IS CORROSION WHERE BRACKET FRACTURED. UPDATED 7/20/18*JB *TR
Suspension, Nov 20, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SLOWED DOWN AND DROVE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM OF THE SUSPENSION WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Steering, Suspension, Power train, Oct 7, 2014, crash
AFTER PURCHASING A 2002 SUBARU FORESTER, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME PRIOR TO NOTICING THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FEEL LOOSE AND UNSTABLE WHILE STEERING, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL TO ONE SIDE WHILE ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. AFTER NOTICING THE INSTABILITY AND SWAYING ACTION, I CONDUCTED CURSORY INSPECTIONS OF THE FRONT END AND SUSPENSION AREAS OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT OF INSPECTIONS, I DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE UNDERCARRIAGE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON 20 SEPTEMBER 2014, WITHOUT WARNING, THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE. IT COULD BE OBSERVED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE IN THE WELD BETWEEN THE HANGER BRACKET AND THE MAIN PORTION OF THE CONTROL ARM. AFTER THE CONTROL ARM BROKE, IT CAUSED THE CONTROL ARM TO MOVE TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE; IT CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO SLAM ABRUPTLY INTO THE REAR PORTION OF THE TIRE WELL; IT THEN CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO LOCK UP, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSED THE TIRE TO IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO SKID. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WHICH MINIMIZED RESULTS: VEHICLE WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45 MPH; IT OCCURRED ON SECONDARY ROAD; ROAD WAS STRAIGHT AND LEVEL; THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC; AND ROAD SURFACE WAS DRY. THERE WAS ADDITIONAL VEHICLE DAMAGE. UPON CHECKING THE RECALLS FOR THE 2002 SUBARU FORESTER, I DISCOVERED THAT THE 2003-2008 FORESTERS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT REASON (RECALL ID # 70673.) THERE WERE OTHER ADDITIONAL RECALLS AS WELL FOR SIMILAR ISSUE. AFTER CONTACTING SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE, I WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM UNDER THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RECALL WERE THE SAME. I BELIEVE THAT THE FAILURE OF THE CONTROL ARM IS VERY OBVIOUS AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED SIMILAR TO THE OTHER RECALLED YEARS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE PICTURES OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE. THANK YOU. *TR
Suspension, Oct 16, 2010
SUBARU FORESTER 2002 REAR WHEEL BEARINGS KEEP FAILING AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED! *TR
Suspension, Oct 20, 2006
METALLIC, GRINDING NOISE FROM RIGHT REAR WHEEL. WHEN PARKED FOR A WEEK, REFUSED TO MOVE - FROZEN IN PLACE. AFTER MUCH ACCELERATION, THE CAR WAS ABLE TO MOVE. NOISE GREW AND GREW TO A SHRIEKING PITCH. TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILURE OF THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING. *NM