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
92 reports, newest first.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 25, 2004
2002 SUBARU FORESTER S - DEALER CLAIMS THAT NORTHEAST CLIMATE (SALT & WET ROADS) WILL CORRODE DISC BRAKES, CAUSING PADS TO FAIL TO RETRACT COMPLETELY AND THEREFOR CONTINUOUSLY RUB ON THE ROTORS, HEATING THEM AND CAUSING WARPING. DEALER CLAIMS BRAKES SHOULD BE INSPECTED AND CLEANED EVERY 15,000 MILES. MANUFACTURER'S MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE MAKES NO MENTION OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. REPAIRS COST $600.00. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Sep 15, 2004
I ALMOST HAD A BAD ACCIDENT, AND I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN OUR SUBARU FORESTER. I CAME TO A RED LIGHT, BEGAN TO SLOW USING THE BRAKE, AND FOUND THE CAR TRYING TO SURGE AHEAD INTO THE PASSING TRAFFIC: MY FOOT HAD CONTACTED THE ACCELERATOR AS WELL AS THE BRAKE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, BUT IT WAS A SCARY MOMENT.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Apr 21, 2004
ON MARCH 4, 2004, WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 SUBARU FORRESTER, I SMELLED AN AWFUL SMELL AND THE EMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. CAR WAS TOWED TO PALM SUBARU, GAINESVILLE FLORIDA, @ 4:30 PM. PALM HAS PERFOMED ALL PRIOR SERVICES ON THIS CAR INCLUDING OIL CHANGES. PALM COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM THAT DAY AND DIRECTED ME TO GATRO LEASING, WITHIN THEIR BUILDING, FOR A RENTAL. I DID NOT PROVIDE A CREDIT CARD FOR THE RENTAL WHICH I HAD FOR ABOUT 16 HOURS AND DROVE ABOUT 20 MILES. ON MARCH 5, I WAS TOLD THAT THE OIL FILTER WAS FAULTY I HAD NOT TIGHTENED THE GAS CAP AND THAT IS WHY THE EMISSION LIGHT WAS ON. NOW I AM BEING ASKED TO PAY THE $22.00 FOR THE RENTAL. I DON'T THINK THIS IS FAR SINCE PALM INSTALLED THE FAULTY OIL FILTER.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 20, 2004
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS A DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND TECHNICIAN INDICATED VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER. INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, AND IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY.*AK THE PROBLEM THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED WAS SIMILAR TO A RECALL ISSUED FOR 1998 AND 1999 MODELS. AFTER THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED THE PROBLEM SUBSIDED. *NM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Feb 19, 2004
CONSUMER STATED BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE. SOMETIMES WHEN BRAKING THE DRIVER PRESSES THE GAS PEDAL INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, ALMOST RESULTING IN CRASHES. *AK *MR
Power train, Jan 30, 2004
CAR HESITATES THEN LURCHES FORWARD AFTER PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. VEHICLE THEN HESTIATES AS IF LOSING POWER. HAD THE SAME PROBELEM IN AUGUST OF 2003 AND DEALER RESET THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER AND SAID NO PROBLEM. DEALER TRIED TO HAVE ME PAY FOR A FUEL INJECTOR CLEANING SERVICE THIS TIME. CAR HAS 29,000 MILES. I SPOKE A ANOTHER CUSTOMER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHO WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOTICED THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB SITE. SHOULDN'T THIS MATTER BE LOOKED AT FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL?
Power train, Jan 22, 2004, crash
ON THE GREEN TRAFFIC SIGNAL I ACCELERATED AND THE CAR SURGED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I JAMMED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THREW THE SHIFT INTO PARK WHEN THE CAR STOPPED, THEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND SHIFT IN PARK, THE CAR SURGED IN REVERSE HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME. I PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED SURGING TWICE BEFORE THIS. MY 2002 SUBARU FORRESTER WAS RECALLED FOR THE PARKING ROD REPLACEDMENT IN APRIL 2003.*AK
Air bags, Nov 3, 2003
AIRBAG LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND WILL STAY ON DURING THE TIME THE IGNITION IS ON. IT WILL DO THIS FOR DAYS AND THEN IT WILL WORK CORRECTLY FOR A FEW DAYS BEFORE REPEATING THE ABOVE BEHAVIOR. *LA
Power train, Oct 15, 2003
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THERE WAS A HUMMING WINDING SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC TOLD THE DRIVER THAT FRONT DIFFERENTIAL CAME APART, AND PIECE OF METAL WAS INSIDE OF TRANSMISSION, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. *AK
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Aug 21, 2003
TRANSMISSION HESITATES FROM A DEAD STOP. YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENS FOR 2 SECONDS OR SO, THEN THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD.*AK
Air bags, Aug 15, 2003, crash
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 15 MPH AND HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE STRIKING A TRUCK IN THE OPPOSITE LANE.*TS *JB
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Aug 5, 2003
CAR "HESITATES" OCCASIONALLY, 1-2 SECOND DELAY AFTER YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL UNTIL THE CAR RESPONDS. ALSO, THE CAR SHIFTS INAPPROPRIATELY. MOSTLY THIS OCCURS ON HILLS. YOU WILL ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE, AND THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS; OR YOU ATTEMPT TO PASS SOMEONE ON HIGHWAY AND CAR WILL HESITATE, THEN BEGIN TO ACCELERATE, THEN WILL SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFT. I HAVE HAD CAR TO DEALER, FIRST I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THEN, THEY REALIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM, AND HAD THE COMPUTER RESET. THIS SEEMED TO IMPROVE HANDLING FOR ONLY ABOUT A WEEK. THE CAR IS NOW HESITATING AND DOWNSHIFTING ON A REGULAR BASIS.*AK
Parking brake, Jul 28, 2003
AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE PARKING ROD 02 V 282 000 WAS PERFORMED, THERE IS VERY LOUD NOISE FROM THE BRAKES. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY THE BRAKE LINE RUSTING, BECAUSE CAR IS NOT BEING DRIVEN ENOUGH.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Jul 1, 2003
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE UNTIL CONSUMER PUSHES THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Power train, Mar 17, 2003
PROBLEMS GETTING RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED. *MR CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 02V-282 TO REPLACE FAILED TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM. CONSUMER HAS PROBLEM WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS. THE NOTICE STATES REPAIRS WILL TAKE AN 1-1/2 HOUR, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP NEEDS VEHICLE FOR THE ENTIRE DAY AND WILL NOT AUTHORIZE A LOANER CAR FOR THE ENTIRE DAY. *TT *NLM
Vehicle speed control, Mar 7, 2003
WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, IT ACCELERATED FORWARD AND THE ONLY WAY TO SLOW IT DOWN WAS TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. *JB SCC
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 17, 2003
BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT FUNCTION, HAD TO USE HAND PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE. TS. *AK
Air bags, Jan 14, 2003, crash
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AT ABOUT 45MPH. VEHICLE WENT AIRBORN, THE FRONT VEHICLE AXLE BROKE ON IMPACT. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 23, 2002
WHEN THE CONSUMER DEPRESSES THE FUEL PEDAL THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND SOMETIMES STALL, THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIME BUT NO REMEDY HAS BEEN FOUND. NLM
Other or unspecified, Oct 26, 2002, fire
SUBARU HAS NOT CONTACTED US OR LET CONSUMERS KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH 2002 FORESTERS. DT
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Vehicle speed control, Oct 22, 2002
CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STARTED HESITATING DURING ACCELERATION FROM A COMPLETE STOP, HESITATION OCCURS ONE SECOND TO A FEW SECONDS AFTER ACCELERATION AND CAN LAT APPROXIMATELY THREE SECONDS. SINCE THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE HESITATION, THE TRANSMISSION NOW SHIFTS WITH A SLIGHT THUMP TO A LOUD BANG, DURING ACCELERATION THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MISSES A SHIFT AND GOES INTO NEUTRAL CAUSING THE ENGINE TO INSTANTLY OVER SPEED TO 2,000 RPM'S THE TRANSMISSION SEARCHES FOR DIFFERENT GEARS WHILE GENTLY ACCELERATING, ON 2 OCCASIONS THE DEALER HAS REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER MODIFICATIONS WHICH HAS MADE THE PROBLEMS LESS INTENSE, BUT STILL EXISTS. *JB *SCC
Engine and engine cooling, Structure, Other or unspecified, Sep 30, 2002
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING THE FOLLOWING; HESITATED(SEVERE) ON ACCELERATION (ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD/EVEN AFTER WARMED UP), THERE'S A WIND NOISE COMING FROM THE ROOF/ROOF RACK-AND HAPPENS AT SPEEDS OVER 20 MPH/VERY NOISY, A CREAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE-MOSTLY WHEN MAKING TURNS, BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY(MAYBE THE STRUT), STALLING, AND WOULD SIT FOR1-2 HOURS, THEN WOULD START WITH DIFFICULTY, RUNS ROUGH FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN IS FINE. THE DEALER SUGGESTS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WITHIN THE SPECIFICATIONS. (THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OCCURRENCES) SCC
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 27, 2002
CONSUMER EXPERIENCES VEHICLE STALLING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR
Air bags, Sep 19, 2002, crash
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH WITH AN ELK. BOTH DRVR AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT AIR BAGS WERE NOT DESIGNED TO DEPLOY FOR COLLISIONS WITH ANIMALS.*AK
Air bags, Sep 18, 2002, crash
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 30MPH WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FEEL FREE TO ADD/. *AK