2002 Subaru Outback
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Service brakes is the leading concern among 147 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 19th highest complaint count among 26 Outback model years with reports.
Of the 2002 reports, 10 involved a crash. 11 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpNov 29, 2013
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.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
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.
Campaign 13E065000 on NHTSA.gov
Vehicle speed control, cablesMar 16, 2004
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.
IF THIS OCCURS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 04V128000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rearApr 22, 2003
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.
IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 03V153000 on NHTSA.gov
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
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, master cylinderMar 12, 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND LOWER).
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.
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.
Campaign 02V079000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: service brakes
29 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 14, 2002
I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO DEALER, BEEN TO SUBARU DEALER 3 TIMES WHO CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM KEEPS RECURRING TO ME. FEEL IT IS EITHER MASTER CYLINDER OR ABS, GIVEN LOW MILEAGEA AND AGE OF CAR. POOR BRAKE DESIGN IF COMPUTER CANNOT PICK UP THIS FAULT. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 11, 2002
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, AND WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN SHE APPLIED BRAKES, BUT PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE SLID.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 10, 2002
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 2 MONTHS THAT THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED ON A WET, BUT TOTALLY ICE-FREE PAVED ROAD. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO BE REPAIRED AT SUBARU DEALER (2 DIFFERENT ONES) BUT BOTH TIMES WAS STATED HUNTER'S INVOICE THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CUSTOMER'S (ME) CONCERN, SO NO ACTION WAS TAKEN TO FIX THE BRAKES. BRAKES DEFINITELY FEEL SPONGY WHEN BRAKING WHILE DRIVING FORWARD, BUT BRAKES FEEL GOOD AND SOLID WHEN GOING IN REVERSE. LAST FRIDAY, I TOOK MY CAR TO PRESTIGE, ON FEB 8TH TO ADDRESS THE SECOND TIME THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED. SERVICE MANAGER, DAVE LINDSEY SAID HE COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE BRAKES FAILING AGAIN AND SO WAS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO FIX MY BRAKES. I VOICED MY CONCERNED THAT I WAS VERY AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY WITH THESE WEIRD BRAKES AND HE EMPHATICALLY TOLD ME HE WOULDN'T FIX THE BRAKES UNTIL THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN!!! WHEN I WENT INTO PRESTIGE'S SALESROOM TO GET A 800 NUMBER TO CONTACT SUBARU TO LET THEM KNOW MY BRAKES HAD INDEED FAILED AGAIN, DAVE LINDSEY MARCHED INTO SALES ROOM OF PRESTIGE SUBARU AND DEMANDED I LEAVE THE SUBARU PRESTIGE PREMISES AT ONCE. HE NEVER EVEN GAVE ME THE WORK ORDER/INVOICE SHOWING THAT HE HAD EVEN LOOKED AT MY CAR FOR THE FAILED BRAKES!!! I THINK THAT PRESTIGE SUBARU NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATE. THERE IS A VERY STEEP HILL YOU HAVE TO GO DOWN IN ORDER TO EXIT THE PRESTIGE SUBARU PREMISES AND I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT TRAVELING DOWN IT, AFTER HAVING NO WORK DONE ON MY BRAKES FOLLOWING MY BRAKE FAILURE ON FEBRUARY 7TH, 2002. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 6, 2002
WHEN MY VEHICLES BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED WITH UNEVEN SURFACE TRACTION ON THE LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE OF THE WHEELS, THE ABS SYSTEM DELAYS AND DOES NOT ENGAGE THE BRAKES FOR 1 TO 3 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENED TODAY ON A SMOOTH SUBURBAN STREET WITH WATER CONTACTING ONLY THE RIGHT SIDE WHEELS. WHEN I WENT TO BRAKE FOR AN UPCOMING STOP SIGN, THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AT ALL FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 SECONDS. IT WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE IT SEEMS IT IS AN UNACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THE MODEL YEAR 2002 SUBARU IMPREZZA WRX CARS. THERE IS A DISCUSSION ON THIS ISSUE ON AN OWNERS CLUB BULLITEN BOARD CALLED THE I-CLUB (WWW.I-CLUB.COM). I DID NOT BELIEVE IN THIS PROBLEM UNTIL IT HAPPENED TO ME TODAY FIRST HAND.*AK