Most common 2002 Subaru Forester problems
Share of the 88 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Subaru Forester complaints by model year
Best Forester years: 2013, 2024. Years to avoid: 2019, 2020, 2017, 2015, 2018. Compare all years →
2002 Subaru Forester recalls (1)
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
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.
What 2002 Subaru Forester owners say
Speed control & acceleration all 23 →
I had stopped my Forester in the left hand turn lane about 3 to 5 feet behind another vehicle while waiting for the signal to change from red to the green arrow. I put my vehicle into park and took my foot off the brake. I turned to check the pocket of my jacket in the rear seat. I turned back in the driving direction, put my foot on the brake and moved the automatic gear shift into the drive position. My car surged forward with the engine racing and hit the vehicle in front of me. I could not control the speed with the brakes, so I shifted back into park. This stopped my car. There is damage to my front grill and hood. This is not the first time I had this happen. The first time this occurred, I called Subaru headquarters and explained the issues to a Subaru representative. I was told this was a new issue and no recall was being considered. …
Driver of Forester was stopped at a red light about 10 feet away from car in front. Driver took foot away from brake pedal for a moment and car surged forward on its own. Driver slammed brake pedal to the floor, but Forester continued to surge forward. Driver swerved to try to avoid accident but still clipped bumper of car in front and caused damage. Forester continued to surge and buck forward for another moment before finally stopping (driver's foot had remained firmly on brake the entire time). I took the vehicle to the dealer I had bought it from just two weeks ago, but they claimed they had never heard of this happening in a Subaru and refused to even investigate if there was a mechanical error that would be under warranty because of legal fears. They implied the accident was my fault and I was looking to blame them. …
Transmission & drivetrain
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.
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. …
Engine & cooling
I had stopped my Forester in the left hand turn lane about 3 to 5 feet behind another vehicle while waiting for the signal to change from red to the green arrow. I put my vehicle into park and took my foot off the brake. I turned to check the pocket of my jacket in the rear seat. I turned back in the driving direction, put my foot on the brake and moved the automatic gear shift into the drive position. My car surged forward with the engine racing and hit the vehicle in front of me. I could not control the speed with the brakes, so I shifted back into park. This stopped my car. There is damage to my front grill and hood. This is not the first time I had this happen. The first time this occurred, I called Subaru headquarters and explained the issues to a Subaru representative. I was told this was a new issue and no recall was being considered. …
Soa is not being forthcoming about a major defect affecting many of its vehicles. On Wednesday July 11, 2007 I spoke to soa and explained my concerns about the chronic leaking head gasket problems on many of your vehicles. I own a 2002 Subaru Forester which was diagnosed with a leaking head gasket in December 2006 and 68000 miles by a teape Subaru technician in arlington tx. This repair would cost $1900.00. As I had to save up the money I did not get the work done until 07/10/07 at 75,000 miles. I considered this a major safety problem. Had soa brought me in for a repair I might have avoided this expensive repair. My car could easily have overheated, resulting in an injury to myself and others. Research revealed that this was a huge problem with their vehicles that frequently occurred again after being repaired/replaced. …
2002 Subaru Forester engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Subaru Forester a good car?
Based on 88 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Forester rates average: 33% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Forester at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Subaru Forester?
The speed control & acceleration — 23 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year, most often about accelerator pedal. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (16) and engine & cooling (15).
How many recalls does the 2002 Subaru Forester have?
There is 1 recall for the 2002 Subaru Forester, the most recent from October 30, 2002 (automatic transmission). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Subaru Forester?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013 and 2024. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2020, 2017, 2015 and 2018. See the full Subaru Forester years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Subaru Forester problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 91,000 miles; 34% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.