Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Subaru Impreza owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Thin ice and snow on road, approaching red light at 28mph downshifted to 2nd, slowed to 17mph, downshifted to 1st, slow to 9, lightly applied brakes with 4 car lengths to go, left front momentarily locked triggering anti-lock system which pushed the pedal up but failed to do anything else, with absolutely no reduction in speed I steered into the snowbank and stopped beside the vehicle at the light after brushing the bumper. Fuse 8 has been pulled to prevent a repeat of this incident.
It was raining. I was turning left at a light, saw another car coming towards me. I applied brakes and there was a hesitation of braking power due to the ABS system. This also happens when driving in low traction conditions or over bumps. I went to the dealer and they said that the same year similar model had problems with the ABS computer and that they replace the ABS computers for that one but they said they wouldn't for my car.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Subaru Impreza. While driving 35 MPH the vehicle would not stop when the brake was depressed, this caused him to crash into the rear of the vehicle in front of him. The contact was injured. The police report was filed. As of August 2, 2007, the dealer was inspecting the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 60,000.
On 2/4/02 I was coming up to a stop light behind traffic. When I applied my brakes nothing happened. I had brake pedal but the car did not slow down at all. I immediately I geared down going about 20mph and applied the brakes again but no reaction. I hit the car in front at the rate of about 10mph and did considerable damage to my car. This was not the first time I had a problem with the brakes. In oct. 2001 I applied the brakes at about 55mph, the ABS system kicked in, but the vehicle didn't even slow down. I continued trying the brakes for at least 1 mile down the road with no slowing of the vehicle. Finally the brakes started to work and I continued on my way. In dec. When I took the car in for servicing, I stated this incident and was told that the ABS braking system isn't supposed to stop or slow down the car. …
My antilock brakes go off when I am braking (at any speed) over a bumpy road. Worse, at times when I have enough forward momentum going, when the ABS goes off, the pedal goes to the floor and I lose all braking ability. The first time this happened I was going maybe 20 MPH on a busy (strip mall) road, and almost rear ended the woman who'd braked in front of me to let someone turn. I had to let go of the pedal completely and re-hit the brakes and pump them to get it to stop, and I narrowly missed her. Now, I have to pump the brakes when I must stop short (since the roads these days are wavy from whatever asphalt they're using, it's rare to find a flat one). I don't bother stopping at yellow lights anymore unless I'm decelerating, and I have to drive very carefully on bumpy roads since I know I won't be able to stop. It's not a good thing. …
I was going to olympus gym in springfield, va, pulling into the far end of the parking lot (the lot is empty). The lot was clean, dry asphalt with a couple of rocks scattered on it (clue?). I pull in quick to the lot (a right turn from the street 90 degrees) don't know how fast but not worrisome. Then pull a 180 degree left turn to come into the parking space braking fairly hard as I go. Keeping on the brakes I think I'll come to a stop, but, the ABS activates with 7 feet left in the spot. Stays released all the way to the end where I bump into the pole at the end of the spot marking my bumper badly. I did not even try to come off the brakes and back on to reset (I should have). I just held the brake praying they would come back. When the ABS activated, my head jerked back into the head rest and stayed there (at least half a second) until I hit the pole. …
In January,2005 I purchased a used 2002 subura wrx Impreza from a private owner. The previous owner gave me all receipts of all repairs done to the car.on the receipt it shows that he complained to the car dealer called rafferty subura in p.a. Of screeching noise fro the front brakes. The dealer replace the pads and lubricated the brakes. That was at 36K miles. The car now has 38K miles and I have the same screeching noise in the front brakes. I brought it to my mechanic and he had to replace the brakes pads. The screeching noise still exists. I look up on the web for any similar complaints about subura and their brakes. I found tons of complaints about the same problem. Www.carsmart.com/content/research/forums/index.cfm/action/posts/fid/1959 some of the complaints wrere register with NHTSA. I need to know what is being done about this. …
Approaching a toll-booth I began braking moderately from roughly 45mph. At about 15mph I went over some broken pavement with small pock marks. The pedal immediately went to the floor, or thereabouts, and a significant loss of braking power occurred. Upon releasing the brake and reengaging the vehicle's brakes, the brakes operately properly and stopped the car. By the time I stopped, however, I was already 20 feet beyond the tollbooth. Thank god there was not a car in front of me. I have also been able to repeat this scenario numerous times over rough, dry pavement with light to moderate braking. The bumps seem to confuse the ABS.(?) I brought the car into marin Subaru, who confirmed a brake hydraulic failure and replace the offending parts.
ABS premature engagement. Happened 11/18/03 and about 10 times since 6/02. Under light to moderate braking, around 35 MPH, the ABS will engage and drastically reduce braking deceleration over minor pavement irregularities. Today it happened when going over botts dots, but it also happens on bumps, washboard pavement, etc. The pedal becomes light and the car basically stops braking for 0.5 to 1.0 seconds. Very scary and dangerous. I am a mechanical engineer, master's degree, with experience in vehicle dynamics, hydraulics, and electronic feedback control. There is something drastically wrong with the ABS tuning on this car. I am going to disable the ABS system until Subaru fixes this. Ps I have never used the spare tire.
I have an 02 Subaru Impreza wrx. The ABS system activates prematurely and overly-agressively in a variety of conditions. Most often it happens when attempting to stop and driving over bumpy roads. Something as minor as a 1/2 inch dip in the pavement can set off the ABS. Once the system activates the pedal goes to the floor and there is momentarily a complete loss of braking ability. It can extend the braking distance by 1 or 2 full car lengths as compared to without ABS and has caused me to nearly crash into other cars several times.
Brake complaints in other Impreza years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2002 Subaru Impreza?
NHTSA has 60 complaints about the brakes of the 2002 Subaru Impreza, 21% of the model year's 292 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (47 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Subaru Impreza brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2002 Subaru Impreza, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Subaru Impreza brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 25,000 miles, and 48% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.