Subaru · Legacy · 2002
5
Recalls
54
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2002 Subaru Legacy has 5 recalls and 54 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: engine and engine cooling (7 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
The 2002 Subaru Legacy page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is engine and engine cooling with 7 reported complaints.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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 Status
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND LOWER).
Remedy Status
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.
To whom it may concern. I’ve purchased a second hand vehicle from New Jersey I live in California. It is 2002 Subaru outback H-6 3.0 with 52,000 miles. Upon delivery I took it to orange coast Subaru for general inspection when it was brought to my attention that there’s an ope...
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The contact owns a 2002 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 MPH, there was an abnormal sound of metal fragments dropping. The vehicle was seen by an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the underneath of the vehicle was rusted. The...
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Extreme gas smell in cold weather until car heats up when running heat/defrost. Known issue in other models that warranted a recall.
UN-FENDERED VEHICLES - I SEE WAY TOO MANY VEHICLES ALLOWED TO BE THE OUTFITTED WITH WIDE TIRES OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLES FENDERS. HEY! I THOUGH TIRES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED BY THE VEHICLE'S FENDERS SO THEY WOULDN'T THROW OFF ROCKS, SPRAY OR DEBRIS INTO THE AIR AT OTHER VEHICLES...
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WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTS GOING AROUND 55 - 60 MPH, THE CAR STARTS SHAKING VIGOROUSLY. THE WHEEL ALSO SHAKES WHICH ALSO CONCERNS ME. MOREOVER, WHEN I START TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN, A RATTLING NOISE CONSTANTLY SHAKES MY CAR INCLUDING MY WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I THINK THERE MIGHT BE ...
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I HAVE NOTICED AN INORDINATE NUMBER OF CARS WITH LED TAIL LIGHTS THAT THE BREAK AND/OR TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. NOTHING SPECIFIC FOR MAKE OR MODEL BUT IT IS DANGEROUS! I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE IF IT IS BEING CHECKED OUT.
I CHECKED UNDER THE CAR AND THE REAR SUSPENSION IS SO RUSTED IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE . I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND IT IS A COMMON ISSUE. WITH THE AMOUNT OF UNSAFE CARS DRIVING AROUND WITH THIS ISSUE I WOULD SAY THE BALL WAS REALLY DROPPED ON THE ORIGINAL RECALL
I OWN A 2002 SUBARU LEGACY IN WESTERN NEW YORK, I RECENTLY WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN ISSUE THAT WAS RECALLED BACK IN 2004 BUT MY CAR WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OR ADDRESSED OF THE ISSUE WITH CORROSION. THE RECALL ( NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V153000 ) I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY WHEN I HIT...
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THE FUEL LINES LEAK OUT RAW GASOLINE ONTO THE HOT ENGINE ANY TIME IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL LINE BUT IT STILL LEAKS WHEN COLD. THIS IS A VERY GREAT FIRE HAZARD.
A STRONG FUEL SMELL BEGAN ENTERING THE CAR THROUGH THE HEATING VENTS ON THE CAR. THIS HAS ONLY BEEN NOTICEABLE SINCE THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW 25 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THERE WAS A ALSO A NOTICEABLE TRAIL OF GASOLINE IN THE SNOW FOLLOWING THE CAR. *TR
Showing 10 recent complaints from 54 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2002 Subaru models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 2002 Subaru Legacy has 5 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 54 owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Subaru Legacy.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2002 Subaru Legacy.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2002 Subaru Legacy are engine and engine cooling (7 reports), fuel system, gasoline (5 reports), fuel/propulsion system (5 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 5 recalls on record for the 2002 Subaru Legacy. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.