Subaru · WRX · 2002
2
Recalls
427
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2002 Subaru WRX has 2 recalls and 427 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: fuel system, gasoline (258 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
The 2002 Subaru WRX 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 fuel system, gasoline with 258 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.
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 IMPREZA WRX VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF SOUTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, MINNESOTA, IDAHO, IOWA, MONTANA, COLORADO, WISCONSIN, NEW YORK, WYOMING, MICHIGAN, ALASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, AND MAINE. DURING COLD STARTS, TYPICALLY UNDER EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES, FUEL LEAKS IN THE FUEL DELIVERY LINE COULD OCCUR WHERE THE LINE CONNECTS WITH A RUBBER HOSE.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL LINE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy Status
AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
A FUEL LINE UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS LEAKING GAS ON COLD STARTS. THIS IS MY SECOND TIME DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE. AS OF NOW, IT IS ONLY LEAKING GAS WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD, BUT THE LEAKING IS STARTING TO GET WORSE AND FASTER THAN BEFORE. THE FIRST...
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FUEL RAIL ON 2002 WRX IS LEAKING HEAVILY ON THE ENGINE. THIS IS A HIGH FIRE HAZARD AS WELL AS NOXIOUS FOR PASSENGERS IN THE CAR AS IT SMELLS HEAVILY OF FUEL. SINCE I LIVE IN WASHINGTON STATE SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS NOT HONORED THE RECALL THEY'VE PUT IN OTHER STATES FOR THIS EXACT I...
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CONTROL ARMS WERE RECALLED IN 2011 FOR RUST ISSUES AND FAILURE ON THE HANGER BRACKETS. GOT THE PARTS CHECKED AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL BY A CERTIFIED SUBARU DEALERSHIP, THE DEALERSHIP SPRAYED A "RUST PROOFING" AGENT ON THE CONTROL ARMS. THREE YEARS LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY ROA...
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WORKING NIGHT SHIFTS, STARTED MY CAR TO LET WARM UP, TEMPERATURE WAS 43 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AT THE TIME. AFTER START UP I COULD SMELL RAW FUEL OUT SIDE THE CAR AS WELL AS INSIDE THE CAR THROUGH THE VENTS. ALSO GAS MILEAGE HAS GONE DOWN BY DRASTICALLY, NORMALLY GET 300-330 MILES A ...
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WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE MY CAR SMELLS LIKE RAW FUEL VERY STRONGLY IN THE CABIN RESULTING IN HEADACHES AND DIZZINESS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG-ST THESE CARS AND SUBARU KNOWS ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY HAD AN EXTENDED RECALL BUT DOES NOT COVER THE PROBLEM NOW. *TR
SMELL OF FUEL FROM WITHIN THE CAR DURING COLD TEMPERATURES. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE PER TSB 01-170-09. DEALERSHIP MAY DENY REPAIRS IF THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. EMAIL FROM SUBARU REGARDING THIS PROBLEM: WE WELCOME YOUR CONTACT, AS IT RELATES TO THE WVK-21 FUEL LINE WAR...
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REFERENCE: RECALL NO. 11V-464, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO. 11V464000 THE CORROSION DISCOVERED IN MY SUBARU 2002 WRX IS FAR MORE EXTENSIVE THAN THAT COVERED BY THE RECALL RESULTING IN CITYSIDE SUBARU DEALERSHIP (1-761-641-1900) IDENTIFYING THE VEHICLE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THEIR ASSESSM...
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THERE IS A CONSTANT RAW FUEL SMELL WHEN DRIVING, TO THE POINT OF MAKING ME FEEL SICK, CANT EVEN DRIVE MY CAR WITHOUT ALL THE WINDOWS DOWN, IVE REASURCHED THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER MODELS USING THE SAME ENGINE & COMPONINTS THAT ARE ON THE RECALL LIST, BUT I CAN NOT GET ANY HELP FROM A...
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I WORK AS A VALET ATTENDANT. I HAVE PARKED A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES. I HAD TO PARK THIS VEHICLE IN A PARKING SPOT. TO PARK IN THIS SPOT I HAD TO MAKE A RIGHT TO LINE UP FOR THE SPOT. THE CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY. I HAD ALL MY WEIGHT ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID SLAMMING INTO A WALL,...
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SUBFRAME NEAR PASSENGER/RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM IS RUSTED THROUGH AND HAS HOLES. SUBARU OF CHERRY HILL, NJ STATED THAT IT SHOULD BE REPLACED AND WAS AT SIGNIFICANT RISK OF BREAKING WHEN REMOVED FOR CONTROL ARM RECALL (WVX34).DEALERSHIP SAID THE CASE WITH PICTURES WAS REPORTED TO ...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 427 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 WRX has 2 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 427 owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Subaru WRX.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2002 Subaru WRX.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2002 Subaru WRX are fuel system, gasoline (258 reports), service brakes, hydraulic (61 reports), fuel system, other (22 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 2 recalls on record for the 2002 Subaru WRX. 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.