The 2002 Subaru Forester has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 172,564 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 109 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
POWER TRAIN02V2820002002-10-30172,564 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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. 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…
Complaints by component
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
20
9crashes1injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
13
3crashes1injuries
SUSPENSION
8
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
7
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
5
2crashes1fires
AIR BAGS
4
2crashes2injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
4
4crashes2injuries
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
4
2crashes3injuries
Total complaints109
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I was driving I was making a right hand turn from one road to another and I hit a slight bump and then the whole thing starts swaying only to find out that my rear subframe completely rotted out and detached itself from the car due to the rust and the breaking of the subframe in the rear”
“I was driving I was making a right hand turn from one road to another and I hit a slight bump and then the whole thing starts swaying only to find out that my rear subframe completely rotted out and detached itself from the car due to the rust and the breaking of the subframe in the rear”
“The subframe completely fell off my car. This is my second subaru is has happened to I had to scrap the first one. I didn't notice it till I came home, I checked it because it was driving funny.”
“Was luckily only traveling at about 30 mph when failure occurred. Got out of the car to discover the driver side wheel correctly pointed straight and passenger side front wheel pointed inward. Upon inspection, the control had without warning snapped in half taking the cv axle and stabilizer…”
“I was driving on the highway 1 mile from my home when the control arm suddenly failed sending my car veering across the road almost hitting oncoming traffic.”
“Fuel lines in engine leak in cold weather. This is a serious hazard that I and multiple other subaru owners that I know have had occurring and recurring. I called subaru and they were uninterested in issuing a safety recall despite the extreme hazard leaking gasoline in the engine poses. This has…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 subaru forester. The contact stated that the suspension failed. While driving 55 mph, the sound of a tire squealing was heard. The contact was able to maintain control of the steering wheel to drive to a safe location. The contact inspected the vehicle and found that…”
“Put vehicle in reverse after being at bank and heard a huge clunk. Gentleman ran up to me and said not to move it. Got out and left front tire was about laying flat on ground. Had brother bring tow dolly and then took it apart. Ended up spending 600 just on parts as the control arms were rotted…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 Subaru Forester as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.