2002 Subaru Forester problems
Owners have filed 109 complaints about the 2002 Subaru Forester with NHTSA. Vehicle speed control accounts for 21.1% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of power train at 16.5%.
Complaints109
Crashes29
Fires1
Injuries13
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Vehicle speed control 21.1% · 23
Power train 16.5% · 18
Engine and engine cooling 12.8% · 14
Air bags 9.2% · 10
Service brakes, hydraulic 8.3% · 9
Suspension 8.3% · 9
Fuel system, gasoline 5.5% · 6
Unknown or other 4.6% · 5
Severity
Of those complaints, 29 describe a crash, 1 describe a fire and 13 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 23 model years of the Subaru Forester in this data, 2002 draws comparatively few complaints; 2019 is the outlier year.
Filings have fallen off, 11 in the last three years against 13 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 93,000 miles.
In owners' own words
I almost had a bad accident, and I think it would have been due to a design flaw in our Subaru Forester. I came to a red light, began to slow using the brake, and found the car trying to surge ahead into the passing traffic: my foot had contacted the accelerator as well as the brake. Fortunately, I was able to shift my foot off the accelerator, but it was a scary moment. Vehicle speed control
The engine intermittently stalls during acceleration often in fast moving cross traffic causing our hearts to stop as we fear of getting hit broadside. The engine intermittently accelerates at high speeds causing the driver to brake. I had one incident. Vehicle speed control
When parking and brakes applied vehicle surged forward. This has happened 3 times. On 27 june 2002 while parking vehicle surged forward, brakes were applied, and vehicle hit a post, consumer suffered minor injury. Vehicle at dealer at this time. Vehicle speed control
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…