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Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (4)
Vehicle speed control: cables
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
Suspension: rear
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
Power train: automatic transmission
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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 TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components, master cylinder
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND LOWER).
Risk and remedy
Risk: AT THESE TEMPERATURES, THE BRAKES MAY NOT RELEASE AFTER BEING APPLIED, EVEN WHEN THE DRIVER'S FOOT IS NO LONGER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS CAN OCCUR WITHOUR PRIOR WARNING, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
Canadian recalls (4)
Show 4 Canadian recalls
Other
2004-03-16 · campaign 2004-094
On certain Legacy, Outback H-6 3.0L and Impreza WRX 2.0L Turbo, 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 which may cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Correction: Dealer will install a retaining clip to the cruise control lever tab.
Suspension
2003-04-30 · campaign 2003-117
On certain vehicles operated in the "salt-belt" provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland & Labrador. The rear suspension subframe components were produced with poor paint quality which, after continued exposure to corrosive road salts for a period of several years, may result in rust-out of the component and possible breakage of the subframe. Correction: Dealer will clean and rust-proof with anti-rust oil and anti-rust wax.
Powertrain
2002-11-05 · campaign 2002-200
On certain vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, the parking pawl actuating rod ("parking rod") spring retainer may be defective. The parking pawl may not engage the parking gear fully and could cause the vehicle to move if the parking brake is not applied. Correction: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission parking rod assembly. Replacement parts will not be available until January 2003.
Brakes
2002-03-20 · campaign 2002-053 · 258 vehicles
On certain passenger vehicles the brake master cylinder may not function properly in ambient temperatures below freezing (0 deg. C and lower). In temperatures below freezing, the brakes may not release after being applied, even when your foot is no longer on the brake pedal. This can occur without prior warning, possibly resulting in a crash. Correction: Dealers will replace the master cylinders.
Owner complaints (54)
Owners filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Subaru Legacy/Outback (5 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, 1 deaths reported). Among 39 model years of this model, it ranks #28 for the most complaints (median 77).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | |
| Power train | 7 | |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 7 | |
| Suspension | 6 | |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 6 | |
| Tires | 5 | |
| Unknown or other | 5 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 Subaru Legacy/Outback.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2002 Subaru Legacy 4-DR. Wagon | – | – | – | 4★ |
| 2002 Subaru Legacy 4-DR. | – | – | – | 4★ |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2002 Subaru Legacy/Outback version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Legacy AWD 2.5 L Manual 5-spd | 19 | 25 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Legacy AWD (incl. Outback) 2.5 L Automatic 4-spd | 19 | 25 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Legacy AWD (incl. Outback) 3.0 L Automatic 4-spd | 17 | 24 | 20 | $4,100 |
| Legacy Wagon AWD (incl. Outback) 2.5 L Automatic 4-spd | 19 | 25 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Legacy Wagon AWD (incl. Outback) 2.5 L Manual 5-spd | 19 | 25 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Legacy Wagon AWD (incl. Outback) 3.0 L Automatic 4-spd | 17 | 24 | 20 | $4,100 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.