2002 SUBARU LEGACY — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
71
Owner Complaints
5
Recalls
13
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2002 SUBARU LEGACY
The 2002 SUBARU LEGACY has received a total of 71 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES, SUSPENSION:REAR, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. 13 technical service bulletins have been issued by Subaru of America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Fuelpropulsion System (8 complaints), Suspension (5 complaints), and Unknown Or Other (5 complaints).
Recalls for the 2002 SUBARU LEGACY
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 2002 SUBARU LEGACY, potentially affecting up to 471,793 vehicles.
Recall 04V128000 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
| 127,580 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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....
View full details →Recall 03V153000 — SUSPENSION:REAR
| 170,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: 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...
View full details →Recall 02V282000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
| 172,564 vehicles 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...
View full details →Recall 02V079000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
| 1,252 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND LOWER).
Consequence: 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...
View full details →Recall 13E065000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
| 397 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2002 SUBARU LEGACY
71 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 SUBARU LEGACY. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
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 open recall from 2004 stating excessive corrosion in the rear sub frame. It applies on vehicles in cold wet states where New Jersey is one of them. Service advisor assure me that all is fine and they marked it as resolved. Upon inspection when I received the car back to my horror the sub frame is corroded to the point of disintegration. I took it back in and I’ve reached out to Subaru of North America where they look into it and concluded that the factory warranty is expired, 5 years 60k miles and they will not fix the recall. Base on my research there’s no expiration on manufacture recall and I’m not sure why they will not take care of it . Please help me navigate this matter. Thank you kindly [XXX] The person at Subaru headquarters info is; [XXX] Subaru of America, Inc. Customer Advocacy Department 1-800-SUBARU3 (1-800-782-2783) Direct: [XXX] [email protected] Case number [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
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 open recall from 2004 stating excessive corrosion in the rear sub frame. It applies on vehicles in cold wet states where New Jersey is one of them. Service advisor assure me that all is fine and they marked it as resolved. Upon inspection when I received the car back to my horror the sub frame is corroded to the point of disintegration. I took it back in and I’ve reached out to Subaru of North America where they look into it and concluded that the factory warranty is expired, 5 years 60k miles and they will not fix the recall. Base on my research there’s no expiration on manufacture recall and I’m not sure why they will not take care of it . Please help me navigate this matter. Thank you kindly [XXX] The person at Subaru headquarters info is; [XXX] Subaru of America, Inc. Customer Advocacy Department 1-800-SUBARU3 (1-800-782-2783) Direct: [XXX] [email protected] Case number [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Extreme gas smell in cold weather until car heats up when running heat/defrost. Known issue in other models that warranted a recall.
Extreme gas smell in cold weather until car heats up when running heat/defrost. Known issue in other models that warranted a recall.
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 contact was unaware of what parts had detached from the vehicle or needed to be replaced. In addition, the vehicle was accelerating independently. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 169,000.
Safety Rating for the 2002 SUBARU LEGACY
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2002 SUBARU LEGACY in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2002 SUBARU LEGACY
Subaru of America, Inc. has issued 13 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2002 SUBARU LEGACY. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
15-320-24 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure for 2025MY vehicles.
063304 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
DISC BRAKE PAD MODIFICATION FOR UNEVEN OR PREMATURE WORN BRAKE PADS. *TT
010103 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
BLOWER MOTOR NOISE INFORMATION. *TT *JB
107402 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
INSUFFICIENT COOLING OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DUE TO SHORT-CYCLING OF THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR. *TT
010802 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
BLOWER MOTOR NOISE. *TT
063001R — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THIS BULLETIN IS TO ELIMINATE BRAKE SQUEAL NOISE. *TT
010302 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE THE HEATED SEATS, LIGHTED VISOR MIRRORS, AND POWER MIRRORS TO BE INOPERATIVE. *SLC
1510401 — STRUCTURE:BODY
INFORMATION REGARDING ROOF RACK/CROSSBAR WIND NOISE. *YH
110101 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
INFORMATION REGARDING BLOWER MOTOR NOISE. *YH
300901 — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
120-WATT SUBWOOFER INSTALLATION MAY CAUSE TENSION ON PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HEATER HARNESS. *YD
Showing 10 of 13 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2002 SUBARU LEGACY
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the SUBARU LEGACY
- 1997 SUBARU LEGACY — 179 complaints
- 1998 SUBARU LEGACY — 155 complaints
- 1999 SUBARU LEGACY — 119 complaints
- 2000 SUBARU LEGACY — 119 complaints
- 2001 SUBARU LEGACY — 90 complaints
- 2002 SUBARU LEGACY (current)
- 2003 SUBARU LEGACY — 69 complaints
- 2004 SUBARU LEGACY — 55 complaints
- 2005 SUBARU LEGACY — 247 complaints
- 2006 SUBARU LEGACY — 135 complaints
- 2007 SUBARU LEGACY — 45 complaints
Other SUBARU Models
- SUBARU OUTBACK — 12,068 total complaints
- SUBARU FORESTER — 8,432 total complaints
- SUBARU IMPREZA — 3,406 total complaints
- SUBARU CROSSTREK — 1,431 total complaints
- SUBARU ASCENT — 1,230 total complaints
- SUBARU WRX — 1,207 total complaints
- SUBARU SVX — 373 total complaints
- SUBARU XV CROSSTREK — 354 total complaints