Representative model. Photo: User3204, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2002 Subaru Legacy recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2002 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 5
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 58
Latest campaign: Nov 29, 2013

Recall summary by component5

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Fuel system, gasoline	1	Nov 29, 2013	13E065000
Vehicle speed control	1	Mar 16, 2004	04V128000
Suspension	1	Apr 22, 2003	03V153000
Power train	1	Oct 30, 2002	02V282000
Service brakes, hydraulic	1	Mar 12, 2002	02V079000

Safety recalls5

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Nov 29, 2013Latest campaign


Nov 29, 201313E065000	Fuel system, gasoline: delivery fuel pump A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 13E065000 What's wrong 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 base of a fuel line connection when the gas tank is full. Risk 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 being conducted by Airtex, not by Subaru. Campaign NHTSA 13E065000 · Nov 29, 2013
Mar 16, 200404V128000	Vehicle speed control: cables IF THIS OCCURS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. DetailsHide details for campaign 04V128000 What's wrong 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 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. Campaign NHTSA 04V128000 · Mar 16, 2004
Apr 22, 200303V153000	Suspension: rear IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. DetailsHide details for campaign 03V153000 What's wrong 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 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. Campaign NHTSA 03V153000 · Apr 22, 2003
Oct 30, 200202V282000	Power train: automatic transmission THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. DetailsHide details for campaign 02V282000 What's wrong 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 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. Campaign NHTSA 02V282000 · Oct 30, 2002
Mar 12, 200202V079000	Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components master cylinder AT THESE TEMPERATURES, THE BRAKES MAY NOT RELEASE AFTER BEING APPLIED, EVEN WHEN THE DRIVER'S FOOT IS NO LONGER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. DetailsHide details for campaign 02V079000 What's wrong ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND LOWER). 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. Campaign NHTSA 02V079000 · Mar 12, 2002

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Subaru recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2002 Subaru Legacy? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component58

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

58Complaints filed

6Involving a crash

1Involving a fire

2Injuries reported · 1 death

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Engine and engine cooling	11	19	0	0	1
Fuel/propulsion system	8	14	0	0	0
Power train	8	14	2	0	0
Service brakes	7	12	1	0	1
Fuel system	7	12	0	0	0
Gasoline	7	12	0	0	0
Suspension	6	10	0	0	0
Unknown or other	6	10	0	0	0
Hydraulic	6	10	1	0	1
Vehicle speed control	5	9	1	0	0
Tires	5	9	1	0	0
Engine	4	7	0	0	0
Structure	3	5	0	0	0
Electrical system	2	3	0	1	0
Visibility/wiper	1	2	0	0	0

4 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Suspension
“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.”
Filed 04/10/2023 · ODI 11516418
Engine
“Extreme gas smell in cold weather until car heats up when running heat/defrost. Known issue in other models that warranted a recall.”
Filed 02/25/2023 · ODI 11509074
Suspension
“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.”
Filed 11/22/2021 · ODI 11441338

Other Subaru Legacy model years

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Other Subaru models

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2002 Subaru Legacy recall questions

How many recalls does the 2002 Subaru Legacy have?

NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns for the 2002 Subaru Legacy. The most recent, 13E065000 (reported November 29, 2013), concerns fuel system, gasoline. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What is the most common complaint about the 2002 Subaru Legacy?

Engine and engine cooling is the most-reported component, named in 11 complaints out of 58 filed with NHTSA (19%). Across all complaints, owners reported 6 crashs and 1 fire. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2002 Subaru Legacy?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Subaru recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Subaru dealer.

Check a specific Subaru by VIN

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Recall summary by component5

Safety recalls5

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery fuel pump

Vehicle speed control: cables

Suspension: rear

Power train: automatic transmission

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components master cylinder