Model year record

2002 Subaru Outback

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 172 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V128000

Vehicle speed control: cables

Component: Vehicle speed control: cables
Manufacturer: SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 127,580
Reported to NHTSA: 2004-03-16
Owners notified: 2004-04-12

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

IF THIS OCCURS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V153000

Suspension: rear

Component: Suspension: rear
Manufacturer: SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 170,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2003-04-22
Owners notified: 2003-07-14

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V282000

Power train: automatic transmission

Component: Power train: automatic transmission
Manufacturer: SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 172,564
Reported to NHTSA: 2002-10-30
Owners notified: 2003-01-08

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V079000

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder

Component: Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder
Manufacturer: SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 1,252
Reported to NHTSA: 2002-03-12
Owners notified: 2002-03-21

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND LOWER).

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Fuel system, gasoline	20	85,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	12	14,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	9	80,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	8	75,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	8	47,888 mi
Power train: manual transmission	7	31,200 mi
Power train: clutch assembly	6	25,000 mi
Engine	5	135,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	5	45,000 mi
Structure: body	4	170,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	4	31,200 mi
Air bags	3	—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	3	3,710 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	3	56,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	3	55,000 mi
Service brakes	3	141,682 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components	3	42,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	3	7,681 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder	3	—
Tires	3	30,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	2	37,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	2	60,833 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	2	69,013 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	2	—
Fuel system, other	2	50,000 mi
Power train	2	20,000 mi
Seat belts	2	138,000 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly	2	—
Steering	2	8,000 mi
Structure	2	—
Suspension	2	148,731 mi
Suspension: rear	2	152,000 mi
Tires: sidewall	2	19,600 mi
Unknown or other	2	140,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	2	55,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer	2	—
Wheels	2	150,000 mi
Electrical system	1	150,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch	1	—
Electrical system: wiring	1	80,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: rear compartment/trunk	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	1	—
Exterior lighting	1	150,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights	1	—
Exterior lighting: tail lights	1	—
Latches/locks/linkages	1	110,000 mi
Parking brake	1	—
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)	1	—
Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch	1	—
Seat belts: front: webbing	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module	1	10 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc	1	13,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads	1	3,000 mi
Structure: body: door	1	—
Structure: body: roof and pillars	1	8,500 mi
Structure: frame and members	1	152,000 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields	1	150,000 mi
Visibility	1	—
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior	1	—
Visibility: windshield	1	12,000 mi

The 2001 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2003 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.