2002 Subaru Forester Other or unknown Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 6%of 88 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 198,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the other or unknown of the 2002 Subaru Forester, 6% of the 88 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 198,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was driving I was making a right hand turn from one road to another and I hit a slight bump and then the whole thing starts swaying only to find out that my rear subframe completely rotted out and detached itself from the car due to the rust and the breaking of the subframe in the rear”
NHTSA complaint #11271255, filed 2019-10, 235,000 miles“The subframe completely fell off my car. This is my second Subaru is has happened to I had to scrap the first one. I didn't notice it till I came home, I checked it because it was driving funny.”
NHTSA complaint #11189798, filed 2019-03, 161,000 miles“I was backing my 2002 Subaru Forester out of my driveway when it suddenly accelerated out of control, causing it to cross the road heading for my neighbors' house. Flooring the brake did not help but I managed to turn the car slightly, hitting a tree, where it came to a stop. This had happened to me twice before in this car, and once to another regular driver of this car. All incidents were when maneuvering slowly, but some were while in reverse and others while moving forward. …”
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Other or unknown: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 22% |
| 2025 | 21 | 21% |
| 2024 | 9 | 29% |
| 2023 | 20 | 27% |
| 2022 | 18 | 18% |
| 2021 | 43 | 20% |
| 2020 | 108 | 18% |
| 2019 | 145 | 17% |
| 2018 | 85 | 17% |
| 2017 | 97 | 16% |
| 2016 | 70 | 17% |
| 2015 | 74 | 12% |
| 2014 | 46 | 11% |
| 2013 | 7 | 9% |
| 2012 | 9 | 8% |
| 2011 | 13 | 9% |
| 2010 | 12 | 5% |
| 2009 | 11 | 6% |
| 2008 | 8 | 16% |
| 2007 | 2 | 3% |
| 2006 | 2 | 2% |
| 2005 | 3 | 3% |
| 2004 | 9 | 4% |
| 2003 | 6 | 3% |
| 2002 | 5 | 6% |
| 2001 | 2 | 1% |
| 2000 | 3 | 4% |
| 1999 | 1 | 1% |
| 1998 | 3 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2002 Subaru Forester
23 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
16 complaintsEngine cooling
14 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsFuel system
11 complaintsAir bags
10 complaintsSuspension
9 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsEngine
1 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsTires
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Subaru Forester
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology