2002 Subaru Forester Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 3%of 88 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 86,656miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the body and structure of the 2002 Subaru Forester, 3% of the 88 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 86,656 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, 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.
“The contact owns a 2002 Subaru Forester. The contact took the vehicle for state inspection and was advised that the vehicle could not pass due to extreme frame rust and corrosion. The manufacturer advised that because the vehicle was primarily housed in pennsylvania, a salt belt state, that the failure was normal. The manufacturer would not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were approximately 138,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10330473, filed 2010-05, 138,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11022304Aug 11, 2025This bulletin provides information on paint codes for vehicles in the 2026 line up.
- 10015186Feb 25, 2005This bulletin provides information to properly diagnosis the rear gate stays and also avoids unnecessary replacement of non-failed stays.
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 9% |
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 2 | 6% |
| 2023 | 3 | 4% |
| 2022 | 2 | 2% |
| 2021 | 4 | 2% |
| 2020 | 15 | 2% |
| 2019 | 25 | 3% |
| 2018 | 14 | 3% |
| 2017 | 15 | 3% |
| 2016 | 11 | 3% |
| 2015 | 20 | 3% |
| 2014 | 27 | 7% |
| 2013 | 4 | 5% |
| 2012 | 5 | 5% |
| 2011 | 8 | 5% |
| 2010 | 7 | 3% |
| 2009 | 2 | 1% |
| 2008 | 1 | 2% |
| 2007 | 1 | 1% |
| 2006 | 7 | 8% |
| 2005 | 4 | 4% |
| 2004 | 4 | 2% |
| 2003 | 19 | 10% |
| 2002 | 3 | 3% |
| 2001 | 4 | 3% |
| 1999 | 3 | 2% |
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 complaintsOther or unknown
5 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 27, 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