RecallRepo

2002 Subaru Legacy Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2002 Subaru Legacy has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 471,396 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the fuel/propulsion system. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 04V128000 2004-03-16 127,580 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…

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. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

SUSPENSION 03V153000 2003-04-22 170,000 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,…

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 TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

POWER TRAIN 02V282000 2002-10-30 172,564 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 DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE…

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 02V079000 2002-03-12 1,252 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 SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Complaints by component

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
8
SUSPENSION
5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
5
ENGINE
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
3
1injuries1deaths
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
3
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
1fires
Total complaints71

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“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…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2023-04-10

“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…”

SUSPENSION · reported 2023-04-10

“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…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL · reported 2021-08-01

“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…”

SUSPENSION · reported 2021-08-01

“Extreme gas smell in cold weather until car heats up when running heat/defrost. Known issue in other models that warranted a recall.”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2020-11-01

“Extreme gas smell in cold weather until car heats up when running heat/defrost. Known issue in other models that warranted a recall.”

ENGINE · reported 2020-11-01

“Un-fendered vehicles - I see way too many vehicles allowed to be the outfitted with wide tires outside of the vehicles fenders. Hey! I though tires are supposed to be covered by the vehicle's fenders so they wouldn't throw off rocks, spray or debris into the air at other vehicles on the highway.…”

VISIBILITY/WIPER · reported 2020-01-31

“Un-fendered vehicles - I see way too many vehicles allowed to be the outfitted with wide tires outside of the vehicles fenders. Hey! I though tires are supposed to be covered by the vehicle's fenders so they wouldn't throw off rocks, spray or debris into the air at other vehicles on the highway.…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2020-01-31
Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 Subaru Legacy as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.