2002 Subaru Legacy problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel/Propulsion System (8) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings (4) · Suspension (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Subaru Legacy model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
32 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump 2013-11-29 · campaign 13E065000 · 397 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (159)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-10-05 · SubaruNet Announcement (M · Other
this announcement provides information on a new software update for the midtronics dss and dca machines.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-18 · 13-109-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · SubaruNet Announcement (C · Other
this announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-14 · 15-333-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Electrical System 2026-09-14 · 15-304-22R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of infotainment concerns. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Electrical System 2026-08-20 · 15-308-23R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service information bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts.this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 159 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-04-10 · Unknown Or Other“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 2004 stating excessive corrosion in the rear sub frame. …”
2023-02-25 · Fuel/Propulsion System“extreme gas smell in cold weather until car heats up when running heat/defrost. known issue in other models that warranted a recall. …”
2021-11-22 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal · 169,000 mi“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 unaware of what parts had detached from the vehicle or ne…”
2020-01-31 · Visibility/Wiper“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. those obnoxious bright-blue headlights. since when…”
2020-01-05 · Unknown Or Other · 165,000 mi“when the vehicle starts going around 55 - 60 mph, the car starts shaking vigorously. the wheel also shakes which also concerns me. moreover, when i start to slow the car down, a rattling noise constantly shakes my car including my wheel from side to side. i think there might be an alignment problem with my vehicle since my check engine light turns…”
2018-02-06 · Suspension · 150,000 mi“i checked under the car and the rear suspension is so rusted it is unsafe to drive . i looked on the internet and it is a common issue. with the amount of unsafe cars driving around with this issue i would say the ball was really dropped on the original recall…”
2018-01-12 · Unknown Or Other · 112,000 mi“i have noticed an inordinate number of cars with led tail lights that the break and/or tail lights do not work. nothing specific for make or model but it is dangerous! i would really like to see if it is being checked out.…”
2017-05-27 · Suspension · 165,200 mi“i own a 2002 subaru legacy in western new york, i recently was told there was an issue that was recalled back in 2004 but my car was never notified or addressed of the issue with corrosion. the recall ( nhtsa campaign number: 03v153000 ) i was driving on the high way when i hit a small bump and the back end of the subaru dropped and the tire star…”
2016-01-11 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 132,000 mi“the fuel lines leak out raw gasoline onto the hot engine any time it is cold outside. i have replaced the fuel line but it still leaks when cold. this is a very great fire hazard.…”
2015-12-29 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 180,000 mi“tl* the contact owns 2002 subaru legacy. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there would be an odor of fuel entering into the vehicle. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 13e065000 (fuel system, gasoline). the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure m…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.