Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Subaru Outback
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Subaru Outback has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 143 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #13E065000 Fuel Pump may Leak Fuel NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V128000 SUBARU/CRUISE CONTROL CABLE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V153000 SUBARU/REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME CORROSION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V282000 SUBARU/TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V079000 SUBARU/BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 27 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 23 complaints
- Power Train 20 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 17 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 12 complaints
- Structure 10 complaints
Of the 143 complaints on file, 9 report a crash; across all 143 complaints, owners report 11 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$6,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Subaru Outback faces recurring issues with its brake system, fuel pump, and rear suspension. These problems are reflected in multiple recalls and high owner-complaint counts. Reliability is hampered by these frequent flaws which carry considerable repair costs over time.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| brake master cylinder | 40,000–60,000 miles | $400–$600 | very common |
| fuel pump | 30,000–50,000 miles | $300–$500 | common |
| rear suspension | 50,000–70,000 miles | $700–$1,000 | common |
| automatic transmission | 60,000–80,000 miles | $1,200–$2,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid change every 2 years
- Transmission fluid service every 30,000 miles
- Tire rotation every 10,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Brake pedal sinking
- Fuel odors near rear
- Unstable ride in rear
- Transmission slipping
- High revs, cruise control issues
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Subaru Outback at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.