"How reliable is the 2002 Subaru Outback?"

"Based on 171 NHTSA complaints, the 2002 Subaru Outback has a median complaint mileage of 75000 miles. The most common issue is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE."

"What are common problems with the 2002 Subaru Outback?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Subaru Outback is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, accounting for a significant portion of the 171 total complaints filed."

2002 Subaru Outback: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 171 complaints

171

Total Complaints

75,000mi

Median Mileage

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

40,500 25th Percentile

75,000 Median Mileage

121,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ENGINE

STRUCTURE:BODY

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH ENGINE RUNNING, EMERGENCY BRAKE NOT ENGAGED. AND IT SUDDENLY WENT FORWARD, ACROSS A FIELD, INTO TREES/ FLIPPED OVER ON ITS SIDE. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $8500.00 NO INJURIES.*AK"

"WHEN MY VEHICLES BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED WITH UNEVEN SURFACE TRACTION ON THE LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE OF THE WHEELS, THE ABS SYSTEM DELAYS AND DOES NOT ENGAGE THE BRAKES FOR 1 TO 3 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENED TODAY ON A SMOOTH SUBURBAN STREET WITH WATER CONTACTING ONLY THE RIGHT SIDE WHEELS. WHEN I WENT TO BRAK..."

"CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, AND WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN SHE APPLIED BRAKES, BUT PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE SLID.*AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28