RoadVitals

2002 Subaru Outback Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Jul 26, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 143 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Subaru Outback submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structurePowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Jul 26, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OBSERVED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND HOLES WERE FORMING. THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW CROSS MEMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO THE PARK POSITION WHILE ON AN INCLINE, IT BEGAN TO ROLL AWAY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 03V153000 (SUSPENSION) AND 02V282000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

NHTSA ID
10888639
Incident
Jul 7, 2016
Mileage
170,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Oct 5, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME HAD FRACTURED DUE TO SEVERE RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATE 01/13/16 MA; UPDATED 4/17/18*JB THE CONSUMER STATED TRADED VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO ABOUT FIXING IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10779649
Incident
Oct 2, 2015
Mileage
200,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 15, 2015

WHEN GETTING THE CAR INSPECTED WE FOUND OUT THE FRAME OF THE CAR WAS RUSTED SO BADLY IT WAS CRACKED. IT WAS IN SUCH A KEY SPOT THAT IT WASN'T FIXABLE AND THE CAR COULD HAVE EASILY LOST A WHEEL ON THE ROAD WITH LITTLE TO NO WARNING (A SMALL BUMP COULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO TRIGGER AN ACCIDENT). THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF WELL AND WHEN INSPECTED JUST A YEAR AGO AT THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP THERE WAS NO MENTION OR SIGN THAT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE A PROBLEM. THE FAST DETERIORATION OF THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE CAR IS THE COMPLAINT AND WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PART OUT THE OTHERWISE WONDERFUL CAR DUE TO SAFETY AND UNABLE TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10705906
Incident
Apr 15, 2015
Mileage
150,000 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Aug 2, 2012
Crash reported

WE WERE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I-95 GOING BETWEEN 55 AND 60 MILES AN HOUR AND THE HOOD LATCH FAILED. THE HOOD CAME UP BLOCKING OUR VISION AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO CAR. WE WERE TRAVELING IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND WERE LUCKY THAT WE COULD PULL THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. WE WERE VERY LUCKY NO ONE WAS BEHIND US. *TR

NHTSA ID
10468975
Incident
Aug 2, 2012
Mileage
110,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Apr 18, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK SPORT. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE EXAMINED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD BEGUN TO RUST AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 152,000. UPDATED 05/09/12 *BF

NHTSA ID
10455703
Incident
Apr 17, 2012
Mileage
152,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 22, 2007

2002 SUBARU OUTBACK REAR SEAT LATCH CLIPS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO USE CHILD SAFETY SEATS (6 POINT HARNESS SYSTEM) CLIPS ARE TUCKED TOO FAR DOWN INTO SEATS. NEED EXTENSION CLIP TO ACCESS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10212552
Incident
Oct 7, 2007
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structureSeat belts
Filed Oct 10, 2006

EVERYTIME IT RAINS OR GO THROUGH A CAR WASH THE SEAT BELT GETS WET AND IS WORSE WHEN THE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN RETRACTED AS THE WET AREA NOW IS ALL ACROSS YOU. IT APPARENTLY IS MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE SUNROOF. WHAT IS THE REPAIR FOR THIS, NEW SEALS IN THE SUNROOF OR THE ROOF RACK MOUNTING HOLES? *JB

NHTSA ID
10170417
Incident
Oct 10, 2006
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jul 6, 2004

WHEN TRYING TO OPEN THE REAR RIGHT DOOR THE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK WIND NOISE WAS EVIDENT DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. *LA

NHTSA ID
10075862
Incident
Mar 17, 2004
Body & structure
Filed May 1, 2003

CAR LEAKS INTO CABIN THROUGH MOON ROOFS (I SUPPOSE). WATER POURS THROUGH SEAT BELT RECOIL IN ROOF OVER CARGO AREA.

NHTSA ID
10016870
Incident
Apr 5, 2003
Mileage
8,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 30, 2002

A ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE REAR HARNESS CAUSED THE TAIL LIGHTS NOT TO WORK ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WITHOUT WARNING. NLM

NHTSA ID
567695
Body & structure
Filed Sep 12, 2002

BUG DEFLECTOR "FLEW OFF" WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 75MPH. CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT DEFLECTOR COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURY TO OTHER MOTORISTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
8018567
Incident
Aug 30, 2002

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .