Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Subaru Legacy, and it carries 5 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 15% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 8% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 8% |
| Fuel system | 5 | 8% |
| Power train | 5 | 8% |
| Tires | 4 | 7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 7% |
| Engine | 3 | 5% |
| Suspension | 3 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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 inspec
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
Extreme gas smell in cold weather until car heats up when running heat/defrost. Known issue in other models that warranted a recall.
NHTSA complaint: Engine
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
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
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 THR
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
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 IN
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
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
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
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
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
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 NU
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2002 Subaru Legacy. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 aftermark
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
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 AN
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: 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 NOTIF
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
Risk: IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND LOWER).
Risk: 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
Fix: 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
| Reliability raw | 81 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 79 | good |
| Depreciation | 72 | good |
| Performance | 60 | average |
| Efficiency | 40 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 9 of them (15%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 81/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2002 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.