2002 Subaru Impreza: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2002 Subaru Impreza. The newest campaign is 11V464000. NHTSA received the report on 6 Sep 2011. The NHTSA record gives the component Suspension / Front / Control Arm / Lower Arm. NHTSA has 284 complaints on file for this model year. 4 NHTSA investigations name this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 11V464000, in the NHTSA record

Subaru will handle their vehicles and saab will handle theirs. Dealers will inspect the degree of corrosion of the front lower control arms, and will either rustproof or replace them. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during december 2011. Owners may contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 15 May 2019. Recall file through 29 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

6 campaigns, newest first. 745,448 units in total.

11V4640006 Sep 2011Suspension / Front / Control Arm / Lower Arm
09V4680004 Dec 2009Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Fuel Pump
08V13500024 Mar 2008Latches/Locks/Linkages / Tailgate / Latch
04V34200014 Jul 2004Seats
04V12800016 Mar 2004Vehicle Speed Control / Cables
02V28200030 Oct 2002Power Train / Automatic Transmission

11V464000Received 6 Sep 2011. 318,215 units.
Suspension / Front / Control Arm / Lower Arm
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 impreza, model year 2003-2008 forester, and model year 2005-2006 saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured from september 5, 2000 through november 26, 2007 originally sold, or currently registered in, massachusetts, maryland, michigan, new hampshire, new york, pennsylvania, vermont, wisconsin, connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, maine, minnesota, missouri, new jersey, ohio, rhode island, west virginia and the district of columbia. The front lower control arms may break at the hanger brackets due to corrosion if the hanger bracket is exposed to salty and humid environments such as roads containing snow melting agent.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Subaru will handle their vehicles and saab will handle theirs. Dealers will inspect the degree of corrosion of the front lower control arms, and will either rustproof or replace them. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during december 2011. Owners may contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Report filed by SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.. Manufacturer campaign number WVX-34. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 31 Dec 2011.
09V468000Received 4 Dec 2009. 5,724 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Fuel Pump
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2002 and 2003 impreza wrx vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of south dakota, nebraska, north dakota, minnesota, idaho, iowa, montana, colorado, wisconsin, new york, wyoming, michigan, alaska, new hampshire, vermont, and maine. During cold starts, typically under extremely cold temperatures, fuel leaks in the fuel delivery line could occur where the line connects with a rubber hose.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Fuel leaks, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the fuel line free of charge. The recall began on december 31, 2009. Owners may contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Report filed by SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.. Manufacturer campaign number WVK-21. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 31 Dec 2009.
08V135000Received 24 Mar 2008. 36,791 units.
Latches/Locks/Linkages / Tailgate / Latch
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Subaru is recalling 36,791 my 2002-2003 impreza wagons. The stud bolt(s) of rear gate stay may have been tightened with insufficient tightening torque and a gap may have resulted between the rear gate panel and stud bolt base. After repeated rear gate operations (opening and closing), the rear gate inner panel at the welding nut may break, which will lead to detachment of the rear gate stay, and the rear gate dropping down.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
In case someone is underneath or near the rear gate, there is a possibility that a dropping rear gate panel may hit them increasing the risk of injuries.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will inspect to see if there is any gap at the stud bolt of the rear gate stay installation. If a gap is found, the stud bolt will be removed to check for damage to the welding nut. If the weld nut is cracked, the rear gate stay will be replaced free of charge. The recall began on june 2, 2008. Owners may contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Report filed by SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.. Manufacturer campaign number WVD-14. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 2 Jun 2008.
04V342000Received 14 Jul 2004. 84,574 units.
Seats
Defect, in the NHTSA record
On certain sedan and wagon model vehicles, the left front bolt that retains the forward part of the driver's seat to the seat slide rail may loosen. If the seat slide rail bolt loosens, it will eventually fall out, and the seat may separate from the seat slide.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
In the event of a crash, the driver may sustain more severe injuries due to the seat movement.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install a new left hand driver's seat rail mounting bolt. The recall began on august 20, 2004. Owners should contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Report filed by SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.. Manufacturer campaign number WWT-04. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 20 Aug 2004.
04V128000Received 16 Mar 2004. 127,580 units.
Vehicle Speed Control / Cables
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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 and will remain in an open position.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
If this occurs during vehicle operation, the driver could lose control of the vehicle, which could result in a crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
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 notification began on april 12, 2004. Owners should contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Report filed by SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.. Manufacturer campaign number WWQ-01. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 12 Apr 2004.
02V282000Received 30 Oct 2002. 172,564 units.
Power Train / Automatic Transmission
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Certain sport utility and passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions were produced with an improperly manufactured transmission parking rod. When the transmission selector lever is placed in the "p" (park) position, the transmission park mechanism, that is intended to hold your vehicle, may not engage.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
The vehicle could then move/roll without prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the automatic transmission parking rod assembly. Owner notification january 8, 2003. An interim owner notification will be sent during november 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Report filed by SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.. Manufacturer campaign number WWK-94. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 8 Jan 2003.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

284 complaints, 330 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. The figure per 1,000 component mentions shows how many of each 1,000 mentions name the component.

2002 Subaru Impreza
All 2002 vehicles

2002 Subaru Impreza: complaints by component, per 1,000 component mentions
Component	2002 Impreza	All 2002 vehicles	Impreza, all years	Mentions
Fuel System, Gasoline	266.7	33.1	70.9	88
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	181.8	78.7	57.8	60
Suspension	139.4	80.9	61.1	46
Power Train	75.8	121	107.1	25
Structure	63.6	61.3	45.6	21
Engine and Engine Cooling	60.6	103.2	45.1	20
Visibility	51.5	39.7	45.6	17
Steering	21.2	39.2	16.4	7
Fuel/Propulsion System	21.2	10.2	34.3	7
Vehicle Speed Control	18.2	39.4	34.3	6

The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 24.

Complaints that report a crash: 10
Complaints that report a fire: 3
Injuries in the complaints: 7
Deaths in the complaints: 0
Date of the newest complaint: 25 Mar 2019

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Complaints about the 2002 Subaru Impreza, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 2002, with 50 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 2002 Subaru Impreza
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
PE11011	Preliminary evaluation	Front suspension control arm failure	Suspension / Front / Control Arm	7 Apr 2011	23 Sep 2011	11V464000
EA09011	Engineering analysis	FUEL LINE LEAK	Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings	2 Jul 2009	14 Dec 2009	09V468000
PE09017	Preliminary evaluation	FUEL LINE LEAK	Fuel System, Gasoline / Carburetor System	10 Mar 2009	2 Jul 2009
PE04002	Preliminary evaluation	FUEL LINE LEAKAGE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT	Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings	7 Jan 2004	27 May 2004

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 2002 Subaru ImprezaThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 2002 Subaru Impreza: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/subaru/impreza/2002/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 29 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 29 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 15 May 2019
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 2002 Subaru Impreza?: 745,448 units in 6 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Subaru Impreza have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 53 recall campaigns for the Subaru Impreza, model years 1990 to 2024. 6 of them name the 2002 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 2002 Subaru Impreza name most often?: Fuel System, Gasoline: 88 of 330 component mentions, or 266.7 per 1,000. For all 2002 vehicles the figure is 33.1 per 1,000.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 2002 Subaru Impreza open?: No. Each of the 4 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.