| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2002 Subaru Forester repairs by problem area
Engine (50%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (18%)
Brakes and Traction Control (3%)
Suspension and Steering (17%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (9%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (0%)
Other (4%)
Chart based on 78 repairs.
2002 Subaru Forester repair cost distribution
$2500+ (9%)
$1000 - $2499 (15%)
$500 - $999 (14%)
$100 - $499 (38%)
< $100 (24%)
Chart based on 66 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2002 Subaru Forester
Engine not specified
| Subaru Forester in Florida, United States Dec 2015 - Dec 2016 | |||
| Jun 201684000 miUS $570 | Replace both drive axles and boots | ||
| Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States Jun 2014 - Oct 2014 | |||
| Sep 2014128000 miUS $145 | muffler replaced | ||
| Oct 2014128000 miUS $300 | left front axle minor vacuum leak, would throw a code once every few months couldn't find it. suspected evap canister in rear under bumper. | ||
| Subaru Forester in New Zealand Dec 2012 - Jan 2013 | |||
| Jan 2013$200 | Replaced RHS front strut linkage due to clunking noise over bumps and some 'looseness' in steering (LHS replaced about 10,000km earlier). | ||
2002 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States Apr 2015 - Apr 2021 | |||
| Jul 2015144200 miUS $135 | left rear strut spring perch had partially collapsed, apparently in part due to rust. I replaced the strut. I also replace other parts that had not failed, but only listed the cost for the strut, which was the only failed part. rear oxygen sensor needed to be replaced | ||
| Jun 2016149000 mi | Front CV joints were noisy, sounding worn out - making clunking noises on startup and on sharp turns. Replaced front axles with reman units prior to failure as a precaution. The joint at the back of the catalytic converter was leaking, and there was a small crack in the mid-pipe. The shop welded in a new flex joint and replaced a section of the mid-pipe | ||
| Aug 2016149600 miUS $2600 | Problems with propshaft bearing and rear differential. Was cheaper to put in whole replacement(used)transmission, propshaft, and rear differential than just replace the bad parts. | ||
| Subaru Forester in Alaska, United States Mar 2012 - Jun 2016 | |||
| Apr 2013138700 miUS $1857 | CLUTCH, 1457. Replaced Starter, 300. Replaced CV boot, 100. | ||
| Jun 2016210000 miUS $1200 | Replaced non-charging Alternator Repaced 1 cv boot that was cracked | ||
| Subaru Forester in Pennsylvania, United States Aug 2011 - Nov 2018 | |||
| Jan 2012143000 miUS $40 | Exhaust leak - welded | ||
| Aug 2013165000 miUS $496 | Replace knock sensor and coil pack | ||
| Dec 2013170000 miUS $1416 | Replace clutch, throwout bearing, etc. Replace exhaust system (except cat) | ||
| Mar 2014174000 mi | Reset Check Engine Light (showed code for evap system). Code has not reoccurred after additional 600 miles. | ||
| Sep 2014179000 miUS $175 | Replace rear wheel bearings, rear ABS sensors, also rotors and pads Rear suspension link replaced CEL indicated leak in evap system. Replaced solenoid purge valve at rear of car Previously replaced rear ABS sensor failed. Resulted in additional damage to tone ring. Also had to replace springs for brakes as a result | ||
| Feb 2016192100 miUS $1100 | Replace converters and related sensors | ||
| Aug 2016196400 miUS $3300 | Top end rebuild (valves and guides), new piston rings, | ||
| Jun 2018218000 miUS $50 | Rear Differential grabbing in tight maneuvers after warm. Changed differential fluid and added an additive. Need to drive for a few months to see if problem resolves or differential needs to be replaced. | ||
| Subaru Forester in Massachusetts, United States Aug 2005 - Apr 2017 | |||
| Sep 200562760 miUS $80 | Replaced battery | ||
| Oct 200565000 mi | Catalytic converter replaced on warrantee | ||
| Dec 2011131000 miUS $100 | Main drive shaft U-joint failed. Replacement shaft cost $650 (discounted). Installed myself as a bolt-up. Passenger side front CV boot broke and exposed bearing. Pulled old shaft and replaced with remanufactured non-dealer replacement part. Removing outer wheeler bearing knuckle was very difficult. | ||
| Oct 2013138000 miUS $20 | Cooling system Rubber bushing became old & brittle and broke off. Replaced rubber rubber bushing and bolt. $30. | ||
| Subaru Forester in Washington, United States Aug 2011 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Jun 2012138000 miUS $850 | replace valve cover gasket, spark plugs, wires and tune up replace brake pads and calipers | ||
| Feb 2013143700 miUS $300 | replace failed head gasket Replaced radiator due to leaking seal at top (plastic) portion of radiator. Issue became evident after head gasket repair. | ||
| Mar 2014155000 miUS $420 | Replaced right front wheel bearing | ||
| Nov 2015172600 miUS $500 | Right front wheel bearing needed replacement | ||
| Jun 2022226000 mi | engine blew hole in block - needs to be completely replaced or car scrapped | ||
2002 Subaru Forester 4dr SUV
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD
| Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States May 2014 - May 2015 | |||
| Nov 2014133100 miUS $450 | Install new battery | ||
| Subaru Forester in Ohio, United States Aug 2011 - Feb 2013 | |||
| Nov 201198100 miUS $350 | Inner CV boot on front driver side ripped open and needed replacement. | ||
| Nov 2012106900 miUS $600 | Front driver side leaking clear odorless grease, needs replacement. The tech at the dealership suggested that I leave it alone for now. | ||
| Feb 2013109000 mi | Front driver side leaking clear odorless grease. Almost certainly a control arm bushing. Forum thread suggests it's a common problem: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2247387 | ||
| Subaru Forester in Utah, United States Jun 2015 - Apr 2016 | |||
| Sep 2015175000 miUS $40 | The washer fluid pumps went out so I replaced them. | ||
| Subaru Forester in Tennessee, United States Aug 2011 - Jun 2013 | |||
| Sep 2011140000 miUS $340 | New battery replaced. Also piece of metal dragging on front fender well removed. | ||
| Subaru Forester in Indiana, United States - Dec 2009 | |||
| May 200781000 miUS $1000 | Catalytic converter failure required replacement. | ||
| Dec 200996000 miUS $2000 | External headgasket leak on both sides required headgasket replacement on both sides. | ||
| Subaru Forester in Hawaii, United States - Dec 2007 | |||
| Apr 200590000 miUS $500 | Replace electronic distributor | ||
| Sep 2006110000 miUS $1000 | Replace air conditioner condenser - corroded out. | ||
| Dec 2007125000 miUS $400 | Replace both front axles; boots/CV joints went out. | ||
| Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States Sep 2016 - Dec 2016 | |||
| Sep 2016303000 miUS $675 | Struts shot | ||
| Subaru Forester in Alaska, United States Apr 2014 - Jun 2016 | |||
| May 2015172000 miUS $125 | seat belts replaced cabin air filter replaced door seals reattached | ||
| Jun 2016191000 miUS $179 | Head gasket | ||
| Subaru Forester in Colorado, United States Feb 2013 - Oct 2019 | |||
| Mar 201687000 mi | Evap system leak w check engine code. | ||
| Jul 201690500 miUS $200 | Replaced passenger rear wheel bearing | ||
| Mar 201795000 miUS $2800 | Head gasket replacement, w machining. Both sides had been seeping, common for this generation of 2.2 engines. Passenger front cv axle replaced | ||
| Subaru Forester in Kentucky, United States Nov 2011 - Dec 2016 | |||
| Mar 2016119000 miUS $4500 | center differential | ||
| Subaru Forester in Connecticut, United States Aug 2011 - Jun 2014 | |||
| Oct 2011253000 miUS $230 | Car refused to start. Replaced battery (maintenance item as battery was 6+ yrs old). Problem not solved. Cleaned grounds and contact points and replaced starter. Found starter solenoid inoperative. | ||
| Dec 2011256000 miUS $25 | Car stumbling badly; not yet due for tuneup. CEL code not thrown. Replaced plugs, wires, coil pack, upstream 02 sensor in that order. Problem solved with new upstream 02 sensor. Exhaust flanges from muffler to midpipe rusted through. Cut flanges, brazed, and clamped. | ||
| Apr 2013263000 miUS $150 | Replaced 02 sensor. Exhaust badly corroded. | ||
| Aug 2013265100 miUS $250 | Engine overheated. | ||
| Nov 2013267700 miUS $450 | Replaced entire cooling system including radiator, hoses, thermostat, and expansion tank. | ||
| Subaru Forester in Washington, United States Aug 2011 - Oct 2015 | |||
| Oct 2015125000 mi | The car had the head gasket leak that the line is infamous for. It just got to the point that it was so bad, you could barely breathe around the car even after it was stopped. It was a $2500 repair I chose not to do. | ||
| Subaru Forester in New Zealand Jan 2012 - Jun 2022 | |||
| Jan 201476320 mi | Water in the nearside fog light | ||
| Feb 201679220 mi$600 | O2 Sensor died | ||
| Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States Apr 2012 - Jul 2015 | |||
| Nov 2012200700 miUS $97 | The downstream O2 sensor was sending a faulty code which indicated it needed to be replaced. The car was stalling when idling and ran rough at time. | ||
| Sep 2014222000 miUS $500 | The engine threw a rod. Disassembled and rebuilt all new gaskets 1 rod, new timing belt, timing belt cover and about 20 hours. | ||
| Feb 2015225700 miUS $125 | Rear Wheel bearings replaced | ||
| Subaru Forester in Florida, United States Jul 2013 - Oct 2015 | |||
| Oct 2015124000 mi | Second blown head gasket. Repaired at 68k miles, and leaking again at 120k. | ||
| Subaru Forester in Washington, United States Sep 2012 - Mar 2013 | |||
| Nov 2012111100 miUS $3400 | leaking headgaskets | ||
| Subaru Forester in North Carolina, United States Jun 2012 - May 2016 | |||
| May 2016236000 mi | Replaced steering gear. Cracked head gasket. It just stopped with no warning. Donated the car to the kidney foundation. | ||
| Subaru Forester in South Carolina, United States Oct 2013 - Jun 2018 | |||
| Feb 2014207100 miUS $150 | Replaced upstream and downstream o2 sensors | ||
| Jul 2014210500 miUS $145 | Replaced Radiator | ||
See TrueDelta's information for all SUVs
See TrueDelta's information for all Subaru models.
