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Research · Subcompact Cars

2002 Subaru ImprezaRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 296 owner complaints for the 2002 Subaru Impreza. Most complaints involve fuel system, gasoline (88) and service brakes, hydraulic (56). The EPA rates it 20–21 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
20–21mpg
EPA · 8 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
6campaigns
Latest Sep 2011
Owner complaints
296
Top: fuel system, gasoline
Fuel cost / yr
$2,850est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

6 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Suspension: lower arm

Free remedy

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.

SuspensionReported Sep 6, 2011NHTSA 11V464000

Fuel system

Free remedy

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.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Dec 4, 2009NHTSA 09V468000

Latches

Free remedy

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.

Latches/locks/linkagesReported Mar 24, 2008NHTSA 08V135000
See all 6 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 12, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

296 complaints filed with NHTSA · Aug 2001 – Aug 2022
  1. Fuel system, gasoline88
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic56
  3. Suspension49
  4. Power train26
  5. Structure22
  6. Engine and engine cooling21
  7. Visibility17
  8. Steering8
  9. Fuel/propulsion system8

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Impreza model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
199626
199734
199830
199922
200041
200111
2002296
200364
200496
200575
200656
200768
2008209
2009113
201046
201158
2012243
2013251
2014109
201579
201675
2019194
202432
20255
20261
Crashes reported
12
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
8
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 12, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Fuel system, gasoline

88 reports1 fire
“DURING COOL WEATHER CONDITIONS FROM COLD STARTUP THE ENGINE HAS HEAVY FUEL/GAS SMELL WHICH IS TRANSPORTED INTO THE VEHICLE CABIN CAUSING UNHEALTHY BREATHING CONDITIONS FOR ANY OCCUPANTS. CALLED SUBARU COOPERATE AND THE DEALER, THEY STATED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR A LEAKING FUEL RAIL BUT NOT ON OUR MODEL. AFTER MUCH INTERNET SEARCHING IT APPEARS THE RECALL SHOULD BE FOR ALL SUBARUS WITH THE SAME ENGINE AS THE PROBLEM IS ENGINE RELATED AND NOT MODEL RELATED. THE ORIGINAL RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL SUBARUS WITH THE SAME ENGINE CONFIGURATION. THE COMPANY IS GETTING OFF EASY WITH A LIMITED RECALL OF LESS THAN 6000 VEHICLES NATION WIDE WHEN THERE ARE CLEARLY MANY MANY MORE OUT THERE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 6, 2013Fuel system, gasolineODI 10551175

Service brakes, hydraulic

56 reports6 crashes
“IT WAS RAINING. I WAS TURNING LEFT AT A LIGHT, SAW ANOTHER CAR COMING TOWARDS ME. I APPLIED BRAKES AND THERE WAS A HESITATION OF BRAKING POWER DUE TO THE ABS SYSTEM. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING IN LOW TRACTION CONDITIONS OR OVER BUMPS. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE SAME YEAR SIMILAR MODEL HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS COMPUTER AND THAT THEY REPLACE THE ABS COMPUTERS FOR THAT ONE BUT THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T FOR MY CAR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 2, 2008Service brakes, hydraulicCrash reportedODI 10250511

Suspension

49 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2002 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while reversing, the vehicle felt as if there was a flat tire on the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the front driver's side tire was about to detach. Additionally, the driver’s side front lower control arm was fractured. Prior to the failure, the contact had driven over a railroad track and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle had previously been serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 16, 2021SuspensionODI 11443990
All 2002 Impreza problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

8 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Subcompact Cars, Small Station Wagons
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd · Manual 5-spd
Drive
4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 12, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Impreza AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
192521$2,850423
Impreza AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182521$2,850423
Impreza AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182521$3,600423
Impreza Wagon AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
192521$2,850423
Impreza Wagon AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
192521$2,850423
Impreza Wagon AWD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182521$3,600423
Impreza AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172420$3,750444
Impreza Wagon AWD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172420$3,750444
  • Impreza AWD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    19 city · 25 hwy · $2,850/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Impreza AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    18 city · 25 hwy · $2,850/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Impreza AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    18 city · 25 hwy · $3,600/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Impreza Wagon AWD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    19 city · 25 hwy · $2,850/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Impreza Wagon AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    19 city · 25 hwy · $2,850/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Impreza Wagon AWD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    18 city · 25 hwy · $3,600/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Impreza AWD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    17 city · 24 hwy · $3,750/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Impreza Wagon AWD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    17 city · 24 hwy · $3,750/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 12, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 Subaru Impreza as of Nov 12, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 12, 2026Vehicle 4436
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2002 Impreza questions

How many recalls does the 2002 Subaru Impreza have?

6 safety recalls as of Nov 12, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2002 Subaru Impreza problems?

Owners filed 296 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are fuel system, gasoline (88), service brakes, hydraulic (56), suspension (49). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2002 Subaru Impreza get?

The EPA rates the 2002 Subaru Impreza at 20–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (8 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 12, 2026