SubaruForester2002Overview/subaru/forester/2002/base/

2002 Subaru Forester

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2002 Forester.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2002 Subaru Forester is classified as a passenger car paired with an Automatic 4-spd transmission, returns EPA fuel economy ratings of 19/25/21 mpg, and requires 4.2 qt of 5W-30 API oil. Within the model's complaint history spanning 1998-2026, this model year registered 93 total owner complaints, a figure substantially lower than the peak of 831 recorded in 2019. With Vehicle Speed Control identified as the top complaint area alongside 1 recall, this data places the 2002 variant well below the highest complaint years in the history.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192002

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque58-72 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy19/25/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 360 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 360 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLIGHTOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length175.6 in
Overall width68.5 in
Overall height63 in
Wheelbase99.2 in
Curb weight3109 lb
Track (front / rear)57.5 / 57.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)55/45

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 25 / 21 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume94 cu ft
Cargo volume32 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Forester of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.1–9.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.10 sec — 1998 S
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2001S 2.5L F-49.70 sec17.40 sec165 hpAWD
1998S 2.5L F-49.10 sec17.00 sec165 hpAWD
1998L 2.5L F-49.50 sec17.00 sec165 hpAWD
1998S 2.5L F-49.50 sec17.20 sec165 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 58-72 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.6 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Power Steering FluidATF
Transfer Case Fluid80W-90 · GL-5

Engine torques

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings33 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts53 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18.1 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts22.4 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs5 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts58-72 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug17.0-20.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub137 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub137 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)MT: 650, AT: 700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.66-.80 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance10,880-14,720 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerChampion
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13-17 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.30-1.43 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Capacity5.20 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance360 cca
Optional BCI Group Number35
Optional BCI Cranking Performance520 cca

Service checks

Injector Primary Resistance5-20 ohms
Engine Compression148-185 psi
Engine Oil Pressure14 psi @ 600-700 rpm, 43 psi @ 5000 rpm psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC
Torque Caliper to Bracket58 ft-lbs / 24-31 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle58 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.295; Rear: 0.256 specification
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC
Rotor Runout Limit0.0029 in / 0.0028 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.394 in / 0.945 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.394 in / 0.945 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 8 stages
122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
251 ft. lbs.51 ft. lbs
3Loosen 180 degrees.180 degrees
4Loosen 180 degrees.180 degrees
5Bolts 1-225 ft. lbs
6Bolts 3-611 ft. lbs
780-90 degrees.80–90 degrees
880-90 degrees.80–90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 3,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 3,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Assembly (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
At 105,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Belt (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2002 Subaru Forester sits in the middle of its first-generation lifecycle, with complaint volumes that are lower than the 2001 peak (146) and significantly below the 2003 spike (191). While recalls remain minimal—only one in 2002, matching 1998 and 1999—complaints cluster around vehicle speed control, engine cooling, and powertrain, areas that see elevated attention in the years immediately following. The data shows no federal investigations for 2002, a relative calm before the 2003-2004 uptick in both recalls and probes. Crash and fire complaints are modest, with 22 and 1 reported respectively, aligning with the generation’s broader safety profile. This year’s stability, sandwiched between higher-complaint years, suggests fewer systemic issues surfaced post-launch. **Takeaway: the 2002 Forester is a comparatively strong year to buy within this generation, offering lower complaint rates and minimal recall exposure.**

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
128
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
93
Owner complaints
22 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 93 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Vehicle Speed Control13
Engine & Engine Cooling11
Power Train11
Air Bags8
Suspension7
Fuel/Propulsion System5
Fuel System, Gasoline5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Vehicle Speed Control5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

02V282000Power Train:Automatic TransmissionReported 30/10/2002

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)… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 128 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SubaruNet Annoucement (E2026-06-11Unknown Or OtherThis announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood…
01-167-08R2026-05-18Unknown Or OtherThis bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the…
SubaruNet Announcement (R2026-05-04Power TrainThis announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.
07-240-26R2026-04-30Unknown Or OtherThis Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for vehicles…
03-97-262026-04-24Power TrainThis bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Forester. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2002 Forester take?

4.2 qt of 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2002 Forester have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Forester get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 25 highway / 21 combined mpg.