SubaruLegacy20022.5L/subaru/legacy/2002/2-5l/

2002 Subaru Legacy — 2.5L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2002 Legacy 2.5L. Covers both the standard and High Output 2.5L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 2.5LTransmission Manual 5-spd

The 2002 Subaru Legacy 2.5L is a midsize passenger car built on Subaru’s X platform, powered by a 2.5‑liter boxer engine that delivers a modest 19‑25‑21 mpg EPA rating and runs on 5W‑30 API oil with a 4.2‑quart capacity. A five‑speed manual transmission pairs the powertrain to a well‑proven chassis that offers predictable handling and a comfortable ride. In the broader Legacy reliability ledger, 2002 sits in the mid‑range of owner complaints, with 59 total complaints—most centered on engine and cooling issues—yet far below the 1995 peak of 216 complaints, indicating a respectable but not exceptional durability profile for the model year.

Model year201420132012201120102009200820072002

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 · 490 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 · 490 CCAOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionManual 5-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length184.6 in
Overall width68.9 in
Overall height55.9 in
Wheelbase104.3 in
Curb weight3309 lb
Track (front / rear)57.9 / 57.5 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)56/44

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 25 / 21 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume91 cu ft
Cargo volume12 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

No 2002 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.

8.8–9.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.80 sec — 2003 L
165 hpHorsepower (as tested)
166 lb-ftTorque (as tested)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2003L 2.5L F-48.80 sec16.80 sec165 hpAWD
20002.5GT Limited 2.5L F-49.10 sec16.60 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, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 58-72 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings33 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts53 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 Hub159 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub174 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 Capacity0.88-1.65 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Capacity4.50-5.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance490 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

Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.295; Rear: 0.256 specification
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .866
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .0028; Rear: .0029
Maximum Drum DiameterFront: 9.079; Parking Brake: 6.732

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 Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect)
Every 9,300 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
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 Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 miWheel Bearing (inspect)
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 model year registers 59 complaints, a notable decrease from 81 in 2001 and the lowest volume in the early-2000s sequence before a slight uptick to 62 in 2003. While recalls moderated to five from 2001's eight, the data reveals a sharp inflection ahead, with 2003 seeing 15 recalls and two investigations, suggesting 2002 sits at the trough of a reliability curve. Technical Service Bulletins remained elevated at 150, indicating sustained service complexity despite reduced owner-reported failures. With only six crash-related complaints, one fire-related complaint, and zero federal investigations, the federal record positions 2002 as a relative low-risk interval. Buyers seeking this generation should view 2002 as a statistically favorable year, offering diminished complaint rates compared to adjacent model years while avoiding the recall surge that follows.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
150
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
59
Owner complaints
6 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 59 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling9
Fuel/Propulsion System5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic5
Fuel System, Gasoline5
Power Train5
Tires4
Vehicle Speed Control4
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

13E065000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel PumpReported 29/11/2013

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… Remedy: 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…

04V128000Vehicle Speed Control:CablesReported 16/03/2004

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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 150 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 Legacy. 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 Legacy 2.5L take?

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

Does the 2002 Legacy have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 2.5L get?

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