VehicleVerdict

2002 Subaru Outback fuel system problems

The 2002 Subaru Outback has 33 fuel system complaints filed with NHTSA — 19% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

33

Fuel System complaints

19%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Fuel System complaints by year

Outback fuel system complaints by model year46 complaints1996: 2 complaints1997: 5 complaints1998: 5 complaints1999: 7 complaints2000: 12 complaints2001: 32 complaints2002: 33 complaints2003: 4 complaints2004: 6 complaints2005: 19 complaints2006: 40 complaints2007: 6 complaints2008: 3 complaints2009: 8 complaints2010: 5 complaints2011: 16 complaints2012: 4 complaints2013: 15 complaints2014: 13 complaints2015: 18 complaints2016: 13 complaints2017: 16 complaints2018: 46 complaints2019: 30 complaints2020: 13 complaints2021: 10 complaints2022: 5 complaints2023: 2 complaints2024: 2 complaints2025: 2 complaints
Outback fuel system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

13E065000Fuel SystemNovember 29, 2013 · 397 units

Defect

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 and Legacy's. The affected fuel pumps were sold or installed into the aftermarket applications on or after July 26, 2013, and may may leak fuel from the base of a fuel line connection when the gas tank is full.

Consequence

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

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 recall is expected to begin during January 2014. This recall is being conducted by Airtex, not by Subaru.

What owners report

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · September 23, 2007

Common questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 2002 Subaru Outback have?

NHTSA has 33 complaints about the 2002 Subaru Outback fuel system — 19% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2002 Subaru Outback fuel system?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the fuel system: 13E065000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.