What is a Carchieve vehicle history report?

A Carchieve report is a complete safety and records check on any U.S. vehicle. Enter the 17-character VIN and you get the decoded vehicle identity and full specifications, every open safety recall, owner-reported complaints by system, official NHTSA crash-test ratings, and a buyer action plan, in one clean report and a downloadable PDF.

How is Carchieve different from a typical VIN lookup?

Carchieve doesn't just dump raw data. It authenticates the VIN, organizes every federal safety record into a buyer-ready dossier, scores the vehicle, and tells you exactly what to inspect, ask and verify before you pay, the way a careful mechanic would read the car.

How fast will I get my report?

Reports are generated in under a minute. As soon as your VIN is checked against the recall, complaint, ratings and identity databases, your report and PDF are ready to view and download.

Can I buy more than one report?

Yes. A single report is $24.99. If you're comparing several cars, the 3- and 5-report bundles save you money per report and the extra credits stay in your account until you use them.

What information do I need to run a report?

Only the 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The VIN is on the lower-left corner of the windshield, the driver-side door jamb, and the vehicle title or registration.

Where does the data come from?

Every report is built from authoritative U.S. vehicle databases, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall, complaint and 5-Star safety-rating programs and the federal VIN product information catalog. Carchieve authenticates the VIN check digit so you know the identity is genuine.

Can I share the report with a seller or mechanic?

Yes. Every report includes a professionally formatted PDF you can download, print, or forward to a private seller, dealer, or mechanic to support your buying decision.

2002 Subaru Forester Recalls, Complaints & Safety Ratings

2002 Subaru Forester: Recalls, Complaints & Safety Ratings

1Safety recalls

93Owner complaints

—NHTSA overall

Quick answer

The 2002 Subaru Forester has 1 NHTSA safety recall campaign and 93 owner complaints on file. Check a specific VIN to confirm whether recalls apply, whether repairs were completed, and what to verify before you buy.

Check the exact car

Run a full report for this Forester

2002 Subaru Forester pages show model-level safety data. A Carchieve VIN report checks the exact car before you buy.

Safety record reviewed June 2026 · sourced from NHTSA

The 2002 Subaru Forester has 1 safety recall campaign and 93 owner complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Below is the public model-level safety record. To see whether a specific Forester had applicable recalls repaired and what its decoded VIN says, run that car's VIN.

Safety recalls

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Campaign 02V282000 · 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) POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM, THAT IS INTENDED TO HOLD YOUR VEHICLE, MAY NOT ENGAGE.

RiskTHE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

RemedyDEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION JANUARY 8, 2003. AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT DURING NOVEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

What owners complain about

The systems 2002 Subaru Forester owners report most often to federal regulators:

Vehicle Speed Control24

Power Train17

Engine And Engine Cooling17

Air Bags10

Service Brakes10

Suspension9

NHTSA crash-test ratings

Rollover★★★★★

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2002 Subaru Forester have any recalls?

Yes. The 2002 Subaru Forester has 1 NHTSA recall campaign associated with this model year. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer when the exact VIN is affected. Check your specific VIN to confirm applicability and completion.

What problems do 2002 Subaru Forester owners report?

Owners have filed 93 complaints with the NHTSA for the 2002 Subaru Forester, most often about the vehicle speed control, power train, engine and engine cooling.

How do I check a specific Forester's history?

Enter the 17-character VIN into Carchieve. You get the recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings shown here for that exact vehicle, plus full decoded specifications and a guided title and odometer check.

Check a specific 2002 Subaru Forester

This page covers the model. For one exact car, run its 17-character VIN to confirm recalls, decoded specifications and buyer checks.

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