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Used 2002 Subaru Outback Consumer Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
148 reviews

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Loving it

Joe Lucian, 07/29/2003
2002 Subaru Outback H6-3.0 AWD 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
1 of 3 people found this review helpful

Love it. Nothing out there touches this thing for build and quality.

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2.63 out of 5 stars

Worst car we have ever owned

Nancy, 12/04/2008
2002 Subaru Outback Limited AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 3 people found this review helpful

We have gone through brakes like someone goes through socks - not kidding. At 120,000 we had to replace the head gaskets and at that time they said we need new valves. At 130,000 we had to replace both catalytic converters. We can't sell the car without acknowledging the valve problem so I feel we are stuck with it. We will have a completely new car before long and I wonder how long these parts will last. Going online it is evident that some of these problems are ongoing. Subaru has to know and they are not backing their product. Thousands of dollars later we are STUCK! We would NEVER buy another Subaru.

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3.13 out of 5 stars

3rd and Probably last Outback

Gary B, 03/28/2005
2002 Subaru Outback AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 4 people found this review helpful

This is the 2nd of three Outbacks I have owned with a head gasket failure. Drivers window does not seal. Engine knocks when cold, acceleration & transmission are sluggish, gas mileage is mediocre. Handling on snowy road not the best. Interior material somewhat cheap.

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1.75 out of 5 stars

Look elsewhere

folledOnce, 09/20/2006
2002 Subaru Outback AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 5 people found this review helpful

At first I thought that dealer(s) were the problem, but car proved me wrong. Everything was a problem. There is no dealer service in NJ and corporate culture is basic arrogance. The car proved to be completely unreliable. I changed oil myself and performed all recommended maintenance, but car started overheating after 38K miles (guess what the warranty period is?). The fact that it was engine overheating and it is theoretically has a warranty for 5 years or 60,000 did not change the fact that I paid for the changing of relays and electrical components on the engine ($400). Brakes: first time changed at 8,000 miles at the dealer. The second time I shelled $400 out of pocket.

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2.5 out of 5 stars

A bad car

Dakota_Joe, 02/05/2010
2002 Subaru Outback AWD 4dr Wagon w/Weather Pkg (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 7 people found this review helpful

We bought our Outback in 2002. Just a couple of warnings to would-be buyers: A.) If you have long legs try sitting in the passenger seat before buying this car. You get to taste you knees. The passenger experience rivals that of a back seat passenger in a 1971 Mustang II. B) If you live in the country, on a gravel road DO NOT buy this car. Normal 25 MPH gravel road driving destroys the Outback’s front suspension. I guess that the Outback ain’t built for the outback. The editors must live in big cities. C) This is certainly the most unreliable and expensive-to-maintain vehicle I’ve ever owned. Every breakdown is expensive and ours breaks down often.

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