One problem related to emission control has been reported for the 2002 Subaru Forester. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Subaru Forester based on all problems reported for the 2002 Forester.
On March 4, 2004, while driving my 2002 Subaru forrester, I smelled an awful smell and the emission light came on at the same time. Car was towed to palm Subaru, gainesville florida, @ 4:30 pm. Palm has perfomed all prior services on this car including oil changes. Palm could not diagnose the problem that day and directed me to gatro leasing, within their building, for a rental. I did not provide a credit card for the rental which I had for about 16 hours and drove about 20 miles. On March 5, I was told that the oil filter was faulty I had not tightened the gas cap and that is why the emission light was on. Now I am being asked to pay the $22. 00 for the rental. I don't think this is far since palm installed the faulty oil filter.