2002 Acura MDX vs 2002 Subaru Forester
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Acura MDX | 2002 Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 204 | 88 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 165 | 128 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 11 | 21 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 17 | 21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 98,465 mi | 87,365 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Acura MDX | Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 124 | 16 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 23 |
| Air Bags | 23 | 10 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 14 | 14 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 | 9 |
| Suspension | 5 | 9 |
| Electrical System | 12 | 0 |
| Structure | 7 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 19 | 5 |
| Vibration / shaking | 19 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 15 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 11 | 18 |
| Shifting problems | 9 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 5 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 5 |
2002 Acura MDX
2002 Subaru Forester
Compare all Acura MDX vs Subaru Forester years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.