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2004 Subaru Outback Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
90
Latest Oct 17, 2020
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
13
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Dec 3, 2003

What this page shows

Our database holds 90 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Subaru Outback. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 90 · page 1 of 4

Brakes
Filed Oct 17, 2020

AUTOZONE SOLD ME (VIA WARRANTY EXCHANGE) AFTERMARKET BRAKE PADS THAT SUPPOSEDLY WERE THE SAME PART #D929 AS THE BRAKE PADS AUTOZONE HAD PREVIOUSLY SOLD ME AND WAS REPLACING UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE BRAKE PADS THAT THEY PROVIDED TO ME TODAY AS WARRANTY REPLACEMENTS WERE TOO LARGE FOR THE BRAKE CALIPER AND WOULD BE UNSAFE IF INSTALLED AND FORCED TO FIT IN THE CALIPER. SPECIFICALLY, THE INNER SHOULDER DIMENSION ON THESE PADS IS TOO LARGE TO FIT PROPERLY IN THE CALIPER. I VERIFIED THE PROBLEM BY PURCHASING BRAKE PADS FROM A DIFFERENT AUTO SUPPLY STORE AND INSTALLING THEM WITH NO DIFFICULTY. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, BECAUSE IT HAPPENED DURING BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ID
11364869
Incident
Oct 17, 2020
Mileage
185,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 26, 2019

I GET CARDS,I CALL,I GET LETTERS ,I CALL DOESN'T MATTER WHO SENDS THEM,YOU OR SUBARU DEALER ,TELLING ME I NEED TO HAVE AN AIRBAG SWAPPED OUT AS BEING DEFECTIVE,AND ME TELLING YOU I DO NOT HAVE THE CAR ANYMORE,IT WAS PICKED UP BY AN AUCTION HOUSE BUT IT NEEDED ALOT DONE TO IT SO THEY MAY HAVE SCRAPPED IT,I DON'T KNOW. WHAT I DO KNOW IS THIS IS THE LAST YOU WILL HEAR FROM ME ABOUT THIS CAR, AND YOU CAN WASTE AS MANY TREES SENDING ME NOTICES. FROM NOW ON THEY GO IN THE TRASH,NO MORE CALLS FROM ME,AND DON'T CALL ME ABOUT IT,THE CAR WAS JUNKED,PERIOD

NHTSA ID
11235103
Incident
Jan 13, 2016
Mileage
162,000 mi
Filed May 25, 2018

PURCHASED THIS CAR LISTED IN IAA WEBSITE AS HAVING $68,000.00 MILES, THIS WEEK MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE CAR HAD $220,000.00 MILES. I JUST CHECKED CARFAX UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS A ODOMETER ROLLBACK.

NHTSA ID
11098042
Incident
May 24, 2018
Airbags
Filed May 9, 2018

NOTIFICATION OF AIRBAG PASSENGER FRONT RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11092692
Incident
Aug 24, 2016
Airbags
Filed Mar 23, 2018

2004 SUBURBAN OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKATA PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. *JS

NHTSA ID
11079348
Incident
Jun 1, 2017
Suspension
Filed Mar 1, 2018

EXCESSIVE UNDERBODY FRONT END RUST AS PER BODY SHOP BUMPER REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ID
11075594
Incident
Feb 21, 2018
Mileage
172,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 30, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. NOT ABLE TO GET ACCESS TO REPLACEMENT AIRBAG. ON WAITLISTS AT 2 LOCAL SUBARU DEALERS.

NHTSA ID
11041059
Incident
Oct 30, 2017
Airbags
Filed Sep 30, 2017

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IN JULY 2016..I WAS TOLD I WOULD BE INFORMED BY MAIL WHEN PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR BY MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER. IT'S 14 MONTHS LATER AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY FURTHER NOTICE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS HAS BEEN HANDLED IN A TIMELY MANNER AND STILL CANNOT HAVE PASSENGERS IN FRONT SEAT.

NHTSA ID
11030656
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Mileage
184,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 23, 2017

THE CAR WILL BE OPERATING PROPERLY AT SPEED ON LOCAL ROADS (30MPH OR SO) WHEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE WILL GO TO A FAST IDLE AND THE GAS PEDDLE LOSES ALL EFFECTIVENESS. STOPPING THE CAR AND RESTARTING IT HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM THE THREE TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SWITCH BUT THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IF IT WERE TO OCCUR PULLING ONTO A HIGHWAY OR BEING IN TRAFFIC ON A BUSY ROAD

NHTSA ID
11000821
Incident
Jun 17, 2017
Mileage
118,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 18, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM SUBARU MONTHS AGO AND HAVE THEY HAVE STILL NOT CONTACTED ME TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. SINCE I WAS ADVISED NOT TO ALLOW A PASSENGER IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO USE MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10945911
Incident
Oct 2, 2016
Airbags
Filed Dec 13, 2016

TAKATA RECALL. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS RECALL IS NOT BEING HANDLED IN A TIMELY MANNER. I RECEIVED MY RECALL NOTICE IN JULY 2016, AND AM STILL WAITING! IT IS EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT NOT TO BE ABLE TO USE THE PASSENGER SEAT. WHEN WILL THIS BE RESOLVED?

NHTSA ID
10935132
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Nov 9, 2016

TAKATA RECALL: I WAS NOTIFIED IN JULY 2016. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM SUBARU OR THE DEALER THAT THE PART HAS BECOME AVAILABLE. I HAVE CALLED BOTH SUBARU AND THE DEALER. I HAVE WAITED THREE MONTHS, THAT IS TOO LONG .

NHTSA ID
10925244
Incident
Jul 8, 2016
Mileage
260,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 31, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V361000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/16/17*LJ UPDATED 08/31/2017*JS

NHTSA ID
10920333
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Oct 17, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V361000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10916646
Incident
Oct 17, 2016
Airbags
Filed Oct 17, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10916597
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 14, 2016

TAKATA RECALL - I WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL IN JULY OF 2016. THERE HAS BEEN NO EFFORT BY THE MANUFACTURER TO PROVIDE A REMEDY IN THE FORM OF THE REPLACEMENT AIRBAG. THE RECALL NOTICE STATED I SHOULD NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO RIDE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL THE RECALL WORK IS COMPLETE. THIS IS AN UNREASONABLE SOLUTION FOR A PROBLEM WITH A PASSENGER VEHICLE AS IT PREVENTS MY USE OF THE VEHICLE AS DESIGNED AND AS PURCHASED. THE MANUFACTURER MUST BE REQUIRED TO COMMIT TO COMPLETING THE RECALLS IN A TIMELY MANNER, SUCH AS 60 TO 90 DAYS.

NHTSA ID
10906366
Incident
Jul 22, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 7, 2016

"TAKATA RECALL" RECEIVED A LETTER TELLING ME THE AIR BAGS ARE GOING TO BE REPLACED, "DO NOT LET PASSENGERS USE THE SEAT", NO DATE FOR REPLACEMENT, NO PARTS IN STOCK, DOES THIS ABSOLVE THE COMPANY OF ANY LIABILITY? CANT TAKE ANY TRIPS WITH MORE THAN 2 PASSENGERS THAT WOULD HAVE TO SIT IN THE REAR SEATS? WHAT OPTIONS ARE LEFT FOR ME TO USE MY VEHICLE FOR TAKING MY FAMILY ANYWHERE???

NHTSA ID
10904380
Incident
Aug 22, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 29, 2016

TAKATA RECALL: REMEDY NOT TO DRIVE CAR WITH PASSENGERS UNTIL REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE IS ONE THAT HAS ME WONDERING IF I NEED TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER GETTING RID OF THE CAR AND GET ANOTHER THAT I CAN USE. CAN WE BE PROVIDED AT LEAST WITH SOME SORT OF ESTIMATION OF 'WHEN' PARTS ARE FORECASTED TO BE AVAILABLE?

NHTSA ID
10899357
Incident
Aug 29, 2016
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 22, 2016
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD AND CAUSED THE SPEED TO INCREASE TO 70 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD TO CRASH INTO A TREE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.

NHTSA ID
10897578
Incident
Aug 18, 2016
Mileage
23,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 3, 2016

V

NHTSA ID
10892880
Incident
Aug 3, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 2, 2016

SUBARU HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON PASSENGER AIRBAGS (NHTSA RECALL NO. 16V-359). THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, THERE IS NO SCHEDULE OF WHEN THEY MAY BE, AND THE VEHICLE OWNER IS INSTRUCTED TO NOT ALLOW PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE, UNSAFE SOLUTION. IN ADDITION, THE WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION LISTED DOES NOT WORK. THEY ARE UNABLE TO REMEDY MY VEHICLE IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.

NHTSA ID
10892434
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
Filed Jun 16, 2016

WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR I FOUND THE TOP OF THE SCISSORS JACK WAS BENT OVER, I REPLACED IT WITH A VERY GOOD JUNKYARD REPLACEMENT. LAST NIGHT I GOT A FLAT AND WHEN I JACKED UP THE CAR. THE TOP OF THE JACK BENT OVER JUST AS THE WHEEL WAS COMING OFF THE GROUND. IT BENT EXACTLY THE SAME WAY AS THE ORIGINAL. THESE ARE STAMPED STEEL JACKS OF A LIGHT STEEL AND NO BRACING ON THE TOP RISER AND IN MY OPINION, DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID
10874723
Incident
Jun 15, 2016
Mileage
270,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 27, 2015

I CANNOT DETERMINE IF MY VEHICLE IS ON THE TIKATA AIRBAG RECALL LIST. THE DEALER SAYS IT ISN'T. THE NHTSA SITE SAYS IT IS, THE VIN SHOWS IT ISN'T SPECIFICALLY. MY QUESTION IS IF THE 2004 OUTBACKS ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OR IF THE NHTSA INFO IS WRONG....PLEASE ADVISE.....UPDATED 10/02/15*BF UPDATED 12/28/15*JS

NHTSA ID
10743586
Incident
Jul 20, 2015
Mileage
115,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Jun 26, 2015

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. NOT DRIVER ERROR, NOT STUCK FLOORMAT. VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING ABOVE 7 ON THE TACHOMETER. PUSHED IN CLUTCH OF COURSE. STOPPED WITH CLUTCH IN AND VEHICLE JUST KEPT REVVING HIGHER. SHUT OFF CAR AND RESTARTED LATER. TERRIFYING.

NHTSA ID
10730632
Incident
Jun 26, 2015
Mileage
119,845 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 14, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID
10705701
Incident
Apr 13, 2015
Mileage
90,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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