2004 Subaru Outback problems
The 2004 Subaru Outback has 108 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (23%) concerns air bags. Next are cruise control (19%) and engine (13%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 108 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 23% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 16 and 6
- Injuries and deaths
- 5 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 67,000 miles 78 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 21 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 7 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 8 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 6 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 14 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 10 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 4 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 4 |
What the data shows
Of the 78 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 67,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 16 complaints mention a crash; 6 complaints mention a fire; 5 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 80% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 28th most-complained-about out of 31 model years of the Subaru Outback with enough data (49 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 10 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
My 2004 subaru outback comes equipped with front side airbags. With only 900 miles on my car, I was "t-boned" by a ford explorer under full acceleration. We were struck on the drivers side with enough impact to cause my wife, in the passenger seat, to hit her head on the passenger side door post causing a concussion. Subaru claims that the side airbags performed correctly by not deploying. Total damage to date including drive train replacement parts is $9000.
Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle was parked with the engine still on, the transmission slipped out of gear. The vehicle rolled forward and struck a tree. Because the seat belts were not worn, minor facial injuries were sustained by one occupant. The vehicle has not been inspected by a mechanic. There is a NHTSA recall, # 02v282000, regarding the automatic transmission; however, it is not included in the recall due to the VIN.
2002 l.l. Bean outback accelerated uncontrollably, making the vehicle vibrate. Vehicle went up over parking barriers and shrubbery and rolled over. The air bags did not deploy during the accident. The consumer complained of body pain, but refused medical treatment. The police officer stated in his report that the vehicle was found in the reverse position. The consumer stated she never took her foot off the brake. The consumer and her husband had experienced problems prior to the accident.
2004 subaru outback wagon, unwanted, uncontrollable acceleration, unable to stop vehicle resulting in collision, the collision incidents were while in reverse and the ambient temperature was cold ( 0-22 f). Generally the accelerator is oversensitive most of the time. Ira subaru dealership has not been able to resolve problem. I had an independent repair shop look at it and they could not resolve it .
Auto started running rough. Transmission shifting abruptly. Throttle would remain open after foot taken off accelerator. Car would maintain last speed before foot off accelerator. This would continue on level ground and even uphill to a large extent speed would be maintained with no input from driver. Cruise control was off. No codes generated and no check enging light. Dealer notified. Could not duplicate. This occurred on three separate occasions before dealer replace throttle positon sensor.