MYRModel Year Report

2004 Subaru Legacy

▲ Better than typical
2004 Subaru Legacy
RENDERED 2026-08-02T10:12:58.927Z

This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Subaru Legacy Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2004 highlighted. 1987: 1 complaints 1987 1988: 1 complaints 1989: 1 complaints 1990: 81 complaints 1991: 78 complaints 1992: 55 complaints 1992 1993: 77 complaints 1994: 60 complaints 1995: 182 complaints 1996: 123 complaints 1997: 139 complaints 1997 1998: 114 complaints 1999: 94 complaints 2000: 94 complaints 2001: 77 complaints 2002: 54 complaints 2002 2003: 60 complaints 2004: 49 complaints 2004 2005: 182 complaints 2006: 87 complaints 2007: 33 complaints 2007 2008: 65 complaints 2009: 65 complaints 2010: 150 complaints 2011: 167 complaints 2012: 90 complaints 2012 2013: 66 complaints 2014: 53 complaints 2015: 159 complaints 2016: 145 complaints 2017: 118 complaints 2017 2018: 116 complaints 2019: 122 complaints 2020: 121 complaints 2021: 31 complaints 2022: 32 complaints 2022 2023: 10 complaints 2024: 15 complaints 2025: 6 complaints 2025
2004: 49 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19871
19881
19891
199081
199178
199255
199377
199460
1995182
1996123
1997139
1998114
199994
200094
200177
200254
200360
200449
2005182
200687
200733
200865
200965
2010150
2011167
201290
201366
201453
2015159
2016145
2017118
2018116
2019122
2020121
202131
202232
202310
202415
20256

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

AIR BAGS 53%

53% of complaints: air bags — 26 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DRIVER PASSED OUT AND CROSSED OVER TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE STREET AND CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20150501

TAKATA INFLATORS;THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING ON &OFF &NOW IT'S ON ALL THE TIME , THE BAG WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY THE DEALERSHIP ON JAN.

NHTSA ODI report, 20190821

TAKATA - PSAN INFLATOR, NEVER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20171101

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10%

10% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 5 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER CONTINUED TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP COMPLETELY. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COLLIDED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT.

NHTSA ODI report, 20050408

SUDDEN DECELERATION. OCCURRED AT COMPLETE STANDSTILL, 25MPH AND 65MPH, SPEED APPEARS NOT TO BE A FACTOR.

NHTSA ODI report, 20121129

ENGINE 10%

10% of complaints: engine — 5 distinct reports on file.

Show complaint excerpts

TAKATA INFLATORS;THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING ON &OFF &NOW IT'S ON ALL THE TIME , THE BAG WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY THE DEALERSHIP ON JAN.

NHTSA ODI report, 20190821

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 8%

8% of complaints: fuel/propulsion system — 4 distinct reports on file.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 4%

4% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 2 distinct reports on file.

INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

DT: 04/30/05 PROBLEM BEGAN. AT LOW SPEEDS, THE BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING AND CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND THE STEERING FELT OUT OF CONTROL. AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON 05/07/05.

NHTSA ODI report, 20050513

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 20030827 — fuel system, gasoline

CERTAIN PASSENGER OR SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY HAVE A LOOSE OR OUT OF POSITION FUEL FILLER HOSE CLAMP.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND TIGHTEN THE CLAMP ON THE FUEL FILLER HOSE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 27, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Campaign 03V303000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20040412 — vehicle speed control

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER SEDANS, WAGONS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE COULD COME OUT OF ITS TRACK ON THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER AND LODGE ON THE CONTROL LEVER TAB WHEN THE ACCELERATO

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP TO THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER TAB ON THE THROTTLE SHAFT IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FROM COMING OUT OF ITS TRACK. OWNER NOTIF

Campaign 04V128000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20140611 — PE (closed 20150302)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

R 20150115 — air bags

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy and Outback vehicles, and 2003-2005 Baja vehicles sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQP-51.

Campaign 14V763000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20150224 — EA (open)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

R 20150617 — air bags

Subaru of America, Inc.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners and General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The Subaru recall began on June 17, 2015.

Campaign 15V323000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20160722 — air bags

Subaru of America, Inc.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 26, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500.

Campaign 16V358000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20160824 — air bags

Subaru of America, Inc.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 24, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-16.

Campaign 16V361000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20160824 — air bags

Subaru of America, Inc.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 24, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500.

Campaign 16V359000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20200107 — air bags

Subaru of America, Inc.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614.

Campaign 20V002000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20200107 — air bags

Subaru of America, Inc.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020.

Campaign 20V001000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20200107 — air bags

Subaru of America, Inc.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614.

Campaign 20V003000 — check if this car was fixed

R Date not on file — fuel system, gasoline

Airtex Products LP (Airtex) is recalling certain model E8598M, E8518M, E8600M, E8596M, and E8597M fuel pumps manufactured July 26, 2013, and July 29, 2013 and used as aftermarket replacements on Subaru Baja's, Outback's and Legacy's.

Remedy: Airtex will notify owners, and will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Recall is expected to begin on January 2, 2014. Customers may contact Airtex at 1-800-880-3056. The recall is expected to begin during January 2014.

Campaign 13E065000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2004 Subaru Legacy — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (26 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for vehicle speed control issues (5 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for engine issues (5 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 13E065000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 03V303000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 04V128000 (vehicle speed control) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 14V763000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V323000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V358000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V361000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V359000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 20V002000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 20V001000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 20V003000 (air bags) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2021 ▲ 2022 ▲ 2007

WORST YEARS

■ 1995 ■ 2005 ■ 2011

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2004 Subaru Legacy reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2004 Subaru Legacy is rated "better than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Subaru Legacy?

The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 53% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2004 Subaru Legacy have?

11 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.