2003 Subaru Outback
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.
- Complaints
- 93
- Recalls
- 15
- Investigations
- 2
- Top problem
- Air bags
Campaigns on file for 2003
Opened by NHTSA
20% of complaints
Complaints per year
2003: 93 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 46 |
| 1997 | 79 |
| 1998 | 127 |
| 1999 | 111 |
| 2000 | 207 |
| 2001 | 171 |
| 2002 | 143 |
| 2003 | 93 |
| 2004 | 90 |
| 2005 | 273 |
| 2006 | 277 |
| 2007 | 130 |
| 2008 | 226 |
| 2009 | 106 |
| 2010 | 360 |
| 2011 | 652 |
| 2012 | 295 |
| 2013 | 297 |
| 2014 | 208 |
| 2015 | 509 |
| 2016 | 642 |
| 2017 | 921 |
| 2018 | 816 |
| 2019 | 1,035 |
| 2020 | 903 |
| 2021 | 299 |
| 2022 | 465 |
| 2023 | 89 |
| 2024 | 105 |
| 2025 | 82 |
| 2026 | 21 |
Known problem areas
Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.
Air bags
20% · 19 reportsMost commonly citing frontal.
Show complaint excerpts
Takata recall this may pertain to the Takata air bag recall. My wife and I were in a "T-bone" Type collision at ~45 MPH and the driver and passenger airbags failed to deploy in our 2003 Outback.
NHTSA ODI report, 2016-01-31
While driving at 35 MPH consumer's vehicle struck another vehicle and the air bag did not deploy. Driver sustained injuries.
NHTSA ODI report, 2004-11-05
Takata recall. The closest Subaru dealership is 125 miles away. When I called Subaru we were told that the car must be repaired at a Subaru dealership.
NHTSA ODI report, 2017-12-22
Engine and engine cooling
15% · 14 reportsMost commonly citing engine and gasoline.
Power train
14% · 13 reportsMost commonly citing automatic transmission and manual transmission.
Show complaint excerpts
On January 26,2008 at 8:10 pm my husband and I arrived home from a dinner out. He stopped at the top of our very steep driveway and placed my 2003 Subaru Outback in park. The car was running.. .
NHTSA ODI report, 2008-03-12
Suspension
12% · 11 reportsMost commonly citing rear and front.
Vehicle speed control
11% · 10 reportsMost commonly citing springs and linkages.
Show complaint excerpts
On a very cold morning the vehicles gas pedal became stuck and caused sudden accelerate. As a result the vehicle crashed into 4 other cars.
NHTSA ODI report, 2005-05-02
Safety timeline
15 recalls · 2 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
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2002-09-12Wheels02V235000 On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 6-cylinder engines, the aluminum wheels may have an off-center diameter.
Remedy: Dealers will replace all 4 aluminum wheels. Owner notification began September 12, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive…
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2002-09-12Engine and engine cooling02V240000 On certain sport utility and passenger vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder engines, the water pump pulley center hole was improperly machined.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the water pump. Owner notification began September 12, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…
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2003-01-08Power train02V282000 Certain sport utility and passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions were produced with an improperly manufactured transmission parking rod. When the transmission selector lever is…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission parking rod assembly. Owner notification January 8, 2003. An interim owner notification will be sent during November 2002. Owners who take their…
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2003-07-14Suspension03V153000 This recall applies to certain passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland…
Remedy: Dealers will clean and rust-proof the rear suspension subframe. Owner notification began July 14, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and…
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2003-08-01Suspension03V232000 On some passenger and sport utility vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts…
Remedy: Dealers will apply anti-rust material to the left front transverse link. Owner notification began August 1, 2003. Owners should contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
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2004-04-12Vehicle speed control04V128000 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…
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…
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2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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2015-01-15Air bags14V763000 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.
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2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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2015-06-17Air bags15V323000 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.
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2016-07-22Air bags16V358000 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.
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2016-08-24Air bags16V361000 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.
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2016-08-24Air bags16V359000 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.
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2020-01-07Air bags20V002000 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.
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2020-01-07Air bags20V001000 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.
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2020-01-07Air bags20V003000 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.
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Date not on fileFuel system, gasoline13E065000 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.
Buy-smart checklist
2003 Subaru Outback — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Air bags: 19 reports on file for this year.
- Engine and engine cooling: 14 reports on file for this year.
- Power train: 13 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 13E065000 · Fuel system, gasoline
- Recall 02V235000 · Wheels
- Recall 02V240000 · Engine and engine cooling
- Recall 02V282000 · Power train
- Recall 03V153000 · Suspension
- Recall 03V232000 · Suspension
- Recall 04V128000 · Vehicle speed control
- Recall 14V763000 · Air bags
- Recall 15V323000 · Air bags
- Recall 16V358000 · Air bags
- Recall 16V361000 · Air bags
- Recall 16V359000 · Air bags
- Recall 20V002000 · Air bags
- Recall 20V001000 · Air bags
- Recall 20V003000 · Air bags
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →FAQ
- Is the 2003 Subaru Outback reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Subaru Outback is rated "better than typical".
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Subaru Outback?
- The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 20% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 2003 Subaru Outback have?
- 15 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.