2003 Subaru Outback recalls
Air Bags · NHTSA 20V002000 · Jan 2, 2020
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina,…
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance…
127,547 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Air Bags · NHTSA 20V001000 · Jan 2, 2020
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands…
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the…
258,813 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Air Bags · NHTSA 20V003000 · Jan 2, 2020
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South…
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance…
111,562 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Air Bags · NHTSA 16V359000 · May 25, 2016
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2006-2008 Impreza, Tribeca, 2006 Saab 9-2x, and 2003-2006 Baja vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania,…
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-16. Note: This…
146,010 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Air Bags · NHTSA 16V358000 · May 25, 2016
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2009-2011 Legacy, Outback, Forester, 2006-2011 Impreza, Tribeca, 2003-2006 Baja, and 2006 Saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands…
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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. Saab owners may contact GM at 1-800-955-9007.…
302,127 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Air Bags · NHTSA 16V361000 · May 25, 2016
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, and Baja vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, or "Zone C.". These vehicles may…
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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. Note: This recall covers vehicles that were not…
62,940 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Air Bags · NHTSA 15V323000 · May 28, 2015
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 Impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to May 2, 2008, 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles manufactured February 18, 2003, to May 5, 2008, and 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles…
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. The Saab recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners of…
432,016 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Air Bags · NHTSA 14V763000 · Dec 1, 2014
Problem: 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. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, Florida and adjacent counties in southern Georgia, as well as the…
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengerÂs frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-471. This recall has been…
4,175 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Problem: 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. The affected fuel pumps were sold or installed into the aftermarket applications on or after July 26, 2013, and may may leak fuel from the base of a fuel line connection when the gas…
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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. This recall is being conducted by Airtex, not by Subaru.
397 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Problem: 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 accelerator pedal is released. If this condition occurs, the throttle will not return to the idle position and will remain in an open position.
Risk: If this occurs during vehicle operation, the driver could lose control of the vehicle, which could result in a crash.
Fix: 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 notification began on april 12, 2004. Owners should contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
127,580 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Suspension · NHTSA 03V232000 · Jun 26, 2003
Problem: 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, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia, certain left-hand front transverse link…
Risk: If the transverse link were to break due to rusting, control of the vehicle could be affected without prior warning, possibly resulting in a crash.
Fix: 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.
350 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Suspension · NHTSA 03V153000 · Apr 22, 2003
Problem: 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, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. Certain rear suspension subframe…
Risk: If such breakage occurs while the vehicle is being operated, control of the vehicle could be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
170,000 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Power Train · NHTSA 02V282000 · Oct 30, 2002
Problem: 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 placed in the "p" (park) position, the transmission park mechanism, that is intended to hold your vehicle, may not engage.
Risk: The vehicle could then move/roll without prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within…
172,564 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Problem: On certain sport utility and passenger vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder engines, the water pump pulley center hole was improperly machined.
Risk: In some instances, the interference fit between the inner wall of the pulley center hole and the water pump drive shaft was not as tight as specified in the drawing specification. This could result in the water pump pulley dislodging from the water pump shaft, which can cause severe engine…
Fix: 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 free remedy within a reasonable time should contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
555 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Wheels · NHTSA 02V235000 · Sep 5, 2002
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 6-cylinder engines, the aluminum wheels may have an off-center diameter.
Risk: This can result in the eventual loosening of the wheel hub-nuts during vehicle usage, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
100 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Latest owner complaints
Exterior Lighting · Dec 17, 2018 · 80,000 miles · NV
My complaint is my headlights' they're cloudy. On nov. 29, 2018 the institute of highway safety released a report that said that 'most base model cars have poor-quality headlights. My complaint is the car manufacturers created this problem when they decided decades ago that plastic was a better shield over the headlights than glass. My suggestion is to make the car…
Air Bags · Aug 24, 2018 · TX
2003 subaru outback. Consumer writes in regards to defective front passenger side airbag. *ld the consumer refused to have the recall repair completed due to being afraid of entering an intersection leading to the dealer's repair shop. *js
Air Bags · Dec 22, 2017 · MI
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. This constitutes a hardship for US to have a manufacturer defect repaired for a number of reasons. 1) I am handicapped and have trouble sitting in a car for that long. 2) there is 3 feet of snow on the ground 3) this is our…
Tires · Dec 4, 2017 · PA
Primewell tires developed wave and intense road noise even at 50% tread.. Have been balanced/aligned regularly
Air Bags · Nov 7, 2017 · 74,221 miles · MT
On or about oct 23, 2017, received 3RD notice of airbag recall. Appt with subaru missoula, mt for recall. At 9:45 on fri nov 3, 2017 informed that the manager "just a few minutes ago" received, recall of recall" and no parts there. My 2003 "may not need a replacement." said would do a check to see. Under protest I signed, after 1 and half hours, requested another signature…
Engine · Oct 9, 2017 · 131,000 miles · OR
My 2003 subaru outback had a bad airbag inflator and has also blown the head gasket several times, requiring it to be rebuilt three times. While I love my outback, I wonder if I will want to buy another one. Being stranded by my car and having to take the bus in the winter time was very difficult as was hauling groceries on the bus in a rolling suitcase while awaiting repairs.
Air Bags · Oct 9, 2017 · 131,000 miles · OR
My 2003 subaru outback had a bad airbag inflator and has also blown the head gasket several times, requiring it to be rebuilt three times. While I love my outback, I wonder if I will want to buy another one. Being stranded by my car and having to take the bus in the winter time was very difficult as was hauling groceries on the bus in a rolling suitcase while awaiting repairs.
Service Brakes · Sep 13, 2017 · 2,555,000 miles · IL
I recently had my outback towed because my car wouldn't shift out of park. 1ST I check the neutral safety switch, good to go no problem. Then move on to my fuses, okay great. Investigate some more to find out the wiring on the outback has some defaults, I look more into it and it seems it's not just me with the problem. My car is old and carries a lot of miles, keep in mind…
Electrical System · Sep 13, 2017 · 2,555,000 miles · IL
I recently had my outback towed because my car wouldn't shift out of park. 1ST I check the neutral safety switch, good to go no problem. Then move on to my fuses, okay great. Investigate some more to find out the wiring on the outback has some defaults, I look more into it and it seems it's not just me with the problem. My car is old and carries a lot of miles, keep in mind…
Electronic Stability Control (esc) · Sep 13, 2017 · 2,555,000 miles · IL
I recently had my outback towed because my car wouldn't shift out of park. 1ST I check the neutral safety switch, good to go no problem. Then move on to my fuses, okay great. Investigate some more to find out the wiring on the outback has some defaults, I look more into it and it seems it's not just me with the problem. My car is old and carries a lot of miles, keep in mind…
Air Bags · Aug 5, 2017 · PA
We received a postcard about the takata problem from cochran subaru of butler county pa. Per instructions, we called. They told US parts were not available and we would be contacted when parts became available. We have not heard from the dealer or from subaru USA. Where does that leave US?
Air Bags · Jun 6, 2017 · 60 miles · FL
Air bag recall.