2003 Subaru Outback Problems and Recalls (90 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2003 Subaru Outback is Airbags (20% of 90 owner reports). There are 15 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Airbags — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 90 complaints · 15 recalls
What problems show up on the 2003 Subaru Outback?
18 of 90 filings named Airbags (20% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Engine (14 reports).
There are 15 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Engine, Transmission / driveline, Suspension, Cruise / speed control, Fuel system, and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2002 has 142 reports on file; this year has 90. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Airbags 18 complaints · 20.0% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 7
- Fires 1
- Injuries 3
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags (AIR BAGS) | 18 | 20.0% | 2 crashes · 0 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 14 | 15.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 10 | 11.1% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 8 | 8.9% | 2 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 7 | 7.8% | 0 crashes · 1 fires |
| Suspension (SUSPENSION) | 7 | 7.8% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 6 | 6.7% | 2 crashes · 0 fires |
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 4 | 4.4% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Body / frame (STRUCTURE) | 4 | 4.4% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 36 | 40.0% | 5 crashes · 0 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 04V128000 was reported 146 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 13E065000 was reported 1,787 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 15V323000 was reported 3,856 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 16V358000 was reported 4,219 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 16V359000 was reported 4,219 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 16V361000 was reported 4,219 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 20V001000 was reported 5,536 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 20V002000 was reported 5,536 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 20V003000 was reported 5,536 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2003-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2003-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2003-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2003-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2004-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2004-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2004-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2005-Q2 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2005-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2006-Q2 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2006-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2007-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2007-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2007-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2008-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2008-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2008-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2009-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2009-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2009-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2010-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2010-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2010-Q3 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2011-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2011-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2012-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2012-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2013-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2013-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2014-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2014-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2014-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2015-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2015-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2016-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2016-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2016-Q3 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2017-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2017-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2017-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 02V235000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 02V240000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 02V282000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 03V153000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 03V232000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 04V128000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 13E065000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 14V763000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 15V323000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V358000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V359000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V361000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V001000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V002000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V003000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE14016 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA15001 |
Safety Recalls (15)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Engine, Transmission / driveline, Suspension, Cruise / speed control, Fuel system, and Airbags.
-
Recall campaign 02V235000
Safety recall 02V235000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- THIS CAN RESULT IN THE EVENTUAL LOOSENING OF THE WHEEL HUB-NUTS DURING VEHICLE USAGE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- 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 THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
-
Recall campaign 02V240000
Engine
- Report date
- Component:
- Engine (ENGINE)
- Consequence:
- 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 DAMAGE/SEIZURE DURING VEHICLE USAGE.
- 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 FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
-
Recall campaign 02V282000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- 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 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.
-
Recall campaign 03V153000
Suspension
- Report date
- Component:
- Suspension (SUSPENSION)
- Consequence:
- IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- 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 DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
-
Recall campaign 03V232000
Suspension
- Report date
- Component:
- Suspension (SUSPENSION)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 04V128000
Cruise / speed control
- Report date
- Component:
- Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
- Consequence:
- IF THIS OCCURS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
- 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 NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
-
Recall campaign 13E065000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
- 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. This recall is being conducted by Airtex, not by Subaru.
-
Recall campaign 14V763000
Safety recall 14V763000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- 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. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-471. This recall has been partially superseded by 15V-323. All 2005 model year Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles will now be repaired under recall 15V-323.
-
Recall campaign 15V323000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- 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. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. The Saab recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners of Saab vehicles may call 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is WQR-53. Note: The recall completely supersedes recall 14V-399 (WQL-48) and partially supersedes recall 14V-763 (WQP-51) in that model year 2004 through 2005 Subaru Impreza and model year 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles are now only part of this campaign. Note: On December 18, 2015 Subaru informed NHTSA of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy and 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles.
-
Recall campaign 16V358000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- 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. Saab owners may contact GM at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-16.
-
Recall campaign 16V359000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- 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. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-16. Note: This notice is only for vehicles that were not covered by 16V-358 for Zone A.
-
Recall campaign 16V361000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- 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. Note: This recall covers vehicles that were not previously covered in 16V-358 for Zone A or 16V-359 for Zone B.
-
Recall campaign 20V001000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- 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. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
-
Recall campaign 20V002000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- 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. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
-
Recall campaign 20V003000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- 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. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Showing 10 of 90 complaints · page 1 of 4
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 MANUFACTURERS GO BACK TO INSTALLING GLASS OVER THEIR HEADLIGHTS OR U.S. DRIVERS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE CLOUDY HEADLIGHTS. EVEN WHEN WE BUFF THEM OUT AND MAKE THEM SHINE AGAIN, IT ONLY LAST 6 OR 7 YEARS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION SHOULD CHANGE THIS FLAW IN AUTO MANUFACTURING BY MAKING IT A LAW TO USE GLASS WHEN THEY BUILD THEIR HEADLIGHTS IN THE FUTURE.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORT.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 WHICH ALSO UNDER PROTEST I SIGNED. "IT WON'T COST YOU ANYTHING." 85 YEAR OLD SINGLE WOMAN. 50 MILES NEAREST SUBARU DEALER. NOTHING SAID ABOUT RESULT OF TEST. KEYS RETURNED TO ME.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 THIS CAR IS MADE FOR THAT, BUT PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME WITH LOWER MILES. THE CARS LIFTGATE WIRE HARNESS IS A HUGE WEAKNESS ON THIS CAR. I REALLY HOPE YOU GUYS WILL LOOK MORE INTO THIS AND RECALL IT. I LOVE MY SUBY AND HAVE GREW UP IN IT AND NOW HAVE THE HONOR OF OWNING IT. WE STILL HAVE MANY MORE YEARS OF DRIVING TOGETHER SO PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SO I CAN KEEP HER AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. TEMP FIX IT TO REMOVE BRAKE #4 HARNESS AND UNPLUG TO KEEP FROM BLOWING AND SMOKING. KEEP IN MIND ONLY LEAVES ME WITH 3 BRAKE LIGHTS. (THE ONE UNPLUGGED IS THE ONE ON THE HATCHBACK RIGHT SIDE) THIS IS VERY UNSAFE TO NOT HAD STABLE WIRING IN THE BRAKE LIGHTS, MY CAR WAS SMOKING. I CURRENTLY DO HAVE A 30 FUSE IN THAT SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO HOLD BETTER.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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?
CrashFireInjuryDeath
AIR BAG RECALL.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V359000 (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 NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME CORROSION, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE RECALL DETAILS AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
Subaru Outback Complaints and Recalls by Year
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2003 Subaru Outback?
Owners named Airbags most often — 18 of 90 reports (20%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2003 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA lists 15 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Engine, Transmission / driveline, Suspension, Cruise / speed control, Fuel system, and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2003 Subaru Outback?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.