Subaru Outback 2000–2004 problems by year and mileage
2nd generation (BH)
NHTSA data through 18 October 2026704 complaints, 418 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2000 Subaru Outback
Close- Median failure report
- 68,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 207
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2000
- Transmission and driveline42 reports · median 58,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system35 reports
- Tyres30 reports
Recall areas Suspension — rear
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2001 Subaru Outback
Close- Median failure report
- 72,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 171
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2001
- Fuel system26 reports
- Hydraulic brake circuit25 reports
- Transmission and driveline23 reports
Recall areas Vehicle speed control — cables · Suspension — rear · Power train — automatic transmission
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2002 Subaru Outback
Close- Median failure report
- 70,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 143
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2002
- Hydraulic brake circuit27 reports
- Fuel system23 reports
- Transmission and driveline20 reports
Recall areas Vehicle speed control — cables · Suspension — rear · Power train — automatic transmission
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2003 Subaru Outback
Close- Median failure report
- 74,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 93
- Recalls naming this year
- 14
Most reported on the 2003
- Airbag system19 reports
- Engine and its cooling system14 reports
- Transmission and driveline13 reports
Recall areas Air bags — frontal · Air bags · Vehicle speed control — cables
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2004 Subaru Outback
Close- Median failure report
- 68,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 90
- Recalls naming this year
- 10
Most reported on the 2004
- Airbag system25 reports
- Throttle and speed control20 reports
- Engine and its cooling system13 reports
Recall areas Air bags — frontal · Air bags · Vehicle speed control — cables
Check the VIN at NHTSA
Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. Latest: the 2003; earliest: the 2004, and the 2003 is 1 year older (part of the gap is age).
The short answer
“Is the 2000–2004 Subaru Outback reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 70,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 150,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 418
- Recalls
- 16
Most reported
- Transmission and driveline15.3% of complaints · median 55,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system14.3% of complaints · median 71,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control10.2% of complaints · median 52,000 mi
Owners filed 704 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000–2004 Subaru Outback; the transmission and driveline leads with 15.3% of them, and half of the 418 that record an odometer reading came by 70,000 miles — complaints, not a failure rate.
No single peak: the middle half runs 36,000 to 103,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2000–2004 Subaru Outback last?
On the 2000–2004 Subaru Outback, half of the 418 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 70,000 miles and 90% by 150,000 miles (why that is not a lifespan).
43 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 15 past 200,000 — each one proof that an Outback reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Subaru Outback 2000–2004 · 418 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
10,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 42 complaints
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 15 complaints (3.6%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 10,000
- 25%
- 36,000
- Median
- 70,000
- 75%
- 103,000
- 90%
- 150,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 42 | 10.0% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 26 | 6.2% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 21 | 5.0% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 30 | 7.2% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 25 | 6.0% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 27 | 6.5% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 35 | 8.4% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 31 | 7.4% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 35 | 8.4% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 29 | 6.9% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 21 | 5.0% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 12 | 2.9% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 16 | 3.8% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 12 | 2.9% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 13 | 3.1% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 10 | 2.4% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 5 | 1.2% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 6 | 1.4% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 4 | 1.0% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 3 | 0.7% |
| 200,000+ | 15 | 3.6% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
Common Outback problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Subaru Outback 2000–2004
When each system fails
Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)
- Hydraulic brake circuit70 reportsmedian 31,000middle half 14,000–63,000
- Throttle and speed control72 reportsmedian 52,000middle half 23,000–85,000
- Transmission and driveline108 reportsmedian 55,000middle half 25,000–74,000
- Engine and its cooling system101 reportsmedian 71,000middle half 40,000–91,000
- Airbag system57 reportsmedian 82,000middle half 40,000–140,000
- Fuel system60 reportsmedian 85,000middle half 66,000–97,000
- Suspension60 reportsmedian 130,000middle half 93,000–170,000
- Your odometer, once entered below
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 108 | 15.3% | 55,000 | 25,000–74,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 101 | 14.3% | 71,000 | 40,000–91,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 72 | 10.2% | 52,000 | 23,000–85,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 70 | 9.9% | 31,000 | 14,000–63,000 |
| Fuel system | 60 | 8.5% | 85,000 | 66,000–97,000 |
| Suspension | 60 | 8.5% | 130,000 | 93,000–170,000 |
| Airbag system | 57 | 8.1% | 82,000 | 40,000–140,000 |
| Tyres | 49 | 7.0% | — | — |
| Body structure | 43 | 6.1% | 125,000 | 60,000–170,000 |
| Electrical system | 30 | 4.3% | 80,000 | 3,000–142,000 |
Known problems with the 2000–2004 Outback
Engine 2000–2004
EJ251/EJ253 SOHC external head gasket leak: composite gasket degrades at the outer edge and seeps oil and coolant down the block. Subaru's field remedy was a revised gasket plus a cooling-system conditioner additive, with extended coverage on some model years.
Suspension 2000–2004
Front and rear wheel bearing failure is a common recurring repair.
Emissions 2000–2004
Catalytic converter efficiency failures (P0420) frequently reported.
Before you buy a 2000–2004 Outback: the 3-minute check
Generated from 418 mileage-tagged complaints, 16 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 16 campaigns cover this generation.
- Check engine on 2000–2004 cars. What each looks like: Known problems.
- Check suspension on 2000–2004 cars.
- Check emissions on 2000–2004 cars.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car.
Outback problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer, or read the table.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi41% below | At 90k mi65% below | At 120k mi80% below | At 150k mi90% below | At 200k mi96% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 25,000–74,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 40,000–91,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Throttle and speed control | 23,000–85,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 14,000–63,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel system | 66,000–97,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Suspension | 93,000–170,000 | later | later | in window | in window | earlier |
| Airbag system | 40,000–140,000 | in window | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Subaru Outback 2000–2004 · 418 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Steps at bin edges (how to read it)
- 60,000 mi — 41% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 65% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 80% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 90% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 96% of reports below
- Median (the 50% line)
- Your odometer, once entered
Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
2000–2004 Subaru Outback recalls (16)
NHTSA records 16 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (8), the suspension (2), throttle and speed control (1) (why one area can repeat).
Jan 2020 · 2003–2004 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free 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…
Jan 2020 · 2003–2004 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free 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…
Jan 2020 · 2003–2004 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free 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…
May 2016 · 2003–2004 · Air BagsAn inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free 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…
May 2016 · 2003–2004 · Air BagsAn inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free 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…
May 2016 · 2003–2004 · Air BagsAn inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free 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…
May 2015 · 2003–2004 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. 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…
The free 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…
Dec 2014 · 2003–2004 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. 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…
The free 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…
Mar 2004 · 2001–2004 · Vehicle Speed ControlIf this occurs during vehicle operation, the driver could lose control of the vehicle, which could result in…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. If this occurs during vehicle operation, the driver could lose control of the vehicle, which could result in a crash.
The free 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…
Aug 2003 · 2004 · Fuel System, GasolineThis could result in fuel leakage.
The defect. Certain passenger or sport utility vehicles may have a loose or out of position fuel filler hose clamp.
What can happen. This could result in fuel leakage. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
The free fix. 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.
Jun 2003 · 2003 · SuspensionIf the transverse link were to break due to rusting, control of the vehicle could be affected without prior…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. 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.
The free 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.
Apr 2003 · 2000–2003 · SuspensionIf such breakage occurs while the vehicle is being operated, control of the vehicle could be affected…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. If such breakage occurs while the vehicle is being operated, control of the vehicle could be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free 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…
Oct 2002 · 2001–2003 · Power TrainThe vehicle could then move/roll without prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. 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…
What can happen. The vehicle could then move/roll without prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free 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…
Sep 2002 · 2003 · Engine and Engine CoolingIn some instances, the interference fit between the inner wall of the pulley center hole and the water pump…
The defect. On certain sport utility and passenger vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder engines, the water pump pulley center hole was improperly machined.
What can happen. 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…
The free 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…
Sep 2002 · 2003 · WheelsThis can result in the eventual loosening of the wheel hub-nuts during vehicle usage, increasing the risk of…
The defect. On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 6-cylinder engines, the aluminum wheels may have an off-center diameter.
What can happen. This can result in the eventual loosening of the wheel hub-nuts during vehicle usage, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free 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…
Mar 2002 · 2002 · Service Brakes, HydraulicAt these temperatures, the brakes may not release after being applied, even when the driver's foot is no…
The defect. On certain passenger vehicles, the brake master cylinders may not function properly in ambient temperatures below freezing 32 degrees fahrenheit and lower).
What can happen. At these temperatures, the brakes may not release after being applied, even when the driver's foot is no longer on the brake pedal. This can occur withour prior warning, possibly resulting in a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the master cylinders. Owner notification began march 21, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
Out of 704 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:
- Crashes
- 58 (8.2%)
- Fires
- 15
- Injury reports
- 29
- Fatality reports
- 3
Outback problems by model year
The 2000 drew the most complaints of this generation, 207, most of them about the transmission and driveline, and the 2004 the fewest, 90. A typical year drew about 143.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 207 | 104 | 68,000 | Transmission and driveline (42) | 1 |
| 2001 | 171 | 100 | 72,000 | Fuel system (26) | 3 |
| 2002 | 143 | 88 | 70,000 | Hydraulic brake circuit (27) | 4 |
| 2003 | 93 | 64 | 74,000 | Airbag system (19) | 14 |
| 2004 | 90 | 62 | 68,000 | Airbag system (25) | 10 |
What Outback owners reported
Autozone sold me (via warranty exchange) aftermarket brake pads that supposedly were the same part #d929 as the brake pads autozone had previously sold me and was replacing under warranty. However, the brake pads that they provided to me today as warranty replacements were too large for the brake caliper and would be…
2004 · 185,000 miles · Brakes
I get cards,i call,i get letters ,i call doesn't matter who sends them,you or Subaru dealer ,telling me i need to have an airbag swapped out as being defective,and me telling you i do not have the car anymore,it was picked up by an auction house but it needed alot done to it so they may have scrapped it,i don't know.…
2004 · 162,000 miles · Airbag system
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…
2003 · 80,000 miles · Exterior lighting
The air conditioner begins to blow hot moist air after several minutes of working properly. Multiple mechanics including a specialty shop can't diagnose, and the only option is to replace the entire a/c compressor because the clutch isn't sold separately. I've read many accounts of the same "intermittent" a/c that…
2002 · 140,000 miles · Problems owners could not categorise
Built from 418 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built
Other Outback generations
- Outback 1995–1999 155 reports with mileage, most about the engine and its cooling system
- Outback 2005–2009 761 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- Outback 2010–2014 1,292 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline
- Outback 2015–2019 2,165 reports with mileage, most about the electrical system
- Outback 2020–2025 574 reports with mileage, most about visibility/wiper