Major Problems with 2003 Subaru Outback Derived from Complaints & Recalls

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Worst 3 complaints of 2003 Subaru Outback

2003 Subaru Outback FRONTAL Victims: 1 Mileage: 14844 miles

2003 Subaru Outback ACCELERATOR PEDAL Victims: 1 Mileage: 37000 miles

2003 Subaru Outback AIR BAGS Victims: 1 Mileage: 160000 miles

Browse 2003 Subaru Outback complaints by category

Problems with AIR BAGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Subaru Outback owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
AIR BAGS this car is on the list for recall but when i put in the vin it says that there is...	18 ~ 28071 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING consumer states that while driving and without warning the vehicle will stall. the dealer was notified. *nd when braking to...	8 ~ 57393 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL the vehicle surged after coming to a stop when the brakes were applied. the dealer reset the computer but could...	7 ~ 30043 miles
ENGINE head gasket failure*** 2003 outback ** this is not a new problem as four of the subaru's we've owned had...	5 ~ 110240 miles
POWER TRAIN i took my 2003 subaru outback in for regular oil change maintenance. the auto mechanic informed me that the engine...	5 ~ 100976 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN nar 03-27-2003 mr the car dies intermittently at speeds between 20-25 mph on deceleration. the power is completely lost with...	5 ~ 19941 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING car keeps shutting off in infrequent intervals. first at 375 miles and by 9000 miles it did it 9 times....	5 ~ 13575 miles
SUSPENSION defective drive shaft defective viscous coupler defective suspension no deaths or accidents yet i am afraid that my life and...	4 ~ 98908 miles
REAR > SUSPENSION tl*the contact owns a 2003 subaru outback. while driving at any speed the vehicle bounces shakes and wobbles from side...	4 ~ 75500 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM the second failure occured on 11/14/2002. car was not moving electrical system was dead car did not turn over. dt...	4 ~ 676805 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE i own a 2003 subaru outback limited 2.5l. during extremely cold weather (20 degrees f or lower ) the fuel...	3 ~ 99667 miles
SIDEWALL > TIRES while driving in a middle lane on i-270 i sudenly became aware of a bumping noise. i pulled over to...	3
TIRES while driving at 50 mph right rear tire blew out. oringinal tires on vehicle. *ak...	3
WHEELS the vehicle experienced problems with the wheels. the vehicle did not turn when needed. nlm ts...	3 ~ 1167 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC brake failure at sub-freezing temperatures. occurs every time temperature is below freezing. failure appears to be in the master cylinder	2 ~ 78750 miles
FRONT > SUSPENSION tl*the contact owns a 2003 subaru outback. while driving at any speed the vehicle bounces shakes and wobbles from side...	2 ~ 80500 miles
INTERIOR/UNDER DASH > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM dealer substituted cheap aftermarket security system for requested subaru upgrade tampering with factory wiring in process. when challenged dealer replaced...	2 ~ 250 miles
STEERING the vehicle experienced problems with the wheels. the vehicle did not turn when needed. nlm ts...	2 ~ 73000 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING my complaint is my headlights' they're cloudy. on nov. 29 2018 the institute of highway safety released a report that...	1 ~ 80000 miles
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL i recently had my outback towed because my car wouldn't shift out of park. 1st i check the neutral safety...	1 ~ 2555000 miles
SERVICE BRAKES i recently had my outback towed because my car wouldn't shift out of park. 1st i check the neutral safety...	1 ~ 2555000 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM when driving the car down the road a strong odor of raw gasoline was smelt in the cabin of the...	1 ~ 80000 miles
FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE tl* the contact owns a 2003 subaru outback. the contact stated that the rear suspension subframe was rusted and needed...	1 ~ 100000 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE while driving home the car just "shut down" on the highway and we had to glide off to the side....	1 ~ 90000 miles
HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 2003 subaru outback. consumer writes in regards to vehicle brake failure. *smd the consumer stated when she applied the brake...	1
LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS > WHEELS 2003 subaru outback impreza was on the ohio turnpike when the rear lug nuts broke causing the tire to come...	1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER head gasket failure*** 2003 outback ** this is not a new problem as four of the subaru's we've owned had...	1 ~ 80000 miles
MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN defective drive shaft defective viscous coupler defective suspension no deaths or accidents yet i am afraid that my life and...	1 ~ 74000 miles
WHEEL BEARING > FRONT > SUSPENSION my wheel bearing failed in both front wheels--passenger side at about 79 000 miles and drivers side at about 84	1 ~ 84000 miles
ACCELERATOR PEDAL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL tl*the contact owns a 2003 subaru outback. while driving 10 mph engaging the brakes the vehicle accelerated to the highest...	1 ~ 37000 miles
HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE > BODY > STRUCTURE water is getting into the rear door of outback subaru wagon causing the corroding of rear light harnesses. taillight failed...	1 ~ 73000 miles
TAIL LIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING water is getting into the rear door of outback subaru wagon causing the corroding of rear light harnesses. taillight failed...	1 ~ 73000 miles
PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN on january 26 2008 at 8:10 pm my husband and i arrived home from a dinner out. he stopped at...	1 ~ 66000 miles
SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY > VISIBILITY tl*the contact owns a 2003 subaru outback. water was leaking in the vehicle through the sunroof. the dealer repaired the...	1 ~ 38000 miles
PADS > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS dt: the contact stated that at any speed there was a vibration when depressing the brakes. the issue was due	1 ~ 28502 miles
INTERIOR > REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES > VISIBILITY internal coating inside compass mirror with auto light detection. the golden coating inside the mirror decomposed and ran into the...	1 ~ 119000 miles
STRUCTURE my 2003 subaru outback ll bean model with 17 378 miles developed a serious water leak through the roof on...	1 ~ 19035 miles
LINKAGES > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL accelerator on vehicle stuck on interstate highway. tried to put vehicle into neutral however rpm's spun to 7000. had to...	1 ~ 70000 miles
SPRINGS > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL accelerator on vehicle stuck on interstate highway. tried to put vehicle into neutral however rpm's spun to 7000. had to...	1 ~ 70000 miles
AIR CONDITIONER > APPLIANCE > EQUIPMENT 2003 subaru legacy outback's speedometer/odometer read inaccurately. *cc the speedometer/odometer had an inaccuracy rate of 8-11 percent. there was wind...	1 ~ 26503 miles
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE 2003 subaru legacy outback's speedometer/odometer read inaccurately. *cc the speedometer/odometer had an inaccuracy rate of 8-11 percent. there was wind...	1 ~ 26503 miles
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2003 subaru legacy outback's speedometer/odometer read inaccurately. *cc the speedometer/odometer had an inaccuracy rate of 8-11 percent. there was wind...	1 ~ 26503 miles
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC brakes would not stop the vehicle while driving on ice. the parking brake had to be applied to stop the	1 ~ 76000 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS while driving at 35 mph consumer's vehicle struck another vehicle and the air bag did not deploy. driver sustained injuries.	1 ~ 14844 miles
RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT while playing the cd player on the 7th track the cd would skip back and forth. consumer removed the cd...	1 ~ 5000 miles
MASTER CYLINDER > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC consumer was backing out of a parking space pressed on the brake pedal and it went completely down to the...	1 ~ 19628 miles
GASOLINE > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING when car was slowing for a stop sign it would stall however it could always be restarted. the consumer would	1 ~ 15000 miles
PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) > CLUTCH ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN consumer had a difficult time depressing the clutch pedal when driving. consumer stated clutch pedal was too close to the	1 ~ 73523 miles
POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS > VISIBILITY nar 03-27-2003 mr the car dies intermittently at speeds between 20-25 mph on deceleration. the power is completely lost with...	1 ~ 500 miles
HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING nar 03-27-2003 mr the car dies intermittently at speeds between 20-25 mph on deceleration. the power is completely lost with...	1 ~ 500 miles

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