9.4

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,208 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Subaru Outback electrical problems

electrical problem

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2004 Subaru Outback Owner Comments

problem #2

May 262004

Outback 4WD 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 850 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I purchased a new Subaru legacy Outback, on 4/28/04. [xxx] on May 26, I entered the car using the keyless entry, but I could not start the car as the battery power was low. So I tried to exit the car but the door on the driver side would not open from the inside even when I tried to manually unlock the door. The other front door and the back doors could not be opened either. I was trapped inside the car with no air or power. Fortunately I was able to call a passerby's attention after 15 minutes and he could open the car from the outside without problems. This could have been a potentially dangerous situation as one could asphyxiate inside the car if help is not easily available. Later the car could be started by jump starting it suggesting that the battery power was low. But what was of major concern was that the doors would not open from inside manually if the battery was not active. I think this problem may be unique to my car as Subaru says that they should open manually as well. Yet, considering the potential danger of this flaw, it is worth tracking and checking with the public at large for similar problems with Subaru cars. Also surprisingly, the hatch too does not have any method of opening from inside the auto in case one is trapped. I think this is a major flaw as even trunks can now be opened from the inside and all hatchbacks should have a independent way of opening from the inside in case one is trapped inside the car. Updated 07/25/2012 information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #1

Dec 172003

(reported on)

Outback

  • 1,565 miles
While driving vehicle sputtered and stalled. Consumer couldn't shift the vehicle into drive, and couldn't remove the key from the ignition. Dealer has replaced the alternator and the battery, but the problem still occurs.

- Coatesville, PA, USA

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