2002 Subaru Outback vs 2004 Subaru Outback
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Subaru Outback | 2004 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 143 | 90 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 10 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 133 | 185 |
| Investigations | 0 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 9 | 9 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | — | — |
| Median reported incident mileage | 71,548 mi | 68,006 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Outback | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 20 |
| Power Train | 20 | 10 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 17 | 13 |
| Air Bags | 5 | 25 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 27 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 23 | 3 |
| Electrical System | 4 | 8 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 12 | 7 |
| Vibration / shaking | 9 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 8 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 10 |
2002 Subaru Outback
2004 Subaru Outback
Compare all Subaru Outback vs Subaru Outback years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.