Engine complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2003 Subaru Outback has 15 NHTSA engine complaints and 1 engine-related recall.
15
Complaints
1
Recalls
0
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026
02V240000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES, THE WATER PUMP PULLEY CENTER HOLE WAS IMPROPERLY MACHINED.
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2011 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | SUBARU HAS BEEN SELLING CARS KNOWING OF PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURES. 1998 TO 2002 HEAD GASKETS FA... |
| Feb 14, 2011 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | THE CAR WOULD DIE USUALLY WHILE COMING TO STOPS. AND ON MOST OCCASIONS WILL START BACK UP. AT FIRS... |
| Jan 3, 2011 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN | AFTER SMELLING LEAKING OIL FOR MANY MONTHS, MY MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING. O... |
| Aug 8, 2010 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. HE NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITION... |
| Jul 28, 2010 | ENGINE | I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM A DEALER. A FEW MONTHS LATER I STARTED NOTICING A BURNING SMELL A... |
| May 29, 2009 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | SUBARU OUTBACK 4 CYL WAGON ENGINE COOLING PROBLEMS/HEAD GASKET FAILURE. CAR HAD TO BE TURNED OFF IN ... |
| Nov 27, 2007 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | HEAD GASKET DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK. IT WAS LESS THAN 30 DAYS FROM THE WARRANTY RUNNING OUT. THE ... |
| Jun 17, 2006 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY O... |
| Mar 15, 2006 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HAVING THE 30,000 MILE SERVICE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN HAV... |
| May 16, 2005 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR SUBARU WAS UN... |
| Feb 2, 2005 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | NOTICED PINGING NOISE FROM ENGINE. SUBARU REPLACED BLOCK. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, HAD PINGING NOISE AGA... |
| Apr 1, 2004 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | WHEN CAR WAS SLOWING FOR A STOP SIGN IT WOULD STALL, HOWEVER IT COULD ALWAYS BE RESTARTED. THE CON... |
| Apr 18, 2003 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIF... |
| Apr 17, 2002 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | CAR KEEPS SHUTTING OFF IN INFREQUENT INTERVALS. FIRST AT 375 MILES AND BY 9000 MILES IT DID IT 9 TIM... |
| Jan 1, 1901 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH LEAKING HEAD GASKETS. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIR COST... |