1997 Subaru OUTBACK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
52 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
103,995 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 52 complaints (17.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 11.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 5.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 5.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 5.8% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.8% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 2 |
| Structure:Body:Hood:Hinge And Attachments | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Electrical System: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch: 2; Structure:Body:Hood:Hinge And Attachments: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 28 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2000: 4; 2001: 7; 2002: 6; 2003: 6; 2004: 9; 2005: 5; 2006: 5; 2007: 1; 2008: 6; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007512 · 2003-02-14 (February 14, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007512 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054620 · 2004-01-21 (January 21, 2004)
POWER BRAKES FAIL TO FUNCTION IMMEDIATELY AND SHORTLY AFTER (WITHIN ABOUT 5 MINUTES) AFTER COLD START IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 10 DEGREES F. BRAKE PEDAL REMAINS HIGH AND STIFF WITH LITTLE TO NO TRAVEL DISTANCE INDICATING NO POWER TO POWER BRAKE SYSTEM BUT BRAKE PEDAL APPARENTLY TRAVELS ENOUGH DISTANCE TO ALLOW SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. USER REMEDY IS TO ALLOW MORE THAN 5 MINUTES TO WARM AND VERIFY BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELS NORMAL DISTANCE INDICATING POWER BRAKE SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING BEFORE SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. OTHER REMEDY IS TO SHARPLY DEPRESS BRAKE PE…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054620 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121358 · 2005-05-18 (May 18, 2005)
IN 2001 I HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT HOLD THE CAR BACK WHEN GOING DOWN HILLS. I WAS GOING DOWN A STEEP MOUNTAIN ROAD AND HAD TO USE THE BRAKES ALONE. IT DID NOT MATTER IF IT WAS IN 1, 2 OR D IT WAS THE SAME AS NEUTRAL. IT WOULD ALSO NOT SHIFT INTO THE TOP GEAR ON THE FREEWAY. IT COST OVER $3000 TO GET A SUBARU REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT IN AT THE DEALER. IT HAD 97K ON IT AT THE TIME. I JUST NOW TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CAR WAS SHAKING AND HESITATING. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW …
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121358 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074651 · 2004-06-02 (June 2, 2004)
AFTER ALTERNATOR REPLACED, NOTICED THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCES OF ELECTRICAL OUTAGES: REAR POWER OUTLET, SEAT HEATER SWITCHES, RADIO DIAL ILLUMINATION LIGHT, KEY-IN-IGNITION ALARM, DOOR AJAR LIGHTING, SEATBELT OFF LIGHTING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10074651 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078564 · 2004-06-21 (June 21, 2004)
I HAVE A '1997 LEGACY OUTBACK SUBARU. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS. TODAY, JUNE 21, I STOPPED ON MY WAY TO BAR HARBOR, MAINE FOR A CUP OF COFFEE. I PLACED THE COFFEE CUP IN THE CUP HOLDER AND GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY. SHORTLY AFTER THIS, I THOUGHT I SMELLED BURNING, BUT THOUGHT IT MUST BE COMING FROM OUTSIDE. I THEN STOPPED AT A BANK TO TAKE CARE OF A TRANSACTION, AND AS I WAS LEAVING THE BANK, I AGAIN SMELLED A FAINT BURNING ODOR. LUCKILY, NOT FAR DOWN THE ROAD, I PASSED MY SUBARU DEALERSHIP, FOR A SHORT DISTANCE PAST THE DEALERSHIP I HEA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10078564 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037833 · 2003-08-27 (August 27, 2003)
VEHICLE FUEL FILL TUBE ROTTED RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK. *MR THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF GAS IN THE GARAGE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT IF THE TANK WAS KEPT ON 1/2 TO 3/4 FULL, THE LEAK WOULD CEASE. THE MECHANIC HAD JUST FIXED THE SAME PROBLEM ON A SUBARU, A WEEK PRIOR AND HAD SINCE REPEATED THAT TASK AT LEAST 4 TIMES. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT SUBARU COVER THE COSTS INCURRED. *SCC ALSO THE WIPER BLADES WERE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037833 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10228629 · 2008-05-22 (May 22, 2008)
GAS TANK FILLER PIPE HAS RUSTED THROUGH. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228629 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110024 · 2005-02-07 (February 7, 2005)
THIS IS THE STANDARD SUBARU 2.5L HEAD GASKET FAILURE PROBLEM. I ADD THIS TO THE DATABASE TO INCREASE THE PRESSURE ON SUBARU OF AMERICA TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM PROPERLY. FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE: HTTP://MYSITE.VERIZON.NET/VZE730QE/GUESTLOG.HTML THE SYMPTOMS ARE AS FOLLOWS. CAR ENGINE BEGAN OVERHEATING -- LARGE TEMPERATURE SPIKES AND THEN WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL. ENGINE OIL APPEARED IN COOLANT RESERVOIR. COOLANT SPEWS ONTO ENGINE. LOSS OF POWER IN SOME GEARS.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 120,232 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 899867 · 2001-12-05 (December 5, 2001)
ENGINE WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND REPLACED SENSOR VALVE TWO TIMES AND COMPUTER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 899867 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 726520 · 2000-08-03 (August 3, 2000)
LOCAL SUBARU DEALER HAS SOLD THESE PARTS SEVERAL TIMES RECENTLY. IT APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM. WHEN THIS FAILS THE PULLY SYSTEM OF THE ENGINE FALLS APART, LITERALLY, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER, POWER STEERING, BRAKE WARNING... THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS HAD WE NOT BEEN ON A BACK ROAD WITH NO TRAFFIC. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 726520 at NHTSA ↗