Subaru WAGON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
37,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1976 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 7 complaints (14.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 42.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 28.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 14.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 14.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Fog Lights | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Exterior Lighting:Fog Lights: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery: 1; Fuel System, Other: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 1
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 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 3 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 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
2000: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2008: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10093682 · 2004-10-06 (October 6, 2004)
I HAVE A 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON. WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED AROUND 31,000 MILES, IT BEGAN TO SHAKE PERCEPTIBLY WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE SHAKING GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ROTORS HAD WORN UNEVENLY. THE ROTORS WERE TURNED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM UNDER THE VEHICLE'S 36,000 MILE/3 YEAR WARRANTY. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE ROTORS SHOULD NOT WEAR THIS QUICKLY IN A VEHICLE (THE BRAKE PADS THEMSELVES WERE OKAY AND NOT REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 31,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093682 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10098874 · 2004-11-15 (November 15, 2004)
MY CAR WILL STARTUP JUST FINE. UPON NEAR A STANDSTILL AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN IT WILL HESTITATE OR STALL COMPLETELY. I HAVE TO KEEP MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE RIGHT FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL TO KEEP IT GOING. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY IN COLDER THAN HOTTER WEATHER. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE AT VANBORTEL SUBARU ON 11/1 AND THEY RELEASED IT BACK TO ME ON 11/3/04 SAYING THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. ITS ANYTHING BUT FIXED AND IN FACT GOTTEN WORSE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10098874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10213522 · 2008-01-02 (January 2, 2008)
WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURE DROPS SIGNIFICANTLY (E.G. BELOW 32DEG), A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL IS EMITTED FROM THE CAR UPON STARTING. IT EVENTUALLY SEEMS TO GO AWAY OVER 10-30MIN, BUT IT CAN BE EXTREMELY STRONG. WE JUST ENCOUNTERED THE PROBLEM TODAY (THE COLDEST DAY IN ALLENTOWN THIS WINTER), BUT WHEN WE HAD THE PROBLEM LAST YEAR, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY CLEAR CAUSE. THEY ALSO CLAIMED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE SMELL.*CN
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10213522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10252100 · 2008-12-17 (December 17, 2008)
WITH ONSET OF COLD WEATHER (LESS THAN 25 F) THIS YEAR, MY 2002 SUBURU OUTBACK STATION WAGON (2.5 LITRE) HAS A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR IN THE CABIN WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME NOW. IT IS VERY STRONG AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I'M CONCERNED THAT IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE (PARTICULARLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN ACCIDENT OR EXHAUST PROBLEM) OR A FUME RELATED BLACKOUT OF SOMEBODY IN THE CAR. I HAVE READ ON THE ONLINE DISCUSSION THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBURUS IN COLD CLIMATES BUT THAT SUB…
Owner-reported narrative. 105,110 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144903 · 2005-12-10 (December 10, 2005)
WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC, I HAD MY FOOT SLIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE TO PREVENT CREEP. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED SO HIGH THAT I HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP FROM CRASHING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK AND THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL THE ENTIRE TIME! *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10144903 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
1991: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0