2003 Subaru Outback Suspension Problems
9 owner-reported suspension complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Suspension Recalls (2)
SUSPENSION:REAR
THIS RECALL APPLIES TO CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. CERTAIN REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS, COULD RESULT IN RUST-OUT OF THE COMPONENT AND POSSIBLE BREAKAGE OF THE SUBFRAME.
Fix: DEALERS WILL CLEAN AND RUST-PROOF THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
ON SOME PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, CERTAIN LEFT-HAND FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED FORM AN EXTENSIVE PERIOD IN A SALT-BELT AREA, CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO SALT COULD CAUSE THE LEFT FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK TO RUST AND EVENTUALLY BREAK.
Fix: DEALERS WILL APPLY ANTI-RUST MATERIAL TO THE LEFT FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 1, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
Owner Complaints (9)
Your Subaru Outback's rear suspension subframe has developed significant rust and needs replacement. You're aware of a recall related to rear suspension subframe corrosion, but your VIN wasn't included in that recall. The repair will likely involve removing the rusted subframe and installing a new one.
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I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER 2003- CURRENT/2013. ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT IN TRAFFIC, I HEARD A VERY LOUD SNAP AND THE RIGHT REAR SIDE OF MY CAR FELL TO WITHIN AN INCH OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR, SLOWLY, TO A SUBARU SPECIALIST. I WAS TOLD THE RIGHT REAR STRUT RUSTED AND BROKE AFTER ONLY 7 YEARS AND LESS THAN 87K MILES. I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE STRUT ASSEMBLY SINCE THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN DRIVEN YEAR ROUND IN MAINE AND NEW HAMPSHIRE. THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR THIS TYPE OF RUST AND BREAKDOWN OF ANY MAJOR COMPONENT WITH RELATIVELY LOW MILES. SUBARU IS VERY, VERY WELL KNOWN FOR RUST PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT IN THE REAR TIRE AREAS ABOVE THE TIRE, AND SHOULD BE FORCED TO COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR WHAT IS CLEARLY A MASSIVE AND IRRESPONSIBLE FAILURE IN THE QUALITY CONTROL AT SUBARU. *TR
DRIVING HOME FROM WORK NOTICED CAR WAS NOT HANDLING CORRECTLY. HAD CERTIFIED MECHANIC CHECK AND HE FOUND THE DRIVE SIDE REAR SPRING LOWER MOUNT HAD FAILED DUE TO RUST. ALSO NOTED THAT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER SPRING MOUNT WAS STARTING TO FAIL. THE CAR IS DRIVEN IN THE NY , NJ, CT, MASS, NH AND MAINE STATES YEAR ROUND. CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBARU SPECIFICATIONS. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE BEEN AT THE SAME ADDRESS AND DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RECALLS FOR THE REAR, NOR FOR THE FRONT COMPONENTS. WILL BE CONTACTING SUBARU CORPORATE ON THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER FOR A REGULAR MAINTENANCE WHEN THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION WAS CORRODED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V153000 (SUSPENSION:REAR) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V232000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
CAR IS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH AROUND 60,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS REGISTERED AND DRIVEN IN VERMONT YEAR-ROUND. THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR STRUT RUSTED SEVERELY WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOWER SPRING MOUNT TO SEPARATE FROM THE STRUT. THIS CAUSED THE SPRING TO FALL AND COME TO A REST ON THE LOWER STRUT MOUNT BOLT. FORTUNATELY, THIS DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN IT OCCURRED HOWEVER THIS IS A CONCERNING FAILURE ON A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE. I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED WHICH WILL ENTAIL REPLACING THE STRUT WHICH FAILED. *TR
ACCELERATING FROM COMPLETE STOP, I HEARD A LOUD SNAP FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. UPON INSPECTION BY AN ASE MECHANIC, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT REAR STRUT AND ASSEMBLY HAD RUSTED OUT AND BROKEN ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 81,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR IS LOCATED IN A VERY HIGH SALT USE STATE, MAINE, AND THIS SEEMS TO BE THE EXACT TYPE OF RUSTING AND BREAKAGE PROBLEM OTHER SUBARU'S HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN RECALLED FOR IN HIGH SALT USE AREAS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE BOUNCES, SHAKES, AND WOBBLES FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE FAILURE IS ALSO FOLLOWED BY A BUMPING SOUND. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT IT IS CAUSING WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLE. SHE IS TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING THIS WAY DUE TO THE ITEMS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVESHAFT WAS REPLACED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VISCUS CUP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY, THERE IS FAILURE WITH THE STRUTS, BEARINGS, AND SUSPENSION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD PASS INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
DEFECTIVE DRIVE SHAFT DEFECTIVE VISCOUS COUPLER DEFECTIVE SUSPENSION NO DEATHS OR ACCIDENTS YET I AM AFRAID THAT MY LIFE AND SAFETY ARE SERIOUSLY AT RISK AND NONE OF THE SUBARU TECHS WILL ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM OR AGREE TO FIX. I HAD THE ABOVE DEFECTS DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTO SHOP NOT AFFILIATED WITH SUBARU. THERE MAY BE OTHER PROBLEMS TOO. *TR
MY WHEEL BEARING FAILED IN BOTH FRONT WHEELS--PASSENGER SIDE AT ABOUT 79,000 MILES AND DRIVERS SIDE AT ABOUT 84,000 MILES. THE CAR IS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. *TR