RecallMyCar

2004 Subaru Legacy Recalls, Complaints & Specs

10 safety recalls list the 2004 Subaru Legacy, and owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

10
safety recalls
49
owner complaints to NHTSA
5 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire
19–21
MPG combined (EPA)

10 safety recalls for the 2004 Subaru Legacy

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 20V001000 Reported 258,813 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners…

  2. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 20V002000 Reported 127,547 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas,…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer…

  3. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 20V003000 Reported 111,562 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan,…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer…

  4. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 16V358000 Reported 302,127 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2009-2011 Legacy, Outback, Forester, 2006-2011 Impreza, Tribeca, 2003-2006 Baja, and 2006 Saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 26, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer…

  5. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 16V359000 Reported 146,010 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2006-2008 Impreza, Tribeca, 2006 Saab 9-2x, and 2003-2006 Baja vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska,…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 24, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer…

  6. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 16V361000 Reported 62,940 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, and Baja vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota,…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 24, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Subaru's…

  7. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 15V323000 Reported 432,016 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 Impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to May 2, 2008, 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners and General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The Subaru recall began on June 17, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru…

  8. Air bags

    NHTSA 14V763000 Reported 4,175 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy and Outback vehicles, and 2003-2005 Baja vehicles sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan,…

    Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall…

  9. Cables (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 04V128000 Reported 127,580 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    On certain passenger sedans, wagons, and sport utility vehicles, the cruise control cable could come out of its track on the cruise control lever and lodge on the control lever tab when the accelerator pedal is released. If this condition occurs, the throttle will not return to the idle position and will remain in an open position.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a cruise control cable retaining clip to the cruise control lever tab on the throttle shaft in order to prevent the cruise control cable from coming out of its track. Owner notification began on…

  10. Filler pipe and cap (fuel system)

    NHTSA 03V303000 Reported 7,874 vehicles potentially affected SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

    Certain passenger or sport utility vehicles may have a loose or out of position fuel filler hose clamp.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the clamp on the fuel filler hose. Owner notification began august 27, 2003. Owners should contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.

49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2004 Subaru Legacy have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 94,340 miles. Complaints peaked in 2016 with 12 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“AT 26,469 miles the harmonic balancer separated into two pieces while driving causing sudden loss of power steering. I contacted Subaru for assistance with this know problem. They refused a free repai”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 1, 2023 · Engine

“A smell of gas was present in the passenger area. I took it to my mechanic. He said the Damper Fuel Assembly (Part # 42086AE040) was leaking. It is a high pressure gas hose. Subaru no longer makes the”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 3, 2023 · Fuel/propulsion system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2004 Subaru Legacy/Outback (Legacy/Outback AWD, Legacy/Outback Wagon AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined19–21 mpg
City / Highway17–19 / 23–25
FuelPremium, Regular
EPA classCompact Cars, Midsize Station Wagons
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.5/3 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S4); Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Subaru Legacy model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Subaru Legacy model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1987 Subaru Legacy01
1988 Subaru Legacy01
1989 Subaru Legacy01
1990 Subaru Legacy481
1991 Subaru Legacy378
1992 Subaru Legacy255
1993 Subaru Legacy177
1994 Subaru Legacy060
1995 Subaru Legacy2182
1996 Subaru Legacy3123
1997 Subaru Legacy5139
1998 Subaru Legacy4114
1999 Subaru Legacy394
2000 Subaru Legacy394
2001 Subaru Legacy777
2002 Subaru Legacy454
2003 Subaru Legacy1460
2004 Subaru Legacy1049
2005 Subaru Legacy9184
2006 Subaru Legacy787
2007 Subaru Legacy933
2008 Subaru Legacy965
2009 Subaru Legacy1365
2010 Subaru Legacy18150
2011 Subaru Legacy16167
2012 Subaru Legacy1690
2013 Subaru Legacy1266
2014 Subaru Legacy1053
2015 Subaru Legacy3160
2016 Subaru Legacy3147
2017 Subaru Legacy2119
2018 Subaru Legacy3117
2019 Subaru Legacy3123
2020 Subaru Legacy6121
2021 Subaru Legacy331
2022 Subaru Legacy234
2023 Subaru Legacy210
2024 Subaru Legacy017
2025 Subaru Legacy06

Checking a specific 2004 Subaru Legacy

How do I know if my 2004 Subaru Legacy has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 10 campaigns currently list the 2004 Subaru Legacy; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Subaru dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 03V303000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Subaru models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.