2004 Subaru Legacy Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 10%of 49 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 27,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2004 Subaru Legacy, 10% of the 49 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 27,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was steering the car, just leaving the lot of a home improvement store. I made a right turn, drove the distance of, perhaps, a city block and moved into the left lane to make a left turn. I had to stop for a red light so I applied the brakes but the car did not want to stop. The engine began revving! The gas pedal was stuck! Feeling terrified, confused, not knowing what to do, I shoved the gear into park and turned the ignition switch to off. …”
NHTSA complaint #10313927, filed 2010-02, 34,000 miles“Sudden deceleration. Occurred at complete standstill, 25mph and 65mph, speed appears not to be a factor. Check engine light comes on and cruise control quits and cruise light blinks and engine defaults to 1500rpm, all happens simultaneously, ergo no warning. Complete loss of gas pedal control. Intermittent problem. Can happen a few times a day or nothing for a week. Tends to happen more from a cold engine start and within 3 miles of thee start. Very dangerous if on freeway, especially in fast lane and pulling out onto street, etc.”
NHTSA complaint #10486429, filed 2012-11, 149,000 miles“The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Legacy. While driving at 2 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and went through the garage wall. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealership but it had not been inspected or repaired at the time of the complaint. The current and failure mileages were approximately 9,800.”
NHTSA complaint #10327865, filed 2010-04, 9,800 miles“The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Legacy. The contact was driving approximately 30 MPH when the vehicle decelerated independently. The check engine warning light was illuminated as the cruise control warning light began flashing. In addition, the vehicle would not accelerate over 10 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where the technician advised that the throttle position sensor would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred six times. The throttle was replaced twice. …”
NHTSA complaint #10498281, filed 2013-02, 20,000 miles“While applying the brake pedal vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. Driver continued to apply the brake pedal and the vehicle failed to stop completely. This caused the vehicle to collided into the vehicle in front. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, but mechanic could not duplicate the problem. However, the problem recurred. Second failure occurred while braking for a stop sign. The vehicle continued to accelerate an ran into the back of a pickup truck. There was no damage to pickup except that the vehicle's hood was caught in a trailer hitch on the pickup.”
NHTSA complaint #10117674, filed 2005-05Related recalls
- 04V128000Mar 16, 2004On 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…Covers: Subaru Legacy 2001–2004, Outback 2001–2004, Impreza 2002–2004
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 17% |
| 2022 | 2 | 6% |
| 2021 | 1 | 3% |
| 2020 | 4 | 3% |
| 2019 | 4 | 3% |
| 2018 | 3 | 3% |
| 2017 | 2 | 2% |
| 2016 | 9 | 6% |
| 2015 | 14 | 9% |
| 2014 | 3 | 6% |
| 2013 | 4 | 6% |
| 2012 | 4 | 4% |
| 2011 | 5 | 3% |
| 2010 | 8 | 5% |
| 2008 | 5 | 8% |
| 2006 | 30 | 34% |
| 2005 | 15 | 8% |
| 2004 | 5 | 10% |
| 2003 | 5 | 8% |
| 2002 | 4 | 7% |
| 2001 | 9 | 12% |
| 2000 | 10 | 11% |
| 1999 | 12 | 13% |
| 1998 | 10 | 9% |
| 1997 | 9 | 6% |
| 1996 | 7 | 6% |
| 1995 | 3 | 2% |
| 1994 | 2 | 3% |
| 1993 | 4 | 5% |
| 1992 | 2 | 4% |
| 1991 | 5 | 6% |
| 1990 | 5 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2004 Subaru Legacy
26 complaintsEngine
5 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
2 complaintsElectrical system
1 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaintsTires
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Subaru Legacy
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology