2004 Subaru Outback Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 9%of 90 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 36,039miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the electrical system of the 2004 Subaru Outback, 9% of the 90 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 36,039 miles. 3 a fire, according to the filers.
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.
“The car burst into flames at 2:30 in the morning in my driveway. We last drove the car home at 10:30 the night before, so the car had been sitting for four hours in cold weather (around 20 degrees). The dogs started barking and I woke up to find my car burning in the driveway. Firetruck came around 5 minutes later and put out fire. Fire was burning around entire vehicle. Fireman said that fire appeared to be internal to the car and not caused by human intervention. Police put the fire down as a routine engine fire. I am very concerned about the safety of older Subaru vehicles.”
NHTSA complaint #10496301, filed 2013-02, 100,000 miles“Our son was driving our 2004 Subaru Outback into a target parking lot. As he entered he noticed smoke and heat coming from driver's door. He stopped, shut the engine off as flames were now coming from the door. He called the durham north carolina fire department and they put out the fire. Interior of car in door, dash, windshield areas severely damaged. Appears to be electric problem although no windows or anything in this door area were in operation. No prior problems. Car towed to aaa and will take it to Subaru dealer next week. He avoided getting burnt, barely.”
NHTSA complaint #10363037, filed 2010-10, 119,000 miles“My 2004 Subaru Outback sedan would idle extremely high. When I put it in reverse it would lurch back suddenly. As I was driving, I would take my foot off the pedal and it would remain at the speed I was going. It was looked at twice and was not able to be replicated. The service tech stated he had seen the problem before and would clean out the throttle box. Approximately 2-3 weeks later the vehicle would not go over 40 MPH without lurching back and forth and making a violent banging noise, at this point the check engine light came on. The vehicle was towed to the dealership. …”
NHTSA complaint #10130163, filed 2005-07, 36,039 miles“Drivers door started smoking and flaming. I pulled the part of door/armrest holding the window/mirror/lock controls and was able to pull over and blow out flames before fire spread.”
NHTSA complaint #10519453, filed 2013-06, 162,000 miles“While driving vehicle sputtered and stalled. Consumer couldn't shift the vehicle into drive, and couldn't remove the key from the ignition. Dealer has replaced the alternator and the battery, but the problem still occurs.”
NHTSA complaint #10051647, filed 2003-12, 1,565 milesRelated service bulletins
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Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 29% |
| 2025 | 13 | 16% |
| 2024 | 16 | 15% |
| 2023 | 17 | 19% |
| 2022 | 52 | 11% |
| 2021 | 76 | 26% |
| 2020 | 259 | 29% |
| 2019 | 364 | 35% |
| 2018 | 267 | 33% |
| 2017 | 392 | 43% |
| 2016 | 309 | 48% |
| 2015 | 127 | 25% |
| 2014 | 32 | 15% |
| 2013 | 23 | 8% |
| 2012 | 37 | 13% |
| 2011 | 67 | 10% |
| 2010 | 33 | 9% |
| 2009 | 23 | 22% |
| 2008 | 34 | 15% |
| 2007 | 20 | 15% |
| 2006 | 42 | 15% |
| 2005 | 28 | 10% |
| 2004 | 8 | 9% |
| 2003 | 7 | 8% |
| 2002 | 4 | 3% |
| 2001 | 3 | 2% |
| 2000 | 8 | 4% |
| 1999 | 8 | 7% |
| 1998 | 6 | 5% |
| 1997 | 4 | 5% |
| 1996 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2004 Subaru Outback
25 complaintsVehicle speed control
20 complaintsEngine cooling
13 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsSuspension
4 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsEngine
2 complaintsSteering
2 complaintsEquipment
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Subaru Outback
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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