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2004 Subaru LegacyProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 49 owner complaints about the 2004 Subaru Legacy, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 10 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-361 the manufacturer reports only 60% of affected cars repaired.

2004 Subaru Legacy
63
CarFlaw IndexSolid year42% below the Legacy median · #32 of 35 years by complaints
Safety recalls10Lowest repair rate 60%Owner complaints498 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage129kAir bags, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 1, 2023. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2004 Subaru Legacy has problems

49 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags262
Vehicle speed control52
Engine50
Fuel/propulsion system40
Engine and engine cooling20
Power train20
Service brakes, hydraulic21
Tires10
Visibility10
6 other systems61

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

10 recalls

2004 Subaru Legacy recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

82%repaired · 2023 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 20V-001 · Jan 2, 2020 · 258,813 vehicles · 212,286 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

69%repaired · 2023 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 20V-003 · Jan 2, 2020 · 111,562 vehicles · 76,616 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

73%repaired · 2023 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 20V-002 · Jan 2, 2020 · 127,547 vehicles · 93,276 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

63%repaired · 2023 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 16V-359 · May 25, 2016 · 146,010 vehicles · 92,119 repaired

Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 6 more recalls
83%repaired · 2023 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 16V-358 · May 25, 2016 · 302,127 vehicles · 249,595 repaired

Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

60%repaired · 2023 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 16V-361 · May 25, 2016 · 62,940 vehicles · 38,036 repaired

Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

76%repaired · 2023 Q1

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 15V-323 · May 28, 2015 · 432,016 vehicles · 329,703 repaired

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

72%repaired · 2023 Q1

Air bags

Recall 14V-763 · Dec 1, 2014 · 4,175 vehicles · 2,993 repaired

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Vehicle speed control: cables

Recall 04V-128 · Mar 16, 2004 · 127,580 vehicles

Risk. IF THIS OCCURS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Subaru.

Best & worst years

2004 vs. every other Legacy year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Legacy median. How we score

'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2004 Subaru Legacy safety ratings

2004 Subaru Legacy 4-DR. Wagon in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Rollover: 4 stars (11.8% risk)
  • Stability control: Optional
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2004 Subaru Legacy, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · still open
    Led to recall 22V-945
  2. Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · closed Mar 2, 2015
    Led to recall 13V-172
In owners' words

What Legacy owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I KEEP RECEIVING SAFETY RECALL LETTERS ABOUT THE AIRBAG IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SCRAPPED SINCE JULY 2017. I COULD NO LONGER GET IT TO PASS EMISSIONS. I HAVE SINCE THEN CALLED THE NUMBER ON THE LETTERS SEVERAL TIMES TO REMOVE ME FROM THE NOTICE LIST BUT I KEEP RECEIVING THEM. I…
Complaint 11350730 · Aug 21, 2020 · 254,600 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V000000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT…
Complaint 11299550 · Jan 15, 2020
TAKATA INFLATORS;THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING ON &OFF &NOW IT'S ON ALL THE TIME, THE BAG WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY THE DEALERSHIP ON JAN. 19 2017 @ NORTHPARK SUBARU HERE IN SAN ANTONIO TX.,HOW CAN I VERIFY THAT THE BAG WAS INDEED REPLACED & WHY DID THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED…
Complaint 11245600 · Aug 21, 2019

Own a 2004 Legacy?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.