| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2003 Subaru Outback repairs by problem area
Engine (38%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (12%)
Brakes and Traction Control (7%)
Suspension and Steering (20%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (17%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (3%)
Other (4%)
Chart based on 242 repairs.
2003 Subaru Outback engine repair cost distribution
$2500+ (5%)
$1000 - $2499 (13%)
$500 - $999 (11%)
$100 - $499 (46%)
< $100 (24%)
Chart based on 82 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2003 Subaru Outback
Engine not specified
| 194000 mi | Car would not pass emissions inspection that was due. |
2003 Subaru Outback 4dr Wagon
212-horsepower 3.0L H6 4-speed automatic AWD
| 115400 mi C $1400 |
Serpentine belt and tensioner were worn and were replaced. |
| 129000 mi US $600 |
O2 sensor replaced |
| 162000 mi US $250 |
Coolant pipe from thermostat housing to oil filter, and coolant pipe to heater core rusted through, leaking coolent. Pipes needed to be replaced, dealer items. Up stream oxygen sensor faulty, replaced |
| 197000 mi US $100 |
Car overheated, thermostat stuck. Thermostat, radiator cap and coolest replaced |
| 204000 mi US $560 |
CEL code 420. Down stream O2 sensor faulty, replaced |
| 205000 mi US $2100 |
Head gasket leaking, coolant pushed out of radiator, car overheating, both heads milled .007". New water pump, hoses, pipes seals and gaskets |
| 206000 mi US $123 |
Coil for cylinder 6 needed replacement |
| 217000 mi US $300 |
Muffler rusted through, replaced |
| 224000 mi US $250 |
Fuel filler pipe rusted through |
| 243000 mi US $300 |
Exhaust. Air/fuel sensor bank 1 replaced |
| 264000 mi US $150 |
Camshaft position sensor defective |
| 129000 mi US $300 |
Serpentine belt broke. was replaced |
| 132000 mi US $380 |
O2 sensor in exhaust failed Head shield rattle |
| 133000 mi US $50 |
heat shield tightened, second repair |
| 140800 mi US $100 |
rust and erosion on flanges in exhaust sytstem |
| 145000 mi US $300 |
erosion of flanges |
| 138300 mi US $170 |
Failed Fuel pump. Replacement failed 1 day later requiring another (2nd) tow. Fuel pump replaced on previous day failed. Was replaced with another fuel pump |
| 167000 mi | The Outback was giving signs of impending catastrophic failure. Plus the heat shield sounded like I was dumping 200 pounds of metal scrap onto a tin roof. |
| 78000 mi US $172 |
Idle Air Control Valve was malfunctioning (scanner code P0508). Replaced the valve and gasket, engine idle improved and the check engine light went off. |
| 94200 mi US $75 |
The serpentine belt idler pulley needed to be replaced. The bearing wore out. |
| 95000 mi US $654 |
Fuel pump and fuel filter replaced. |
| 102000 mi US $131 |
The check engine light was on. My scanner returned a code indicating the TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) was malfunctioning. The TPS was replaced and the check engine light went off. |
| 105000 mi US $156 |
The bearing in the tensioner pulley failed. The idler pulley and serpentine belt were both damaged when this occurred. Both pulleys and the serpentine belt were replaced. |
| 174000 mi US $100 |
Pipe detached from catalytic converter. Mating surfaces cleaned/ground and pipe reattached. |
| 77600 mi US $3000 |
Also wipers, engine noise fixed. A bunch of expensive little things rather than a single really expensive problem. |
| 105000 mi US $600 |
Head gasket replaced, other minor work |
| 107000 mi US $263 |
Alternator belt broke. |
| 141980 mi C $80 |
the original anti-start just would'n let us start the car again! |
| 149000 mi C $1500 |
fuel pump failure replace the pump |
2003 Subaru Outback 4dr Wagon
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 152000 mi US $425 |
replaced water pump, radiator, thermostant, timing belt, and hoses |
| 79000 mi US $90 |
Head gasket beginning to leak oil. Intend to contact SOA to see if they will reimburse all/part of repair. |
| 85000 mi | check engine light - emission valve Gas tank exhaust valve faulty, allowed back pressure to build up during fueling |
| 86000 mi | Emission valve, gas tank exhaust valve needed when sold to Subaru mechanic. Head gasket starting to leak when sold. |
| 168000 mi US $5 |
Rusted oil pan was leaking. JB weld!! |
| 91091 mi US $1541 |
Leaking head gaskets replaced. Subaru agreed to pay for part of the cost even though car not under warranty. Also replaced timing belt at same time. |
| 105732 mi US $339 |
Valve adjustment done (in retrospect, this should have been done when dealer replaced head gaskets/timing belt at 90K but I wasn't advised about this by dealer - jerks!). |
| 118000 mi US $756 |
Clutch was becoming hard to push to floor and it was recommended I replace it, so I did. |
2003 Subaru Outback 4dr Wagon
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD
| 140000 mi US $300 |
replace muffler and some exhaust system pipes |
| 89400 mi US $358 |
Replaced belts |
| 166780 mi C $200 |
Exhaust pipe soldered |
| 130000 mi | Car had its headgasket replaced before being purchased. |
| 156000 mi US $400 |
Accessory drive belts (X2) replaced |
| 61000 mi US $450 |
I brought the car in for its 60000 mile service. It was found to have 2 spark plugs had oil residue on them. It cost $400.00 to replace the oil seals on one side of the engine. I have had similiar engines that did not display this anomoly until after 100k |
| 51000 mi US $200 |
power steering belt broke and got caught in another belt. |
| 94716 mi US $3929 |
Remove and replace head gasket Replace oxygen sensor bank 1 sensor 1 Replace timing belt, water pump and cooling system hoses |
| 152886 mi US $180 |
Transmission mount replaced Exhaust pipe hanger Exhaust flex joint replaced |
| 156126 mi US $194 |
Replace drivers side valve cover gasket |
| 82000 mi US $500 |
Radiator began leaking, had to replace. SHortly afterwards the AC had to be replaced (entered as a separate instance.) |
| 239000 mi US $50 |
overheating at idle |
| 239000 mi | head gaskets again |
| 139000 mi US $350 |
Oil leak over converter not repaired. |
| 167000 mi US $190 |
Overheated |
| 177000 mi US $2000 |
Threw a rod |
| 210100 mi US $600 |
Most gaskets were replaced due to oil leaking. |
| 146000 mi US $1700 |
Head Gasket leaking oil and coolant. Head Gasket needs to be replaced. |
| 146000 mi US $1600 |
External head gasket leak. Head gasket replaced. |
| 135000 mi US $400 |
blown head gaskets |
| 156000 mi US $1672 |
Replaced both head gaskets, heads resurfaced. replaced radiator and hoses. replaced both head gaskets and radiatorl |
| 96000 mi | head gaskets replaced. had a slow leak that started around 75k miles finally needed repairing. head gaskets replaced. had a slow leak that started around 75k miles finally needed repairing. |
| 273000 mi US $3700 |
The engine died. Lost A/C, then when heard fluttering noise on highway, pulled over (thought might be the water pump). Something major in the engine cracked and unrepairable. Dealer didn't replace T-valve properly during earlier service. Replaced engine. |
| 300000 mi US $150 |
Replacement engine (put in by Subaru dealer at 69,000 mi.) spark plugs, ignition coil 7 wires worn - found by new mechanic. Will NEVER use specific Subaru dealer again that destroyed 1st good engine and did not check out these items. |
| 311200 mi US $894 |
Spark plug tube seals leaking (in replacement engine) - Replaced seals, valve cover gastkets & oil filler tube seal Found 3 timing belt idlers worn/noisy - Replaced idlers in conjunction with timing belt service |
| 317000 mi US $277 |
Front oxygen sensor failing at 319,300 mi. |
| 340300 mi US $283 |
Radiator - replaced with new aftermarket part. AC on/off in temp. since last summer. Temp. gauge on the dashboard began going up slightly when was AC was working hardest, so mechanic rec. to replace radiator at 339,000 mi. Engine heating up with a/c on - replaced radiator and cap |
| 348300 mi US $260 |
Crankshaft Pulley (harmonic balancer) came apart - Replaced front crank pulley & serpentine belts |
| 355000 mi US $119 |
Engine "straining" sound - Found Coolant Flush fitting on hose leaking - replaced heater hose |
| 398000 mi US $31 |
Radiator coolant tank overfilled while radiator low; Replaced cap |
| 120200 mi US $500 |
Exhaust. Rear pipe flange rusted out. Needed new pipe and muffler. |
| 128990 mi US $2570 |
Replace head gasket Head gasket Head gasket/timing belt |
| 133000 mi | A bolt on the exhaust system was missing. No charge. |
| 136000 mi US $1000 |
Catalytic converter |
| 105100 mi | Noted an oil burning smell and saw that oil was dripping on the exhaust. The shop said it was a small head gasket leak. Will cost $1,000 to fix. Since the engine also has "piston slap", both problems can be fixed for $2,000. Can't afford now |
| 139000 mi US $125 |
Exhaust leak and heat shield rattle |
| 77480 mi C $2100 |
2 Head gaskets replacement (oil/coolant leaks) Timing belt 2 Idlers Rear differential oil leak |
2003 Subaru Outback 4dr Sedan
165-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD
| 124300 mi US $1500 |
engine gasket needed replaced. |
| 124000 mi US $105 |
Down stream oxygen sensor needed replaced due to engine light. Believed it was damaged when we had the vehicle at the repair shop having the engine gasket replaced. |
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