The most common solution is to replace the alternator, and the problem has a severity rating of 5 out of 10. The typical repair cost to fix the dashboard warning lights turning on and off intermittently comes out to $200 and occurs at around 11,500 miles. The top interior accessories problems from car owners include the dashboard warning lights turning on and off sporadically, the automatic door lock malfunctioning, the ESP indicator light being faulty, and the center console lights blinking rapidly. To fix the check engine light coming on, the typical repair cost is $570 to replace the throttle body at around 108,000 miles. The top concerns from car owners about the engine feature the check engine light coming on during use, the oil leaking out of the heads, the check engine light coming on, and the engine overheating while running. The most common and most severe Subaru Outback problems mainly focus on the engine, with the NHTSA citing over 140 complaints in this category. The main categories of concern in the 2006 Outback include the engine, the interior accessories, and the drivetrain. The typical repair cost comes in at about $1,100 and involves replacing the hub assembly and the wheel bearing. The wheels and hubs’ main concern in the 2005 Subaru Outback is wheel bearing failure, a problem that typically occurs at around 75,000 miles. The severity rating of this problem is 7.3 out of 10 on the severity scale. To fix the clutch failure, the typical repair cost comes in at around $2,020 and occurs at nearly 67,000 miles to replace the clutch before the problem gets any worse. The main clutch problems from car owners include clutch failure at low mileage and loud clutch noise.
The main categories of concern regarding the Subaru Outback problems in the 2005 model include the clutch, the engine, and the wheels and hubs. The average mileage of fixing the excessive wind noise comes in at 61,000 miles and deals with the automakers or mechanics fixing the mirrors to reduce extra noise. The top Subaru Outback problems for the 2003 body and paint category include excessive wind noise coming from the side mirrors and the paint rusting after prolonged use. The average mileage to fix the head gasket comes in at around 56,000 miles and has a severity rating of 8.7 out of 10. To fix the blown head gasket, the typical repair cost comes in at around $2,000 to replace the head gasket. The top engine concerns focus on the blown head gasket, a ticking sound when the temperature is cold, and the engine misfiring during use. Regarding the 2003 Subaru Outback problems, this is the first model year that showed extensive issues that need to be addressed. The main categories of concern in the 2003 Outback include the engine system, the body and paint system, and the interior accessories category.