Subaru Baja Problems by Year

We compared every Subaru Baja model year from 2003–2006 using 117 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 15 recalls and federal defect investigations. The years to avoid are 2003, which drew far more complaints than other Baja years at the same age. The best years are 2004.

4model years
117complaints
15recalls
2003worst years
2004best years

Complaints by model year

200320042005200638183724
Owner complaints per model year, Subaru Baja. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).
YearComplaintsvs. typical*RecallsTop problemVerdict
200624typical9EngineAverage
200537typical10Fuel SystemAverage
200418−41%9Fuel SystemGood
2003381.4×10BrakeCaution

* Complaints compared with the median Baja year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.

Most common Subaru Baja problems

  • Fuel & propulsion systemworst: 2005
    2723%
  • Engine & coolingworst: 2006
    2219%
  • Air bagsworst: 2005
    1715%
  • Brakesworst: 2003
    1614%
  • Transmission & drivetrainworst: 2003
    1210%
  • Suspensionworst: 2006
    119%
  • Body & structureworst: 2005
    87%
  • Steeringworst: 2003
    76%
  • Wheels & tiresworst: 2003
    65%
  • Other / not specified
    54%
  • Electrical systemworst: 2003
    43%
  • Speed control & accelerationworst: 2003
    43%
  • Seat beltsworst: 2004
    11%
  • Stability & traction controlworst: 2004
    11%
  • Equipment & accessoriesworst: 2005
    11%

Latest Subaru Baja recalls

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 20V-001 · Jan 2, 2020 · 258,813 vehicles

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi,…

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 20V-003 · Jan 2, 2020 · 111,562 vehicles

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts,…

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 20V-002 · Jan 2, 2020 · 127,547 vehicles

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas,…

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 17V-026 · Jan 11, 2017 · 69,529 vehicles

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2009 Forester, Legacy and Outback and 2006-2009 Impreza (including WRX and STI models) and Tribeca vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland,…

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 17V-016 · Jan 10, 2017 · 62,764 vehicles

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2006-2008 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), Tribeca, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New…

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2017.

All 15 Subaru Baja recalls by year →

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Subaru Baja should you avoid?

2003 — this year has the most complaints relative to other Baja years at the same age, led by brakes problems in the 2003.

What is the best year for the Subaru Baja?

2004 has the fewest complaints compared with other Baja years at the same age. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.

What are the most common Subaru Baja problems?

Across all years, owners report the most problems with the fuel & propulsion system (27), engine & cooling (22) and air bags (17). Fuel System complaints peak in the 2005 model year.

How many recalls has the Subaru Baja had?

15 recalls across 2003–2006. The model year with the most is 2003. See all Subaru Baja recalls by year.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.