Subaru Baja complaints by model year
117 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| 2005 | 37 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| 2004 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 2003 | 38 | 5 | 3 | 10 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2003–2006. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 5 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| Power train | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Subaru Baja recalls (15)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Baja model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20V001000 | Jan 2, 2020 | Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode | 2003–2006 | 89.2% |
| 20V002000 | Jan 2, 2020 | Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode | 2003–2006 | 83.9% |
| 20V003000 | Jan 2, 2020 | Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode | 2003–2006 | 82.3% |
| 17V026000 | Jan 11, 2017 | Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture | 2005, 2006 | 93.6% |
| 17V014000 | Jan 10, 2017 | Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture | 2005, 2006 | 97.2% |
| 17V016000 | Jan 10, 2017 | Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture | 2005, 2006 | 89% |
| 16V358000 | May 25, 2016 | Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture | 2003–2006 | 94.4% |
| 16V359000 | May 25, 2016 | Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture | 2003–2006 | 88% |
| 16V361000 | May 25, 2016 | Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture | 2003, 2004 | 88.8% |
| 15V323000 | May 28, 2015 | Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Rupture | 2003, 2004 | 94.3% |
| 14V763000 | Dec 1, 2014 | Passenger Air Bag Inflator may Rupture | 2003, 2004, 2005 | 93.7% |
| 09V277000 | Jul 17, 2009 | FUEL PUMP NIPPLE CRACK | 2005, 2006 | — |
| 04V473000 | Oct 1, 2004 | SUBARU/OIL FLOW CONTROL VALVE | 2004 | — |
| 02V282000 | Oct 30, 2002 | SUBARU/TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD | 2003 | — |
| 02V240000 | Sep 13, 2002 | SUBARU/WATER PUMP PULLEY | 2003 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Subaru Baja FAQ
How many recalls has the Subaru Baja had?
NHTSA lists 15 recall campaigns that cover at least one Subaru Baja model year from 2003 to 2006. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Subaru Baja year has the most complaints?
Among the last 4 model years with settled counts, the 2003 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (38) and the 2004 the fewest (18). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Subaru Baja problems?
Across the 2003–2006 model years, owners most often name the air bags, service brakes, fuel system in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Subaru Baja get?
EPA rates the 2006 Subaru Baja at 18 to 22 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.