Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Subaru Baja
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Subaru Baja has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns and 18 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V003000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V002000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V001000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V358000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V361000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V359000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V323000 Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V763000 Passenger Air Bag Inflator may Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13E065000 Fuel Pump may Leak Fuel NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V473000 SUBARU/OIL FLOW CONTROL VALVE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 6 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 4 complaints
- Air Bags 2 complaints
- Electrical System 1 complaint
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 1 complaint
- Engine and Engine Cooling 1 complaint
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$7,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Subaru BAJA has a below-average reliability rating due to a high number of recalls, predominantly related to the airbag system, and a moderate number of owner complaints focusing mainly on fuel system issues. Despite the complaints being spread across numerous components, the limited data suggests some areas of concern without strong evidence for widespread failures.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | Unknown | $300–$800 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission service
- Tire rotations and balancing
- Coolant system flush
- Inspect belts and hoses
- Replace air filter
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Fuel smell or leaks
- Airbag warning light
- Irregular engine performance
- Poor fuel economy
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Subaru Baja at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.