The 2004 Subaru Outback has 10 recalls, the most serious being a passenger-side front airbag inflator that can rupture in a crash and send metal fragments into the cabin, posing a risk of serious injury or death.
This airbag defect has been filed across multiple campaigns covering vehicles in different regions of the country, but the underlying danger is the same regardless of where the vehicle was registered. On the electrical side, certain replacement ignition switches may allow the key to slip out of the "on" position while the vehicle is moving, which can shut the engine off without warning and also prevent the airbag system from functioning in a crash. There is also a fuel system concern: a loose or mispositioned fuel filler hose clamp can allow fuel to leak from the filler area.