Used 2003 Subaru Outback Consumer Reviews
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03 outback 2.5L SOHC
subie7, 08/01/2013
2003 Subaru Outback Limited AWD 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
great car very reliable recommend changing the factory head gaskets their junk and upgrade them and youll never have the problem again ik i havent other than that the tranny and engine runs great havent had any other issues with the car other than minor stuff here and their like tube seals and blown dash light 10 yrs old so i thinks shes done me good still gets me from a - z fires up EVERYTIME one lesson i learned for anyone looking to do spark plugs though only run ngk plugs and wires amazing difference
My Subaru = LOVE
Subaru Lover, 05/21/2018
2003 Subaru Outback L.L. Bean Edition AWD 4dr Wagon (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
I love my car more and more every year that it continues to run so well and get me anywhere I need to go. I plan on driving it for a long, long time.
- Performance
- Comfort
2003 Subaru Outback for sale near you
Showing 3 of 28 listings
- Base WagonMSRP: $8,495163 mi away
- Base Wagon w/Premium Audio SystemMSRP: $1,999245 mi away
- Base WagonMSRP: $8,950383 mi away
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I love my H6 green bean
Amf97, 01/03/2020
2003 Subaru Outback L.L. Bean Edition AWD 4dr Wagon (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I have owned my 2003 H6 3.0 L.L Bean Edition for a year now and I’ve got to say that I’m in love with it. I purchased it with 198,000 miles and now I’m at 210,000...It’s a great car that has given me no problems (besides a few worn out pieces that needed replacing, as is expected from a 16 year old car...power steering O-ring, tie rods, axle boot). Every morning it starts, heats up quickly and gets me wherever I need to go every time. The AWD is fantastic, I’m never going back to FWD. I’ve been through last years and this years winter in Upstate NY and let me tell you it makes all the difference. It stay right where its supposed to be in the road, it plows right through everything thrown in it’s way. I feel so secure driving when the roads are bad where previously I was terrified every winter and my car would always slide and swerve. This is especially nice as I am working a very early morning job so I am driving at 3am and the roads are not always plowed. The sound system is great. It’s gets really loud without any distortion to the music and the sound is very clear and of a high quality. The dual moon roof is a great feature too, I’ve always got the shades pulled and when the weather is nice the roof is open too. It gets so bright in the car, the moon roof and all the large windows attribute to that. I feel that the ride is mostly comfortable. Of course the roads are very holey and bumpy where I live so maybe I’m not the best judge for a smooth ride. I don’t think anyone really gets a smooth ride around here...The amount of cargo space is great. I was able to bring home a 7 ft tall bookshelf in this vehicle...and I could close the hatch with it in there! You can fit a lot of stuff in this car, if that’s something you need/want then you’ve totally got it here. My short list of cons: Not very fuel efficient, but I expected that from an older AWD vehicle. I average around 20 mpg. Mostly backroads/city driving. Acceleration is a bit slow, if you are used to a smaller zippier car be careful. You are not going to be able to make those risky turns or zoom around someone super fast. You’ll need to be a more careful driver, you won’t be making those risky moves anymore. Maybe not a bad thing truly but it was jarring going from a light, tiny, FWD drive sedan to this and not having the same accel. There is wind noise, it was really bad when I first got it but I found a little hack off of Subaru Outback forums for that: cut a few pieces of door edge guard and stick them onto the black sheath the window slides up and down in (around the side mirrors) this closes the gaps and wind doesn’t come in through there anymore. It’s an almost perfect fix Beware of non-H6 outbacks, they are known for having head gasket issues so if you are considering one without this type of engine make sure the head gaskets have been serviced before you buy or haggle it down and take care of it soon yourself. Basically if you are looking for a really pleasant, secure driving experience this car is great. It has every feature I could want. It’s rugged, but also adorable looking with a very nice interior. Reliable with a a lot of great features! I would totally recommend this vehicle
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
I may have been unlucky but this thing was hardly reliable
jamespeaut, 02/27/2013
2003 Subaru Outback Limited AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
Bought car used at 140k (as such this could reflect the previous owner's handling of it.) Week 1: Head Gasket, Oxygen filter, timing belt, Radiator leak Week 4: New Tires, New brakes, CV Joints, Bent Axis joint, oil leak Current: Week 8: Headlight electrical system failure. Paid: 4,500 for car. Repair bill: 5000 I may have bought a bum car but I'm really not impressed with the outback--It's hardly been reliable or cost effective. Even as a temporary commuter car (I bicycle for most of my work) it's cost me a chunk of change. I really wish I had stuck with my old Honda CRV Cons: Gas mileage in cities loud noise from exterior Bumpy ride From what I've experienced, unreliable
Head Gasket Leaking Problem
Scott R., 02/10/2010
2003 Subaru Outback AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Bought the car for my wife. Was happy with the car until my dealer confirmed an external coolant leak from both heads at 53,000 miles. I knew of the problem in earlier years, but was told that the problem was fixed in the 2003 model year. I maintained the car over and above Subaru recommendations/requirement. I changed the anti-freeze and used their special conditioner at 25,000 and 50,000 miles. Subaru offered me a 50/50 split for replacing the gaskets. I was considering buying a new Outback next year, but when they have no confidence in their own vehicle (i.e. stand behind such a known design flaw), they don't deserve my loyalty. Recommend only for short term ownership.