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1996 Subaru Outback Sport

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Outback Sport.

The 1996 Subaru Outback Sport utilizes 5W-30 API engine oil with a capacity of 4.2 quarts. The model's reliability record consists of 2 recalls and 48 total owner complaints. These reports are primarily focused on Engine & Engine Cooling, marking it as the top complaint area for this specific model year.

Model year2005 2004 2003 2002 1996

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque58-72 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 360 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 360 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnSTOPOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	172 in
Overall width	67.3 in
Overall height	55.1 in
Wheelbase	99.2 in
Curb weight	2654 lb
Track (front / rear)	57.5 / 57.5 in

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 58-72 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.6 Pints
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.2 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.2 qt

Engine torques

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings	29-31 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings	33 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	87-101 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	87-101 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	51-55 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	53 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	18 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	58-72 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	17.0-20.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	137 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	137 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	100 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	0.63-0.77 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	10,400-15,600 ohms
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	0.6-0.8 ohms

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	0.99-1.50 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Capacity	4.90 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	360 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	360 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	11-15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	169-176 °F
Injector Primary Resistance	5-20 ohms
Injector Primary Resistance	5-20 ohms
Engine Compression	156-185 psi
Engine Compression	156-185 psi
Engine Oil Pressure	14 psi @ 600-700 rpm, 43 psi @ 5000 rpm psi

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket	38 ft-lbs / 25-33 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	58 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	58 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.295; Rear: 0.256 specification
Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Rotor Runout Limit	0.0029 in / 0.0028 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.394 in / 0.709 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 8 stages

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	51 ft. lbs.	51 ft. lbs
3	Loosen 180 degrees.	180 degrees
4	Loosen 180 degrees.	180 degrees
5	Bolts 1-2	25 ft. lbs
6	Bolts 3-6	11 ft. lbs
7	80-90 degrees.	80–90 degrees
8	80-90 degrees.	80–90 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 8 stages

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	51 ft. lbs.	51 ft. lbs
3	Loosen 180 degrees.	180 degrees
4	Loosen 180 degrees.	180 degrees
5	Bolts 1-2	25 ft. lbs
6	Bolts 3-6	11 ft. lbs
7	90 degrees.	90 degrees
8	90 degrees.	90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 3,000 mi.

At 3,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Clutch Assembly (inspect) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Hill Holder System (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Timing Belt (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
At 105,000 mi	Drive Belt (replace) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 1996 Subaru Outback Sport lead in one area — the engine & engine cooling, 10 of 48 reports (21%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 2 recall campaigns target the engine & engine cooling, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 12 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine & engine cooling pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

12 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 48 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling10

Air Bags6

Vehicle Speed Control4

Suspension4

Tires3

Wheels3

Service Brakes, Hydraulic3

Power Train,Structure,Service Brakes2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

01V216000Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil SpringsReported 25/06/2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND… Remedy: DEALERS WILL NOTIFIY CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A SPRING GUARD INSTALLED ON BOTH FRONT STRUTS TO PREVENT TIRE PUNCTURE AND REPLACE ANY…

98V091000Suspension:Front:Springs:Leaf Spring Assembly:Hanger,BracketReported 04/05/1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER STATION WAGON, SEDAN AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER WELDING, FRACTURES CAN OCCUR ON THE SUPPORT BRACKET OF THE FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY THE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT BRACKETS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 16 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
12-249-23R	2023-07-11	Equipment	This bulletin announces the recommended cleaning procedures to followed when encountering…
15-302-22	2022-08-23	Equipment	This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as…
01-167-08R	2022-08-23	Equipment	This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the…
15-192-22R	2022-03-18	Electrical System	This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential…
01-167-08R	2021-06-17	Electrical System	This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Outback Sport. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 35 battery Vehicles taking 4.2 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1996 Outback Sport take?

4.2 qt of 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 1996 Outback Sport have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.