SubaruOutback20042.5L/subaru/outback/2004/2-5l/

2004 Subaru Outback — 2.5L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2004 Outback 2.5L. Covers both the standard and High Output 2.5L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 2.5LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2004 Subaru Outback 2.5L is a passenger car powered by a 2.5-liter engine paired with a four-speed automatic transmission, requiring 4.2 quarts of 5W-30 API oil and delivering EPA-estimated fuel economy of 19 city, 26 highway, and 22 combined mpg. This model year attracted 90 owner complaints with air bags ranking as the top concern and was subject to 11 recalls. Across the Outback's complaint history spanning 1995 through 2026, the 2004 sits well below the peak of 1,029 complaints seen in 2019 but above the low of two recorded for 1995, placing it in the lower-middle range of the nameplate's reported issue volume.

Model year201420132012201120102009200820072004

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
EPA fuel economy19/26/22 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 430 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 · 430 CCAOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length173.6 in
Overall width66.9 in
Overall height59.1 in
Wheelbase99.2 in
Curb weight3051 lb
Track (front / rear)57.5 / 57.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 26 / 22 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume90 cu ft
Cargo volume18 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

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, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 33.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-6-3-2-5-4. 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

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity10.4
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Manual Transmission Fluid75W-90 · GL-5
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity7.0-9.0

Engine torques

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings33 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts53 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug33.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs5 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Transfer Case Drain Plug17.0-20.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub162 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub174 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-6-3-2-5-4
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)TURBO: 700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance10,880-14,720 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug Torque15.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing10 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity0.88-1.65 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Capacity4.50-5.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance430 cca
Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance490 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature169-183 °F
Injector Primary Resistance5-20 ohms
Engine Compression156-185 psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH SOLID ROTOR / WITH VENTED ROTOR
Torque to Knuckle58 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.295; Rear: 0.256 specification
Brake ApplicationWITH SOLID ROTOR / WITH VENTED ROTOR
Rotor Runout Limit0.0028 in / 0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.39 in / 0.71 in / 0.94 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.39 in / 0.71 in / 0.94 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.335 in / 0.63 in / 0.87 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 8 stages
122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
251 ft. lbs.51 ft. lbs
3Loosen 180 degrees.180 degrees
4Loosen 180 degrees.180 degrees
536 ft. lbs.36 ft. lbs
680-90 degrees..80–90 degrees
740-45 degrees.40–45 degrees
840-45 degrees.40–45 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; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 3,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect)
Every 9,300 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Assembly (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 60,000 miWheel Bearing (inspect)
At 105,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Belt (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

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

The federal record shows a general upward trend in complaints and technical service bulletins over time, with a significant surge beginning in 2005. The 2004 model year represents a relative low point in this arc, reporting 90 complaints and 185 TSBs. This is a slight improvement over 2003, which had 95 complaints and 15 recalls, and it precedes a sharp increase to 273 complaints in 2005. Primary complaint areas for 2004 include Air Bags (23) and Vehicle Speed Control (13), though the data does not specify the root causes for these issues. With 11 recalls and 2 investigations, 2004 maintains a safety profile consistent with the surrounding model years. Because it has significantly fewer complaints than the majority of subsequent years in the record, this is a good year to buy.

11
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
185
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
90
Owner complaints
9 involved a crash · 4 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 90 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags23
Vehicle Speed Control13
Engine & Engine Cooling10
Power Train6
Visibility5
Electrical System4
Unknown Or Other3
Fuel System, Gasoline3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 11 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V001000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 02/01/2020

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold… Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall…

20V002000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 02/01/2020

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or… Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 185 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SubaruNet Annoucement (E2026-06-11Unknown Or OtherThis announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood…
01-167-08R2026-05-18Unknown Or OtherThis bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the…
SubaruNet Announcement (R2026-05-04Power TrainThis announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.
07-240-26R2026-04-30Unknown Or OtherThis Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for vehicles…
03-97-262026-04-24Power TrainThis bulletin announces the service manual correction regarding clutch master cylinder…

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. 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2004 Outback 2.5L take?

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

Does the 2004 Outback have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 11 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 2.5L get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined mpg.