Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Subaru Baja problems

Owners filed 24 complaints about the 2006 Subaru Baja with NHTSA between Feb 2006 and Nov 2022. The most-cited component is suspension (5).

Complaints
24
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension5
  2. Engine4
  3. Engine and engine cooling4
  4. Air bags3
  5. Structure2
  6. Power train2
  7. Fuel/propulsion system2
  8. Steering2
  9. Service brakes1
  10. Wheels1
  11. Fuel system, gasoline1
  12. Vehicle speed control1
  13. Service brakes, air1
  14. Service brakes, hydraulic1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20062
20072
20086
20090
20100
20110
20120
20130
20141
20152
20162
20173
20182
20191
20202
20210
20221

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Suspension

5 reports1 crash
“I HAD MY HEADLIGHT REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP ON 3/18/20. WHILE THERE THEY DID A COMPLIMENTARY SAFETY INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AND IT PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS. I DROVE THE CAR HOME AND PARKED IT IN THE CARPORT. I NOTICED A FEW DAYS LATER THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE WAS TIPPED IN ON THE TOP. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS TOTALLY RUSTED OUT AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO BE RUBBING AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL, WHICH RUINED A BRAND NEW TIRE. I NOW HAVE TO HAVE THE WHOLE SUBFRAME REPLACED IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS THE SUBFRAME TOTALLY RUSTED OUT. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO A FRIEND OF MINE WHO HAD A 2003 BAJA. SHE ENDED UP JUNKING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A QUOTE FROM THE MECHANIC YET ON THE REPAIRS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 19, 2020Suspension, StructureODI 11325099

Engine

4 reports
“IF THE GAS CAP IS NOT SECURELY TIGHTEN AND I MEAN TIGHTEN HARD. THE CAR WILL STOP OPERATING WITHIN 5 SEC ISH. THIS IS NOT GOOD, NO MATTER WHERE U ARE DRIVING. NOT ENUFF TIME TO PULL OVER SAFELY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AT LEAST 4-5 TIMES NOW.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2020EngineODI 11317580

Engine and engine cooling

4 reports
“2006 SUBARU BAJA TURBO WITH SEVERAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING LUNGING FORWARD AND RANDOMLY SPUTTERING AND HESITATING.. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PROBLEMS BEGAN WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 707 MILES AND HAVE CONTINUED. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED ON ONE OCCASION, THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. SOMTIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE HIGH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD FREQUENTLY COME ON AND STAY ON. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 30, 2008Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10253489

Air bags

3 reports8 related recalls
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU BAJA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V359000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED LARICHIE SUBARU (920 PLAZA ST, FINDLAY, OH 45840, (419) 423-5656) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 4, 2018Air bagsODI 11124274

Structure

2 reports1 crash
“WHILE DRIVING A SUBARU BAJA 2006 MODEL I SWERVED AND ROLLED OVER AFTER FISH TAILING. I ALSO ALMOST DID THE SAME IN A 2005 MODEL BUT ONLY CAME UP OFF TWO WHEELS BUT DID NOT ROLL IT , EVEN THOUGH IT WAS CLOSE. I SUSPECT A TENDENCY FOR THE BAJA TO ROLL OVER IS A DESIGN FLAW. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 20, 2006Suspension, StructureCrash reportedODI 10173833

Power train

2 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU BAJA. WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS IN REVERSE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE BEARING WAS HOOKED ONTO THE UNIVERSAL SHAFT, AND THE UNIVERSAL JOINT AND DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V277000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT CALLED RILEY SUBARU AT (563) 588-2326 (4455 DODGE ST, DUBUQUE, IA 52003) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT A RECALL FOR THE UNIVERSAL JOINT AND DRIVE SHAFT, BUT THERE WAS NONE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,432. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 14, 2017Power train, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11054684
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.