2008 Subaru Outback Service and Repair Manual

This factory service and repair manual for the 2008 Subaru Outback addresses a long list of thirteen trims that stretches from Base and 2.5i to Premier, Touring and several L.L. Bean Edition variants, and the 4-door wagon was the sole body style this year. Three gasoline engines are listed. Two are 2.5L flat-fours, one naturally aspirated with a single overhead camshaft and one turbocharged with double overhead camshafts; the third is a naturally aspirated 3.0L H6 with double overhead cams. Procedures and torque values are given for the engine, fuel system, cooling, transmission and chassis.

Engines covered

• 2.5L flat-four — DOHC, turbocharged, gasoline
• 2.5L flat-four — SOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
• 3.0L H6 — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 4-door wagon

Trims covered

• Base
• 2.5 XT
• 2.5i
• 2.5i L.L. Bean Edition
• 2.5i Limited
• 2.5i Limited L.L. Bean Edition
• 3.0 R
• Limited
• Premier
• R L.L. Bean Edition
• Touring
• XT
• XT Limited

Known issues on the 2008 Outback. Air bags account for 104 of the 226 owner complaints logged against the 2008 Outback, with the electrical system at 34 and service brakes at 30; 12 complaints reported a crash, 3 a fire and 5 an injury. The record holds 8 recalls. Certain 2008 Outback vehicles built within a set production window were recalled because moisture could seep into the passenger frontal air bag and, over time, make its inflator burst when deployed. On certain turbocharged examples a failing relay can leave the secondary air pump running until it overheats and melts. The manual supplies procedures, specifications, wiring diagrams and diagnostics for the air bag, electrical, brake and engine systems.