NHTSA, not DOT, and it's all over and done with IIRC. The problem units are made by BOSCH, not Subaru; Subaru has recognized and acknowledged the problem, what else...?
There's no "bucking" problem on the MY04s. There's a noob-driving-a-manual-tranny-with-a- torquey-engine problem, and it's not limited to the 2004 model. Check NASIOC etc and you'll find there's guys driving MY02 and MY03 models, complaining just as bitterly of this phenomenon as 2004 owners. Model year is not a common denominator; transmission TYPE is. Every complainant has a manual tranny.
"When I let the throttle plate slam shut right at the max torque output RPM, the vehicle acts funny!"
I =do= have a 2004, and sure...I can make it buck and lurch...just like ANY other manual tranny vehicle.