Subaru Outback Problems by Year
NHTSA has 9,767 owner complaints and 71 safety recalls on file for the Subaru Outback, across 32 model years (1995–2026). The 2019 model year has the most complaints (1,036). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
Subaru Outback years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Outback year: 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2019 Outback: 1,036 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2017 Outback: 918 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2020 Outback: 900 complaints, 6 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 1995 Outback: 2 complaints, 1 recall
- 2026 Outback: 18 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1996 Outback: 46 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Subaru Outback problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 2,285 | 31 | 26 |
| Visibility/wiper problems | 1,760 | 21 | 6 |
| Power Train problems | 988 | 31 | 39 |
| Engine problems | 718 | 25 | 23 |
| Air Bags problems | 693 | 30 | 117 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 530 | 32 | 116 |
| Service Brakes problems | 431 | 28 | 65 |
| Steering problems | 366 | 30 | 28 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 335 | 27 | 2 |
| Visibility problems | 331 | 29 | 3 |
| Suspension problems | 319 | 29 | 13 |
| Structure problems | 293 | 30 | 24 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 282 | 26 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 271 | 27 | 26 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance problems | 263 | 16 | 42 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 147 | 22 | 25 |
| Tires problems | 116 | 24 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 114 | 21 | 0 |
| Wheels problems | 113 | 27 | 6 |
| Lane Departure problems | 104 | 11 | 6 |
| Seat Belts | 75 | 25 | 16 |
| Seats | 67 | 23 | 9 |
| Back Over Prevention | 64 | 11 | 13 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 63 | 18 | 6 |
| Equipment | 47 | 22 | 2 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 39 | 19 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 22 | 12 | 4 |
| Traction Control System | 14 | 5 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 10 | 7 | 2 |
| Child Seat | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Carry Handle, Shell, Base | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Firerelated | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Insert, Padding | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Subaru Outback problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2022: visibility/wiper (255) · electrical system (52)
- 2021: visibility/wiper (97) · electrical system (76)
- 2020: visibility/wiper (313) · electrical system (259) · visibility (70)
- 2019: electrical system (364) · visibility/wiper (326) · visibility (63)
- 2018: electrical system (267) · visibility/wiper (234)
- 2017: electrical system (391) · visibility/wiper (205)
- 2016: electrical system (309) · visibility/wiper (83) · engine (53)
- 2015: visibility/wiper (130) · electrical system (127)
- 2013: engine (67) · power train (60)
- 2012: power train (107) · engine (50)
- 2011: power train (216) · exterior lighting (117) · engine (85) · air bags (73) · electrical system (67) · service brakes (67)
- 2010: power train (94)
- 2008: air bags (104)
- 2006: vehicle speed control (98)
- 2005: suspension (56)
All Subaru Outback model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Outback | 18 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2025 Outback | 82 | 0 | 5★ | Forward Collision Avoidance | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Outback | 104 | 0 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2023 Outback | 89 | 2 | 5★ | Forward Collision Avoidance | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2022 Outback | 465 | 4 | 5★ | Visibility/wiper | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2021 Outback | 298 | 4 | 5★ | Visibility/wiper | More complaints than other years |
| 2020 Outback | 900 | 6 | 5★ | Visibility/wiper | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2019 Outback | 1,036 | 3 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2018 Outback | 814 | 3 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2017 Outback | 918 | 4 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2016 Outback | 643 | 4 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2015 Outback | 510 | 5 | 5★ | Visibility/wiper | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2014 Outback | 208 | 10 | 5★ | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2013 Outback | 297 | 12 | 5★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2012 Outback | 293 | 16 | 4★ | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2011 Outback | 652 | 16 | 4★ | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2010 Outback | 360 | 18 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2009 Outback | 106 | 13 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 Outback | 226 | 8 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2007 Outback | 129 | 8 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2006 Outback | 277 | 7 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | More complaints than other years |
| 2005 Outback | 273 | 9 | — | Suspension | More complaints than other years |
| 2004 Outback | 90 | 10 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2003 Outback | 93 | 14 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2002 Outback | 143 | 4 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2001 Outback | 171 | 3 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2000 Outback | 207 | 1 | — | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1999 Outback | 111 | 1 | — | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1998 Outback | 127 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1997 Outback | 79 | 4 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1996 Outback | 46 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1995 Outback | 2 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic |
More from Subaru: all Subaru models · Subaru VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Subaru Outback years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2011 (652), 2015 (510), 2016 (643), 2017 (918), 2018 (814), 2019 (1,036), 2020 (900), 2022 (465) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Outback year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Subaru Outback?
Electrical System, with 2,285 complaints across 31 model years.
How many recalls does the Subaru Outback have?
71 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.