1999 Subaru Outback Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Outback years
- Fewer complaints than other years 22nd of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Subaru Outback. That ranks 22nd out of 32 Outback model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (29 complaints, 26%), typically at around 65,000 miles. Complaints mention 13 crashes, 1 fire, 18 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 111owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 13complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1999 Subaru Outback problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 29 | 26% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 23 | 21% | 95,100 | — | — |
| Suspension | 13 | 12% | 109,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 9 | 8% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 8% | 73,300 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 8 | 7% | 91,350 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 7 | 6% | 111,621 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 5% | 117,890 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 4% | 136,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 4% | 155,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 3% | 47,498 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 3% | 65,153 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 2% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | 180,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | 3,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1999 Subaru Outback recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Suspension:front:springs:coil springs
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with front coil springs originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new york, new jersey, new hampshire, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia, and wisconsin, and in the district of columbia. The front coil springs were produced with poor paint quality which, after continued exposure to corrosive salt, can result in breakage of the spring.
Risk: Depending on the location of the fracture, a broken spring could move past the spring seat and contact a front tire. Some tires have deflated due to contact with a broken spring.
Fix: Dealers will notifiy customers to bring their vehicle to an authorize dealership to have a spring guard installed on both front struts to prevent tire puncture and replace any broken springs free of charge. Owner notification began september 18, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The vehicle is using its power to make the car think it is in neutral and does not start properly. It will start if you pull the fuse out and then put it back in to put it in drive. Also, lending way to problems with the transmission system. Effecting mileage on the counter. Car was stationery upon…
Front coil spring broke in half while vehicle was stationary - almost puncturing tire, and rendering vehicle immobile - the broken end of the coil was wedged into the tire sidewall. If this had happened while vehicle was moving, it would have caused a blowout and possible accident. Subaru has a…
1999 subaru legacy outback. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle began to roll backward while trying to remove keys. *smd the consumer stated she parked the vehicle, placed it in park, and left the keys in the ignition, so she could check out the new halogen bulbs that had been installed. When she…
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 subaru outback. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond to acceleration attempts. The contact stated that she had to constantly change the gear from reverse to drive in order for it to work. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection but they could…
1999 subaru outback ltd power steering rack leak and cam seal leak which ruined timing belt. This car is a piece of junk! *tt
Other Subaru Outback years
← 1998 Outback · 2000 Outback →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Outback | 18 | 0 |
| 2025 Outback | 82 | 0 |
| 2024 Outback | 104 | 0 |
| 2023 Outback | 89 | 2 |
| 2022 Outback | 465 | 4 |
| 2021 Outback | 298 | 4 |
| 2020 Outback | 900 | 6 |
| 2019 Outback | 1,036 | 3 |
| 2018 Outback | 814 | 3 |
| 2017 Outback | 918 | 4 |
| 2016 Outback | 643 | 4 |
| 2015 Outback | 510 | 5 |
| 2014 Outback | 208 | 10 |
| 2013 Outback | 297 | 12 |
| 2012 Outback | 293 | 16 |
| 2011 Outback | 652 | 16 |
| 2010 Outback | 360 | 18 |
| 2009 Outback | 106 | 13 |
| 2008 Outback | 226 | 8 |
| 2007 Outback | 129 | 8 |
| 2006 Outback | 277 | 7 |
| 2005 Outback | 273 | 9 |
| 2004 Outback | 90 | 10 |
| 2003 Outback | 93 | 14 |
| 2002 Outback | 143 | 4 |
| 2001 Outback | 171 | 3 |
| 2000 Outback | 207 | 1 |
| 1999 | 111 | 1 |
| 1998 Outback | 127 | 2 |
| 1997 Outback | 79 | 4 |
| 1996 Outback | 46 | 2 |
| 1995 Outback | 2 | 1 |
See all Subaru Outback problems by year, every Subaru model, or the Subaru VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Subaru Outback?
Owners most often report power train, engine and engine cooling, suspension problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 29 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Subaru Outback?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1999 Subaru Outback a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Outback model years, the 1999 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.