Subaru Outback Forward Collision Avoidance Problems
Owners have filed 263 complaints with NHTSA about forward collision avoidance problems on the Subaru Outback across 16 model years. The 2020 model year has the most (49). The words owners use most often: “cruise control” (18% of reports).
- 263forward collision avoidance complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 42mention a crash
- 9mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 44%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Cruise control: mentioned in 48 of 263 complaints (18%)
- Emergency braking: mentioned in 26 of 263 complaints (10%)
- Safety features: mentioned in 25 of 263 complaints (10%)
- Lane departure: mentioned in 21 of 263 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do forward collision avoidance problems happen?
Based on 54 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 263 complaints, 42 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 9 an injury.
Subaru Outback forward collision avoidance complaints by model year
| Model year | Forward Collision Avoidance complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Outback | 4 | 22% | — |
| 2025 Outback | 20 | 24% | — |
| 2024 Outback | 18 | 17% | 100 |
| 2023 Outback | 22 | 25% | 4,900 |
| 2022 Outback | 23 | 5% | — |
| 2021 Outback | 29 | 10% | 770 |
| 2020 Outback | 49 | 5% | 7,108 |
| 2019 Outback | 36 | 3% | 16,933 |
| 2018 Outback | 18 | 2% | 21,425 |
| 2017 Outback | 23 | 3% | 22,000 |
| 2016 Outback | 7 | 1% | 10,000 |
| 2015 Outback | 5 | 1% | 62,500 |
| 2014 Outback | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2013 Outback | 4 | 1% | 66,600 |
| 2012 Outback | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2011 Outback | 3 | 0% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Forward collision avoidance: crash imminent braking; exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Model years: 2015
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufactured October 16, 2014, to April 15, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles manufactured March 23, 2015, and equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.
Risk: If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQS-54.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
July 4, 2025 car had about 4100 miles Severe dangerous phantom braking on highway CA 280 N just prior to foothill expressway exit at about 7:30 pm. Suddenly while traveling 60+ MPH on mid lanes of freeway car auto braking caused car to brake/slow to 1/2 speed with no visible obstacle seen by any of…
The brakes failed and could be inspected upon request. My safety and the safety of two other passengers was put at risk because my vehicle rear ended an another vehicle at a red light. The problem has not yet been confirmed or reproduced by the dealership or inspected by the manufacturer, police…
I have owned this vehicle since January 2026. It's the first vehicle I have owned with a forward collision warning system and active emergency braking. And this is the first time this "failure" has happened, so far... On a 60mph 2 lane rural road with traffic behind me the forward collision warning…
While traveling along I-94E outside of Macomb County on September 10th at around 8:30AM, forward collision warning triggered twice while facing the direct sun. It triggered for around 6 seconds. Shortly after getting off the Shook Rd exit at around 8:45M and turning right, I had a full AEB…
I own a 2024 Subaru Outback Limited XT, VIN [XXX]. While traveling approximately 45â50 mph on a four-lane road with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) engaged, my vehicle suddenly and rapidly decelerated and automatically applied the brakes as I approached a police vehicle traveling in the lane…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Subaru Outbacks have forward collision avoidance problems?
No. NHTSA has 263 owner complaints about forward collision avoidance for the Subaru Outback. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Subaru Outback forward collision avoidance?
Yes: 1 safety recall list forward collision avoidance. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about forward collision avoidance problems on the Subaru Outback?
The most frequent phrase is “cruise control”, in 48 of 263 complaints, followed by “emergency braking” (26).
Other Subaru Outback problems
- Electrical System problems (2,285)
- Visibility/wiper problems (1,760)
- Power Train problems (988)
- Engine problems (718)
- Air Bags problems (693)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (530)
- Service Brakes problems (431)
- Steering problems (366)
See all Subaru Outback problems.