Subaru Outback Fuel System, Gasoline Problems
Owners have filed 114 complaints with NHTSA about fuel system, gasoline problems on the Subaru Outback across 21 model years. The 2001 model year has the most (26). The words owners use most often: “cold weather” (17% of reports).
- 114fuel system, gasoline complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- $440typical repair cost reported by owners
- 27%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.
- Cold weather: mentioned in 19 of 114 complaints (17%)
- Fuel smell: mentioned in 14 of 114 complaints (12%)
- Passenger compartment: mentioned in 10 of 114 complaints (9%)
- Below degrees: mentioned in 7 of 114 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical fuel system, gasoline repair on the Subaru Outback at $440, and half of them between $430 and $620.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2008–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do fuel system, gasoline problems happen?
Based on 92 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 114 complaints, 1 a fire, 3 an injury.
Subaru Outback fuel system, gasoline complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel System, Gasoline complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Outback | 1 | 1% | 300 |
| 2020 Outback | 1 | 0% | 11,000 |
| 2019 Outback | 9 | 1% | 27,750 |
| 2018 Outback | 2 | 0% | 65,000 |
| 2014 Outback | 1 | 0% | 780 |
| 2013 Outback | 3 | 1% | 4,600 |
| 2011 Outback | 4 | 1% | 41,038 |
| 2010 Outback | 1 | 0% | 5,600 |
| 2009 Outback | 1 | 1% | 115,000 |
| 2007 Outback | 2 | 2% | 25,000 |
| 2006 Outback | 11 | 4% | 93,000 |
| 2005 Outback | 5 | 2% | 107,700 |
| 2004 Outback | 3 | 3% | 79,250 |
| 2003 Outback | 3 | 3% | 149,500 |
| 2002 Outback | 23 | 16% | 85,000 |
| 2001 Outback | 26 | 15% | 79,400 |
| 2000 Outback | 5 | 2% | 98,272 |
| 1999 Outback | 4 | 4% | 136,000 |
| 1998 Outback | 3 | 2% | 122,000 |
| 1997 Outback | 4 | 5% | 110,000 |
| 1996 Outback | 2 | 4% | 519,496 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Model years: 2019
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.
Risk: If the low pressure fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-20.
Electrical system:software; fuel system, gasoline
Model years: 2018
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles. Due to a software error, the low fuel warning light may not illuminate at the intended remaining fuel level and the miles-to-empty display may incorrectly indicate a positive number despite the tank being empty.
Risk: The inaccurate fuel display may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the combination meter software, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTW-82.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap
Model years: 2004
Problem: Certain passenger or sport utility vehicles may have a loose or out of position fuel filler hose clamp.
Risk: This could result in fuel leakage. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the clamp on the fuel filler hose. Owner notification began august 27, 2003. Owners should contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle hesitated and almost stalled. The failure was intermittent but caused the vehicle to stall on several occasions. The check engine warning light…
The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while attempting to refuel the vehicle, gasoline started to spill from the fuel filler neck. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The…
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start immediately as designed. The contact was able to start the vehicle after several attempts. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure recurred. The dealer…
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V587000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently stopped in the middle of the road. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact engaged the hazard lights; the police arrived on the scene and helped to move the vehicle…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Subaru Outbacks have fuel system, gasoline problems?
No. NHTSA has 114 owner complaints about fuel system, gasoline 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 fuel system, gasoline?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list fuel system, gasoline. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix fuel system, gasoline problems on the Subaru Outback?
Owners report a typical cost of $440 (half paid between $430 and $620), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about fuel system, gasoline problems on the Subaru Outback?
The most frequent phrase is “cold weather”, in 19 of 114 complaints, followed by “fuel smell” (14).
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.