Subaru Subaru Problems by Year
NHTSA has 29 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file for the Subaru Subaru, across 8 model years (1995–2003). The 1996 model year has the most complaints (6). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
Subaru Subaru years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No Subaru model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1996 Subaru: 6 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1995 Subaru: 5 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2002 Subaru: 4 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 1998 Subaru: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2003 Subaru: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1999 Subaru: 3 complaints, 0 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 Subaru problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Power Train | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Subaru Subaru model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Subaru | 2 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2002 Subaru | 4 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 2001 Subaru | 3 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 1999 Subaru | 3 | 0 | — | Power Train | |
| 1998 Subaru | 2 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 1997 Subaru | 4 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 1996 Subaru | 6 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 1995 Subaru | 5 | 0 | — | Air Bags |
More from Subaru: all Subaru models · Subaru VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Subaru Subaru years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 1996 (6), 1995 (5), 2002 (4). 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 Subaru?
Air Bags, with 6 complaints across 4 model years.
How many recalls does the Subaru Subaru have?
0 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.