Subaru Outback problems by year
| Year | Common issues | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 0 |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 |
| 2023 | 5 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 | 3 |
| 2019 | 4 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 | 3 |
| 2016 | 3 | 3 |
| 2015 | 3 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 | 3 |
| 2013 | 3 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 | 3 |
Top NHTSA complaint areas (2010–2025)
| Component | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2083 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1731 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1270 |
| Power Train | 756 |
| Engine | 605 |
| Service Brakes | 360 |
| Air Bags | 350 |
| Steering | 305 |
Source: NHTSA complaints API, per model year (linked on each year’s issue pages).
Subaru Outback problems by system (all years)
Systems with sourced problem pages in two or more model years. Pages list NHTSA owner complaints and CarComplaints.com reports for that year.
Electrical (11 model years)
- 2025: Driver's side front door won't open from inside or outside
- 2025: Electrical System complaints (13 NHTSA reports)
- 2024: Electrical System complaints (15 NHTSA reports)
- 2024: EyeSight problems
- 2023: Electrical System complaints (17 NHTSA reports)
- 2023: Intermittent dead battery
- 2022: Battery drain resulting in car not starting
- 2021: Battery dies
- 2021: Battery has needed repeated charges
- 2021: Radio nav shuts down
- 2020: Battery failure
- 2020: Dead battery
- 2019: Dead battery
- 2019: Electrical System complaints (364 NHTSA reports)
- 2018: Dead battery
- 2017: Dead battery
- 2016: Drained battery
- 2016: Electrical System complaints (309 NHTSA reports)
- 2015: Battery died
- 2015: Engine won't turn over / won't start
Windows / windshield (11 model years)
- 2025: Sunroof spontaneously exploded
- 2024: Visibility/Wiper complaints (20 NHTSA reports)
- 2023: Cracks when small pebble hit windshield
- 2023: Visibility/Wiper complaints (16 NHTSA reports)
- 2022: Visibility/Wiper complaints (255 NHTSA reports)
- 2022: Windshield easily cracks
- 2021: Visibility/Wiper complaints (97 NHTSA reports)
- 2020: Windshield cracked
- 2019: Visibility/Wiper complaints (326 NHTSA reports)
- 2019: Windshield crack
- 2018: Windshield cracks easily
- 2017: Cracked windshield
- 2016: Water leak
- 2015: Windshield cracks easily
Engine (6 model years)
- 2024: Engine complaints (6 NHTSA reports)
- 2014: Excessive oil consumption
- 2014: Hesitates when accelerating
- 2013: Engine failure
- 2013: Excessive oil consumption
- 2012: Engine failure
- 2011: Stalling while braking stopping
- 2010: Head gasket failure
- 2010: Hesitating stalling
Transmission (5 model years)
- 2014: Shudders between gears
- 2013: Transmission failure
- 2012: Jerking shuddering
- 2012: Transmission stopped working
- 2011: Shuddering
- 2011: Transmission failure
- 2010: Transmission noise
Forward Collision Avoidance (3 model years)
- 2025: Forward Collision Avoidance complaints (21 NHTSA reports)
- 2024: Forward Collision Avoidance complaints (18 NHTSA reports)
- 2023: Forward Collision Avoidance complaints (22 NHTSA reports)
Page last updated .